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At a previous Hull UFO Society meeting, I gave a short presentation in which I introduced skywatching
to those who hadn't yet taken part in an organised skywatch. I spoke of the activities we undertake,
the kit we use and the places we visit.
I will recap on parts of that presentation for visitors to this website, and include a bit more information
for anyone who may want to organise their own skywatch. Remember, these are only the basics. Feel free to adapt
on them and please let us know if you have any other good tips which we can use ourselves and pass on to other visitors
to this site.
PICKING A SKYWATCH SITE
The ideal site should be fully accessible, away from light pollution and should offer all round visibility.
High ground in a rural setting is useful for a skywatch. Don't use private land (agricultural farmland, etc.)
unless permission has been granted. Think about the type of transport you're using when trying to access the site.
If, for example, you try to drive over rough terrain in a Fiat 126, don't forget to pick up your exhaust and oil sump
on the way back!
KIT LIST
Personal clothing:
Always assume the weather will turn wet, windy and downright miserable because more often than not,
it does. Wear plenty of thin layers rather than one or two thick layers. Thin layers help to trap still air which will
help to keep the body warm, and if you get a little too warm, you can peel a layer off without losing all the other air
pockets. Not so if you are wearing a thick coat and mammoth wool pullover over your hairy ex-army shirt. Remove a layer
of this and you'll soon feel the cold again. Try to avoid wearing denim trouser/jeans because they take a very long time
to dry off if they get wet. As they also hold the cold in when they're wet, they can be a fast track to hypothermia.
Footwear:
Skywatching involves an immense amount of time standing around doing very little, and a fair amount of time trampling about
trying to keep warm. Your feet will soon feel the chill, so put on one good thick pair of socks (woollen if possible) and a
thin pair of cotton socks if you can fit them in your shoes/boots. Try to avoid nylon socks because these will make your feet
sweat, the result of which is wet, cold footwear. Make sure you wear a comfortable pair of shoes, or better still, boots, and
ensure that these are as waterproof as possible.
Outer Garments:
Remember to take a woolly hat (or similar), a pair of gloves,
a scarf and water/wind proof coat and over-trousers.
Personal comfort:
Eat a good substantial meal about an hour before you go out on a skywatch or we might mistake your rumbling
stomach for a close encounter with a mother-ship. Take a flask of tea or coffee with you to warm you when the temperatures begin
to drop. A few sweets and nibbles are also a good idea, just to help keep hunger pangs at bay.
Visual Aids:
A good pair of binoculars, while not essential, would be an asset to your skywatching. As a rough guide, a pair in the range of 10 - 20 x 50
are ideal (the first number being the size by which the object is magnified i.e. ten or twenty times it's normal size, the second
number being the field of view [the bigger this number, the more width of field you'll get]). Zoom binoculars are okay but they
take longer to set up - by the time you have faffed about with zoom and focus, the object will have gotten bored and gone home.
You also need a tripod to help eliminate hand shake. Buying a pair of binoculars is relatively affordable - a new pair of 10x50
binoculars shouldn't set you back more than £29 at catalogue shops such Argos or Index.Photographic equipment: I usually carry
two cameras on a skywatch.
The first is a 35mm point and shoot with automatic film wind. If I need a quick shot, this camera lets do exactly what I need -
point at the object and shoot. The second is a 35mm Practika SLR which, if I have enough time to use (i.e. the object is hovering
or very slow moving) will allow me to take a far better quality of photograph. I picked the Practika up for under £40 second hand,
so again, buying the equipment doesn't have to cost the earth. If you can't afford to buy the equipment, arrange to share. If you
own or have access to a camcorder or similar, so much the better. NOTE If you do take a photograph of any unusual aerial object or
entity, DO NOT take your film to a high street film processor. Contact your local UFOlogy group for a trusted source. UFO Magazine
will also help.
Other equipment: Other bits and pieces you will find handy are; pens and paper, torch(es), spare batteries, map of the area,
compass and a big bag to carry it all in. Don't forget the last three most important pieces of kit - patience, a sense of humour
and yourself.
If you are interested in attending a H.U.F.O.S. organised Skywatch, contact us for further
information.
Below are stories of other skywatches we have been on. (Warning: Some of these may contain strong language!)
Four Camp It Up
Right Back At East Gate
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Darren Parr |
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