Sunday, September 29, 2019

Hong Kong Stargazing + Camping 香港 觀星 + 露營

I am trying out stargazing camping, it takes a balance between stargazing and camping.

其實一早想咁玩,但香港好天機會不大,能去露營的日子未必適合觀星,另外露營本身都重裝備,觀星當然亦不輕,所以要平衡兩者不易。

Originally, I wanted to try out tracked photography:

原朲我係想帶埋赤道儀,已經係超小型那種:


But then the pack was over 18kg, so I gave up the Sky Adventurer, keeping only a fisheye lens and my Canon 18x50 IS, the weight dropped to around 15kg.

最後發現個代有 18kg,所以最後都放返低赤道儀,當然亦唔會帶支 200mm,最後只帶了一支魚眼鏡,再加埋 Canon 18x50 IS 做目視,成個袋去返 15kg 呢個舒服既範圍。

On destination was 灣仔西營地, only around 20 minutes walk from 海下小巴站。

今次目的地係灣西,由海下小巴站行入去大約二十分鐘,所以我覺得下次可以揹返 18kg 甚至 20kg 應該都得!

This is probably the biggest campsite in Hong Kong.

灣西可能係最大的露營地點(當日個天其實麻麻)


With very nice facilities:

設施亦算一流:


I setup at the far corner in the hope that I won't be affected by other camping light.

我走到去最入既位,希望唔好被鄰近既營燈影響我睇星影相。


Minimalist setup to me, just to free up more weight for stargazing.  There are some kids running around at night with their flashlight shinning everywhere, intentionally shine other people.

露營裝備方面,我減到近乎最輕,個金仔一公斤左右,但天幕我覺得都要帶,日出後可以瞓晏啲嘛!就算第二朝醒左,都有個陰涼地方煮食。


Very nice temperature, even better at night.  Waiting sunset.

當日溫度不錯,日落前濕度都低,好舒服,慢慢等日落


Neighborhood, they are at least 10 meters from me, and the far end has even more tents and youngster which must be avoided.

我突登去入啲,最近既營至少都有十米以上。另一邊有超多後生仔,似乎係有活動,我臨瞓前行過去望下,見佢地都幾多光害,揀啱位了。



I even got a small fan!

有天幕好方便,營燈吊高照明好有效,另外仲可以開把吊扇仔:


My minimalist dinner, enough if there were good sky for stargazing!

晚餐亦盡量精簡,煮頹麵算數!若果有星睇就唔食都得添呀!


Carefully chosen location for setup provided me with longer sleeping time.

第二朝瞓到近九點,個天幕擋太陽光:


It was very dry during the day, but it was very wet at night!  Note the dew up spider net:

雖然日間好乾,但入黑之後突然好濕,連蜘蛛網都滿露水:



My breakfast, again minimalist:

早餐繼續食頹麵,加多個頹湯:


My fly was all wet, both sides!!!  My double walled tent was soaked with dew:

因為濕度急升,天幕底面都濕晒,金仔亦內外帳都濕晒!



Luckily we had sunshine to dry them up before packing!  My tent was repaired and this is the first time I use it after repairing, it was not windy at night, so I don't know how it works out.

幸好第二朝出太陽可以晒返乾!呢個金仔上次上大東吹爛咗,今次係修理後第一次出動,今次唔算風大,無咩機會測試修補既效果:


But then I found another issue on top, the seam shield tape was most detached on top.  Now I had good reason to buy a new tent?

但後來收營時發現,外帳頂既防水膠已經老化甩咗,或者我都有足夠藉口買個新既營?


After initial packing, I've to dry up the footprint under the sun, so I relax a bit in the shadow of a nearby tree.  I bought two fans, and this one still had power after a full night of usage.

收咗一部份野,濕既放咗去太陽下晒乾,等緊既時候我坐在樹蔭下休息。今次帶咗兩把風扇,其中一把用咗成晚都仲有電!


Let's get back to the results, this campsite was dark, I could do 5 minutes exposure!  But the sky was hazy, milkyway was just detectable:

最後先講返觀星,呢個營地唔錯,五分鐘曝光都無事!雖然當晚好重煙霞,但睇星仍然不俗,影星就真係麻麻,銀河過中天勉強影到,除咗煙霞其實間中仲有薄雲:




Weather not permitting, just feasibility test.

今次天氣麻麻,不過講真,以香港嚟計其實都算係咁。今次算係可行性測試,下次可以再重裝啲都得!

Dewly night was uncomfortable, but then I found covering myself up with sleeping bag, to allow my body temperature to dry out the bag and it's surprisingly good in terms of comfort.  Of course, the temperature has to be low enough.  The temperature was 22 degree Celsius at lowest.

當晚濕度突然上升,所以瞓得唔算太好。當濕度高既時候,我發現蓋少少睡袋係好,因為體溫會逼走啲水氣,反而會覺得乾爽少少!當然,呢種技巧溫度不能太高,否則又會太熱!當晚最低廿二度左右還可以。

That night I bought along an extra footprint for a single person tent so as to enable me to lay down and use my binoculars.  Due to the foggy sky, deep sky observation is less than favorable, and the most memorable object was only "coat hanger".

當晚我帶咗張一人營 footprint 墊地瞓度用雙筒睇星,因為煙霞關係無咩 deep sky 睇,印象最深可能就係衣架星團,其他效果麻麻。

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

2019 Sept 23rd and 25th

Did short visual observations these two days.

Silent sun without any detectable active region.


Mostly cloudy but with occasional cloud gaps.