May 2023 | Elan Valley

Eyes on the Night Sky – June 2023

Sam Price — Sat, 27 May 2023 10:38:26 +0000

Welcome to this month’s edition of Eyes on the Night Sky, where we will reveal the best objects to view in the night sky over June.

There is less time for proper stargazing this month but it is still possible to enjoy the deep twilight skies.

The Summer Solstice falls on 21^st June this year, where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt towards the Sun. In the northern hemisphere, the sun will rise at 4:44am and set at 9:20pm, providing a grand total of 16 hours and 38 minutes of daytime.

June Constellations

The spring constellations of Leo and Virgo sets in the west and the Summer constellations grace the night sky. The constellations of Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra and Ophiuchus dominate with some wonderful deep sky treasures that may be see with a large telescope (for example, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, the Ring Nebula and the Veil Nebula) but it is better to wait for darker skies to return before studying them.

You can download the printable constellation map from here (credit: Dominic Ford, author in-the-sky.org)

The Full Moon occurs on 4 June and the New Moon on 18 June.

Venus and Moon Conjunction

On 21 June, take a look at a lovely conjunction of Venus and the crescent Moon, positioned low in the evening sky. After sunset, watch them emerge as the sky grows dark. You might be able to see Mars in the western sky. If you have a telescope, take a look at Venus – you will see the planet in crescent phase.

Noctilucent Clouds

Noctilucent cloud season is in full swing this month so make sure you get the opportunity to see these ‘night shining clouds’ which emerge a couple of hours after sunset and before sunrise. Forecasting them isn’t easy and it can be frustrating to stay up late only to see nothing but Netweather.tv provides some excellent advice to study available data to increase your chances of seeing them when they occur. These wonderful clouds, situated 200,000 feet above us, slowly change and alter structure over time, retreat and expand right before your eyes.

Noctilucent clouds can also look wonderful through binoculars – if you have them to hand, take a look at the fine structure.

Saturn and Jupiter

For the early risers, Saturn and Jupiter will grace the predawn sky. Saturn rises at around 2am at the beginning of the month, followed by Jupiter at 3.20am. By the end of the month, the two planets will be relatively well-placed to study with telescopes. Use your binoculars to see if you can spot Jupiter’s moons.

The Double-Double

For deep-sky objects, try finding the ‘Double Double’ in the constellation of Lyra. Officially known as Epsilon Lyrae (ε Lyrae), it can be easily spotted by using the bright star Vega, which forms part of a bright trio of stars called the Summer Triangle: Deneb in the constellation of Cygnus, Vega in the constellation of Lyra and Altair in the constellation of Aquila.

After locating Vega use the star directly below called Zeta 1 Lyrae and then locate the third star Epsilon Lyrae, forming a little triangle.

After locating Vega use the star directly below called Zeta 1 Lyrae and then locate the third star Epsilon Lyrae, forming a little triangle. When you have spotted Epsilon Lyrae, look at it with binoculars you will be able to split the stars into two: Epsilon Lyrae 1 and Epsilon Lyrae 2.

With telescopes of six inches of aperture and above, you will see that Epsilon Lyrae 1 and Epsilon Lyrae 2 have a second star each, making them two binary star systems. Views through your telescope may differ but it is possible to split these two stars into four. This double-double star system actually has a fifth star, which is only detectable using specialised equipment.

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History Corner

Sam Price — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:26:06 +0000

History Corner

The past is ever present.

The Elan valley is known for its monumental Victorian dams that hold back the reservoirs, a visible reminder of how our history shapes the landscape and the places we live and work today. Their construction is recorded in numerous archive images taken by the Birmingham Water Corporation and provide us with an amazing insight into the work of the Victorian engineers and navies. However, there is a rich history across the estate which can be discerned from other historic images, giving us a glimpse into the past.

The workforce housed at the site of Elan village in rows of timber huts are recorded in photographs and we can, with careful observation, stand in the very spot the image was captured 150 years ago.

The Royal Garrison Artillery camped above the reservoirs for gunnery practise from 1903 to 1914 and the location of these summer camps can be determined by aligning the hilltop skyline today with this archive postcard.

The secret tests as part of ‘Operation Chastise’ to destroy the dam at Nant y Gro in 1942 shows us how the landscape has changed with washed down stone and subsequent collapse of the end sections of the part destroyed dam. This image was taken immediately after the successful test and clearly shows that more of the dam had survived than we can see today.

In the next issue I will look at some less obvious historic features as we record some new mounds in the ground and reveal the hidden histories of the many piles of stones, bumps and ditches across the estate.

Gary Ball

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Archaeology Training Workshops June 2023

Sam Price — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:13:38 +0000

Call for Volunteers: Archaeology Training Workshops June 2023.

Elan Links in partnership with Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust is offering volunteers a 6-day introduction to upland archaeology in advance of our community excavations planned for later this year.

The free training will take place at the Welsh Water Visitors Centre from 10am to 4 pm and includes lunch and refreshments.

7/6/23 – Introduction: What is an archaeologist? How do archaeologists know where to dig? And how do you set up an archaeological excavation? Tools of the trade.

8/6/23 – How are archaeological sites formed and how to recognise and excavate the stratigraphy in the correct order.

14/6/23 – Context and recording: what is recorded and why is it important to do so?

15/6/23 – Making a record: planning, drawing and photography in the digital age.

19/6/23 – Finds and artefacts: recovery, removal and recording with the importance of context.

20/6/23 – Archaeology in the Elan valley and site-specific details: deserted medieval settlements, house platforms and upland archaeology.

Limited places, for an application form and further details please contact Gary Ball, Archaeology and Heritage Officer.

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Elan Hay Meadows Update

Sam Price — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:04:39 +0000

Elan Hay Meadows Update

Elan’s ‘upland fringe’ hay meadows are unique in Wales. They are here because of traditional farming in the valley over hundreds of years and because of the reservoirs and the need for clean water. Fertiliser and pesticide use on the farms is either non-existent or minimal.

Wood bitter-vetch, great burnet, mountain pansy, greater-butterfly orchid and small white-orchid are some of the rare and uncommon species that can be found in these lovely meadows.

Throughout the five years of the Elan Links Hay Meadow Project we have been surveying vegetation and also soil sampling, collecting evidence to enable better management of the meadows. After careful consideration Natural Resources Wales consented to light applications of lime in specific meadows and others have had light applications of farmyard manure. The aim is to achieve better productivity of the meadows so that there is plentiful hay for winter feed but not to compromise the meadows’ species-richness or harm the rarities in these grasslands.

We commissioned Jan Sherry and Emma Douglas from PONT to carry out a huge survey last year with money from the Nature Networks Fund and were able to survey virtually every meadow and enclosed pasture in the valley. The resulting report gave farms long lists of what grew in each of their fields along with helpful management advice. In November 2022 Emma Williams carried out waxcap and earth tongue surveys in some pastures and will continue her search this autumn. Emma, with help from Sorcha Lewis (and Ray Woods) has been thrilled by her finds which have included rarities like Date Waxcap. Elan is definitely on the map for fungi!

For the last two years we have run hay meadow management events on farms and last year demonstrated a meadow seed harvester which we bought with HLF funds. We also gave farms our little guide to Elan’s Meadow Flowers which was hot-off-the-press that day. This year we will hold an event to look at how the In-bye Survey 2022 is informing management going forward which includes bracken control and meadow monitoring.

We are really pleased to have Janice Vincett with us this season to survey the most flower-rich meadows of the in-by land for pollinators. Janice is a specialist in ‘Hymenoptera’, the bees and wasps and was once a ranger in the valley. What she finds will build on all of the work we have done to make sure that Elan’s meadows continue to be valued in the future.

Fiona Gomersall
Image by Martin Jones

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Eyes on the Night Sky – May 2023

Sam Price — Tue, 02 May 2023 08:16:52 +0000

As we move towards the late spring/early summer months, the dusk sky deepens to a deep blue twilight all night.

Scotland is the first country in the UK to lose the night in early May, followed by the lower latitudes, finishing with the south towards the end of May. This means that the nights don’t get dark enough to study deep sky objects such as galaxies, globular clusters and nebulae.

It’s a great time of year to branch out into other areas of visual study, such as the Moon and planets, whether you use your eyes, binoculars or even a small telescope.

May Constellations

The constellations of Gemini and Auriga sets in the west at around 10pm and Ursa Major is very well-placed at the zenith. Leo marches westwards during the month of May and Virgo takes pride of place in the south. The constellation of Corona Borealis (Northern Crown) is a wonderful array of stars to look out for in the eastern sky, resembling a C shape or a celestial crown.

You can download the printable constellation map from here (credit: Dominic Ford, author in-the-sky.org)

The Full Moon falls on 5 May and the New Moon on 19 May.

Noctilucent Clouds

Noctilucent clouds emerge into the night sky from the middle of this month so get outside when darkness falls and look north. They usually appear from 11pm-midnight and then a couple of hours before sunrise – they can be a stunning sight to behold. Also known as Polar Mesospheric clouds, these diffuse, high-latitude ice crystals are illuminated by the Sun, as it sets above 18 degrees below the horizon. This is why the summer nights don’t get fully dark. You can see the residual light cast by the Sun move as a light dome along the western horizon, along the north and to the east before rising.

The Moon

During the summer season the moon can provide a fascinating experience for the stargazer with interesting features to discover. When it is in phase, the mountains and craters cast shadows along the terminator – the area between light cast by the sun and the shadow of the moon which can look great in small telescopes under high magnification. The features on the Moon have designations and areas just like locations on Earth. Here are a few features to discover:

The Vallis Alpes

If you have a small telescope this can be a fascinating object to study when the Moon is in phase and the shadows of the mountains and craters are cast on the Moon’s surface. This fascinating jagged valley cuts straight through the Alpes or better known as the Lunar Alps.

Hadley Rille

If you have a larger telescope, take a look at the area of the Moon explored by astronauts on the Apollo 15 project. If the conditions allow under high magnification, try to spot the wiggly line running along the valley floor.

Crater Gassendi

Craters can be fascinating objects to study when the Moon is in phase, as the crater’s rim can cast shadows on the lunar surface. You may even be able to spot rilles (they look a bit like veins) running along the floor.

Rupes Recta

Rupes Recta is a fault line that runs for 110km along the lunar surface. The shelf is over 270m high and it also known as the Straight Wall. The crater that is situated halfway along the Straight Wall is crater Birt.

Coathanger Asterism

When darkness falls, look for the star Altair in the constellation of Aquila.

Look for the fork-shaped constellation of Sagitta and above that, a two-star constellation called Vulpecula. Look in between the constellations of Vulpecula and Sagitta and raise your binoculars to your eyes. Slowly scan the sky until you see an upside-down coat hanger.

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