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stargazing ...

There are no signposts in the sea.” – Vita Sackville-West

If there were signposts in the sea they would to record the roughest points so the ''I've known it worse'' competion could be mapped 🤣🤣. We are not really interested in who won but its a very (tedious)serious game of one upmanship out on the Atlantic ocean. It was a moderately rough crossing... 
We did, however get a gloriously warm clear night for the first star gazing session up on deck 11. The crowd gathered and when the ships lights were finally turned off it revealed an excellent view of the vast night sky.
Its quite amazing the difference when the lights go off and everyone gets dark adapted. I see people being really surprised at the extent of the difference.  Sadly they wont turn the bar lights off which shine out onto the deck (but later in the week they did turn them down ) and of course they always have the chiminey light on...
 Dr Fred did his stuff - shone his laser and constellations were identified. These sessions are always popular and on this boat it wasn't as regimented as it is sometimes so there was quite a crowd (100+) and a lot of questions.... keeps Dr Fred on his toes - they only turn the lights off for 45 minutes but theses sessions always continue in the bar afterwards and we meet some really interesting people.
Guests are always so appreciative and the Dr Fred fan club continues to grow.  Someone even asked me which boat he was doing for the eclipse so they could make sure they were on it. I had to gently disappoint them as Dr Fred is not doing the eclipse tours... but  assured them https://gostargazing.co.uk/ are involved and there will be astromoners on board... 
I think Dr Fred is a bit disappointed he only has 2 lectures ( given he had prepped 5) but I guess overall the organisation includes the evening sessions as his contribution.... There are 4 more scheduled in... weather permitting.
We have met some fun people on this cruise.. including someone who let me use some of his stagazing photos an a couple of photos he let me take using his phone as my phone is pants at night pictures. 

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