Mercury was clearly visible as a disk. The Societies new eyepieces are helping a great deal. Also Observed were
-the moon, slightly different this month as the meeting was a little later in the lunar month
- Mars (disappointing as usual)
- Saturn and at least two moons.
2 satellites were observed.
The weather was as the evening progressed slightly muggy, and visibility was not as good as the early evening had suggested. Having said that we were treated to a fine view of Omega Centauri (and most of Centuraus too!) as well as the Southern Cross, though the Jewel Box is still too low this month.
A thoughtfull discussion then ensued (as always this time of the year) on the "pointers" to the South Pole and where the False Cross was actually located.
The Meeting was adjourned to Durty Reids
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
April 8th 2008
Early arrivals at the viewing had a chance to see Saturn and the Moon before heavy clouds rolled over. Concerned with the possibility of rain, I packed the "scope away. however, there was a sufficient number of people for some lively discussion, and some naked eye observations as the sky cleared.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday 10th March Pedros Castle
Good turn out tonight, almost all the committee! The skies cleared nicely by 7:30, Mike also bought his heavy binos on an even heavier equatorial mounting to add to the fun .
Saturn seems very impressive at the moment inspite of the rings closing up. Recent visitors to the Island (see last months notes) commented on just how stable the air is in the tropics, and is ideal for planetary viewing
Mars also was visible but VERY high up in the Zenith.A good sized disk is still visible with some surface markings in the higher powered eyepeices, though with some flaring of the image.
The Moon also was observed along with an easy target of the open Cluster M41 near Sirius.
After the Plieades we attempted some of the open Clusters in Auriga , we got M36 and M38
Two satellites were observed and one meteor, from its direction it may have been a Leonid
Overall quite a clear night for us at Pedros
Saturn seems very impressive at the moment inspite of the rings closing up. Recent visitors to the Island (see last months notes) commented on just how stable the air is in the tropics, and is ideal for planetary viewing
Mars also was visible but VERY high up in the Zenith.A good sized disk is still visible with some surface markings in the higher powered eyepeices, though with some flaring of the image.
The Moon also was observed along with an easy target of the open Cluster M41 near Sirius.
After the Plieades we attempted some of the open Clusters in Auriga , we got M36 and M38
Two satellites were observed and one meteor, from its direction it may have been a Leonid
Overall quite a clear night for us at Pedros
Saturday, February 23, 2008
February 2008 Extra Ordinary Events,The AGM, ISS passes and a great Lunar Eclipse!
Inspite of a poor Observing night at Pedro this month,
1) the AGM was held on Sunday 17th , The Society continues!!
2) On Monday 18th AND Tuesday 19th thanks to a reminder from Richard the ISS together with the space shuttle made passes across the Caymans, the Monday Evening pass was especially brilliant, first the shuttle and then the ISS crossed thr sky in formation. The ISS seems very bright - much brighter than predicted on "Heavens Above" _-3?). The following evening the pass was much lower in the West and not long after sunset, so it certainly appearred less bright. On Wednseday the Shuttle landed safely in Florida
3) An excellent lunar eclipseon the 20th!
Sunday Feb 11th 2008 Pedros Castle
Poor cloud but started with the Moon., nothing else visisbale not even Mars
Good turn out but not much to see :-(
Good turn out but not much to see :-(
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Friday 11 Jan 2008 Pedros Castle
The evening started with an exceptional sunset at 6:00Pm although the meeting officially started at 6:30PM
Unfortunately for us a planned event the following day at the castle meant that the whole of the lawn was covered in marquees and chairs, this happens sometimes, which means that although the tables are convenient to use, we had to move the scope around several times through the evening.
After spotting the Moon and looking at Mars, we managed to spot Mercury through binoculars, then the naked eye and then finally through the 10 inch Scope. The disk was clearly seen but showed no phase.
Mars was a popular object through the evening. In all over 25 people turned up though not all at the same time, which caused some reputation of objects seen.
The Objects seen were as follows
Moon.
Mercury
Mars
Orion Nebula
Andromeda Nebula
Sirius
M42 (Globular Cluster) near Sirius
The Winter “Pentangle”
A number of meteors (3-4) , possibly the Quadrantids
Number of satellites thanks to Richards (Heavens Above predictions)
This included the Hubble Space telescope, though it was quite faint.
Most Satellites disappeared into Earth Shadow.
Also Canopus was easily seen in the South. I also noticed Akibar, which is the tail of Eridanus. I was able to trace for the first time the river all the way from its “source” near Sirius What I didn’t appreciate is that “on the horizon” it may have been possible to see the LMC . Of course I wasn’t looking for it
Unusually, the Pleiades were not seen through the telescope tonight!
Comet Holmes is now very large (well over ½ degree?) and very faint. We couldn’t pick it up at all in the Scope or its finder, but with patience I saw it several times through 8x25 binoculars.
A number of interesting questions were asked, one very simple question produced some good discussion. - the similar apparent brightness and comparison between Mars ( being a red disk) and Sirius being a blue star, as both were “similar” in brightness ( Mag - 1.2?).
Looking at the 3 day old moon a series of craters were seen of similar size. The question was just how many miles across were they? Embarrassingly we didn’t know. The answer is of course is an average of the following, and Ive based this list on the “obvious” row of craters seen on the terminator of a 3 day old Moon ie Langrenus (132 km), Petavius (177 km), Furneriu( 125km) Lets say around 75-100 miles across
Unfortunately for us a planned event the following day at the castle meant that the whole of the lawn was covered in marquees and chairs, this happens sometimes, which means that although the tables are convenient to use, we had to move the scope around several times through the evening.
After spotting the Moon and looking at Mars, we managed to spot Mercury through binoculars, then the naked eye and then finally through the 10 inch Scope. The disk was clearly seen but showed no phase.
Mars was a popular object through the evening. In all over 25 people turned up though not all at the same time, which caused some reputation of objects seen.
The Objects seen were as follows
Moon.
Mercury
Mars
Orion Nebula
Andromeda Nebula
Sirius
M42 (Globular Cluster) near Sirius
The Winter “Pentangle”
A number of meteors (3-4) , possibly the Quadrantids
Number of satellites thanks to Richards (Heavens Above predictions)
This included the Hubble Space telescope, though it was quite faint.
Most Satellites disappeared into Earth Shadow.
Also Canopus was easily seen in the South. I also noticed Akibar, which is the tail of Eridanus. I was able to trace for the first time the river all the way from its “source” near Sirius What I didn’t appreciate is that “on the horizon” it may have been possible to see the LMC . Of course I wasn’t looking for it
Unusually, the Pleiades were not seen through the telescope tonight!
Comet Holmes is now very large (well over ½ degree?) and very faint. We couldn’t pick it up at all in the Scope or its finder, but with patience I saw it several times through 8x25 binoculars.
A number of interesting questions were asked, one very simple question produced some good discussion. - the similar apparent brightness and comparison between Mars ( being a red disk) and Sirius being a blue star, as both were “similar” in brightness ( Mag - 1.2?).
Looking at the 3 day old moon a series of craters were seen of similar size. The question was just how many miles across were they? Embarrassingly we didn’t know. The answer is of course is an average of the following, and Ive based this list on the “obvious” row of craters seen on the terminator of a 3 day old Moon ie Langrenus (132 km), Petavius (177 km), Furneriu( 125km) Lets say around 75-100 miles across
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Review of Observations 2007
Staring next month, we have been keeping records of the objects seen each month for 1 year.
What I intend to do is draw up a table of the objects we have seen each month, the likleyhood of seeing them (weather) and any other difficulties and successes we have had. (For example worst month for mosquetos!)
These past results can then hopefully supplement the monthly newsletter as an aid to what we can see each month as it comes around again
What I intend to do is draw up a table of the objects we have seen each month, the likleyhood of seeing them (weather) and any other difficulties and successes we have had. (For example worst month for mosquetos!)
These past results can then hopefully supplement the monthly newsletter as an aid to what we can see each month as it comes around again
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