Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
The meeting started at 7:30 PM - The sky wasnt promising showing a lot of haze. After comparing this session with last years - there was a lot of objects to beat!
Nick wasnt able to make the evening either but around 5 people turned up in the end including Richard who seemed to say he wasnt going to stay.. We were also joined at close proximity by the Mosqueto Plane, so close infact I actually covered up the Scope to stop unpleasent precipitation on the mirror!!
The early Evening allowed us to see Venus and Mars but no Mercury. Mars was very small (Subsequent evenings were a lot clearer and there was a nice "triangle" of Mercury , Mars and Venus seen for several days)
As the sky grew darker and inspite of the haze the Milky Way became quickly visible and the sky was especially clear in Sagittarius- allowing us to see the Steam from the "Teapot" very clearly
Next up was Jupiter and we were lucky to see Europa appear from "no where".
The Septembers edition of Sky and Telescope shows this as Sept 4 0:43 II.Ec.R.
The 0:43 is easy as its GMT, so - 5 hours gives us 7:43 PM
II stands for Europa
Ec is the object is in Eclipse by Jupiters Shadow
R stands for Reappears!
Also seen was the Red Spot, seen with a good high powered eyepiece and averted vision- but clearly seen all the same! The sky although hazy was obviuolsy giving us very stable viewing conditions
Our viewing then turned to Sagittarius, objects M22 , The Lagoon Nebula M8 were seen, including the Dust lane in M8. A quick trip to the Scorpians tail gave us and the Ptolomys Cluster (M7) and the Butterfly Nebula (M6)
After this we saw The Ring Nebula in Lyra and of course Alberio the famous double star in Cygnus.
A number of sparodic meteors were seen (September Perseids or from Auriga ? ) as were a few satellites waited for and observed.
However the prize of the evening was right at the end- an Iridium Flare at 20:24 PM - at Mag -2 although it seemed brighter. A nice end to the Evening
Nick wasnt able to make the evening either but around 5 people turned up in the end including Richard who seemed to say he wasnt going to stay.. We were also joined at close proximity by the Mosqueto Plane, so close infact I actually covered up the Scope to stop unpleasent precipitation on the mirror!!
The early Evening allowed us to see Venus and Mars but no Mercury. Mars was very small (Subsequent evenings were a lot clearer and there was a nice "triangle" of Mercury , Mars and Venus seen for several days)
As the sky grew darker and inspite of the haze the Milky Way became quickly visible and the sky was especially clear in Sagittarius- allowing us to see the Steam from the "Teapot" very clearly
Next up was Jupiter and we were lucky to see Europa appear from "no where".
The Septembers edition of Sky and Telescope shows this as Sept 4 0:43 II.Ec.R.
The 0:43 is easy as its GMT, so - 5 hours gives us 7:43 PM
II stands for Europa
Ec is the object is in Eclipse by Jupiters Shadow
R stands for Reappears!
Also seen was the Red Spot, seen with a good high powered eyepiece and averted vision- but clearly seen all the same! The sky although hazy was obviuolsy giving us very stable viewing conditions
Our viewing then turned to Sagittarius, objects M22 , The Lagoon Nebula M8 were seen, including the Dust lane in M8. A quick trip to the Scorpians tail gave us and the Ptolomys Cluster (M7) and the Butterfly Nebula (M6)
After this we saw The Ring Nebula in Lyra and of course Alberio the famous double star in Cygnus.
A number of sparodic meteors were seen (September Perseids or from Auriga ? ) as were a few satellites waited for and observed.
However the prize of the evening was right at the end- an Iridium Flare at 20:24 PM - at Mag -2 although it seemed brighter. A nice end to the Evening
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday 4th August - Pedros
I was off Island (Chris) but Nick went down as usual. Inspite of the hazy hot weather good crowd turned up many of them visitors to the Island and a good range of ages too
A successful but dry evening!
A successful but dry evening!
Sunday 6th July - Pedros
A Hot Muggy meeting with muggy cloud. Inspite of this we observed Saturn and Jupiter as well as our favorites for this time of the year- the Jewel box and Omega Centauri. Alpha Centauri also resolved well into its apparent binary system.
The Southern Cross was not easy to resolve and it also took us a while to see the Jewel Box.
Last month was definitely the better month to observe this constellation, but we have a teapot to look forward too!!
We also had a quick look at Scorpio but the heat and humidity persuaded us for a finish at Durty Reids
The Southern Cross was not easy to resolve and it also took us a while to see the Jewel Box.
Last month was definitely the better month to observe this constellation, but we have a teapot to look forward too!!
We also had a quick look at Scorpio but the heat and humidity persuaded us for a finish at Durty Reids
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday 5th June Pedros Castle
Nick and I arrived early- the weather looked mixed but started clearing.
After the Moon , Mars and Saturn ( 3 of its moons were visible) a couple of satellites were looked for - one seen!
The Southern aspect this time of the year is very grand, even though there is nearly always a slight haze near the horizon. the aspect at Pedros nearly always gives a good clear dark sky to the South
The Southern Cross (Crux) was clearly seen with the complex Centurus to its left. Alpha Centuari is seen as a nice easy double star (although its far more than that of course).
Also observed were the "Jewel Box" (NGC 4755) and Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) seen tonight with the naked eye.
I was very keen to push my knowledsge to the right of Crux, namely the Constellation of Carina.
Eta Carinae - the Keyhole Nebula has become almost a quest of Holy Grail proportions for me but I still struggle to find it. I did come across the "Southern Pleiades" (IC 2602) and a very nice open cluster ( which is either NGC 3766 or NGC 3532). The low haze won.
After brief refreshment at Durty Reids we re immerged to the car park to see Scorpius fully risen, the stars (Shaula and Lesath) representing the stinger clearly seen high in the sky.
Still no sign of Jupiter rising in the East though
After the Moon , Mars and Saturn ( 3 of its moons were visible) a couple of satellites were looked for - one seen!
The Southern aspect this time of the year is very grand, even though there is nearly always a slight haze near the horizon. the aspect at Pedros nearly always gives a good clear dark sky to the South
The Southern Cross (Crux) was clearly seen with the complex Centurus to its left. Alpha Centuari is seen as a nice easy double star (although its far more than that of course).
Also observed were the "Jewel Box" (NGC 4755) and Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) seen tonight with the naked eye.
I was very keen to push my knowledsge to the right of Crux, namely the Constellation of Carina.
Eta Carinae - the Keyhole Nebula has become almost a quest of Holy Grail proportions for me but I still struggle to find it. I did come across the "Southern Pleiades" (IC 2602) and a very nice open cluster ( which is either NGC 3766 or NGC 3532). The low haze won.
After brief refreshment at Durty Reids we re immerged to the car park to see Scorpius fully risen, the stars (Shaula and Lesath) representing the stinger clearly seen high in the sky.
Still no sign of Jupiter rising in the East though
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thursday 8 May 2008 Pedros
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
-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
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