A reason to get up early

[djewesbury]

I can confirm that even through the thick storm clouds here in Berlin, the moon is unusually bright.

[TLW]

Good luck and clear skies to those that will hunt Pitbull.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Good luck and clear skies to those that will hunt Pitbull.

Is anyone else having trouble with the sound while watching SLOOH's re-run of Pitbull's fly past?

[AW77]

There was the phenomenon of the Northern Lights over Northern Ireland on Friday night:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-29190109
Did anyone see it? Daniel????

[djewesbury]

There was the phenomenon of the Northern Lights over Northern Ireland on Friday night:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-29190109
Did anyone see it? Daniel????

Unfortunately I forgot all about the Northern Lights last night having drunk some Guinness and a little bit more Guinness and some ale. They are supposed to be visible again tonight but it's been overcast. I'll go and check again shortly.

[Glenn E.]

I tried both Thursday and Friday nights, but there's just too much light pollution in the Seattle area. No Northern Lights for me.

[DRT]

For some reason I woke up early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to get up and when I went to the window I noticed this in the dawn sky:

NewMoon-21-09-2014.jpg (430.93 KiB) Viewed 4922 times

I only managed to get about 15 minutes before it became too bright to see clearly (the photo does not do justice to what could be seen through the telescope) so I started packing it all away. I glanced up to see if I could find Venus and noticed a very bright object about 20 degrees east of the Moon. Ah! There's Venus! Then I noticed that it was speeding towards the eastern horizon and after a few seconds it disappeared. Not Venus - it was the ISS.

Only a 15 minute session but definitely a reason to get up early

Now then, why was I so excited that I couldn't sleep? I'm sure it will come back to me.

[djewesbury]

I think I know.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Now then, why was I so excited that I couldn't sleep? I'm sure it will come back to me.

Was it because you were due in Birmingham later that day?

[TLW]

Had a wonderful lunar eclipse - a "blood moon" as I understand it is called, over Tokyo tonight. Very impressive.

[DRT]

Tonight we have a 99% Waning Gibbous Moon, photographed through my new Explore Scientific 70° 20mm eyepiece in a Celestron Omni XLT 150mm Newtonian at 37.5x magnification…

2014-11-08 00.34.14.jpg (294.34 KiB) Viewed 4782 times

[LGTrotter]

I thought a gibbous moon was a half moon, sort of.

Edit; looked it up, wrong again.

[djewesbury]

Splendid photograph. The1% of shadow gives wonderful definition at the edge. Thank you.

[DRT]

I thought a gibbous moon was a half moon, sort of.

It can be. The Moon becomes gibbous just before or after a half Moon.

[LGTrotter]

The Port Forum telescope seems to have been inactive recently. I notice the skies are clearing...

[DRT]

There is general frustration and disgruntlement amongst the astronomical hoi polloi at the lack of clear skies above northern Europe over the past few months. Even when we have had clear skies we have not had good "seeing" due to a very active atmosphere. Many millions of pounds worth of expensive glass is sitting in sheds doing nothing. Hopefully 2015 will be different.

[LGTrotter]

I saw three shooting stars in the space of two short fags this evening.

No, this is not some euphemistic suggestion. It's about astronony. Daniel. Derek.

[DRT]

Those would be Geminids. I am pleased that someone saw some. The cloud above my house was not quite so exciting.

[LGTrotter]

Those would be Geminids. I am pleased that someone saw some. The cloud above my house was not quite so exciting.

Excellent, I shall be able to introduce myself properly. The sky has partially clouded down here but it was pretty clear until midnight. The last meteor was spotted through haze/light cloud.

[DRT]

Gentlemen,

I would suggest you block out the morning of 20th March 2015 in your diaries and wish for a clear sky.

You might also want to buy a pair of these. If you want them, buy them now. Do not wait until a few days or weeks before. Dr Brian Cox will soon be on our TV screens promoting the event and recommending the same purchase.

Whatever happens, believe me, it is not the end of the world.

[LGTrotter]

Last time there was an eclipse I stood outside Eastbourne hospital and looked through x-ray plates at it.

[DRT]

Last time there was an eclipse I stood outside Eastbourne hospital and looked through x-ray plates at it.

Shhh! The Health & Safety Police are watching!

[djewesbury]

An eclipse!! An eclipse! I feel like a giddy girl! (No, Owen, etc etc)

[Glenn E.]

I plan to return to my childhood home for my birthday in 2017, as it will be dead center in the 2+ minute portion of GreatAmericanEclipse.com.

[DRT]

I plan to return to my childhood home for my birthday in 2017, as it will be dead center in the 2+ minute portion of GreatAmericanEclipse.com.

The event on 20th March 2015 occurs eight days before my 50th birthday. I consulted a local Druid who assured me that if I slay a dragon and am bathed in the milk of a hundred Unicorns by a dozen willing Maidens during the eclipse I will be 42 years old by the time I reach my birthday.

Does anyone know where I can find a dragon?