Two ‘sort of clear nights’ in a row. While conditions were not ideal – again – it wasn’t something to be missed. With Leo being well placed for observation, I thought it was about time I had a serious attempt at some of the galaxies on offer in the area Session Data Date: 02/04/2013Time: 20:18 – 22:58 UTTemp: 1.2c, Air Pressure: 1003Mb, Humidity: 72%, Dew point: -3.2c, Wind Speed: 4 MPH . Seeing: I Perfectly Stable, Transparency:…
Observing/Imaging Session: Comet C/2011 L4 Panstarrs…finally
The last few weeks have been rather infuriating. Clear skies during the day, but come sunset, low cloud rolls in and covers the critical area where C/2011 L4 has been lurking. But last night the gaps were bigger and lasted long enough to make it worthwhile getting the binoculars out. Normally I would have opened up the observatory, but with 15mph – gusting 20 mph, the roof would have taken flight. Even then, the target…
Observing Session: The Elusive C/2011 L4 Panstarrs
Last week started off with a little bit of excitement. A BAA news email on Monday announced that Comet C/2011 L4 had a few sightings by BAA members in Southern England. Here in Cornwall, we are more Southerly than most, but as yet , this little puppy has eluded all attempts to observe it. While we have had a few clear days this week, the 20 degrees above the horizon where the Comet is,…
Thief
It’s been a pretty busy week for the wildlife here. The technological highlight is that Sand’s Swann Outback camera is starting to perform. She placed it on what looked like a well used animal track and to tempt whatever wildlife did come along, she placed a stale loaf of bread about 8ft from the camera. We were rewarded with something bigger than a Rook and at night. This little fella looks rather suspicious of…
Weekend Jolly
Last weekend we both went up to Cheltenham for the British Astronomical Association’s Annual Deep Sky Section Meeting, While I have been to the BAA’s Winchester weekend for the last six years, this was my first visit to one of their section meetings. The itinerary for the day was a follows. Stewart Moore: A review of the deep sky year Nick Hewitt: Barnard, Gordon and the darkness Paul Curtis: Deep sky imaging and processing…
Imaging/Observing Session 19, Feb.
Wow. Two clearish nights in a row. Objects: Jupiter, Clavius Crater- The Moon, The Double star Almaak, M51 and two Caroline Herschel objects NGC2204 and NGC381. Session Started 19:27Seeing: II Slight quivering of the imageTransparency: Poor. The Milky way was invisible and only principle Constellations stars were seen below a altitude of 45 degreesAirmass at time of observation: Jupiter – 1.2 , Clavius Crater- The Moon – 1.2 , Almaak – 1.3, M51 – 1.8, NGC2204 –…