Monthly archives: April, 2013

Observing Session: 30, April

Another clear night – the fourth in the last five nights and I’m beginning to feel quite knackered. I suppose I shouldn’t complain as I have been moaning for the last few months on how it would be nice to get more clear nights. This evening all the technology seemed to be working flawlessly. I’m now able to turn on and off the recorder at the right points 🙂 and the orientating of Skytools…


Observing Session 29, April

I have to admit that this session was a bit of a balls up in saving my observations long enough to get them written to the log.  However, with one failure, I have one success,  so the evening wasn’t completely wasted. So lets get the failure out the way first. I got myself a digital voice recorder a few months ago, but up until now, have never used it in anger. Until tonight that…


Another Bout of Galaxies: Observing Sessions 26/27 April

(M86, M84, NGC4388, NGC4387 and NGC4402 & lots of other eye candy)Another two observing nights in a row – again 🙂 Having said that though, the first, last Friday night,  the conditions were really poor with a rising full Moon, so I won’t go into too much detail. hese last few weeks I’ve always tried to observe Comet C/2011 L4 Panstarrs, whenever there has been an opportunity Couldn’t see it at all for the first…


M40. What was Messier thinking of? 19/20 April

19, April I’m beginning to see a trend in my observational posts recently. It runs along of the lines of  ‘Observed this, but conditions were poor’  Last weekend was no exception, but at least I got two nights in a row to not really see very much. I won’t bother to give any detailed observing stats,  as conditions were so poor, but I was just so desperate to get out and see something- anything!!…


Observing Session: Galaxy Pig Out: 2, April

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…