(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…
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,…
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 yearNick Hewitt: Barnard, Gordon and the darknessPaul Curtis: Deep sky imaging and processing using a…