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Post by Tringa on Nov 27, 2020 9:25:18 GMT
An early heads up for an astronomical event.
Jupiter and Saturn will make a close approach on 21st December. They will be closer in the sky than at anytime since 1623.
The drawback is they will be low in the sky - from London only 12 degrees above the south western horizon, so a clear horizon is needed.
Dave
BTW I find InTheSky a very useful site.
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Post by ianr on Nov 28, 2020 10:20:48 GMT
Also I read that the Geminid meteor shower will be at it's best on 14th of December after midnight as ever, still they say it'll be the best of the year ian
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Post by Psamathe on Nov 28, 2020 11:18:57 GMT
Also I read that the Geminid meteor shower will be at it's best on 14th of December after midnight as ever, still they say it'll be the best of the year ian My astro diary says: So maybe, given our weather at the moment, worth trying the 13-14 night if weather OK then. Or even earlier or later as chances of a clear night on a specific day are probably "low". Ian
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Post by Tringa on Nov 28, 2020 21:23:23 GMT
Meteor showers, don't talk to me about meteor showers
I have yet to see anything even vaguely close to a meteor shower.
I have seen lots of other astronomical and sky things(planets, eclipses, comets, DSOs, halos around the sun and moon, sun pillars, broken spectre) but a meteor shower has always eluded me. It always seems to be cloudy.
Dave
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Post by ianr on Nov 29, 2020 9:01:16 GMT
Meteor showers, don't talk to me about meteor showers
I have yet to see anything even vaguely close to a meteor shower.
I have seen lots of other astronomical and sky things(planets, eclipses, comets, DSOs, halos around the sun and moon, sun pillars, broken spectre) but a meteor shower has always eluded me. It always seems to be cloudy.
Dave
Many years ago I'm talking 44yrs I was 21 and in the TA we were out one night on an escape and evasion exercise it was cold frosty and perfect clear skies. We made are way across some fields and all you could hear was the hum from the power lines. As the night drew on I thought I must be getting tired the stars seemed to be blurry it wasn't long before I cracked it, not my eyes but flashes of shooting stars that just got brighter. Until there was such a flash that it lit up the surrounding area, several of us hit the ground thinking it must have been a flare and we were just waiting for the gun shots and the call of 'you've had it lads' But not so it was a super bright meteor and not the only one there were several more that lit up the field and I swear you could hear the whoosh as they went over It turned out that night our team were the only ones not to get captured although the patting each other on the back soon subsided as we realised all the breakfasts had been eaten and all that was left was cold tea and toast ian
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Post by ianr on Dec 14, 2020 12:48:25 GMT
Stepped outside around 1.30am last night not to cold but patchy cloud. Orion on my right and the Plough on my left both nice and clear and directly overhead the odd shooting star, gave it about 45 mins and a count of 7 shooting stars bright enough to show through the cloud but short lived plus 1 satellite ian
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Post by rowanberry on Dec 15, 2020 9:43:38 GMT
I've not seen a proper shooting star in years- the last one must have been when I was in Canada, and it lit the sky it was so bright. I did find this photo online of the dates when the conjunction will be taking place. i.redd.it/hvm8elsmx5561.jpgI doubt we'll get to see it here in London; it will be too low to the horizon... it would be great if someone from here is lucky enough to, (weather permitting, of course.)
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Post by Tringa on Dec 15, 2020 16:57:27 GMT
Stepped outside around 1.30am last night not to cold but patchy cloud. Orion on my right and the Plough on my left both nice and clear and directly overhead the odd shooting star, gave it about 45 mins and a count of 7 shooting stars bright enough to show through the cloud but short lived plus 1 satellite ian
That is six more than me, Ian
I was out the night before the peak because the sky was clear, up to about 11:30pm. Saw just one and then it clouded over
Dave
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Post by Tringa on Dec 15, 2020 17:16:43 GMT
I've not seen a proper shooting star in years- the last one must have been when I was in Canada, and it lit the sky it was so bright. I did find this photo online of the dates when the conjunction will be taking place. i.redd.it/hvm8elsmx5561.jpgI doubt we'll get to see it here in London; it will be too low to the horizon... it would be great if someone from here is lucky enough to, (weather permitting, of course.)
I have just (1705) come in from the back garden and Jupiter is easy to spot, though due to light pollution, the low altitude and perhaps because it is only a bit over an hour from sunset, I could not see Saturn with the naked eye. Both were clear in binoculars.
However, they are very low down and getting lower as the night progresses.
Hope the sky is clear on the 21st.
Just wish more stars were visible from towns.
Dave
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Post by rowanberry on Dec 21, 2020 9:25:38 GMT
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Post by Tringa on Dec 21, 2020 9:54:19 GMT
A record shot through the trees from yesterday evening. There was a clear patch so I had a go even though the closest approach is tonight, but the forecast does not look good. Unfortunately I don't have my tripod with me, so hand held at a high ISO Dave conj by Dave Marley, on Flickr
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Post by ianr on Dec 22, 2020 6:59:47 GMT
Last night was just to cloudy to see anything here I did get to see both planets the other night though and there's always Mars at least I think it's Mars bright in the east ian
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