Curly Claire

5 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

Yes can see the connection with astronomy.

Both have the ability to transport our minds to far distant places. 

Absolutely! Getting "lost" looking up or listening to music.....is peaceful, awe inspiring and especially with astronomy is breathtakingly beautiful. Such wonderful feelings! 😊

3 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

You seem like someone that also has a passion for the arts. Something i understand as music has always been prominent. in my life. Just a vibe. But a good one. I've said it before, but will again. you have a poetic way with words. It creates that feeling of wonder and connection when read quite easily. Science and art collide.

How can one not smile.

 

Thank you! That's so kind! I LOVE music. Transports me to another place where I can just "be". 😊

4 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

It would be a much better world if more people looked at the sky instead of looking at their feet 

💯

13 minutes ago, Xgaze said:

This post made me smile too! 😁😁

Thanks CC!

It's one amazing benefit I hadn't expected before buying my scope; those shared experiences with others. They have been thoroughly and mutually satisfying and wholesome!!

Starting to get a name for myself now, as you have! 😆 As a stargazer. People looking up more when they're with me, asking questions etc...

What a fantastic hobby! 

Best,

Tony

A fantastic hobby indeed! 😊

Wow! 🔭

I smiled to myself late last night! 😁

My children and a few close friends know how much I love looking up! ✨ I picked my son up from the cinema last night and as we were driving home 🚗 he asked me if I was going out as it was a very clear night! I said of course. 😊

So we got home and he looked up and pointed and said Orions Belt yeah mum .....I said yep that's right! He said that star beginning with B is the nearly Supernova one yes? I smiled and said yes it is! He said where's the cluster you love, I pointed to the pleiades! He then said oh good because I showed Cristie (his girlfriend) all of those the other night!

Fast forward an hour or so and I'm out with my binoculars looking up and within the space of ten minutes two of my friends text me 📱 to say "Clear night Claire, bet you're out"! 😂 They both said they'd had a look up and thought wow!

Ten minutes later a colleague text me saying she'd just showed her husband Orion and his belt like I'd pointed out to her one night while we were working!

So this brings me back to why I smiled to myself late last night.....

The sharing of something I absolutely love, the sharing of a passion impacts others! Point someone's gaze gently upwards and the absolute majesty and wonder of the night sky takes over them too. The universe softly plays her music to all.....to all who are prepared to listen. 🥰

Just now, dave34 said:

Outstanding report Claire, i suspect your saturn report will leave you speechless.

I shall be posting this then.....🤐

🤣

32 minutes ago, StarryEyed said:

First time I saw Saturn, I was twelve and certainly didn't have the words to describe what I saw and felt but the image and feeling have stuck with me for the following forty three years. Reading your post brought both back into the present for me making me feel excited about astronomy again. This memory pops up from time to time and it joyous when it does.

Thanks for sharing. 

😁🔭

3 minutes ago, callisto said:

If you haven't already, just wait till you see Saturn 😲

 

Mark.

I'm looking forward to this day very very much! 😁🪐

1 hour ago, Ceramus said:

Beautiful 'report'. I was also amazed when I saw the Gas Giant and his moons for the first time at 3 in the morning when I was  only 12!

Something you never forget! 🙂

1 hour ago, cajen2 said:

Such a refreshing change from a typical bloke's observing report: " observed Jupiter with my Acme 150 apo refractor, using a Smith 5.2mm UFF EP, giving me 243x mag"😆

🤣 🤭

7 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Yes for many of us this winter has been dreadful for observing. It's been pretty much constant cloud at night here for at least three weeks too. 

I'm looking forward to your eye opening first 'proper' view. If this reaction is anything to go by, you may need sedation! 😁

Sedation!! 🤣

Bring on those clear skies then! 🙂

Just now, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

That's a start but go for gold. Observing the cloud belts and if you're lucky, the Great Red Spot plus other features as you get better really does add to the experience. 

If you could kindly arrange for clear skies in North Wales I'll be out there! 🤣

They are top of my list to observe! 🙂

26 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Oooh, I'm all aquiver! 😁

 

Claire, telescopically observing Jupiter for the first time does often seem to have an emotional effect in people. It certainly did for me. Did you manage to observe any particular features?

 

Just the moons, I could have focused in more but I was more than happy with what I saw! 😁

2 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

Very poetic. You have a way with words and feelings.

Inspiring actually. 

Thank you! 

Outside it was dark, it was cold, but her heart was warm inside. She was struggling to catch her breath in absolute awe of what she'd seen for the first time.

Jupiter.....the King.....the Lord of the night....the protective one.....the Master. There he was in her telescope eyepiece. In all his glory, his splendour! He captivated her heart like never before.....whispering so softly to her through the Universe's gentle music, caressing her soul.

She was blessed, she was oh so grateful. She said her most heartfelt thank you to him for showing himself and his Galilean moons so freely, so openly to her!

She felt so very very small but in a beautiful kind of way. She felt incredibly lucky and humbled to have seen the King in all his captivating, majestical beauty! This encounter would change her.....forever.

Jupiter.....you are loved.

Jupiter.....you are admired.

Jupiter.....you are perfection.

Jupiter..... I promise I will always know where you are. 

You are in the tender most part of my being. 

11 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

It's all going perfectly so far. Let's hope for an equally successful deployment.

So nervous! 😬

8 hours ago, Ags said:

I was surprised to see many negative comments online about the use of Ariane. But in reality it is the most reliable launch vehicle in service; it was designed to launch crewed flight after all.

I read this morning they didn't use full rocket power either so they could control James Webb better as ut can't slow down! 🚀

9 hours ago, Stu said:

It really was a textbook launch. So pleased for all the Ariane engineers who keep getting dissed because they are not as cool as SpaceX. The Ariane 5 a hugely reliable and important workhorse launch vehicle, which they should be proud of. Well done chaps and chapesses! I love the way it leapt off the pad once the SRBs ignited!

Off to a great start, let’s keep fingers crossed it carries on like this until full deployment 👍.

First correctional burn has gone well! 😁  Looking good so far! 

1 hour ago, Ags said:

Hi Claire, I watched the launch on tenterhooks too, but the rocket performed flawlessly. the next 30 days are full of risks (probably more risky than the launch) but the good news is I can't stay anxious that long! I feel for the engineers and scientists working on the project and I hope it will all work out in the end.

I've everything crossed! 🤞🤞🤞

1 hour ago, bomberbaz said:

I watched the launch on my phone as I was cooking the Christmas dinner, nearly burnt the pigs in blankets as a result 😂

Seriously like you I was so worried about something going wrong on the launch, but it was perfecto. 

Couldn't have gone any better! 😁 So very relieved!

James Webb...........speechless! 

I've had sleepless nights about this day!

I've been beyond excited! 🎉 Now let's hope everything goes to plan! 🤞

GO WEBB!!! 😁🔭

Oh......and Merry Christmas! 🎅⛄🎄

9 minutes ago, JRM said:

Welcome to the lounge Claire,  M42 , Saturn and of course Luna, enjoy the scope time.

Thank you! I am!! Well.....when it's clear!😂

17 minutes ago, Pete Presland said:

Venus Is well worth a look at the moment through your, it is currently a Large lovely thin crescent.  +1 for turn left at Orion book, excellent for planning your evening observations.

Thank you. 

29 minutes ago, Pete Presland said:

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire 🙂

👋