orion25

Star Trails over Whistler. BC, Canada

Moon tonight looked beautiful through my 11x80mm. binoculars!

Nice music taste! Who's the band in black and white in front the plane? Led Zeppelin?  

Looking good so far for clear skies tonight. Hope I don't get disappointed again when darkness falls! Fingers crossed for some meteor sightings, and a little observing too!  

Looking good so far for clear skies tonight. Hope I don't get disappointed again when darkness falls! Fingers crossed for some meteor sightings, and a little observing too!  

Looking good so far for clear skies tonight. Hope I don't get disappointed again when darkness falls! Fingers crossed for some meteor sightings, and a little observing too!  

Out hunting Perseids this morning! Just came inside for a moment to post. My first was a bright one with a long trail in the western sky, streaking in an almost perfect line from north (just under Ursa Major) to south (under Boötes). Stellar! Hope everyone gets an opportunity to see some. Peace out 

Can't wait till Monday (fingers crossed!) when my new refractor arrives. I'll be like a kid on Christmas morning!  

Last night was a beautiful night in Lowestoft. I didn't crack out any of my imaging rigs as some of my children and grandchildren are staying with us this weekend. Did however, watch the ISS sail across the sky in its own majestic way. It always cheers me up. However much the news is full of grim stuff about our species, it remains such an inpiring symbol of what Homo Sapiens can achieve when we cooperate,  collaborate and celebrate our intelligence rather than our prejudices.

After midnight, I also 'snuck in' an hour observing with the naked eye and my big Bins. The Milky Way was truly magnificent stretching from almost horizon to horizon.  I also believe that with averted vision I could just make out the misty patch that is the Andromeda Galaxy. If I did, its the first time with the naked eye from our backyard. The sky was pretty transparent as I could see quite a lot of stars within the square of Pegasus.

I finished the night in my shed monitoring my laptop screen as my homemade SDR radar meteor set up captured some pretty hefty pings. I know interpreting this information is quite difficult, but I presume the duration of a ping is in some way proportional to a meteor's momentum and that if meteors from a shower share a common velocity, then these meteors had a greater mass than many of the others my set up has recorded over the past two days.

Last night was a beautiful night in Lowestoft. I didn't crack out any of my imaging rigs as some of my children and grandchildren are staying with us this weekend. Did however, watch the ISS sail across the sky in its own majestic way. It always cheers me up. However much the news is full of grim stuff about our species, it remains such an inpiring symbol of what Homo Sapiens can achieve when we cooperate,  collaborate and celebrate our intelligence rather than our prejudices.

After midnight, I also 'snuck in' an hour observing with the naked eye and my big Bins. The Milky Way was truly magnificent stretching from almost horizon to horizon.  I also believe that with averted vision I could just make out the misty patch that is the Andromeda Galaxy. If I did, its the first time with the naked eye from our backyard. The sky was pretty transparent as I could see quite a lot of stars within the square of Pegasus.

I finished the night in my shed monitoring my laptop screen as my homemade SDR radar meteor set up captured some pretty hefty pings. I know interpreting this information is quite difficult, but I presume the duration of a ping is in some way proportional to a meteor's momentum and that if meteors from a shower share a common velocity, then these meteors had a greater mass than many of the others my set up has recorded over the past two days.

Perseus Double Cluster. OMG....

Perseus Double Cluster. OMG....

Having a lovely relaxed dobs obs session on the Moon, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, no photography, no hassle, just looking, heaven! :-)

Best seeing I've had tonight. Planets oozing detail

I have a cracking view of mercury in the baby tak at x65

I have a cracking view of mercury in the baby tak at x65

I have a cracking view of mercury in the baby tak at x65

Leaving for a week or 5 on family gig Tuesday am. Hoping for better weather upon my return. Be carrying my binoculars and a few changes of clothing.

As Arnold says - "I'll be back."

Dave

10mm SLV arrived. I can actually see the whole FOV with my glasses on (just!). Still not comfortable but a substantial improvement over what I had. Can't wait to try it out!

10mm SLV arrived. I can actually see the whole FOV with my glasses on (just!). Still not comfortable but a substantial improvement over what I had. Can't wait to try it out!

At last, a proper imaging night. 6 hours of subs in the can. Stunning out there all night. Packed in at 3.15am. Stood for a last gawp at the sky and a bright meteor sped through Leo. Beautiful. Unlike me this morning... I look and feel like I haven't slept. I love that 'image-over' feeling!

My binoculars - Celestron Skymaster 15 X 70mm - arrived from Agena. They were very well packaged. First impressions: Focus smooth and fine, including right-side diopter. Collimation is spot-on. A servicable carry-case. Tripod-adapter included. Very good views. All in all - no problems to report. Excellent value for the price.

My binoculars - Celestron Skymaster 15 X 70mm - arrived from Agena. They were very well packaged. First impressions: Focus smooth and fine, including right-side diopter. Collimation is spot-on. A servicable carry-case. Tripod-adapter included. Very good views. All in all - no problems to report. Excellent value for the price.

Cracking view of M42 tonight. E& F stars visible early on.

Happy new year folks - all the best for 2016.