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Demonperformer

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Everything posted by Demonperformer

  1. I guess not in the grand scheme of things. My interest lies in the fact that it is one of the 458 stars that were observed, measured and recorded by Flamsteed that failed to be included in the 1725 Catalogus Britannicus, and which is not specifically identified as such in the British Astronomical Catalogue, so it requires a bit more searching to identify what they are exactly. This is my first time dealing with the Histoire Céleste Française and it is the first time I have encountered this method of recording declination and was confusing it with NPD. It was only about five minutes after my original post that I realised that error and would have just deleted the post, but could not find a means of doing so, so updated it with my ongoing thinking. I just included the identification to round things off - I get rather irritated by threads that leave you hanging (I found the answer, but I'm not going to tell you what it is!). Thanks.
  2. Well, it was a bit fiddly, but it gave me an unambiguous solution. For anyone interested, the "star observed by Lalande in Histoire Celeste page 58, at 12h 40m 23,2s, mag.6" is HD111604. Thanks.
  3. Re-reading post, I think I see the solution. The zenith is not the pole, so I am going to have to work it out from the latitude of the observatory. I guess that makes sense in light of the instrument being used. This might take some time ...
  4. Probably a bit of a long-shot, but is anyone familiar with the 1801 Histoire Céleste Française by Jerome Lalande (https://archive.org/details/histoireclestef00lalagoog)? Specifically with the way in which the declination readings are recorded? I attach the image of a sample page, which may help explain my problem. On the right hand column, there are three stars labelled 15, 16 & 17 "Chiens" (=CVn), each of which has a "distances au zenit" (=NPD) of between 9 & 10 degrees, which my understanding would give them a declination of between +80 & +81 ... which is clearly wrong. Now I know I could just look up the declinations in my modern star list, but my situation is slightly more problematical. I have been referred to a star that "is the star observed by Lalande in Histoire Celeste page 58, at 12h 40m 23,2s, mag.6" (near the bottom of the left hand column). Now, if I can find the declination, I can precess it to J2000 and identify exactly to which star this refers, but without a declination, I am unable to do so. Now, it is true that there is a massive introduction to the volume, which may contain the answer, but it is in French - and mine is just not up to the task. So can anyone offer any info on how these (to me) weird NPD readings relate to reality? Thanks. [Not totally sure this is the right forum -- should it be in astrolounge? -- happy for mods to move it if they think it is better suited elsewhere] hcf84.pdf
  5. Hi, Jeff, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  6. Hi, Nicolàs, and welcome to SGL. Keep up the good work.
  7. Hi, Grzegorz, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  8. Hi, Barry, and welcome to SGL. If you have a standard DSLR, you could get a t/ring+nosepiece that would connect it straight into the eyepiece holder (probably your cheapest way in). Lots of other possibilities, but I used such a set up for a long time before getting into cooled ccd cameras. Certainly good enough for a start. A webcam might be better for the moon and planets, but will be (slightly) more expensive than the above option. I wouldn't worry about a wedge unless you get into serious DSO imaging. All that does is prevent the field rotating over a long period. For visual or EAA (electronically assisted astronomy) you won't notice the difference. Can't offer any advice on viewing from indoors, but I'm sure someone will have the answers. Enjoy the journey.
  9. NGC 5195 visible? Check. Spiral arms visible? Check. Bridge between the galaxies visible? Check. Pretty good result with such limited data using a stock DSLR. Well done.
  10. Well, I can't pretend it is very good, but it is clearly identifiable, which is always a good sign. And, most importantly, you are happy to have taken it. That is what a hobby is all about. And it is certainly no worse than my first photo, which you could just about recognise as Jupiter. And I guarantee you will be taking better pics before long. Well done.
  11. 6857BC was before even my time. What was the duration of the entire event?
  12. Hi, Steve, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  13. Hi, Grayskies, and welcome to SGL. Nice pic. What equipment did you use and how much data is in there? Thanks.
  14. Hi, Monty, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  15. Hi, Patrick, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  16. Learning the sky does take a bit of time and effort, but it is worth it. A few things to try from Ursa Major (as you have found that!) * Follow the 'pointers' the wrong way and you will come to a bright star - Regulus in Leo. Leo is a great constellation, because it is one of the few constellations that does look vaguely like the object it is supposed to represent. Contains two great 'triplets' of galaxies and (one that can be easily overlooked) NGC 2903 just off from the 'nose' of the lion. * Follow the curve of the bear's tail and you will come to a bright red star. This is Arcturus in Bootes (a massive, but pretty obscure constellation, truth be told) which does contain some interesting double stars. * Continue the curve beyond Arcturus and you come to another reasonably bright (white) star - Spica in Virgo, which is the largest constellation in the sky and contains thousands of galaxies, many within the range of a small telescope. It has a sort of 'Y' shape and the 'bowl' of the Y is where you will find them. There you go ... three constellations to look for. Find them once and they become a lot easier. Orion is another great 'signpost' later in the year. As you find constellations, just start to fill in the gaps. This time next year, you will be navigating the night sky like a pro.
  17. Very nice. Must admit to sharing your liking for Plato. Catch it right and you get a wonderful display as the shadows move across the crater floor. Thanks for posting.
  18. Hi, Andy, and welcome to SGL. Try to resist parting with the 150 until you have had a view of Saturn through it. Maybe such a view would encourage your wife to allow you to keep it ... Enjoy the journey.
  19. Hi, Wojtek, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  20. That is an excellent M101. Bodes well for your future efforts.
  21. Totally agree. The only person against whom you are competing is yourself. We all start out as rank amateurs and (hopefully) improve. And on here people offer constructive criticism - to build you up not make themselves feel superior.
  22. Very nice. If you were getting "ripped to shreds" for previous pictures, your technique has obviously improved dramatically and that is an achievement. You can now leave those critics in the rear-view mirror and just go from strength to strength. Illegitimi non carborundum!
  23. Hi, Khalid, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  24. Hi, Gary, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.
  25. Hi, SO, and welcome to SGL. If AP is your passion, this book is worth checking out. Enjoy the journey.
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