johnfosteruk

Funnily enough Steve, I did a similar thing on our neighbourhood Facebook Group and there has been quite a good response. Lots of questions answered. It's nice to help others take their mind off the crisis.

Evening all. We're not self isolating, so far all fit and well. Unfortunately/fortunately (depending on how I'm feeling on the day) we're both still having to go to work (all possible precautions being taken) but obviously when I'm not at work I'll be at home 100% of the time so I do have a lot more spare time now. Like many here, I have a number of projects 'on the go', which I plan to put more time into for the foreseeable future. One of them is the perfect, comprehensive, all encompassing stellar atlas. There are so many available, each with their advantages and disadvantages, but is there something missing? I'm just fettling with data at the moment, putting some Python scripts together to pull/collate/manipulate some data from various sources (Vizier etc) and before I move on to next steps I'd like to ask for some input from my SGL friends. What would make the perfect atlas for you? A few (but not all) things to think about: Presentation (size/weight, colours, fonts, labels etc) Angular resolution Grid format, line width Structure/layout/flow of the atlas Selection/type of objects (Variables, Doubles, DSOs, asterisms, groups etc) Presentation of non stellar objects (how to give the observer a better idea of what they're looking for) Limiting magnitude (stellar and non stellar objects) Representation of objects (marker shapes, sizes, colours) Other useful information that could be represented (eg Milky Way contours, Spectral type, proper motion etc) I'm also thinking about a web version. I'm going to be using code to put it together, so it just needs a bit (maybe a lot ) more code to present it online and interactive. So what would you love to see in a web edition? A few (but again, not all) pointers: Limiting Magnitude again (ability to change this) Coordinate systems (eg switching between RA/Dec & Alt/Az) Zoom/scaling Filtering Objects Producing printed charts Including solar system objects So, what niggles you about the existing Atlases on the market? What's missing? What are the best bits of one that you'd like to see put together with the best bits of another? Do you have an atlas that's otherwise perfect except for one really annoying omission or error? All thoughts will be given due consideration, no guaranteed completion date will be given (Think of it like Microsoft )

This evening's effort. A little cloud for atmosphere, and a few stars as well.

That, and it's just quite simply one of the most lovely things you can see with the naked eye. It's bloody beautiful

I got home from work and the Moon looked just spectacular. I didn't have long to play as the Present Mrs Foster wanted to serve dinner but our neighbour would have set by the time we'd finished eating, I grabbed the Tamron and the Sigma and grabbed a few snaps handheld. Here are the results. Crescent Earthshine Conjunction

Stunners Roger, Luna did look stunning this evening hanging under Venus

I Saw it on the way home from work at 8pm (key worker so not breaking the rules, not that anyone here would jump to conclusions anyway ) and smiled a lot. It's been a few months since I've caught a thin crescent so thanks for sharing Michael 👍

Single shot with the Tamron, not handheld this time.

Shot with the Tamron again, a bit hazy this evening but still managed to capture a reasonable single frame.

It's been a while (again) but it was a lovely clear evening and I have a super-zoom lens to play with Single shot, with the Tamron 150-600 at 600mm. F11, ISO 100, 1/160s, handheld with IS turned on. Not bad.

Lovely image with really good colour, well done

Very nice, I don't think I have much by way of last quarter images either. Thanks for reminding me

Outstanding image, Schroter's Valley is very sharp.

Thanks Steve, there's so much detail. I studied so much more than my meagre notes attest, but I've always struggled to tear my eye away from the eyepiece long enough to take notes!

Outstanding report Danny, first of many I hope Pythagoras did give spectacular views last night.

Yes, the 102 has an extra stop doesn't it, 12.7 to the 127's 11.8.

By the look of your report, I think it already has! 👍

Thanks Alan, I don't know about beating the 127 but the 102 does certainly punch above it's weight!

Although I've had a few quick observing sessions this year, my last proper session when it wasn't full moon was 7 months ago and I've been missing it, a lot. Last night when I left the office the skies were clear, the moon looked spectacular and the forecast was clear for the whole evening, as was my diary. So I put the little Skymax 102 out to cool and after dinner I had a cracking session. Seeing was a reasonable 8/10, the Moon was at a respectable altitude, and after spending 30 minutes doing maintenance I spent 2 hours observing. Lots of fun was had at the Lunar tourist spots then I grabbed the Nikon and captured some images. Small RGB moon, best 10% of 500 video frames Closer, 25% of 100 still frames, Mono Closer still, best 10% of 1000 video frames with the 2.5x Barlow. RGB

Splendid Steve. I was struck by the beauty of the first quarter Moon on the 4th as well but didn't have time to do anything, thanks for sharing. Now get back to the dark side

Although I've had a few quick observing sessions this year, my last proper session when it wasn't full moon was 7 months ago and I've been missing it, a lot. Last night when I left the office the skies were clear, the moon looked spectacular and the forecast was clear for the whole evening, as was my diary. So I put the little Skymax 102 out to cool and after dinner I had a cracking session. Seeing was a reasonable 8/10, the Moon was at a respectable altitude, and after spending 30 minutes doing maintenance I got stuck straight in with the 13mm Hyperion, the whole disk filling the field at 100x. Aristarchus shining like a jewel, Schroter's valley clearly visible at this magnification, familiar friends along the southern terminator inviting me to look closer, I quickly switched to the 10mm giving 130x and browsed over the southern terminator. Lots of browsing around, reacquainting myself with the Lunar tourist spots followed 45 minutes was consumed with Schickard and the surrounding area. The shared northern walls of Phocylides and Nasymith form a summit of sorts and cast an impressive shadow, I spent 20 minutes just making sense of that! On to Reiner Gamma, the peculiar swirls seeming oddly out of place then a switch to the 8mm for a closer look at Aristarchus at 162.5x (which def gave some benefit over the 10mm). On to Schroter's valley and the Cobra's head. Finally, I meandered up towards the North Pole for a look around Pythagoras, Babbage, Markov. Pythagoras' central peak was poking it's head out of the blackness below and Babbage A&C added some interest to their otherwise plain looking parent crater. Then I switched to the Nikon and grabbed some images to finish of a very nice couple of hours.

Thanks for the heads up Paul but it’s miserable here so no go for me just yet.

We weren’t going this year due to timing but I’m sorry to see the weather got the better of us!!! Better luck next year.

Outstanding, you did well

Brilliant set, well done