LukeSkywatcher

Not astro related, but a letter from my Prize Bonds saying I won another €50. That's € 200 that I have won in a month.

5 minutes ago, Stu said:

It does rather, but it’s her favourite and fortunately is one of the few toys she can’t destroy in 5 minutes flat!

I thought it was a Turnip too. Mine and Lorna's least desirable veg. We both detest it.

I'd rather spend time with Molly, but she tucks herself into bed at 10pm religiously. 

She's will be 7 yrs old on 10th June.

Welcome back Barkis.

Life and health does have a way of getting in the way.

I've never had an issue with viewing through a window. The only thing to be mindful of is that the heating in that room is switched off.

You probably don't get the best view, but you get a view.

23 hours ago, Paul M said:

Way to go.

I've seen 2 total solar eclipses, both with just my eyes and eclipse glasses (outside of totality).

We travelled to Turkey for our second eclipse. Right on the center line. I booked 12 months in advance, having done much homework.

We walked down to the beach for totally, where we saw the Sky & Telescope eclipse  expedition set up on the beach. Loads of fancy kit and cameras. All poised for those few minutes of immersion in the Moon's shadow. Anoraks and wooley hays abound.

Me, bare feet on the sand in my Speedos, seeing it, feeling it.

Some things have to be experienced, rather than recorded.

 

 

 

Not sure about the Speedos in upstate NY in April 2024. My best man for our wedding is American and now lives again slap bang in the line of totality. 

If we go, it will be for our honeymoon.

2-3 weeks.

Let's wait and see.

20 minutes ago, Shimrod said:

You don't need to - just set the camera up on a tripod and leave it clicking away while you enjoy the view. You wouldn't be taking handheld photos and with the tripod, you can get yourself with the lights in the background as a bit of a memento photo!

I'm still planning/debating going to USA next April for the total solar eclipse.

If and when I get to see them (next year for my 50th), I certainly won't have my eye stuck behind a camera. 

It's Lorna's 50th birthday gift to me.

43 minutes ago, GalaxyGael said:

Boy wonder is the 6 incher and Alfred is the pier.

This is a family forum. You can't say such things.

Cut the roof off and you have the original Bat Mobile.

On 12/03/2023 at 03:24, JeremyS said:

I hear canaries going cheap at the moment 🤔

I prefer Parrots.

Myself and Lorna are going to Donegal on Thursday for 3 nights. It's her birthday treat for me. I'm hoping for some aurora activity.

46 minutes ago, Nicola Fletcher said:

I wish! 😜

Me too.

7 hours ago, Nicola Fletcher said:

Yes re. dog friendly - I bring my poodle on all my trips away so that is an essential feature!

Some places would be wheelchair friendly - especially bungalows. I suppose it’s just a matter of checking with the owner before booking 😊

Oh OK. I thought you owned a few rentals. 

1 hour ago, Jasonb said:

Another Dublin-born blow in to Naas here (though I'm 21 years here now!). Whereabouts do you observe from in Kildare, anywhere with decently dark skies?

 

I'm in Maynooth. I'm about 5 minutes walk from the Meath border. I'm surrounded by open countryside, so I'm spoiled for dark skies.

I don't own a Vixen scope, but I have plenty of their EPs. My absolute favourite.

The scariest moment that I ever had was when observing from my back garden and a cat decided to jump down beside me from the top of a neighbouring boiler house.

The funniest moment was when a hedgehog that was in my garden bumped into my tripod and refused to move until I moved my tripod out of it's way.

23 hours ago, Nicola Fletcher said:

Hi @Jasonb, I know a group meet at the Sugarloaf car park sometimes, and Glendalough is another lovely place. I’m in the fortunate position of having a small farm with great views so I tend not to travel unless meeting with others.

I have rented cottages in Wexford with lovely dark skies and of course the west is another fantastic destination (there are a couple of sample photos below).

@Bogmonster, the Irish Astronomy Week is coming up this month and has loads of events -  see https://www.irishastronomyweek.ie. I’m also a member of the Irish Astronomical Society. There are several clubs around the country and the midlands astronomy club is having their COSMOS star party on 25th March which I’ll be going to - see https://midlandsastronomy.ie/cosmos-2023.

Hope this is useful!

Are your rentals both wheelchair and dog friendly?

Looks amazing. 

Hello from Kildare. Dublin born and bred, but in Kildare for 9 yrs now. 

On 06/03/2022 at 19:08, DaveS said:

Unbelievable. Why do we need strawberries in winter?  .

Because they are gorgeous. I once bought some from Tesco. I kid you not, they were the size of Kiwi fruit.

5 minutes ago, 900SL said:

That brings back a memory of Tunisia  sunset in the Sahara and dozens of camel

I generally observe from my back garden. There was a time when I observed from a field of a small holding farmer who had a flock of sheep and 2 Donkey. I asked his permission.

It was located just off a secondary road, with drunk people passing by. I never felt endangered because my observing partners were the Donkies.  They hung around with me all night. I always brought a bag of carrots with me.

That dew shield is too long 

When will Branson be sending his contribution up?

I wear glasses 24/7, but never while observing. It's something that I've never done.

Does such a scope even exist?.