scotty1

@ Marvin Jenkins You say the clarity was amazing due to strong winds and heavy rain. Do you mean the heavy rain and strong winds had moved off, and improved the air quality behind a cold front?

Thanks , I'm guessing there is WiFi on the Seestar that connects to your phone, if you have signal.

Does the Seestar need to be near a mobile signal? If your out in rural areas sometimes the signal drops off.

Trying to pickup Aurora and just seen a decent meteor traveling from the NE at about 40°. It started in the N and tracked down towards the NW through Cassiopeia lasted about 2 seconds. Magnitude about -2 ish there was a slight covering of cirrus clouds.

I think this particular set of satellites may of been more visible , as they may have been recently deployed and still relatively in low orbit? I agree that light pollution is already degrading astronomy/astrophotography. Adding another layer of pollution with satellites is frustrating for anyone who cares about night skies.

Noticed these when walking back from town last Thursday.

This could be useful if your using the phone without the scope. If you don't need the tripod, just get a bluetooth remote. https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0CLYDZSTJ/ref=cm_cr_othr_mb_show_all_top?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

Unfortunately it was cloudy all night. Clear now though🤐. Perhaps that fireball Mike witnessed was a Quadrantid meteor, or sporadic. Should be clearer skies with high pressure building, if the fog holds off. Could be quite a cloudy High with milder air mixed into the Anticyclone

December 23rd 2023 Thunderbird 3 ready for blastoff Pixel 4a edited in phone December 26th 19.40GMT 2023 22° Luna Halo Pixel 4a edited in phone

On the lookout for Nacreous clouds, but I think they have gone for now. Could be a while before they are so widespread again. Last time I saw them was February 2016. It's very quiet out and the usual sound of roaring traffic is much reduced. Got this shot with Jupiter lower right.

December 24th 15.55GMT Moon and Nacreous clouds

What camera is that ELP?

Friday 15th Dec 23.30GMT I've been outside for 45mins , it's fairly clear Taurus and M45 easily visible. I haven't seen one meteor ,I didn't expect to see many , I thought there may of been about 5 per hour...

Completely clouded out last night. 13th/14th Had a half hour gap this evening (Thursday 14th 19.00-19.30 GMT) Saw 5 Geminids in about 15 mins , caught the brightest below Jupiter on dslr camera (10sec ISO 1600 f3.5). And also the same meteor on phone video, thought I'd just try a short handheld video as it was clear. PXL_20231214_192528449~3.mp4 PXL_20231214_192528449~7.mp4

"Of course, meteor showers fizzle, rather than sizzle, more often than not, which is part of the reason why the Geminids (and Perseids) are so spectacular: they’re reliable, year after year". 🤔 🤨

I was going to say ball-lightning , but now I've read there was a military testing station, it could of been flares, or paratroopers with flares on them.

Had a small session trying to see anything was difficult. Low cloud and mist, only Jupiter showing through the murk.

Poor visibility can barely see Jupiter through the low cloud and mist. Had a look for ten minutes didn't see anything.

Yes it's 15s exps , about 4 minutes in total. It's quite strange as it only becomes really obvious when trying to edit the photo. As I apply a curve, add contrast, brightness the banding effect becomes obvious. Like a zebra dark/light pattern. I tried the mobile lightroom app ,and it was there but less obvious. I also tried editing some older RAW photos taken earlier in the year, and with the same phone. The older photos didn't have the banding pattern, when I used Snapseed to edit them. I know the pixel 4a is not recieving any more updates since October. It shouldn't affect the camera though.

I've seen a bright earth grazer meteor heading towards me from the SW a few years back. It was twilight and the meteor flared up in short bursts as it tracked. The meteor was visible for about three seconds, between the bright flare ups, the meteor became dim, so it appeared to have a stepped track, brightening and almost disappearing.

It's woth taking more photos, as the Aurora is ramping up on the app..... Thick fog here.

Phone photo about 18.30GMT this evening. The Aurora is still quite active, but fog has arrived now. Can't see the fog shifting tonight.

The Aurora activity seems to be increasing again.

Looks like the UK is in the wrong hemisphere this time.

Mention of this on Spaceweather https://www.spaceweather.com/