Marvin Jenkins

Sorry, didn’t mean to leave you out. I have seen plenty of your work product and you need no help from a relative beginner. I wasn’t deliberately leaving you out but you are well established on here, and for good reason, your Astro pics are amazing. I am going on a bit of a road trip next year, so perhaps I could knock on your door and say hello. Never been to Provence or near the Alps. Marvin

Some amazing stuff on this thread. Been running for a long time, so guess the topic is really relevant. I have a couple of pics that I am not happy with. But as soon as the weather is clear I hope to contribute to this as it seems sooooo valid. Marvin

My skies are ok about a B4 as I am in the countryside without neighbours. My nearest small village is three kilometres away and the street lights are turned off at midnight, which is great. I do however have some light pollution to my south and west thanks to large towns about twenty five k’s away. All in all I can’t complain as I see some of the inner city back gardens some people on here have to use and I count myself lucky. I have a mountain range about 100k to my south and if I can see it during the day then conditions are normally amazing. Big problem at the moment is it will not stop raining. Now how about that bird?

Good to see you here. How are your skies in New Mexico? Interesting avatar, is the beautiful bird an Eagle Owl? Marv

Steviebee, roughly where in the Lot? I have this strange idea for a southwest star party some time in the future. Nothing heavily organized but just a meeting of minds somewhere in the dark at first. Never know where these can go. There is a group of astronomers that did an outreach around St Maurin, Puymirol, nearest big town Agen which I missed. I intend to get get in contact with these local star gazers and find out if there is a club. If any expats are interested in getting together then contact me direct on here. A little networking maybe be a good thing. Marvin

A truly great trip round the night sky. So many questions, but the one to ask -18c!!! That lazy feeling may have been approaching death as your brain shuts down blood flow to hold heat in your core. Well done despite dodging the grim reaper, that is a session to remember. Marv

Hayduke27, how is your weather? So bad here I can’t believe it. I get the feeling that I am going to miss this one, so if you get the chance to see it please post. I will keep an eye on widefield, comets and asteroids in the hope that someone with clear skies can at least give me a description. Marvin

Arrrr spell check. Biko should read Bukko.

Hi Rick. Welcome on board. There are few people on here that are Living in France, Fozzy Bear and Biko to name two. I have to say I haven’t visited the Audi but it does look like we are all sharing the same universal weather. I am in Tarn et Garonne, on the tri boarder between T and G, Lot and Lot et Garonne. See you around the forum. Marvin

I’m getting worried. Where is Demon Performer? On holiday I hope without the face paint so you don’t scare any children. Let us know all is good as I am getting spooked by your absence. M

Many of you may already know about this but I have just stumbled across this on the British Astronomical Society web site, britastro.org. I have always been in awe of past astronomers that did astrophotography in the film era and even more mad, glass plate, Mr Hubble! One of the main headings on the home page is about a large archive of images that are being digitised from our past and I have to say they are astounding. Please have a look as this seems to be a treasure box of delights and at a minimum we owe it to the people that came before us. Perhaps there are some observers on here that may have known some of the earlier imagers? Marvin

Thank you very much. Up until this moment I was unaware of the Sharpless catalogue. I will have a little dig and expand my mind. Marvin

Don’t want to sound silly, I might have missed something, but what object is this? M

Can’t see anything due to the cloud😁

What do you mean get up for work? There is a contractual get out of clause encompassed in one word “ normallament”

Good job it’s not the month of May. Five bank holidays! Imagine the heavens halting for five days in one month! Would put Stellarium in a twist for sure.

Just thought I would add a correction to the speed of light v distance of planets question. If the light in question is going to be seen from anywhere in France between midday and two pm then you need to add two hours to the time taken. (Nothing happens at lunch time) After lunch time, time travels at half speed till 3 pm and you need to take into account the recent clock change and also I am one hour ahead. No wonder I am confused.

Education today!!! All you had to do in my day was turn up and you got a fail. Did you mention the Roman helmet was called a Galea?

Breath taking, one of those super rare sessions we all dream about. I have been there a couple of times so a smile on my face for you. Great pictures by the way. So much accomplished, thank you for the report. Living in low cloud and fog right now so thank you again for reminding what is above the mirk. Marv

I love it all. Don’t wish for failure but blowing ‘stuff’ up is part of the fun. Good luck with the flight. Please post on this thread, I would love to see the end result. A grade, for your grand daughter I hope. Marv

Just got online and noticed your post. I saw the crescent moon before dark with a bright star below and thought it must have been Jupiter. Weather here has been rubbish, but this evening there were clear patches. I went out with the DSLR, 200mm lens and tripod and the battery died on me. On charge for an hour whilst eating dinner and then total cloud cover. Just taken the dogs up the lane and the sky is opening up again! No moon though this late. Teach me a valuable lesson about being ready with the kit. Spare battery is now on the ever lengthening list. Marv

I have seen one of those before. I think I described as that bit of carbon fibre at the end of the mount! A thing of beauty to behold, that is for sure. M

Utterly ridiculous, I have no idea how you managed to create a thing like that. More power to you.

This will be my last reply to this thread. I am sorry, please accept my apology if you feel you have been wronged by my comments. It is not my intention to belittle your efforts in minimising your issues. I assumed wrongly that the mount in question with it’s drawbacks was a first for you as it was posted in the beginner section of this forum. As such I thought it was your first mount. A bientot Marvin

Makes you wonder what they are burning?