SCAG Obs night 30th July 2011 - New Forest

[russ]

Our next obs night is [hopefully] approaching. We have two nights planned:

30th July 2011 - deepsky night making the best of New Moon on that night. And also some summer skies that now get properly dark. If clear it should be spectacular.

6th August 2011 - Lunar, Jupiter and Meteor night. The Moon is full on the night of the Perseid maximum and the Moon does not set all night, making it pointless doing a meteor watch that night. So we are hoping we may see a few meteors a week before the maximum. Plus have a beautiful first quarter moon to observe and later on, Jupiter. Plus some dark skies once the Moon sets. Could be a cracking night.

Off course all this hinges on the absolutely dire summer weather giving us a break......hopefully we'll strike it lucky with a two day sunny break that seems to be the norm.

All welcome, you don't have to be a member of the South Coast social group. Just PM me or Shaunster for details.

[russ]

We also have C/2009 P1 Comet Garradd to view, our dark sky site should give us the best possible chance to see it well. A number of reports on CN say two tails are visible visually with a good aperture scope. We'll give it go!

[thunderchild]

Morning Russ, even i should be able to see it then .

stuart

[russ]

Morning Russ, even i should be able to see it then .

stuart

We'll be relying on you Stu. The guy on CN was using a 12" dob at 100x to view the comet and see two tails.

[thunderchild]

Russ that,s good news now i feel wanted, the only problem is a make shift light shroud , no astrozap's in stock anywhere, it still has not move out of the house with all this cloud.

[russ]

I didn't have a shroud for a month....just risked it without. Was biting my nails a bit at Turf Hill......."please don't drop that eyepiece!"

Watch the skies tonight and Sunday. Clear tonight apparently from 10pm to 2am. And then clear all night Sunday. I was out this morning checking out Jupiter and the Moon.......awesome!

[thunderchild]

the moon is still up here but its in my west so not good to see. need to find somewhere close to get clear sight of the horizon for anything else. I am like a big kid just itching to use THE BEAST as i call her.

[russ]

Weather forecast is looking promising at the moment, hopefully it will hold.