Clear Skies Diary S Wales 2013

[garethmob]

I had vets for the dog this afternoon I could get to them as the people who have garage next to me have a freelander and a landrover discovery(named Dorris who's only purpose in life is to do specialised off road trails) but the vets was open but no vets actually could get in

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[stevetynant]

Day 19 19th January 2013 Observable nights 2013 2 /19

Rain during day 10/19 Snow during day 6/19

Consecutive Non Observable nights 4 (starting 16 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8(1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting X 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 1.2 C 15th Jan 2013 20:10

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero

Not sure whats happening with the forun software now as it won't let me copy the formatting on the text and even the formatbox is greyed out - none the less the stargazing opportunity drought continues unabated. To date we're at 10.5% observable nights. I'd lay my hat in the ring now and say by the end of the year it will be slighly more than that at @ 15% for the year - anyone else want to make a prediction?

[garethmob]

create a thread in the "suggestions, problems, foilbles" part of the forum steve, iv got 2 threads in there atm but it might be worth after a few days of nothing pming a admin about it

i think it will be averaged out for 15 - 20%

[stevetynant]

already done it Gaz-- no response as yet - damn and blast just sussed it out myself - the button on the far left upper of the tool bar is a toggle button for edditing - must have somehow depressed it - alls good and colourful in the world again and by the way 15-20 is spreading the net too far - what do you think @ 17 half way - I'll post and see who comes closest at December and the winner can bring the doughnuts for next years Christmas meet :0)

[stevetynant]

Day 20 20th January 2013 Observable nights 2013 2 /20

Rain during day 10/20 Snow during day 7/20

Consecutive Non Observable nights 5 (starting 16 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting X 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 1.2 C 15th Jan 2013 20:10

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 10%)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%

Closest at the end of the year can bring the doughnuts for the December meet (Len Mrs Lovitt still needs to make the bread pudding available though you know that don't you :grin: )

[garethmob]

gonna be sad now, and give the number of days, 54ish is 15% and 62ish is 17%

my maths may be majorly out tho

[stevetynant]

so what do you want to go for then Gaz - is 17 ok or do you want to do some more maths? (based on my own anecdotal thoughts about last year I think even 54ish is pretty high)

[garethmob]

i think i might change it to stick my guns steve:P i think we are gonna have a dry summer! (expess with my new scope i can go playing lol)

[stevetynant]

well we're sure due one- just wonder if the current trend towards colder winters but wetter summers is here for the foreseeable

[garethmob]

I think it is. It seems we are going through either a mini ice age or a mini swamp age (que swamp thing music....)

Snowing again now can't tell how much as there's still a few inches of snow where I am from fri

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[garethmob]

Well had 3inches here when I set off for work this morning. Office opened with a skellington crew but HIW had a met office amber warning from 3pm till 2:59 tomorrow morning (where it turns into a yellow till midnight) so hold ur hats guys and gals we'r not in Kansas no more

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[stevetynant]

Eventually went in this morning Gaz- but it was blizzard like at 7am - the roads though have been brilliant considering the amount of snow we've had - best I've ever seen on our estate at least.

Last night - about midnight I looked outside and the bank of cloud had rolled back over the mountain oppposite to allow a fleeting glance of clear sky and quite beautiful it was aswel. A feature of this recent snowy cold spell (at least where I live at least) is although we have had prolonged cold weather we have not had extremes of temperatures like we did in 2010. I suspect my temp guage is perhaps measuring half a degree warmer than my other guage the temps have not got down to minus 2 this year compared to 2010 when we had a minus 13 one night - anyhows with another and final winter blast for the next few weeks imminant I'll update the diary pushing on 2 nights as I'll incorporate last night and tonight together - same fact tho - Zip observing opportunities.

Quite a contrast to last year I think Jan and Feb were pretty good observing months if nmy roze tinted memory servs me correctly.

Day 22 22nd January 2013 Observable nights 2013 2 /22

Rain during day 11/22 Snow during day 9/22

Consecutive Non Observable nights 7 (starting 16 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting X 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 1.2 C 15th Jan 2013 20:10

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 9.09 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%

[stuy]

Eventually went in this morning Gaz- but it was blizzard like at 7am - the roads though have been brilliant considering the amount of snow we've had - best I've ever seen on our estate at least.

Last night - about midnight I looked outside and the bank of cloud had rolled back over the mountain oppposite to allow a fleeting glance of clear sky and quite beautiful it was aswel. A feature of this recent snowy cold spell (at least where I live at least) is although we have had prolonged cold weather we have not had extremes of temperatures like we did in 2010. I suspect my temp guage is perhaps measuring half a degree warmer than my other guage the temps have not got down to minus 2 this year compared to 2010 when we had a minus 13 one night - anyhows with another and final winter blast for the next few weeks imminant I'll update the diary pushing on 2 nights as I'll incorporate last night and tonight together - same fact tho - Zip observing opportunities.

Quite a contrast to last year I think Jan and Feb were pretty good observing months if nmy roze tinted memory servs me correctly.

Day 22 22nd January 2013 Observable nights 2013 2 /22

Rain during day 11/22 Snow during day 9/22

Consecutive Non Observable nights 7 (starting 16 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting X 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 1.2 C 15th Jan 2013 20:10

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 9.09 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%

it aint looking good is it!!!!! getting very depressed!!!! stuy

[stevetynant]

well you did say from the outset it might get depressing Stuy but we've still got a few months of darkness left. Want to throw your hat in with a prediction for the year ?

[stuy]

well you did say from the outset it might get depressing Stuy but we've still got a few months of darkness left. Want to throw your hat in with a prediction for the year ?

would expect 2 to 3 nights of 8 pickering( very good seeing) and about 30 nights of 5 seeing average, and another 25 ish Rubbish!! for planetary observing that is of course but ok for the fuzzies (deep sky!) thats my prediction for the forthcoming year hope i am wrong and we get alot more!! but i will offer my observatory to anyone who would like to come down and do some observing good some tidy scopes and very dark skies ask matt!! regards all stuy

[stevetynant]

Day 23 23rd January 2013 Observable nights 2013 2 /23

Rain during day 11/23 Snow during day 10/22

Consecutive Non Observable nights 8 (starting 16 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting X 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 1.2 C 15th Jan 2013 20:10

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 8.69 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%

Temperature set to drop big time tonight though hopefully its the end of the snow to be replaced by torrential rain at the weekend - can't wait

[stevetynant]

would expect 2 to 3 nights of 8 pickering( very good seeing) and about 30 nights of 5 seeing average, and another 25 ish Rubbish!! for planetary observing that is of course but ok for the fuzzies (deep sky!) thats my prediction for the forthcoming year hope i am wrong and we get alot more!! but i will offer my observatory to anyone who would like to come down and do some observing good some tidy scopes and very dark skies ask matt!! regards all stuy

would expect 2 to 3 nights of 8 pickering( very good seeing) and about 30 nights of 5 seeing average, and another 25 ish Rubbish!! for planetary observing that is of course but ok for the fuzzies (deep sky!) thats my prediction for the forthcoming year hope i am wrong and we get alot more!! but i will offer my observatory to anyone who would like to come down and do some observing good some tidy scopes and very dark skies ask matt!! regards all stuy

Cheers Stu thats very generous of you

I'll put you down for 15.9% - either Welsh people are pessimistic by nature or in my observing infancy I haven't realised yet just how limiting this hobby really is

[garethmob]

No doubt Steve it will be perfect sky's this weekend and when my dob turns up it will be clouds for months

Well iv just got home warming up the caravan (it be double that in half an hr) an either there's summet wrong or it's pretty cold outside *shivers*

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[stevetynant]

Gaz - the cold is amazing - both my temp guages in the house are showing -5.2 at the moment - the car coming home at @ 8 O'Clock tonight - dropped from -3.5 in Ystrad Mynach to briefly touch -7.5 as I pulled into our estate before settling at -6 when I parked it but I'm using the weather station records to keep things consistant and recording -5.2 s a record for the time being. Can even go down as another observing night opportunity - if I'd set up when I came home from work I may have gone out but didn't get home until late and -5 is just too cold to get started (what a wuss- 3 chances in January all blown) - I might get the bins out for 10 minutes if the opportunity arizes as for the time being the clouds have blown in (temp now up to a balmy -4.8C) but for the hardy souls and those with new scopes desperate to get out there was, possibly still will be, a chance to observe tonight - it won't last though - in true Welsh winter fashion the Atlantic will come surging in on the weekend and torrential rain will be the order of the day. I can't help thinking January will go down as a complete Observing free month for me now and can't afford to waste too many more either especially with the first of the years two major comet events (Pan starrs and Ison) now only about 6 weeks away.

Day 24 24th January 2013 Observable nights 2013 3 /24 Chance to Observe tonight

Rain during day 11/24 Snow during day 10/24

Consecutive Non Observable nights 0 (starting x Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 1 (starting 24 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 5.2 C 24th Jan 2013 20:00 NEW RECORD LOW TEMP 2013

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel WHITE/ORANGE OUT for the foreseeable (again)

Personal Observing sessions - zero (Personal excuses used 3 Ice, Too Cold and Flu))

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 12.5 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%, Stuy 15.9%

[garethmob]

shes holding at 5.9 now! for the past hr and a nice 28 degrees in here with less and half an inch between me n it:P

its all cloudy n orange up here i wonder how the other guys and matts getting on observing! that predictions going uo slowly! sad to say met office has predicted wet stuff this weeking and i'll be honest i rather that wet stuff than more snow its getting silly now!!

[stevetynant]

yeah I agree Gaz - enough for the time being. Temp is rizing here with clouds now -3.0C but the air pressure is definitely on the way up so perhaps only temporary while the clouds are here- though the threat with all the snow down is obviously fog but we'll see.

[stevetynant]

Day 25 25th January 2013 Observable nights 2013 3 /25

Rain during day 12/25 Snow during day 11/25

Consecutive Non Observable nights 1 (starting 25 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting x Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 5.2 C 24th Jan 2013 20:00

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel Possible Observing Chance Sunday 6pm to 9pm

Personal Observing sessions - zero (Personal excuses used 3 Ice, Too Cold and Flu))

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 12.5 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%, Stuy 15.9%

Mix of everything yesterday, snow, rain and now wake up to lovely blue cold winter skies. Changing the computer over to a newer one later so may be a few days before the next update as I transfer all the data from an XP computer to one with windows 8.

[garethmob]

oooooo snazzy do you use ur weather station on a separate machine steve or the house computer?

was glad to see some blue sky n sunshine this morning when i woke up! went out last night in the rain an when i got back the ice was still there with massive pockets of water it was fun trying to get a rear wheel drive into there!

good luck with the move! i find windows 8 funky

[stevetynant]

Still transferring data now Gaz but to be honest was a lot easier than I thought so far. Now looking for a new printer thats windows 8 compatable- few and far between to be honest especially one that doesn't rip you off big time on the ink replacements. The weather station is independant of the Computer it just trnsmits its data to heavy weather which I just redownloaded from their web site and its synced up fine again. Having a bit of problems with the web cam which I can't get to record audio anymore for some reason so might just invest in a newer one which was a shame cos I quite liked the older one.

So far so good- rain last night was torrential virtually all the snow gone now apart from where it was stacked 4 foot high - oh well I enjoyed it while it was there- perhaps we'll have another blast before winters out.

Day 26 26th January 2013 Observable nights 2013 3 /26

Rain during day 13/26 Snow during day 11/26

Consecutive Non Observable nights 2 (starting 25 Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Non Observable Nights 8 (1st Jan to 8th Jan 2013)

Consecutive Observable nights 0 (starting x Jan 2013) Record Consecutive Observable Nights 1 (9th Jan to 9th Jan 2013)

Group Observing Session planned 2 Group Observing Session Cancelled 2 100% (Weather related only)

Lowest Temperature recorded during 2013 - 5.2 C 24th Jan 2013 20:00

Highest Temperature recorded during 2013 12.0 C 3rd Jan 2013 13:00

Astro Panel Possible Observing Chance Sunday 6pm to 9pm

Personal Observing sessions - zero (Personal excuses used 3 Ice, Too Cold and Flu))

Predictions for observable nights 2013 (Currently at 11.5 %)

Stevetynant 15%, Garethmob 17%, Stuy 15.9%

[garethmob]

That's a niggle. Have a look at ijt direct. It's cheap enough to get a colour laser n u get one set of inks free n their quite reasonable! 1000 pages+ shame about webcam too. I'd get one u can use for astro!

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