A Little Dismayed!!

[terryc]

Hi All

Well! Have been studying my books and using the phone apps, have seen Jupiter a couple of times through my bins (only 8x42 from birding) and that is that!!

What with the bad wx, have seen nothing else!! tell me it will be alright soon!!! 

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Sorry, but astronomy is a part-time hobby in the UK. Can't do much about the weather, lots of moisture rolling off the Atlantic. As an example, here's all of 2012 in satellite image snapshots:

If you count up all the days where your part of the country is visible it actually adds up to quite a few (bear in mind, those clear patches will tend to blow through during the course of a day), but as you can see long stretches of cloud aren't uncommon. If you're patient the opportunities will come. 

I spend more time reading and thinking about the subject than doing anything practical. I'd like to be able to observe and image more but that's just the way it is.

[DaveS]

Yeah, we're all in the same boat, never-ending cloud and rain, it's part of being where we are. I do think, however, that of late the weather has been particularly dire.

[terryc]

Those pics are very depressing.

Were in the  same part of the world though (Sth Herts)......so its not me!!

[ronin]

First question is what are you hoping to look at and expecting to see?

How many of the constellations do you know?

Sensibly to "best" items are globular clusters.

If I said try the double cluster in Perseus could you locate it?

How about Hercules, can you locate that.

There are some double stars - Mizer/Alcor being the obvious, but there numerous others.

Not sure how dark your location is either, I tend to wander off a couple of miles, just to get a slightly better environment.

[jabeoo1]

I empathize alone with everyone else here. I just remind myself to seize and enjoy every opportunity, this includes viewing the moon during daylight hours. I am also consider getting a solar telescope. 

I used to get really frustrated but don't anymore, it soon becomes obvious that the hobby is not for you if you don't have patience.  I shrug my shoulders daily at the inopportune sky and go inside and put vinyl on, or think about something else.  I still have not seen Saturn with my scope yet in decent conditions, I have a feeling it may be back in opposition at this rate. 

[Knight of Clear Skies]

It can be frustrating but there are compensations. If you want to live in a green and pleasant land it first requires a good watering, and at least it means we appreciate our clear nights when they come.

I'm not against cloud as such, I'm pro-cloud in fact, but I'm sure we could get on just fine with a bit less of it....

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Getting a solar scope (expensive), or adding a wedge (more affordable) or solar filter (cheap) is a good way of doubling your chances of seeing something astronomical (hasn't helped very much the last week, has it)

[paulastro]

Join the Cloud Appreciation Society as I did many years ago, and it doesn't seem so bad 

[Mr Spock]

My other hobby is meteorology. So, best of both worlds

[LukeSkywatcher]

Sorry, but astronomy is a part-time hobby in the UK. Can't do much about the weather, lots of moisture rolling off the Atlantic. As an example, here's all of 2012 in satellite image snapshots:

If you count up all the days where your part of the country is visible it actually adds up to quite a few (bear in mind, those clear patches will tend to blow through during the course of a day), but as you can see long stretches of cloud aren't uncommon. If you're patient the opportunities will come. 

I spend more time reading and thinking about the subject than doing anything practical. I'd like to be able to observe and image more but that's just the way it is.

I think i remember this day. It was a Thursday. It clouded over when the sun set.

[Charky]

I bought my cheshire a month ago tomorrow, and I've not had my 'scope out since I collimated the damn thing. e-e