Well, September was a wash-out

[Sabalias]

Unfortunately I’ve not been able to do anything on the astro front this September. Some forecasts have been clear but the reality has been anything but. Missed Jupiter in opposition too. Very disappointing but I guess that’s the joy of this hobby in the British Isles.  On the plus side I managed to see the aurora borealis on a trip to Norway at the beginning of the month 😁

Stu

[sorrimen]

Similar experience over here! Had to sacrifice a nights sleep to get clear skies from 1am onwards, but only one session other than that (which got ended early). Guess we should see the positive that it makes those nights so much sweeter. Imagine trying to motivate yourself to get out night after night when you know 300 nights a year are 8/10 seeing+. Actually that doesn’t sound so bad….

[LukeSkywatcher]

On 29/09/2022 at 17:49, Sabalias said:

Unfortunately I’ve not been able to do anything on the astro front this September. Some forecasts have been clear but the reality has been anything but. Missed Jupiter in opposition too. Very disappointing but I guess that’s the joy of this hobby in the British Isles.  On the plus side I managed to see the aurora borealis on a trip to Norway at the beginning of the month 😁

Stu

That certainly makes up for it. I'm hoping to go and see the NLs for my 50th in 2024.

[Guest]

September is one of those strange months here in Ohio.  Sometimes the sky is clear sometimes it isnt.  I think I had three nights out of the month that were just barely decent.  

[mcrowle]

September was a strange month here in Cornwall, with much local variation.

I was lucky enough to be able to image at home in mid-Cornwall on 10 nights, which must be something of a record for me. However a friend and colleague in West Cornwall, who specialises in landscape astrophotography, never had a suitable night over the same period. As the crow flies our locations are only 21 miles apart.

Regards, Mike.

[pipnina]

23 minutes ago, mcrowle said:

September was a strange month here in Cornwall, with much local variation.

I was lucky enough to be able to image at home in mid-Cornwall on 10 nights, which must be something of a record for me. However a friend and colleague in West Cornwall, who specialises in landscape astrophotography, never had a suitable night over the same period. As the crow flies our locations are only 21 miles apart.

Regards, Mike.

I'm only next door in Devon and feel almost as lucky with 5-6 astro nights and dark *enough* skies to get away with imaging at home.

I often see clouds loitering near the horizon on clear nights in the north. Not sure why but maybe proximity to the coast helps slightly?

[Dragon_Astro]

September was a good month here in west Wales, managed to get quite a few imaging sessions in.

Now we’re into October it’s all gone down hill 😆

[MarcuSmythe]

Sorry, my fault. I bought a new scope. Zero clear nights for me.

[jjohnson3803]

Signs of the Apocalypse - I just had two weeks straight of clear nights.  A cold front / rain came through last night though.

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

52 minutes ago, jjohnson3803 said:

Signs of the Apocalypse - I just had two weeks straight of clear nights.  A cold front / rain came through last night though.

Witchcraft! 😆

[SteveNickolls]

I've been keeping records of observing and imaging sessions for years (11 observing 7 imaging) and this September has been the poorest on record. Rather hoping the coming seasons will improve chances as I didn't vote for this. 😁

Here's to clear dark skies.

Cheers,

Steve

[Sabalias]

2 hours ago, SteveNickolls said:

I've been keeping records of observing and imaging sessions for years (11 observing 7 imaging) and this September has been the poorest on record. Rather hoping the coming seasons will improve chances as I didn't vote for this. 😁

Here's to clear dark skies.

Cheers,

Steve

That’s interesting Steve. I haven’t been at this pastime very long but I found myself trying to remember if previous Septembers had been as poor. 
 

Stu

[bomberbaz]

I managed a few mini sessions with my AZ GTi porta-imaging rig and one really good, eyeball at the eyepiece session under the stars near the month end (see below).

I did also manage a couple of short bins efforts whilst down at the Norfolk Broads.

To be honest I am reasonably happy if I get one really good sesh a month under moonless skies, although I would do more if the cloud gods would oblige.