Perseids and looking around.

[jgs001]

It's a mix of widefield and Bino observing, but I've put it in here.

For the first time in what seems ages, the sky cleared as the sun went down. As tonight is one of the best nights to see the Perseid meteor shower (and with a tent up in the garden, there's no danger of getting the scope out, assuming of course I could carry it anyway) I got out one of the sun loungers, setup the camera on a tripod next to me, lay back with a pair of binoculars and waited.

When I setup, the sky was still light enough to show some blue. And I watched as the sky darkened, the stars started to show. Cassie turned her face toward me, then as the sky darkened further, the great wings of Cygnus spread across me. To the accompaniment of small furry winged creatures... teeny bats whizzing around over the garden.. never noticed them before.

Watching the sky generally, I noticed other things, constellations, Draco, Lyra, Lacerta all showing up nicely. The band of the milky way, a faintly glowing ribbon, delicately connecting Cassie to Cygnus, almost as if the Celestial Queen was trying to capture the swan.

Over the course of an hour and a half I witnessed 9 Perseids, from the quite dim, up to the blazingly bright, leaving an incandescent trail across the sky behind it.

11 Satellites including a spectacular Iridium flare, at last a magnitude -6. And a seperate flare, but not an Iridium

I also, with the viewing of some autumn friends had a wander around with the bins, reaquainting myself. M31, and I was amazed at just how easily I found this one, M103, the double cluster and the Mirfak association, amazingly clear, all of them, given how low down, and the slight mist glow at those altitudes. I had a look around for the owl cluster, but I'm not sure a pair of 10x50's cut it. I also had a wander around Cygnus just lost in all those stars...

I really enjoyed that, the more so, given the total lack of opportunity over the past couple of months. It's got me thinking about what I want to achieve over the Autumn and Winter.

[Tim]

Great report John.

We all jumped in the hot tub as the sky was (and IS) unexpectedly clear, and my 6yr old was the first to spot a real blazer of a persied, great stuff. Saw about 20 between us, and a couple of non persieds to boot. After about 20 mins in the water, I thought "blow this, im getting the scope out", so a super dash and within 3 mins I was up and guiding on my current target, I think thats a personal best, I didnt bother with an alignment and the target was dead centre first time

Once that was fuzzing away with its 30min subs, I jumped back in the tub with my eldest lad and we just watched out together, discussing the wonders of the sky, and sipping wine, at least I was. That was good for another hour or so.

Great night, finally managed to combine my hobby with proper family time, ie, got them outside to enjoy the sky, just about perfect I reckon.

ooops, spoke too soon, PHD has just started pinging, yup, clouds are back, ho hum

Tim

[Beyond_Vision]

I'm glad that you both had a good night it's been clouded out here and have just been woken by my eldest lad who needs a lift to Bristol airport for his hols

Regards

Kevin

[Sparrow]

Saw diddly squat here in Chester. Full cloud cover - gave up and went to bed at 1am. Woke at 4.30am and it was completely clear - stood outside for 10 minutes in my undercrackers and saw nothing - tempted to get the scope out to look at Venus but return to my bed was too tempting.

I've always had more luck with the Leonids personally, but congrats to anyone who got some good viewing in.

Regards

John

[jgs001]

Thanks guys.

Nice one Tim.

Kevin, that's grim... did you get him there on time ?