Hi,

My name's Andy Ellis.  I brought a small refractor along to the star
party, but otherwise haven't been involved.

Thanks to Dave A for bringing this group to my attention through a
post on http://ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/index.php where I am one
of the site administrators.

As some of you may recall from the post star party drinks in the
pub, my main passion is astrophotography - I'm afraid to admit that
the more scientific side of astronomy leaves me cold - more of a
pretty pictures kind of guy ;-)  My latest pictures can be seen on
my website at http://www.coxellis.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

I do pretty much all of my observing and photography from my home
location on a main road in Heaton with very poor skies.  I use an 8"
Newt and 80mm William Optics Megrez both mounted on an HEQ5 and have
recently bought a Starlight Xpress Hx916 CCD.  I also build modified
webcams, one of which I use for guiding.

I rarely get out to dark sky sites (something a few of us locally
have been trying to get together but the weather and moon have
conspired against us) though I will be attending the Peak Star
Party - http://www.peakstarparty.co.uk/ - in March and have high
hopes.

Cheers,

Andy

--- In newcastle_astro@yahoogroups.com, "Simon Embleton"
<srembleton@h...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> I'm a member of the Northumberland Astronomical Society but live in
> Newcastle.
> Saw your group on Yahoo list and thought I would join.
> Skies around my area are vey light polluted and was wondering ifv
> members had good places to observe around the North East.
> Clear skies to all
> Simon

Hi Simon,

I live in Whickham and I go west past Consett to Waskerely resevoir.
It's 1200 ft up in a bowl so the air is not too turbulent. Absolutely
black to the west but the glow of Newcastle to the east. Great place
for meteor watching. Bloody cold though!

If a clear moonless night is forecast and anyone wants to go, email
me and we can go together.

Dave

Hello,

on 16/2/05 4:12 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> Sorry unclear letter. I meant the email list for
> people not on the Yahoo group.

This is one for Alf to answer since he looks after that list but it sounds
like a good idea.

Regards
     David

--
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--- In newcastle_astro@yahoogroups.com, "A H Petty" <ahv@o...> wrote:
> Anyone seem the comet ?
> A Petty

Seen it quite a few times, it's got a large head but no discernable
tail from my location. Easily seen in bonoculars.

Dave

Sorry unclear letter. I meant the email list for
people not on the Yahoo group.

Cheers again

Paul

  --- "David J. Hughes"
<hughes_david_j@...> wrote:

---------------------------------
Folks,

on 15/2/05 7:27 PM, weeks at
djibb_2000@... wrote:

> I go west on the military road to Carlisle as
far
> as time allows. Bit cold though up on the tops.
> Often little side roads you can pull in on, and
> stare back at the enormous hemisphere of orange
> light over Tyneside, looking more and more
> defined as you get further away.

Following Prof Stephenson's lecture on the
society's first president,
Reverend Espin, last month, Jules and I are
proposing a trip up to Espin's
old observatory at Tow Law sometime soon,
possibly this weekend, weather
permitting.

I know that little remains of the observatory but
this was just an idea to
get a feel for the place. Anyone else interested?

David

--
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http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

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for the addressee only. If you are not the
addressee you may not copy,
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part of it, in any form
whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in
error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail
and any files transmitted
with it are deleted. Any views or opinions
represented in this e-mail are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of
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Sounds like a great idea! Worth circulating on
email list?

Cheers

Paul


  --- "David J. Hughes"
<hughes_david_j@...> wrote:

---------------------------------
Folks,

on 15/2/05 7:27 PM, weeks at
djibb_2000@... wrote:

> I go west on the military road to Carlisle as
far
> as time allows. Bit cold though up on the tops.
> Often little side roads you can pull in on, and
> stare back at the enormous hemisphere of orange
> light over Tyneside, looking more and more
> defined as you get further away.

Following Prof Stephenson's lecture on the
society's first president,
Reverend Espin, last month, Jules and I are
proposing a trip up to Espin's
old observatory at Tow Law sometime soon,
possibly this weekend, weather
permitting.

I know that little remains of the observatory but
this was just an idea to
get a feel for the place. Anyone else interested?

David

--
Infection Music Limited.
http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are
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addressee you may not copy,
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part of it, in any form
whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in
error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail
and any files transmitted
with it are deleted. Any views or opinions
represented in this e-mail are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of
Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its
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for the presence of computer viruses, Infection
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Thanks for the help on some dark sites, I will be trying some of them
out !
Clear skies
Simon

Folks,

on 15/2/05 7:27 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> I go west on the military road to Carlisle as far
> as time allows. Bit cold though up on the tops.
> Often little side roads you can pull in on, and
> stare back at the enormous hemisphere of orange
> light over Tyneside, looking more and more
> defined as you get further away.

Following Prof Stephenson's lecture on the society's first president,
Reverend Espin, last month, Jules and I are proposing a trip up to Espin's
old observatory at Tow Law sometime soon, possibly this weekend, weather
permitting.

I know that little remains of the observatory but this was just an idea to
get a feel for the place. Anyone else interested?

David

--
Infection Music Limited.                     http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not copy,
forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any part of it, in any form
whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files transmitted
with it are deleted. Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its attachments have been scanned
for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable for
any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

I go west on the military road to Carlisle as far
as time allows. Bit cold though up on the tops.
Often little side roads you can pull in on, and
stare back at the enormous hemisphere of orange
light over Tyneside, looking more and more
defined as you get further away.


  --- "David J. Hughes"
<hughes_david_j@...> wrote:

---------------------------------
Simon,

on 15/2/05 11:43 AM, Simon Embleton at
srembleton@... wrote:

> I'm a member of the Northumberland Astronomical
Society but live in
> Newcastle.

> Saw your group on Yahoo list and thought I
would join.
> Skies around my area are vey light polluted and
was wondering ifv
> members had good places to observe around the
North East.
> Clear skies to all

Seems that everywhere is fairly poluted these
days. We use Rainton Meadows
down at Houghton-le-Spring. It's dreadful but
better than nothing.

David

--
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part of it, in any form
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represent those of
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Simon,

on 15/2/05 11:43 AM, Simon Embleton at srembleton@... wrote:

> I'm a member of the Northumberland Astronomical Society but live in
> Newcastle.

> Saw your group on Yahoo list and thought I would join.
> Skies around my area are vey light polluted and was wondering ifv
> members had good places to observe around the North East.
> Clear skies to all

Seems that everywhere is fairly poluted these days. We use Rainton Meadows
down at Houghton-le-Spring. It's dreadful but better than nothing.

David

--
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for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable for
any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

Hi all,
I'm a member of the Northumberland Astronomical Society but live in
Newcastle.
Saw your group on Yahoo list and thought I would join.
Skies around my area are vey light polluted and was wondering ifv
members had good places to observe around the North East.
Clear skies to all
Simon

Hello,

This is very useful, thanks.

I constantly have trouble locating stars and constellations in the southern
sky and in particular, draco in the north.

Patrick Moore describes Cepheus as "like a child's drawing of a house...".
Well, err, thanks Patrick. They all look like a child's drawing of a house!

It really is quite embarrassing. Small children laugh at me and blow
raspberries whenever I admit that I can't find some of the really obvious
ones. ?:)

Cheers
     David


on 8/2/05 8:45 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> I've found a couple of books to be of great help
> when it's 'oh blimey I can't remember where The
> Plough is again' time
>
> First off 'Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night
> Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope - And How
> to Find Them  ~Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis
> which I wish I'd found years ago. There's a copy
> or two in  Newcastle City Libraries - I don't
> know if the Astro society has any copies. (Does
> anyone else know?) It's absolutely brill at
> teaching how to star hop, and I've been staggered
> at times just how accurately you can place things
> by star hopping, no computer GOTO needed! I
> understand it's one of the ways that South Sea
> Islanders used to navigate (although they didn't
> have the book!)
>
> Also, The Monthly Sky Guide by Ian Ridpath and
> Wil Tirion, Cambridge Uni Press.

I've found a couple of books to be of great help
when it's 'oh blimey I can't remember where The
Plough is again' time

First off 'Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night
Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope - And How
to Find Them  ~Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis
which I wish I'd found years ago. There's a copy
or two in  Newcastle City Libraries - I don't
know if the Astro society has any copies. (Does
anyone else know?) It's absolutely brill at
teaching how to star hop, and I've been staggered
at times just how accurately you can place things
by star hopping, no computer GOTO needed! I
understand it's one of the ways that South Sea
Islanders used to navigate (although they didn't
have the book!)

Also, The Monthly Sky Guide by Ian Ridpath and
Wil Tirion, Cambridge Uni Press.



  --- roger greatorex <orastroman@...>
wrote:
> David
>
> Right..er..Perseus er..big star on the
> right..er...left..er..is that anywhere near the
> Seven Sisters?
>
> "David J. Hughes"
> <hughes_david_j@...> wrote:
> Roger,
>
> on 8/2/05 12:34 PM, orastroman at
> orastroman@... wrote:
>
> > I logged on out of idle curiosity the other
> day and so it looks
> > like  I'm a member of an unapproved group.
>
> "Unapproved"? For the time being, yeah... ?:)
>
> > However I found the info
> > about comet Macholz interesting, despite
> being an armchair
> > astronomer looking for the "missing matter".
> But I fully intend to
> > do more star-gazing, just in case it becomes
> an olympic sport and so
> > would value tips such as the comet Macholz
> alert.
>
> Macholz was easier to find in early December
> since it passed through Orion
> and not far from the Orion Nebula.
>
> I'm not sure where it is at the moment. The
> last time I looked it was in
> Perseus, not far from the Sword Handle clusters
> which were an easy landmark.
> It's possible to find it in binoculars - it
> looks like a globular cluster
> with a bright centre. I've not seen it with the
> naked eye though that's
> mainly because of Sunderland City Council's
> attempt to become the light
> polution captial of the western hemisphere.
>
> > (There's no
> > chance I would spot it though.  I can just
> about locate the Seven
> > Sisters!
>
> Ok... right, err. Mmmm.... then it's right next
> to that big star on the
> left. No, not that one, the one next to it....
>
> > Do i sgn my name here?  Roger Greatorex
>
> If you want to... ?:)
>
> Cheers
>     David
>
> --
> Infection Music Limited.
> http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk
>
> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it
> are confidential and intended
> for the addressee only. If you are not the
> addressee you may not copy,
> forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any
> part of it, in any form
> whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in
> error please notify the
> sender and ensure that all copies of this
> e-mail and any files transmitted
> with it are deleted. Any views or opinions
> represented in this e-mail are
> solely those of the author and do not
> necessarily represent those of
> Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its
> attachments have been scanned
> for the presence of computer viruses, Infection
> Music will not be liable for
> any losses as a result of any viruses being
> passed on.
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>
>
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___________________________________________________________
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Roger,

on 8/2/05 12:34 PM, orastroman at orastroman@... wrote:

> I logged on out of idle curiosity the other day and so it looks
> like  I'm a member of an unapproved group.

"Unapproved"? For the time being, yeah... ?:)

> However I found the info
> about comet Macholz interesting, despite being an armchair
> astronomer looking for the "missing matter".  But I fully intend to
> do more star-gazing, just in case it becomes an olympic sport and so
> would value tips such as the comet Macholz alert.

Macholz was easier to find in early December since it passed through Orion
and not far from the Orion Nebula.

I'm not sure where it is at the moment. The last time I looked it was in
Perseus, not far from the Sword Handle clusters which were an easy landmark.
It's possible to find it in binoculars - it looks like a globular cluster
with a bright centre. I've not seen it with the naked eye though that's
mainly because of Sunderland City Council's attempt to become the light
polution captial of the western hemisphere.

> (There's no
> chance I would spot it though.  I can just about locate the Seven
> Sisters!

Ok... right, err. Mmmm.... then it's right next to that big star on the
left. No, not that one, the one next to it....

> Do i sgn my name here?  Roger Greatorex

If you want to... ?:)

Cheers
    David

--
Infection Music Limited.                     http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not copy,
forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any part of it, in any form
whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files transmitted
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for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable for
any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

Roger,

on 8/2/05 12:34 PM, orastroman at orastroman@... wrote:

> I logged on out of idle curiosity the other day and so it looks
> like  I'm a member of an unapproved group.

"Unapproved"? For the time being, yeah... ?:)

> However I found the info
> about comet Macholz interesting, despite being an armchair
> astronomer looking for the "missing matter".  But I fully intend to
> do more star-gazing, just in case it becomes an olympic sport and so
> would value tips such as the comet Macholz alert.

Macholz was easier to find in early December since it passed through Orion
and not far from the Orion Nebula.

I'm not sure where it is at the moment. The last time I looked it was in
Perseus, not far from the Sword Handle clusters which were an easy landmark.
It's possible to find it in binoculars - it looks like a globular cluster
with a bright centre. I've not seen it with the naked eye though that's
mainly because of Sunderland City Council's attempt to become the light
polution captial of the western hemisphere.

> (There's no
> chance I would spot it though.  I can just about locate the Seven
> Sisters!

Ok... right, err. Mmmm.... then it's right next to that big star on the
left. No, not that one, the one next to it....

> Do i sgn my name here?  Roger Greatorex

If you want to... ?:)

Cheers
     David

--
Infection Music Limited.                     http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not copy,
forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any part of it, in any form
whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files transmitted
with it are deleted. Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its attachments have been scanned
for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable for
any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

I logged on out of idle curiosity the other day and so it looks
like  I'm a member of an unapproved group.  However I found the info
about comet Macholz interesting, despite being an armchair
astronomer looking for the "missing matter".  But I fully intend to
do more star-gazing, just in case it becomes an olympic sport and so
would value tips such as the comet Macholz alert.  (There's no
chance I would spot it though.  I can just about locate the Seven
Sisters!

Do i sgn my name here?  Roger Greatorex --- In
newcastle_astro@yahoogroups.com, "David J. Hughes"
<hughes_david_j@b...> wrote:
> Paul,
>
> on 2/2/05 4:16 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@y... wrote:
>
> > A general notification list sounds a great idea.
>
> Yes, but we shouldn't restict it to just notification. Any normal
social
> discussions are OK with me. As the moderator, I won't outlaw
anything other
> than anti-social behaviour, flame-wars and, obviously, spamming.
In those
> instances, I won't bother to warn the offenders - they'll just be
given the
> noble order of the boot. ?:)
>
> > I did kind of find the list by accident, and was
> > thinking about suggesting a mass email of the
> > society to publicise the list more widely. Quite
> > rightly, a mass email should possibly be as a
> > result of a committe decision.
>
> Yes, absolutely. Let's see what they say. Prof Stephenson and
Alasdair were
> notified but have not responded nor joined the list. It may be
that the
> Durham and Newcastle Universities restrict access to Yahoo
Newsgroups.
> Equally, it may be that they're both busy. Alf has added the
subject of the
> newsgroup to the agenda of the next committee meeting so we'll
know then.
>
> > Also wondering
> > about if there was a nice night if we could use
> > it as a mechanism for opportunistic observing at
> > Close House for example (speaking of which,
> > there's been a change of ownership at Close
> > House, and I wonder if this means a move of
> > equipment or not, and if not, if we might
> > influence the new owner (who I understand may be
> > a bit of a techie) to develop an observatory at
> > the site as part of the attractions!
>
> As I understand it, Close House is now owned by the former Head of
Sage
> Software, Graham Wylie. Most of the smaller telescopes have been
removed
> from the site although the 24" Calver and its dome remain in place.
>
> Access to the building site is currently controlled by a security
guard. Our
> best bet is to wait until the telescope is made available to the
astronomy
> students from the University which should be anytime soon. I think
that the
> society is able to ask Dr. Gerard McCartan for some time on the
instrument.
> If time is made available then we should use this group to
coordinate a
> couple of observing sessions, weather permitting.
>
> Regards
>     David
>
> --
> Infection Music Limited.
http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk
>
> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended
> for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not
copy,
> forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any part of it, in any
form
> whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please
notify the
> sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files
transmitted
> with it are deleted. Any views or opinions represented in this e-
mail are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of
> Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its attachments have
been scanned
> for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be
liable for
> any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

Paul,

on 2/2/05 4:16 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> A general notification list sounds a great idea.

Yes, but we shouldn't restict it to just notification. Any normal social
discussions are OK with me. As the moderator, I won't outlaw anything other
than anti-social behaviour, flame-wars and, obviously, spamming. In those
instances, I won't bother to warn the offenders - they'll just be given the
noble order of the boot. ?:)

> I did kind of find the list by accident, and was
> thinking about suggesting a mass email of the
> society to publicise the list more widely. Quite
> rightly, a mass email should possibly be as a
> result of a committe decision.

Yes, absolutely. Let's see what they say. Prof Stephenson and Alasdair were
notified but have not responded nor joined the list. It may be that the
Durham and Newcastle Universities restrict access to Yahoo Newsgroups.
Equally, it may be that they're both busy. Alf has added the subject of the
newsgroup to the agenda of the next committee meeting so we'll know then.

> Also wondering
> about if there was a nice night if we could use
> it as a mechanism for opportunistic observing at
> Close House for example (speaking of which,
> there's been a change of ownership at Close
> House, and I wonder if this means a move of
> equipment or not, and if not, if we might
> influence the new owner (who I understand may be
> a bit of a techie) to develop an observatory at
> the site as part of the attractions!

As I understand it, Close House is now owned by the former Head of Sage
Software, Graham Wylie. Most of the smaller telescopes have been removed
from the site although the 24" Calver and its dome remain in place.

Access to the building site is currently controlled by a security guard. Our
best bet is to wait until the telescope is made available to the astronomy
students from the University which should be anytime soon. I think that the
society is able to ask Dr. Gerard McCartan for some time on the instrument.
If time is made available then we should use this group to coordinate a
couple of observing sessions, weather permitting.

Regards
     David

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A general notification list sounds a great idea.


I did kind of find the list by accident, and was
thinking about suggesting a mass email of the
society to publicise the list more widely. Quite
rightly, a mass email should possibly be as a
result of a committe decision.Also wondering
about if there was a nice night if we could use
it as a mechanism for opportunistic observing at
Close House for example (speaking of which,
there's been a change of ownership at Close
House, and I wonder if this means a move of
equipment or not, and if not, if we might
influence the new owner (who I understand may be
a bit of a techie) to develop an observatory at
the site as part of the attractions!




  --- "David J. Hughes"
<hughes_david_j@...> wrote:

---------------------------------
Folks,

Confession time...

I have to admit that I jumped the gun somewhat
when I set this newsgroup up.
I was responding to a problem Secretary Alf Petty
was experiencing with the
society's mailing list - some of the e-mail
addresses were no longer valid
and Alf was wasting time and effort trying to
keep the list up to date. This
group seemed to be a better solution.

However, I set the group up without properly
discussing it with the
committee. As such, the society has not formally
adopted the newsgroup
although I will ask to have the adoption added to
the agenda in time for the
next meeting. Alf, can you please take care of
that?

Even if the society is not in favour of using
such facilities - and I doubt
very much that they will object - I think we
should still continue
supporting this group.

As many of you will have read, Jules and I went
hunting for Comet Machholz
at the weekend and the results were rather
spectacular. This was the first
time that I'd seen the comet even though it's
been in the skies for some
months. I had completely missed any news of its
arrival. Equally, I
completely missed the rather wonderful aurora
Brian Sidney photographed a
couple of weeks ago.

I propose that we use this group to notify
members of any astronomical
events that we might find of interest, no matter
their significance.

Any thoughts?

David
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http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

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Music will not be liable for
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OK David.  I have it on the agenda for the next meeting
Alf
----- Original Message -----
From: "David J. Hughes" <hughes_david_j@...>
To: <newcastle_astro@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 8:48 AM
Subject: [newcastle_astro] What should we do with this newsgroup?


>
> Folks,
>
> Confession time...
>
> I have to admit that I jumped the gun somewhat when I set this newsgroup
up.
> I was responding to a problem Secretary Alf Petty was experiencing with
the
> society's mailing list - some of the e-mail addresses were no longer valid
> and Alf was wasting time and effort trying to keep the list up to date.
This
> group seemed to be a better solution.
>
> However, I set the group up without properly discussing it with the
> committee. As such, the society has not formally adopted the newsgroup
> although I will ask to have the adoption added to the agenda in time for
the
> next meeting. Alf, can you please take care of that?
>
> Even if the society is not in favour of using such facilities - and I
doubt
> very much that they will object - I think we should still continue
> supporting this group.
>
> As many of you will have read, Jules and I went hunting for Comet Machholz
> at the weekend and the results were rather spectacular. This was the first
> time that I'd seen the comet even though it's been in the skies for some
> months. I had completely missed any news of its arrival. Equally, I
> completely missed the rather wonderful aurora Brian Sidney photographed a
> couple of weeks ago.
>
> I propose that we use this group to notify members of any astronomical
> events that we might find of interest, no matter their significance.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> David
> --
> Infection Music Limited.
http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk
>
> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended
> for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not copy,
> forward, disclose or otherwise use it, or any part of it, in any form
> whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
> sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files transmitted
> with it are deleted. Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
> Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its attachments have been
scanned
> for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable
for
> any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Folks,

Confession time...

I have to admit that I jumped the gun somewhat when I set this newsgroup up.
I was responding to a problem Secretary Alf Petty was experiencing with the
society's mailing list - some of the e-mail addresses were no longer valid
and Alf was wasting time and effort trying to keep the list up to date. This
group seemed to be a better solution.

However, I set the group up without properly discussing it with the
committee. As such, the society has not formally adopted the newsgroup
although I will ask to have the adoption added to the agenda in time for the
next meeting. Alf, can you please take care of that?

Even if the society is not in favour of using such facilities - and I doubt
very much that they will object - I think we should still continue
supporting this group.

As many of you will have read, Jules and I went hunting for Comet Machholz
at the weekend and the results were rather spectacular. This was the first
time that I'd seen the comet even though it's been in the skies for some
months. I had completely missed any news of its arrival. Equally, I
completely missed the rather wonderful aurora Brian Sidney photographed a
couple of weeks ago.

I propose that we use this group to notify members of any astronomical
events that we might find of interest, no matter their significance.

Any thoughts?

David
--
Infection Music Limited.                     http://www.infectionmusic.co.uk

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee you may not copy,
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whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
sender and ensure that all copies of this e-mail and any files transmitted
with it are deleted. Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
Infection Music. Although this e-mail and its attachments have been scanned
for the presence of computer viruses, Infection Music will not be liable for
any losses as a result of any viruses being passed on.

Paul,

on 31/1/05 7:49 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> hmm can I get;
>
> 1 optical glass sunroof

Yes, but it's expensive.

> 2 telescope mounting inside car

David Sinden and I talked about this years ago. We figured that the scope
would probably get in the way of the jucuzzi and mini-bar.

David

--
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Made it out the armchair to look at Machholz
again, but the wind blew enthusiasm away, and I
contented myself with poking the binoculars
through the car sunroof at the Andromeda galaxy.
at about 21:30. Very pleasant it was too, nice
view, reclining chair, music on tap, crisps and
can of coke easily to hand...

hmm can I get;

1 optical glass sunroof
2 telescope mounting inside car

B-P

Paul Weeks







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Paul,

on 30/1/05 4:35 PM, weeks at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> I know what you mean...This afternoon I've
> cheated and used TheSky software to look it up,
> and using the diameter ot the rings as a scale,
> it was at the right distance (about two to three
> ring diameters) and position (about 11 o'clock
> terrestrial scope 5 o'clock astronomical scope).

Sounds about right for what I saw. Titan has always proved elusive for me. I
guess we were just lucky this once. Jules was still impressed by the rings,
- she's never seen them so well. Certainly not in my little home-made
scopes!

> The program also indicates that Titan was at Mag
> 8.4 and the closest star shown by it was (on a
> line from Saturn to what I think is Titan), a Mag
> 10 star catalogued as GSC 1373:1171, about 5
> times further out.

Yes, there was nothing else of major interest in the field at the time so I
guess it must have been Titan.

> Telly has its uses!

Most nights it's just a good place to stand potplants and ornaments. ?:)

David

--
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> I think Titan was visible next to Saturn
(strange to look at it with
> the Huygens lander photographs in mind)

Yes, I could just make Titan out too though it
was difficult and I wasn't
sure if I was looking at a field star or not.

I know what you mean...This afternoon I've
cheated and used TheSky software to look it up,
and using the diameter ot the rings as a scale,
it was at the right distance (about two to three
ring diameters) and position (about 11 o'clock
terrestrial scope 5 o'clock astronomical scope).

The program also indicates that Titan was at Mag
8.4 and the closest star shown by it was (on a
line from Saturn to what I think is Titan), a Mag
10 star catalogued as GSC 1373:1171, about 5
times further out.

Be good if I can get out of the armchair again
tonight, and see if Titans moved;  a lot simpler
than twiddling the computer!

>Well, we both stayed up late to watch "Queen of
the Damned" and whilst the
>film wasn't up to much, it meant that I was
still up and about at 0130 hours
>to see the Moon and Jupiter in the sky. Bliss...

Telly has its uses!

Cheers

Paul Weeks





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Hello,

on 29/1/05 11:04 PM, djibb_2000 at djibb_2000@... wrote:

> Yep I think I saw it, about 22:20 local time, whatever that is in UTC.
> Fuzzy looking thing, reminiscent of an unresolved globular cluster,
> but much brighter?

Yes, exactly like that.

> Agreed Pleiades nice, Hyades looking good, Aldebaran ridiculously
> lurid orange, and Orion strutting his stuff.

Orion not so good for us because it's south and therefore over the lights of
West Rainton. Pleiades are too widely spread out to fit in the field but the
ever-so-feint nebulosity was just visible with the 6" Mac.

> I think Titan was visible next to Saturn (strange to look at it with
> the Huygens lander photographs in mind)

Yes, I could just make Titan out too though it was difficult and I wasn't
sure if I was looking at a field star or not.

> Moon just coming up low over Newcastle
>
> (used 80 mm refractor and image stabilised 10 x 30 binoculars)

Well, we both stayed up late to watch "Queen of the Damned" and whilst the
film wasn't up to much, it meant that I was still up and about at 0130 hours
to see the Moon and Jupiter in the sky. Bliss...

> Thanks David, inspired me to get away from book and armchair

Ha! That's good. It was a good night for us, way more productive than we
figured. Jules was thrilled with the comet, Saturn and Orion. We found a
good little observing site too - close enough to make the journey easy and
far enough away from the lights to give us a tolerable seeing.

Best regards
     David

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Yep I think I saw it, about 22:20 local time, whatever that is in UTC.
Fuzzy looking thing, reminiscent of an unresolved globular cluster,
but much brighter?

Agreed Pleiades nice, Hyades looking good, Aldebaran ridiculously
lurid orange, and Orion strutting his stuff.

I think Titan was visible next to Saturn (strange to look at it with
the Huygens lander photographs in mind)

Moon just coming up low over Newcastle

(used 80 mm refractor and image stabilised 10 x 30 binoculars)

Thanks David, inspired me to get away from book and armchair

Paul Weeks



--- In newcastle_astro@yahoogroups.com, "infectionmusic"
<hughes_david_j@b...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> A successful session.
>
> Comet Machholz is a little pearl lying between Cassiopeia and
> Perseus. Bright central nucleus with diffuse outer regions.
> Couldn't make out the tail given the seeing conditions which
> weren't ideal.
>
> Saturn was wonderful too, as was the Orion Nebula and the
> Pleiedes.
>
> I shall retire a happy man tonight.
>
> Regards
>      David

Hello,

A successful session.

Comet Machholz is a little pearl lying between Cassiopeia and
Perseus. Bright central nucleus with diffuse outer regions.
Couldn't make out the tail given the seeing conditions which
weren't ideal.

Saturn was wonderful too, as was the Orion Nebula and the
Pleiedes.

I shall retire a happy man tonight.

Regards
      David

The weather here is perfect.

We're off comet hunting tonight...

David

Alf,

on 26/1/05 11:33 PM, A H Petty at ahv@... wrote:

> Anyone seem the comet ?

I've been out on a couple of occasions and saw something that could have
been the comet but I'm not convinced. With the Moon steadily getting
brighter this last week coupled with the level of street lighting in this
area did not make for favourable viewing conditions.

Hey ho. I'll have another look over the weekend, weather permitting.

Best regards
      David

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Anyone seem the comet ?
A Petty