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This letter from John Goss, Past President of the Astronomical League, that appears in the current issue of SkyNews may be of interest.
Alan
Thanks, James. I’m hoping to see this when it comes to Oldham (not too far from where I live) later this week.
Alan
Dust does seem to be one possibility –
Alan
That’s interesting, David. I had never seen it that way myself. I think we are conditioned to see patterns which can then be quite difficult to see in any other way. But I will look out for it next time I see Orion.
Elsewhere, I have not always been able to see the expected patterns. For example, the Owl Cluster (NGC457) looks more like a lobster to me than an owl! And with images of the Moon’s craters, they will often become ‘ambiguous figures’ in which they sometimes appear as depressions but will suddenly switch and look like raised areas. I’m not sure how common this experience is. Is it just me?!
Seasons Greetings
Alan
A few fleeting glimpses through racing cloud but even with an unstopped 200mm Dob, I could not get a projected image for more than the odd second. Ceased trying at 14.40 as the Sun descended behind nearby rooftops. As a last (fairly desperate!) attempt to record something, I retreated to an upstairs room and set up my little 50mm Meade refractor. But conditions even worse and I abandoned the session at 15.35 under a leaden darkening sky. Still, I have enjoyed following the live feed on the transit from the Slooh solar scope in the Canary Islands, as well as reading the other posts here. So by no means a wasted afternoon.
Unrelenting cloud so I am watching a live feed here while awaiting a gap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzcmd_KQpEw
I have set up my observing station, more in hope than expectation as the NW forecast is ‘cloudy changing to heavy showers’. To make the point, I was doused in hail as I opened up! Hopeful of at least the odd glimpse with a possibility of an image or two of the transit projected via my sun funnel. It’s now or never as 2032 will be a bit late for me…
Yes indeed! It’s a striking image isn’t it? I came across it in a book called ‘The Telling Image’ by Lois Stark.
Sorry to mention C but I had to have some excuse . . . (our local garden centre had its Christmas launch two weeks ago, complete with a visit from Santa!)
I use a Baader Microstage II. I don’t have anything to compare it with, but it is well made and easy to use. The ‘clickstop’ function, which enables you to swing the camera out of the line of the eyepiece without removing the entire holder, works well.
You need to attach a simple smartphone holder which can be easily obtained.
Very enjoyable and interesting, James – even though I got a few questions (I’m not saying how many!) wrong. Who would have thought Buzz Aldrin’s mother was born a Moon?!
Thank you.
An interesting article, especially concerning Mary Blagg. One small point – mention is made that the Moon has no atmosphere. I seem to recall recently reading that it does, albeit tenuous, a surprise to me I must say.
Hello Mike
I have had a variety of telescopes over the years. Never having been able to justify to myself (and my wife!) establishing a permanent observatory, all have had to be set-up anew for each observing session. Some have had robust EQ mounts that almost brought on a back problem moving them! Others had GOTO systems which took even more time to operate than the basic setting up.
These telescopes spent a lot of time doing nothing (a familiar problem). In the end, I reverted to simplicity and bought a 200mm Dobsonian. Setting-up takes me a couple of minutes, the OTA is relatively light and manoeuvrable and is stored in a nearby shed. I have spent more time at the eyepiece with this telescope than all my previous instruments put together, mainly because it is so quick and easy to set up..
This will not necessarily prove an ideal choice for imaging. But if you want something easier than your current set-up, something that will increase your observing time and that will not endanger your health, you may like to consider it.
Good luck!
It looks as if the publishing company has gone under, but the title may survive. It would be a pity to see this venerable name consigned to history. It raises the question of how many astronomy magazines the market can support . . .
