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I think Andy has hit the nail on the head here. We really do need more people standing for elected positions, as well as volunteers supporting the breadth of our activities, to ensure our Association thrives. I don’t see how not having ballots is going to help that. If anyone thinks they’d like to stand at the next ballot, or volunteering in any capacity for that matter, now’s the time to start exploring the possibility.
Whilst BBQs might be popular in Essex, up here in the north I have used a chimenea cover.
In the past I have used an upturned dustbin, as suggested by David, tho this was for a smaller mount. The EQ head was on a pier which passed through the dustbin lid, allowing the lid to be attached to the inverted bin thus providing more protection.
There is a charming article about the discoverer of SN2023ixf in the journal Science:
https://www.science.org/content/article/amateur-astronomer-may-worlds-top-supernova-hunter
Very interesting- thanks for highlighting this Max.
Hopefully you’ll get better weather from now on.
I don’t think a larger prism will help, Alan. As you suspect, it’s probably due to unstable seeing.
As an aside, I reckon I see as much detail using Baader solar film as using a Lunt Herschel wedge. I do find a solar continuum filter helps (in addition to the solar filter of course), tho the Sun turns green! It also helps to dim the image a bit, which also helps with a prism (could use a polarising filter to a similar effect- if your image is too bright it might make it harder to see detail)
Each of the planetary sections has templates on their websites on which you can draw the features and record other important details. The Saturn section has a series of templates depending on the angle of the rings (which you can look up in the Handbook). See: https://britastro.org/section_information_/saturn-uranus-and-neptune-section-overview/observing-programme/saturn-uranus-and-neptune-visual-report-forms
Regarding phases,in the case of Venus the observed phase generally differs slightly from the calculated one, a phenomenon called the phase effect: https://britastro.org/2016/the-phases-of-venus. So the phase should be drawn in at the eyepiece. The time of dichotomy can be determined from your observations and compared to the predicted time.
Great video – thanks Lars. 1969 was an exciting year for a small boy obsessed with science & technology, witnessing the Concorde flight first hand and the lunar lands, later that summer, on TV.
Well, one branch of your family certainly makes very good beer, Martin!
I limited myself to 2 pints (which I understand is the standard SI unit of a single serving of beer according to another former Papers Secretary) as there was a traction engine to drive….
Local transportation
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Now the beer
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I tried to add other posts with more pics but I got a “deprecated” message, so I will upload to my Members page
https://britastro.org/observations/observation.php?id=20230409_183348_d332570a0ba2a64dAttachments:
Whilst units are sometimes conjoured up to make a good story or headline, I think they do have a place in some circumstances for engaging with, and relating to, the public. Perhaps not the SI Giraffe, but solar system debris measured in London buses might well have a place in popular culture.
Similarly for your space shuttle speed. 22x speed of sound is relatable to a certain generation who knew the Concorde cruised slightly above Mach 2. But I get your sound in space point.
BTW I was present at the British Concorde’s (002) maiden flight from Filton, Bristol, which happens to be 54 years ago today!
What a superb video! Thanks Denis.
It’s remarkably close to what my mind’s eye had conjured up – a tribute to Peltier’s magnificent prose and the drawings that accompany the chapters in Skylight Nights. What surprised me most was how close was the merry go round obsy to the house. I think it was further away at Brookhaven.I saw this video posted: https://youtu.be/QOvJrE01ENA
Nova Cas 2021 is still just above mag 12. Light curve attached. Further observations of its fade are encouraged.
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Robin,
contact Prof Constantino Sigismondi at ICRA. His email is in the ATel I linked at the top
JeremyIndeed! Wonderful eating, super talks and good to be able to meet up with people, some of whom had not attended a BAA meeting for 3 years.
Munari and Valisa report in a recent ATel that this is a rare neon nova with an overabundance of neon in the ejecta, derived from the white dwarf: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=15796
This nova, which erupted in March 2021, is still above mag 12.
