stan armstrong

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  • in reply to: Satellite proliferation #624404
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Hi Robin.. Way down south of you M40 Jn3.. Your quaint Image and description excited my Interest.. Luckily I think that I eventually discovered a ‘typo’ in the wordage of your Image.. relative to the Date and wordage of your Input.. Then with my Arthy fingers becoming tired.. i was delighted to see.. at my less than regularly accurate time setting.. a Beautiful Bright Fireball with a Staggered Start.. Serendipity Indeed.. I will certainly do the necessary to extract a copy.. and Post here.. I do so miss that wonderful Archive of UKMON.. which regularly had me finding Bright Meteors inthe area of Sky above my valley..which I now cover with Old Unwanted Security cameras..[Shades of Mike Maunder].. Just refound an Image of my first Winchester Meeting and a pre Fame Heather..

    in reply to: Wil Tirion, 1943–2024 #623841
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    I had assumed Gary that a Search.. somewhere.. would refresh my memory of the Date of that so very Interesting Lecture.. I do recall that later on..in the absence of any organised travel for him.. I volunteered to take him.. in My ageing Austin Maxi to.. And here {as the Horizon witnesses say} I just cannot remember where I took him to..! I had previously served in the RAEC in Winchester.. so knew the roads well. I was quite surprised at the multiple questions that Wil asked me about the Hydro-Elastic suspension of the Car..as he was visibly impressed by the comfort of the ride.. He was happy when he left the car.. where ever that was..?! I had quite forgotten that particular Winchester attendance.. A lovely lad indeed..

    in reply to: Wow! What an auroral display! #622846
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Indeed, Duncan, it was a remarkable display, only surpassed by the one I witnessed over 30 years ago in my Loudwater Valley (M40 Jn3). My collection of refurbished old security cameras, some with just 2-megapixel resolution, allowed me to observe the event from various angles, from approximately 21:00 to 03:30 UT the following morning. While these cameras may not compare to even the most basic phone cameras today, the images they captured, though crudely assembled, reveal a fascinating progression of rays in terms of color, intensity, direction, and speed. The output process is slow, transferring via USB stick from recorders placed near the floor, and made even slower by my age-related infirmities. Yet, this slow pace affords me a precise approach to the observational content of the sequences I produce. Just minutes ago, after some diligent work, I sought some relaxation by visiting the IMO website—a welcome respite after losing access to the daily data from UKMON, which I often used and valued. I had captured the fireball event, designated as IMO 2340-2024, traversing through Cygnus, near Deneb, surrounded by, and mostly beneath, the blue/purple ionized rays. Currently, the IMO has no photographs or videos submitted for this event. To support visual observers, who are invaluable during special event surveys, my first priority is to edit a video of the fireball at 4 frames per second for submission to the IMO via the SPA. In the meantime, I am hopeful that a member of the BAA will assist me in creating a JPG still shot that captures the fireball’s dashed trajectory through the colorful skies. I’ve previously undertaken a meticulous course of manually ‘joining the dots’.. I Aam hopeful of the sort of guidance I would have received from ‘Dave Gavine and the Spectrum’ in earlier times.

    in reply to: Discussions #611369
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    There we are ..Failure..
    How do I get a lovely BLUE filled in quote?
    AND
    Is not a Forum such a means for additional inputs??
    especially as that very Concept in the past was so helpful..
    e.g
    i had no idea they had Invented ‘Hidden Lower Case Links’
    there were none such back in the day.
    but thankfully behind the scenes a helpful well informed member
    could be relied upon the quick easy way.

    in reply to: Discussions #611368
    stan armstrong
    Participant
    in reply to: Discussions #611367
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    On the Good side.. we must all be grateful that the term ‘Cookies’ is not mentioned.
    and the Impact of the Site upon Readers is as good as any Site I see..
    As a Scousa and an old Bulletin Boards person [300/75Hertz.. No Kbs or Mbs !]
    it terrifies me.. as it seem to demand an Academic Input..
    which I left behind in the previous Century.. never having needed it in my Career.

    Upon reading this discussion earlier..
    I decided that I would post an Input on ‘NLCs’.
    This I did.
    I noted the 4M limit but noticed there was..
    No longer ‘Helpful Guidance’ as to Limit for fitting the picture to the Input..
    which would have been appropriate for descriptive details.
    Possibly that is now not a facility?..
    I had no idea where I had seen the Helpful Phrases in the past..
    so just posted as was.. so a Tiny copy was shown..

    I then attempted to post feedback to this discussion..
    My first input Bounced with something ‘akin to’ OR ‘to the effect’..
    ‘No Content Identity’..
    After dabbling.. and not being able to find my Input again
    Seems that as an ‘Older Reader’..
    I had ‘ Not seen’ the Dropdown Box..
    as I guess it had not struck me that my input was anything other than
    part of this discussion.
    The default entry is a Blank..
    which I then changed to ‘General Discussion’ or some such.

    Despite the little Niggles above.. we still should be proud that
    we have a First Class Site..
    Oh.. and the first class ‘Edge Password Memory’ enables me to access
    the Site with merely CLICK/CLICK.

    stan armstrong

    in reply to: can no longer jump to a point in a video #609183
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Dominic adequately deals with the Partial Content Download Aspect..

    William’s description of his Download Times is entirely expectable..
    although it contrasts dramatically with mine.
    On successive days since reading his posting.. I have downloaded
    at various times the full video file [0.9G] in less than 30 SECONDS.
    This Transit Speed is virtually the same as that for other Streaming Services.
    My Fibre Link is Cheapo Lowest grade and the Desktop PC is an 11 year old
    converted from Windows XP to Win 10. I only use my mobile phone for
    Phone Calls so cannot comment on mobile usage.
    Sad I know.. but I could not resist the curiosity urge to RETAB and test again.
    *********
    Full Video downloaded as MP4 in 29 Seconds at 16:16 PC Time.
    Tested video on Audio aspects [love the bit about ‘Negative Pixels’!] on jump..
    then took screen shot 8m from end.. Attached
    Posted 16:51 PC Time

    Attachments:
    in reply to: Logging in to the new website #608048
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    This input is from my other Desktop which is a more modern Dell.

    After switching on and catching up with the News ..I then cautiously
    tried several Web-Sites that have been ‘Touchy’ about Security of late..
    such as Heavens Above and BT’s own Site..
    I use the Password Save Systen in Edge on this PC too and as Microsoft Synchs their Systems..
    it was hardly a surprise when This Site came up as smoothly as all the others.
    In the meantime..the BAA Timing System is now at one[sic] with Microsoft.. and
    so a cheeky good morning from me at 0154 BAA/GMT..
    stan

    in reply to: Logging in to the new website #608047
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    As microsoft is a world wide organisation and the only Time Indicated
    on the Browser is Their Time.. possibly change our recorded times of receipt etc to
    00:27 which is when i am posting?
    stan

    in reply to: Logging in to the new website #608046
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    The ‘TEAM’ were not to know that Microsoft would coincidentally UPGRADE??
    their ‘Edge’ Browser.. With ARI’s [Age related Infirmities] I have been using
    A Desktop PC for over 10Years.
    Equally BT have changed their Security system to Norton from MCaFee!
    One of the features of Edge is a Password Save system.. which I have long used.
    This became Somewhat Confused BUT eventually ?Guessed? the user name for ‘Iamsheep’.
    Still not sure what then happened.. but all now seems Delightful to look at
    and Sleek and Speedy to manipulate.
    The Dark Mode at 0019GMT IS FIRST CLASS
    stan

    in reply to: Guidance on used prices #584970
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Thank you James.. Most helpful .

    stan

    in reply to: Guidance on used prices #584956
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Age related Infirmities now limit my use of Meade 200 LX3. 

    Multi-speed Drive-motor and Hand Controller..

    Bought New with Astro-Tripod and Shipping Case.

    Your thoughts on likely selling price would be appreciated. Thanks

    stan armstrong

    in reply to: Fireball at 22:48:55 UT last night #584766
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    As it happens Dominic.. none of my cameras are Integrated into any of the Systems either.

    But I have expressed an interest in a Pi..

    Have scaled down the Image to Fit and I have 4frames of video for you too.. 

    if you wish.. as i find they are always enjoyed by younger listeners..  if this Beauty

    is to feature in your Talks as the  ” One that got away”?

    Sorry about the date..it results from overloaded systems..  but it slices off easily..

    As for the Brightness of the Fireballl? The Average Value estimated by all 14 observers

    listed by the IMO is  -11.5..whereas those self assessed as ‘more aware’ is  around  -14.

    I always read the sometimes very personal comments before I even do a Slow Manual Search

    of my 24/7 Video of several cameras.. Hence I then look out for any features described..

    Of late there have been descriptions of the ‘Long’ delay in the brightness fading

    after the Flash.. Obviously an easy feature for me to corroborate as i only run at around 3 to 4 FPS.

    Indeed.. Your ‘OTGA’ seemed to be ‘Well Lit’ for some 4seconds plus.

    This indeterminate time period in an ‘Integration’ or Peak Value.. which obviously affected the individual awareness.. 

    makes me now suspect All Meteor Estimates with a decimal place.

     

    in reply to: LandSat 9 Centaur Upper Stage De-Orbit Burn #584737
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Thanks forthat William..

    As at now 1945BST .. Clear Skies from SE Start to Polaris ..

    stan Jn3M40

    Summer triangle has been visible for some 30mins..

    in reply to: BAA AGM & Meeting. #584734
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    I remember when once having upset Patrick .. the Minutes Record read  ” A Member asked a question”  

    in reply to: La Palma volcano eruption #584733
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    That ‘Condition’ has a Remedy Grant.. It is called ‘The Astronomers Prayer’. To be uttered upon pulling back the Curtains..I remember well the Day I learnt of this and was sworn to Secrecy.. It was also the day I was later diagnosed with ‘Bells Palsy’.. and Princess Di’s brother got married..

    in reply to: Bright meteor 1962 April 22 #584491
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    SNAP Peter.. I too moved in 1974 into same house i still live in.. Census returns suggest occupancy average of less than 8years ! Mind you it was a Doldrum time for House Sales and We visited 26 houses before deciding.. A near 180 Skyline of trees settled it for me and Next to village School suited my wife.

    Could certainly give a Map Reference of the house garden to any one wanting to research. However..

    Front gardens all pebble covered for cars now ..Ownership would be a legal minefield  I guess with

    complications of Mortgages.. and overtones of Winchcombe.. Certainly if any Researcher wanted further details I would be happy to assist.

    in reply to: Bright meteor 1962 April 22 #584463
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    A time between the ‘Bay of Pigs’ and the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ that I now largely remember as a Blur Alan.

    The ‘4 Minute Warning’ was an everyday Threat and I was living in a House on the SW Side of the Stadium.

    However,  I will never forget  one late evening, hearing a very loud noise and rushing out into our small Avenue, to see some Neighbours opposite in their small front Garden.. They told me something had fallen in their garden with a loud noise. With my Army and RAF Service behind me, I slowly moved  Geraniums and other plants and found a ‘Steaming Dull Black Rock’ around the size of 1/4 Brick . At that time In my Career, I was in charge of  Radiography Training and hence Radiation Danger was prominent in my day to day work. I borrowed a Bamboo Cane and pushed the Rock to the housewall and said I would visit them the next day as possibly something from an Aircraft. As it happens, I also undertook Urgent Field Work and was possibly miles away for the next week or so..hence the incident faded from my immediate concerns. Time to time have thought of describing on NEMETODE Network and had almost got round to mentioning to Alex, so now just a possibility that our two recollections relate to the same event Alan? 

    in reply to: Starlink Flares? #584304
    stan armstrong
    Participant

     Brilliant that that my previous jpg.. which is a 266KB on myDesktop.. has been so well  Squosen to a Mere 13.5KB..! And still OK to show Delphinus. As the Orbs were at around 10sec intervals.. thought an earlier one would be useful..Shown below.. 

    Stan

    in reply to: Starlink Flares? #584303
    stan armstrong
    Participant

    Thanks to Andy the name change went well and retested Fine..

    Dominics Input is interesting ..  as for many months I have found his ‘Obs East’ Sky Outline tallies with my Zenith.. except i have Polaris in my view too.. Now I find another of his Coverages is always in my view too.  Mike’s Sunshield limitations suggestion starts to look plausible to me. No longer Alex’s ‘vermin’ BUT now the Lions and Tigers of the skies! Had to wait a longtime as Recorder/PC well-overloaded…[even says ‘No Resources’ at times ] hence Mike’s 0100 got a bit suspect..Eventually saw over half dozen at  size > than typical ISS Pass at that altitude.. Then the Antipenultimate Event of the String [Wanted to write that for 60years!] was/were Twins.. of a slightly lesser magnitude… Shown in the Shot Above.. Hope it help deliberations.. and can go back several months if it helps Dominic.  

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 34 total)