The dark nebulae of summer
Although summer nights are short, there can still be great astronomical sights, especially if a dark and more southerly location
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Archives
A previously unreported naked-eye sunspot observation: 1604 November
Evidence is presented of a previously unreported naked-eye sunspot observation in 1604. A report from a 17th century Hungarian history is analysed and possible alternative interpretations are discussed. Further evidence of high solar activity at the time is briefly examined.
Read moreRZ Cas lightcurve and orbital period variations
A binary star model for RZ Cas is fitted to a set of high quality electronic magnitude observations of recent minima, deriving in the process some of the parameters of the system. This lightcurve is then fitted to raw observational data from the BAA, AAVSO, AFOEV and VSOLJ in order to determine the times of minimum. These observed times of minimum supplemented by data from the Lichtenknecker database are then compared to expected times and are shown to be consistent with several significant long-term changes in the period.
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The opposition of Mars, 2010: Part I
This report summarises over 8,000 observations by 149 observers between 2009 March and 2010 September, covering martian northern late autumn to winter, spring and early summer (Ls= 232-156°). Part I discusses dust storms and albedo features.
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The strange world of V. Axel Firsoff (1910−1981)
Axel Firsoff was one of the most controversial theorists and letter writers in the BAA’s history, submitting huge amounts of correspondence to the Journal between 1956 and 1981 and serving on the Committee of the Terrestrial Planets Section from 1979 to 1981. He was also a successful author, writing more than 20 books from 1942 until his death. In addition, Firsoff was a skilful artist, an accomplished skier, a lunar and planetary observer and an early pioneer in the use of colour filters.
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