Eta Aquarids 2013 − Dual-station meteor videography

NEMETODE, a network of low-light video cameras in Cheshire and West Yorkshire operated by members of the BAA Meteor Section, monitors the activity of meteor showers, enabling the precision measurement of radiant positions and, from the best quality data, the altitudes and geocentric velocities of meteors and their solar system orbits. The results from dual-station observations of the 2013 eta Aquarid shower are presented and discussed.

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The brighter comets of 2003

This report is the first of a new series that will describe and analyse observations of the brighter or more interesting comets discovered or at perihelion during the year.

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The Revd Walter Bidlake of Crewe and Espin’s ‘dark nebulae’

The Revd Walter Bidlake was vicar of Crewe in Cheshire for some 21 years at the start of the 20th century. He was a keen amateur astronomer with an interest in celestial photography, and took photographs of the night sky in support of T. H. E. C. Espin’s search for dark nebulae in the Milky Way. This paper describes Bidlake’s astronomical activities and life, including a high profile libel case he brought.

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Spectroscopic observations of the bright RV Tauri variable R Scuti

A series of spectra of the RV Tauri star R Scuti taken as it rose from a deep minimum to a bright maximum during 2013 October and November reveals major changes taking place in the photosphere and outer atmosphere of the star. This may be the first such series of spectra and demonstrates the capability of amateur spectroscopy for studying these complex stars.

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