h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was going to post this, thought I'd check to see if you did.
I can say hello to you while I am at itHello!

You did post!

Completely overcast for the first time in days. Darn weather turning seasonable all of a sudden

The occultation happened during our daytime - but there's the moon, jupiter and venus all clustered at the moment.

It's so exciting that our cat very nearly looked at it, but then didn't.

Oh, and of course it's clearing up and looks like it's going to be beautiful today--there's even trying to be a rainbow! (The shape is there when your back is to the sun, but no colors)

My older brother saw a colourless rainbow last month, I have not heard of that phenomenon before

Smiley face photos from around the world: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7759643.stm

Um, typically, didn't plan on stargazing tonight but out in the countryside at my sister's party when we went outside I spotted 3 shooting stars and a fireball.

Venus is particularly gorgeous tonight, at -4.3 mag
been in back garden with binos but worth it, it's very clear but the moon is way too bright to see anything near it. Had to check out the terminator though, moon is great to view just before full.

Tomorrow (a little earlier than now) need to check moon, will be occulting the Pleiades oooooooh

3 shooting stars and a fireball

but tell me, what is a fireball?

>>..what is a fireball?<<

A kind of cinnamon schnapps

Oh, wait...



Here's an example of 'a' fireball -- http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=992549

All I got was clouds last night...

Not fair!

I've just been outside gawping at the awesome vista - magnificent Orion, the very prominent Winter Triangle, gorgeous Pleiades, +1 mag Saturn and Regulus

I went out last night... blummin' freezin', and too many clouds to get a proper view - but Saturn was actually shining though the clouds, which I thought was impressive!

Later on this year you might be able to see a fairly rare sight. Saturn 'without' its rings. We/it come into line with the rings so that they are exactly sideways on and almost invisible to us.

Deke

Hmmm...

Anyone got a spare telescope, and a device for removing the blasted orange glow from above a city?

This device will help you remove the orange city glow:

http://www.fallingpixel.com/products/262/mains/boeing%20747-400%20lufthansa1.jpg

Head for http://www.hawaii.maps-pacific.com/map/Hawaii-Islands.gif

Once there, find this: http://rise.hao.ucar.edu/images/mlso.2.gif

Sorted!

RF

Gee, thanks Reddyfreddy!

I love this site, everyone's so helpful!

Now...

I've been researching this...

Anyone got a spare $200,000,000? This is a rough figure, as Boeing don't have a set price for a 747, it depends on whether you're bulk buying (is it possible NOT to "bulk buy" a 400 tonne plane?), and what options you'll have (I'll have the glass panoramic roof please).

Oh, and there's fuel. A full tank on a 747 will be roughly $200,000...

Perhaps if we all club together, we could do a deal?

well, it's a start!