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

Time: 23:05, Location: My back garden (Geddington, U.K).

Object: The Moon, Position: Alt: 41; Az: 161.

Conditions: Very little cloud, slight haze cause by pollution, and a slight smokey smell in the air.

Comments:
Almost full, best detail made out on leading shadowed edge- unable to focus at highest magnification, better luck next time!




Time: 23:20, Location: My back garden (Geddington, U.K).

Object: Seven Sisters (Pleiades)

Conditions: As above, plus very bright due to the moon.

Comments:
Can make out the main stars easily, with a background haze.




Time: 23:26, Location: My back garden (Geddington, U.K).

Object: Deneb (Leading star of Cygnus), Position: Alt: 51.3; Az: 284.5.

Conditions: As above.

Comments:
Could make out the star with a hazier object below and to the left of it. Couldn't focus on it, but it could have easily been something on the lense...

With what are you viewing? just eyes? or an instrument? What instrument?

Are these conditions typical or unusual?

I saw the full lunar eclipse from my home, I dont think it was visilbe from the UK.

In days long ago, I assisted in making a 10 inch Newtonian F6 scope used in San Diego CA 1969/70 until I had to relinquish it to my partner because I moved. Beautiful viewing conditions there.

A 60mm refractor- nothing fancy, my first scope. Unfortunately, these conditions are not typical... first clear night since I got the 'scope!

Wouldn't mind one of those...

TK[1]

That old scope cost me three months worth of grinding the mirror, then figuring it and the money cost was minor compared to the time involved. I would not do it again of course I would buy one (if I could afford a good one) A similar scope would cost almost $1000.

The UK is known for having poor observation conditions the weather being what it is. Even so there have been several world famous English Astronomers. Keep up the logs and disciplined written observations it is the length and consistancy that are of value. Many of the comets and Astroids that have been discovered are by virtue of these types of observations.

Since I have had the pleasure of visiting Mt Palomar (and the alternate site called Mt Pinos) in southern california, Mauna Loa the site of the Keck telescope in Hawaii and the VLA Radio telescope in New Mexico,I know all about good night skies. Even now Mt Paolmar is being surrounded by cties and losing its great sky, so it is not as good as it was in the past.

Professional Astronomy seems to be focusing on the glamour subjects like deep space objects, and the simple subjects like astroids and comets can be filled adequately by amateurs like ourselves. Have you visited the Astronomy pictue of the day website? APOD
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

They have an archive of beautiful images that can be downloaded for printing.

Keep up the good observations and dont give up.