Society for Popular Astronomy

This is the last time I shall be contributing to the forum as spawebmaster. Pressure of other work, particularly forging a new freelance career, mean that I have less time to devote to the website than before and so I have resigned as SPA Website Editor. I am however, delighted to say that SPA Counc...

You can use various webcams with the Mac. I've got a TouCam Pro though I've not used it for a while. To help you use it I would recommend the excellent planetarium program EquinoX - it is available as shareware but you need the very reasonably priced full version to operate a webcam. It will also dr...

As a Mac user, I have only just been able to use Google Earth and I begin to understand the hype surrounding it. (The Mac version requires Tiger, OS 10.4, by the way). Eclipse chasers will be interested in these links that overlay the paths of solar eclipses.

It just sounded a bit pagan. Nothing offensive meant!



Paul

Just so long as you don't mind being sacrificed on the SPA altar . . .



Paul

Well spotted! You will find the story behind that, er, feature here.

Paul

Surely the point is, as Dave correctly observes, that if you buy your product from Amazon and the product is faulty then it is Amazon's responsibility to replace it. Nothing to do with whose fault the mistake was - that is something for Amazon to take up with the publisher.

Paul

The effect of libration is well illustrated in the image showing the Moon at several phases. If you look at the small "sea" to upper right, Mare Crisium, you will see that it lies close to the lunar limb in shots 1 and 4 on the top row but further from it in others.

Paul

No. I think that would be seen as a sign of weakness. Also, once they were established on that basis, they would have a foothold from which to try to extend the allowable dates. And following the logic of your argument, they might also turn round and say "why can't we use them when it is cloudy...

I can't offer any advice on its reliability but this UK weather site offers forecasts for astronomers which include predictions for seeing. Click on "astronomy" in the left column of the home page and then select your area.

Paul

The SPA has put out a press release by Robin Scagell on tonight's event, hence the interest from the BBC today. You can read it here.

Paul

Tonight's Full Moon will be higher in the sky than any for nearly 19 years. The SPA put out a press release, thanks to Robin Scagell, and you can also read it here.

Paul

OK, it's confession time. :oops: I DID contribute the story that The Sun used and the original IS now on my blog . (It would have gone on yesterday but I had two parties to atttend - lunch and evening). :cry: Unfortunately the sub-editor made nonsense of the facts by crunching it into three lines! P...

In response to a concern that has been raised, may I make it clear to everyone that their membership information is confidential and that the SPA does not pass on email addresses to third parties. When members sign up to join this forum they are given the choice of displaying their email address or ...

I can't answer for donnah but can I just point out that your email address shows on your profile and at the end of your every posting. You also call yourself "spa" in it so perhaps it is not surprising that you are contacted.

Paul