Society for Popular Astronomy

Typically, even though it was raining yesterday evening, got a great view of the just past Full Moon rising over the houses to the South East after midnight!

Congratulations to folks if you saw the eclipse.

I know the weather is usually uncooperative with astronomical events, but here in the UK, the first chance at rain in WEEKS is really taking the ****!

Will keep an eye out, but it's cloudy. Moon peeked out thru clouds last night at 1am, so you never know!

Here's my observing report. Wednesday 12th, 22:45BST to Thursday 13th, 01:15BST. After a two and a half hours observing session, from my bedroom window only (I've got a bad chesty cough which isn't helping my asthma, and I was not going out into the night air with that), I've managed to see 10 meteo...

Thanks for this tip off, Trynda.... You're welcome, Sir! 8) As expected, I didn't get to see the closest conjunction. Last night however, Tuesday 24th, at 18:10 again, there was a brief clear spell with Venus and Mars both seen for about two minutes in my 8x30 Halina binoculars. Mars now south and ...

Very nice pictures.

Would have loved to have seen that sunrise, but the weather prevented a view!

Mark

Hopefully, people will get a chance to see this upcoming conjunction, closest approach being on the 21st. I had a chance view yesterday of Venus and Mars, after it had been clear at 17:10 and then clouded up again by 17:30. So I had thought that's that and went and had dinner. But afterwards, I came...

Hard luck with missing the Venus/Mercury conjunction. The few views I got were hampered by either low trees or setting behind houses like your site, but I did get lucky on a few occasions. Missed the thin cresent Moon near the pair this week though, the weather has been horrendous! There was snow ov...

Sunday 18th January, 2015. Got another look at this pairing this evening. Having been clear all day, at 16:40, had a look out of a south west facing upstairs window, and found Venus quickly with the 10x50W's, and then with the unaided eye. Slight horizon clouds drifting along, but no problem spottin...

Saturday 17th January 2015. Finally got to see Comet Lovejoy C/2014Q2 after all the foul weather we've had with the three big storms over the last week. Even though the observation was from indoors, at 23:30UT, spotted Lovejoy in my CZJ 10x50W's easily, just east of the line formed by the stars Zeta...

Very nice picture there. Replace the trees in it with horizon clouds, and that's what I saw in my 8x30 binoculars for a few minutes.

Mark

I tried yesterday (Monday 12th) from a south facing window with 8x30 Halina binoculars, at 16:45, but despite seeing Venus sink towards and thru a hazy horizon, did not see Mercury despite scanning till 17:30! But this evening, Tuesday 13th, I spotted Venus with the unaided eye briefly for two minut...

With Venus currently at 3 degrees altitude as the Sun has set for me, 6 degrees further north than you, Mike, I would need perfect conditions and horizon! Might be a few weeks before I can see it. Probably won't mean a Christmas Star this year!

Mark

Haven't been near a Lidl recently, so how much are they selling it for?

Mark

Had something like this as well. Early on the 13th, I was heading off to bed late at about 03:00, and looked out the window to see Orion in a large clear patch to the south, although Aldebaran in Taurus was peeking thru clouds. I got the 10x50's out and just scanned Orion for about twenty mins thru ...

I got a good look with my homemade 150mm reflector. A good look in a 60mm refractor was brilliant!

Mark