Re: Night Sky : Fri Nov 29, 2013 12:49 am  

Sorry folks, looks like Comet Ison bought it as it whizzed around the Sun. Show's off.







Or, is it?

Re: Night Sky : Fri Nov 29, 2013 9:56 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

That scope looks an utter waste of time.

… followed by details explaining why.

Many thanks for your answer.

I'll study the link to "my first telescope" you gave on Cornish's thread and delay any purchase until I have some idea what I'm doing.

In the meantime I'll content myself with battling light pollution, cloudy skies and the cold night air in an attempt to capture some star trails (using a camera that I DO understand how to use!).

Re: Night Sky : Fri Nov 29, 2013 10:20 am  

LeedsBornWelshRoots wrote:

… followed by details explaining why.

Many thanks for your answer.

I'll study the link to "my first telescope" you gave on Cornish's thread and delay any purchase until I have some idea what I'm doing.

In the meantime I'll content myself with battling light pollution, cloudy skies and the cold night air in an attempt to capture some star trails (using a camera that I DO understand how to use!).

Good luck, and I'd only repeat what I reckon is my single most useful piece of advice, that is to drop in on your local amateur astronomy society meet. Seeing for yourself, and having people that do these things show you, is worth a thousand words.

Re: Night Sky : Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:34 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Sorry folks, looks like Comet Ison bought it as it whizzed around the Sun. Show's off.

Or, is it?

I’ve no idea who referred to it as the “Comet of the Century” maybe somebody off The X Factor?

I’m still clinging to the faint hope Ison has survived & I will be up tomorrow looking eagerly to the southeast, then dragging my sad carcase back home to listen to faux disappointment from my wife.

Oh well, at least there’s the Geminids to look forwards to, that’s if I get a rare clear night & Mr Moon isn’t too bright.

Re: Night Sky : Sat Nov 30, 2013 5:09 am  

The Devil's Advocate wrote:

... I will be up tomorrow looking eagerly to the southeast, then dragging my sad carcase back home to listen to faux disappointment from my wife.

too close to the mark

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:15 am  

Well, it’s official now, the “Comet of the Century” is dead! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12 ... 71817.html

Well, it’s official now, the “Comet of the Century” is dead! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12 ... 71817.html

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:26 pm  

The Devil's Advocate wrote: Well, it’s official now, the “Comet of the Century” is dead! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12 ... 71817.html 3 million years to get here & it dies just as we're about to see it

The Devil's Advocate wrote: Well, it’s official now, the “Comet of the Century” is dead! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12 ... 71817.html 3 million years to get here & it dies just as we're about to see it

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:44 pm  

Superb animated gif of Comet Ison's first and last solar fly-by here, from the NASA STEREO spacecraft, takes some moments to load, but truly spectacular stuff. We won't actually know, though, whether an part of the comet has survived, until the Hubble space telescope has the chance to zoom in and study the remains. This will take 2 to 3 weeks. It or its remains may yet become naked-eye visible, IF that happens, then Friday/Saturday would be the peak.

Superb animated gif of Comet Ison's first and last solar fly-by here, from the NASA STEREO spacecraft, takes some moments to load, but truly spectacular stuff. We won't actually know, though, whether an part of the comet has survived, until the Hubble space telescope has the chance to zoom in and study the remains. This will take 2 to 3 weeks. It or its remains may yet become naked-eye visible, IF that happens, then Friday/Saturday would be the peak.

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:08 am  

Wildmoose wrote:

3 million years to get here & it dies just as we're about to see it

There will be another one along shortly (well, a few thousand years !!!)

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:15 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: Superb animated gif of Comet Ison's first and last solar fly-by here, from the NASA STEREO spacecraft, takes some moments to load, but truly spectacular stuff. We won't actually know, though, whether an part of the comet has survived, until the Hubble space telescope has the chance to zoom in and study the remains. This will take 2 to 3 weeks. It or its remains may yet become naked-eye visible, IF that happens, then Friday/Saturday would be the peak. Jeez, I thought I was an optimist but you’re on a par Gottfried Leibniz . You’re just trying to entice me to go out for one last attempt to see the “Comet of the Century” just as the temperature plummets.

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: Superb animated gif of Comet Ison's first and last solar fly-by here, from the NASA STEREO spacecraft, takes some moments to load, but truly spectacular stuff. We won't actually know, though, whether an part of the comet has survived, until the Hubble space telescope has the chance to zoom in and study the remains. This will take 2 to 3 weeks. It or its remains may yet become naked-eye visible, IF that happens, then Friday/Saturday would be the peak. Jeez, I thought I was an optimist but you’re on a par Gottfried Leibniz . You’re just trying to entice me to go out for one last attempt to see the “Comet of the Century” just as the temperature plummets.