Night Sky : Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:59 pm  

I know some of you have nowt much to do once we get back-endish in December so why not waste your time stargazing? December is a fine month for evening views of Jupiter, which you can't miss as it's that really bright thing that's not the Moon. Or early risers can see both Venus and Saturn. And if you look carefully, Mercury, which apparently 99% of Earth's population have never seen with their own eyes. And oh look, what's that bright shiny thingy gliding across the sky? Must be an alien craft. Or... December is going to be a good month for you International Space Station watchers. Quite a few teatime passes, these will be the best ones, cloud cover permitting:- 18 Dec 18:03 - 18:04 20 Dec 5.58 - 6pm 22 Dec 5.54- 5:56pm this is a good one to impress your mates with, as you can predict that shortly after it passes over the Moon, it will "disappear") ie cross into Earth's shadow) 23 Dec 5:04 - 5:07 first pass, which will be fairly cool as the ISS will appear to cross the base of the Moon There are other less prominent passes, join http://www.heavens-above.com and get your own personal schedule. Earlier in December a great chance to spend an hour or two watching for meteors, overnight Dec 13/14 when the Geminid meteor shower is due. Articlke with Details It's a pity that the world will end this December but on the admittedly extremely remote off-chance that it won't, this time next year we should have a real treat with Comet ISON, predicted to be the brightest in living memory, maybe even an object visible in daylight. And before then, in the early Spring, there will be Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) which might reach naked-eye visibility before dawn in early spring 2013.

I know some of you have nowt much to do once we get back-endish in December so why not waste your time stargazing? December is a fine month for evening views of Jupiter, which you can't miss as it's that really bright thing that's not the Moon. Or early risers can see both Venus and Saturn. And if you look carefully, Mercury, which apparently 99% of Earth's population have never seen with their own eyes. And oh look, what's that bright shiny thingy gliding across the sky? Must be an alien craft. Or... December is going to be a good month for you International Space Station watchers. Quite a few teatime passes, these will be the best ones, cloud cover permitting:- 18 Dec 18:03 - 18:04 20 Dec 5.58 - 6pm 22 Dec 5.54- 5:56pm this is a good one to impress your mates with, as you can predict that shortly after it passes over the Moon, it will "disappear") ie cross into Earth's shadow) 23 Dec 5:04 - 5:07 first pass, which will be fairly cool as the ISS will appear to cross the base of the Moon There are other less prominent passes, join http://www.heavens-above.com and get your own personal schedule. Earlier in December a great chance to spend an hour or two watching for meteors, overnight Dec 13/14 when the Geminid meteor shower is due. Articlke with Details It's a pity that the world will end this December but on the admittedly extremely remote off-chance that it won't, this time next year we should have a real treat with Comet ISON, predicted to be the brightest in living memory, maybe even an object visible in daylight. And before then, in the early Spring, there will be Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) which might reach naked-eye visibility before dawn in early spring 2013.

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:45 pm  

Was sitting in the car in central Leeds last week waiting for the eldest to come out of her work when someone on the radio mentioned the full moon that night and right next to it, Jupiter.

I actually got out of the car to have a look as it was a clear cold night - my was I impressed and more impressed when the bloke on the radio said that with a pair of binoculars you might even be able to see some of Jupiters moons.

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:39 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Was sitting in the car in central Leeds last week waiting for the eldest to come out of her work when someone on the radio mentioned the full moon that night and right next to it, Jupiter.

I actually got out of the car to have a look as it was a clear cold night - my was I impressed and more impressed when the bloke on the radio said that with a pair of binoculars you might even be able to see some of Jupiters moons.

Yup, was impressive, I took some long exposure photo's and got a "lunarbow" which was brilliant.

Re: Night Sky : Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:57 pm  

Standee wrote:

Yup, was impressive, I took some long exposure photo's and got a "lunarbow" which was brilliant.

pics please.

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:49 pm  

CORNISH wrote:

pics please.

^

Wot he said!

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:21 pm  

^

What she said too please.

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:28 pm  

Dead Man Walking wrote:

^

What she said too please.

^
What he said, what she said, what he said.

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:35 pm  

I'm thinking of getting a telescope next year if I can save a little cash .

Re: Night Sky : Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:52 pm  

B0NES wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a telescope next year if I can save a little cash .

What he said.
But being a grandparent I have photos in my wallet where my money used to be.

Re: Night Sky : Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:51 am  

dont know how good/bad this is http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/sp ... _28104.htm

dont know how good/bad this is http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/sp ... _28104.htm