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Old 04-01-2010, 17:14
Carlos_dfc
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One good thing about the cold snap has been the crystal clear skies. Has anyone braved the elements to do some observing?
Oh yes

I finally packed up last night when the ice started to form on the corrector plate of my SCT
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Old 15-01-2010, 02:15
HenryGarten
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There is an annular eclipse of the sun due to sweep across Asia a few hours from now.

See http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogl...5Agoogle2.html

An animation. See http://www.eclipse.org.uk/eclipse/0132010/
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Old 15-01-2010, 11:49
HenryGarten
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The ISS is due to finish in 2015 but Europe is asking for an extension to 2020.

Europe wants a decision in 2010 on an extension to the life of the International Space Station (ISS).

At the moment, no programme for its use nor any funding has been put in place to support the platform beyond 2015.


See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8456632.stm
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Old 15-01-2010, 12:04
HenryGarten
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Here it is. The ring of fire that was seen over Africa and Asia this morning.

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ing-glory.html
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Old 15-01-2010, 17:51
HenryGarten
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Another lot of eclipse photos. See http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gal...eskr1no6k0uej2
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Old 16-01-2010, 07:17
HenryGarten
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Nice video of the solar eclipse. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8460949.stm
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Old 16-01-2010, 14:50
Skysurfer2000
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The sales are on. NASA has cut the price of buying one of the Space Shuttles to just under $29 million.

Quite a cool thing to have on display.

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01...er/#more-50866
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Old 16-01-2010, 14:51
HenryGarten
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The sales are on. NASA has cut the price of buying one of the Space Shuttles to just under $29 million.

Quite a cool thing to have on display.

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01...er/#more-50866
Could we put in a bid on Digital Spy?
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Old 16-01-2010, 14:54
Skysurfer2000
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Could we put in a bid on Digital Spy?
Has to be an American buyer H.
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Old 16-01-2010, 14:55
HenryGarten
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Has to be an American buyer H.
Drat that is not fair!
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Old 19-01-2010, 14:09
Assa2
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Do you just get the shuttle or do you get the full set (tank and SRBs)?

Will they deliver or is pick-up only?
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Old 20-01-2010, 09:59
BeethovensPiano
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This is a very interesting story

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...roid-belt.html

A mysterious streak of dust in the asteroid belt might represent the first evidence of a collision between asteroids in modern times.
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Old 20-01-2010, 10:07
HenryGarten
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Thanks for pointing that out. I was unaware of that story until now!
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Old 20-01-2010, 11:42
Skysurfer2000
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Thanks for pointing that out. I was unaware of that story until now!
Funny enough I read about that on Universe Today this morning!
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Old 25-01-2010, 09:32
HenryGarten
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Here is an article about the end of the space shuttle. See http://www.opennasa.com/2010/01/24/d...uttle-program/

This is the bit I find most scary. See http://www.opennasa.com/wp-content/u...Gator-Lake.jpg
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Old 25-01-2010, 09:35
HenryGarten
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Some more great pictures of the recent eclipse. See http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...5501267&ref=nf
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Old 26-01-2010, 14:11
Apollo18
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Hello everyone!

I'm new hear and have found a thread that's really fascinating. There are some great photos on Universe Today of an eclipse of Saturn's moon Tethys by Dione.

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01...sini-goodness/
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Old 26-01-2010, 18:19
tiger2000
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Sadly it now looks like NASA's Mars rover Spirit can not be freed from the sand trap it has been stuck in for the past few months and will end its life as a static monitoring station.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8481798.stm
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Old 26-01-2010, 18:34
HenryGarten
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Sadly it now looks like NASA's Mars rover Spirit can not be freed from the sand trap it has been stuck in for the past few months and will end its life as a static monitoring station.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8481798.stm
Thank you that is very interesting news.
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Old 27-01-2010, 03:54
angel44
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Just a general query here for anybody who wants to field it.

Re: Bayer Designation ?

As I understand it, this is generally a listing of stars...I.E.. within a given [parent] constellation along with a rather antiquated mode of ascribing what's now known as Apparent Magnitude.

The Bayer Designation 'system' employs Greek and lower case Latin letters if I'm not mistaken?

Before I even attempt it, why should I bother learning to interpret and understand this rather ancient system?

Is there any really 'obvious' dividend to be had from doing so that I'm missing?

I'll tell you why I ask.

When I turn my attention to an individual star, asterism, constellation or cluster....

....the first [basic] things I attempt to try and memorise are:

A/ Names

B/ Distances In Light Years

C/ Apparent Magnitudes. [numeric]

I find the Bayer Designations to be somewhat superfluous in these initial 'getting to know you' stages, but a lot of contemporary literature, astronomical software programs and online resources seem determined to cite them.

What am I missing here?

What will my learning to accurately read this ancient 'Bayer' cipher give me that my above A, B & C method does not?

You see, once I have satisfied myself with A, B & C....I then tend to zone in on things like a particular star's history, it's mass, age and temperature etc.....which all helps to build a good mental image of the little white dot I'm actually looking at through my rather humble 10 x 50 binoculars.

Bayer Designations !!

In this day and age...who honestly needs them?

Apart from Bayer himself perhaps, [back in the day] along with his long dead contemporaries?
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Old 27-01-2010, 07:00
HenryGarten
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Another picture of the solar eclipse from a different perspective. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8481321.stm
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Old 27-01-2010, 07:04
HenryGarten
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Sadly it now looks like NASA's Mars rover Spirit can not be freed from the sand trap it has been stuck in for the past few months and will end its life as a static monitoring station.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8481798.stm
It still did rather well. How long was it scheduled to operate at the start? 90 days?
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Old 29-01-2010, 18:29
tiger2000
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Absolutly superb naked eye views of the Moon and Mars tonight. Mars can be seen just to the left side of the moon its red disc clearly visible.
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Old 29-01-2010, 18:40
KJ44
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It still did rather well. How long was it scheduled to operate at the start? 90 days?
http://xkcd.com/695/ and
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Old 29-01-2010, 18:44
mb@2day
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Absolutly superb naked eye views of the Moon and Mars tonight. Mars can be seen just to the left side of the moon its red disc clearly visible.
I saw them low in the sky about 5pm and it looked very nice.
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