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Space and Astronomy Thread |
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#2026 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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I'm surprised they let it on the train!
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#2027 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
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I never know how to find mercury in the sky
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#2028 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Is there life on Mars
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Here is a link to a photograph which was on the front page of my local newspaper . It's of Saturday nights meteor and caused a rush of telephone calls to the police.
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#2029 |
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bishop-Auckland / Darlington
Posts: 6,636
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Well done it is hard to get Mercury on the list of planets seen.
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#2030 |
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bishop-Auckland / Darlington
Posts: 6,636
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Quote:
Here is a link to a photograph which was on the front page of my local newspaper . It's of Saturday nights meteor and caused a rush of telephone calls to the police.
I'm a little bemused though, as to why people would phone the Police about a meteor ![]() I've personally seen two that were even bigger than this recent one - Never crossed my mind to contact the Police - What did they think the Police could do about it? |
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#2031 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Is there life on Mars
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I'm a bit miffed I missed that - I was actually out at the time, using a telescope, but it must have passed over eirther while I was studying something through the scope, or maybe when I went inside to make coffee.
I'm a little bemused though, as to why people would phone the Police about a meteor ![]() I've personally seen two that were even bigger than this recent one - Never crossed my mind to contact the Police - What did they think the Police could do about it? ![]() Yes that's really disapointing to miss isn't it. Fantastic picture though. |
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#2032 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,812
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Kudos to those who've 'bagged' Mercury, it's a slippery ellusive little blighter to get. It looks like almost a minute version of Venus with it's phases on show.
I spent most of the last nights viewing taking in Mars, the seeing wasn't great and I was getting 'boiling' at anything above 160x, still I could easily pick out the polar ice cap and various markings. I could probably do with upgrading or buying a better high powered EP, my highest is a 7mm X Cel LX which gives excellent FOV but my Barlow isn't that great and it ruins it when I boost the 7 mm to a 3.5 mm. Anyone used the 5 mm X-Cel LX's???? In the last week I've bagged a few targets I've haven't gotten round to seeing previously Alpine Valley Central Rille Saturn's C Ring Mira Hind's Crimson Star |
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#2033 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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Quote:
I never know how to find mercury in the sky
![]() ![]() It only appears for very short periods at times of greatest elongation. |
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#2034 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11,055
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Quote:
I'm a bit miffed I missed that - I was actually out at the time, using a telescope, but it must have passed over eirther while I was studying something through the scope, or maybe when I went inside to make coffee.
I'm a little bemused though, as to why people would phone the Police about a meteor ![]() I've personally seen two that were even bigger than this recent one - Never crossed my mind to contact the Police - What did they think the Police could do about it? Plus hasn't the UFO side of the MOD been shut down now - with any sightings reportable to police? |
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#2035 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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A great fireball coincided with the birth of my niece. I always tell her it was a "sign"
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#2036 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,037
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Quote:
Yes, I'm pretty sure it was. It was quite orange. Stars don't usually look that orange I don't think. Saw a very orange star once though, think it was Aldebaran (sp)
It's been a good winter for planets both Jupiter and Mars have been very bright this year. I've always wanted to see Mercury I may try and look for it, which is not easy to do due to work shifts. Quote:
Although Betelgeuse (how do you pronounce it? I prefer the 'film' version) can go at any time, I'm pretty sure IIRC we'll get fair warning. It's already pretty variable but before it goes supernova it should enter an intense period of variability by which time every astronomical instrument on the planet (or off) will be trained onto the star. I think the chances of it going nova in our lifetime are pretty slim, though.
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#2037 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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If you learn to recognise Orion you'll be able to find Betelgeuse very easily all of it's stars are bright in the winter skies and Aldebaran isn't far away.
It's been a good winter for planets both Jupiter and Mars have been very bright this year. I've always wanted to see Mercury I may try and look for it, which is not easy to do due to work shifts. You pronounce it the same as in the film. It doesn't really matter to be honest it's just a anglised version of it's Arabic name Ibt-al-Jeuzah (a lot of stars have names derived from arabic). It could blow between now and anytime in the next 10000 years or more, I wouldn't hold your breath. Are any of you going to any of this years star parties??? |
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#2038 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
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See you say that but all the presenters and the tutors I've had don't pronounce it like that....the pronounciation of it seems to change depending on which BBC channel too!!
Are any of you going to any of this years star parties??? I don't think there is an "official" Received Pronunciation version, if there is an an "official" version than that ought to be the original Arabic! Star Parties.... maybe..
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#2039 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,252
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Hi I'm here for the Star Party *hic*
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#2040 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,812
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Hi I'm here for the Star Party *hic*
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#2041 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wrexham
Posts: 6,782
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You go to stargaze..not drink!
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#2042 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London
Posts: 4,020
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Quote:
I'm surprised they let it on the train!
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#2043 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wrexham
Posts: 6,782
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Quote:
Pluto got kicked off.
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#2044 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London
Posts: 4,020
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Quote:
Yup - even Copernicus apparantly never saw Mercury
But I did 'bag' Uranus (there's another contentious pronunciation issue) last year when it was in the same fov as Jupiter. Neptune next on the list. |
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#2045 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London
Posts: 4,020
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Quote:
I'm a little bemused though, as to why people would phone the Police about a meteor
![]() I've personally seen two that were even bigger than this recent one - Never crossed my mind to contact the Police - What did they think the Police could do about it? |
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#2046 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,567
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Quote:
I'm surprised they let it on the train!
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#2047 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 53,213
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Quote:
See you say that but all the presenters (ie Sir PM) and the uni tutors I've had don't pronounce it like that....the pronounciation of it also seems to change depending on which BBC channel your on too! I don't think there is a defined and widely accepted pronounciation.
Are any of you going to any of this years star parties??? do you have anymore information? |
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#2048 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,812
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Quote:
whats this about a star party
do you have anymore information? |
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#2049 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
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Quote:
Get yourself onto Stargazers Lounge, the one I'm at SGL7 is sold out but there's more throughout the year. Usually a few hundred astronomers at.the bigger ones...open to beginners and pros
i do know that there has been a star camp at kielder lately i couldn't get there
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#2050 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Solihull
Posts: 7,274
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Quote:
ah thanks, is the local info easy to find
i do know that there has been a star camp at kielder lately i couldn't get there ![]() |
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