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Old 06-03-2012, 09:16
HenryGarten
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I'm surprised they let it on the train!
Wow. It took me a while to get that!
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Old 06-03-2012, 09:31
tvqueen1905
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I never know how to find mercury in the sky
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Old 06-03-2012, 09:34
belly button
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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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Old 06-03-2012, 09:42
Carlos_dfc
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Well done it is hard to get Mercury on the list of planets seen.
Yup - even Copernicus apparantly never saw Mercury
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Old 06-03-2012, 09:47
Carlos_dfc
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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.
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?
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Old 06-03-2012, 09:56
belly button
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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?
I've no idea why they would contact the police ? They can't find the beggars who snapped my wing mirror.

Yes that's really disapointing to miss isn't it. Fantastic picture though.
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Old 06-03-2012, 12:24
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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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Old 06-03-2012, 12:26
HenryGarten
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I never know how to find mercury in the sky
Well Mercury is not in the sky mostly!

It only appears for very short periods at times of greatest elongation.
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Old 06-03-2012, 12:57
f_196
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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?
Quite a few people seemingly thought it was a plane in the process of downing.

Plus hasn't the UFO side of the MOD been shut down now - with any sightings reportable to police?
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Old 06-03-2012, 13:36
HenryGarten
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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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Old 06-03-2012, 13:44
Blackjack Davy
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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)
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.

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.
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.
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Old 06-03-2012, 13:52
Elissa Richards
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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.
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???
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Old 06-03-2012, 13:57
Blackjack Davy
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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???
Well some people pronounce it beetlegurze (Patrick Moore being a case in point). Other people on the Sky at Night (scientists and the like) also pronounce it Beetlejuice as well.

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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Old 06-03-2012, 14:28
Breadstix
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Hi I'm here for the Star Party *hic*
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Old 06-03-2012, 14:50
Elissa Richards
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Hi I'm here for the Star Party *hic*
You go to stargaze..not drink!
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Old 06-03-2012, 14:53
Phil Owens
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You go to stargaze..not drink!
Boooo
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:15
atg
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I'm surprised they let it on the train!
Pluto got kicked off.
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:21
Phil Owens
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Pluto got kicked off.
No dogs...
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:25
atg
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Yup - even Copernicus apparantly never saw Mercury
I've been skywatching for nearly 40 years, did my degree in astronomy, and only saw it during that 4 planet conjunction about 10 years ago. Very hard to see.

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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Old 06-03-2012, 15:30
atg
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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?
They're always on the look out for illegal aliens.
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:36
HenryGarten
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I'm surprised they let it on the train!
Dit it have a ticket?
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:53
tvqueen1905
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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???
whats this about a star party

do you have anymore information?
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Old 06-03-2012, 15:58
Elissa Richards
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whats this about a star party

do you have anymore information?
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
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Old 06-03-2012, 16:14
tvqueen1905
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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
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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Old 07-03-2012, 20:24
Assa2
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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
Possibly the one they featured on The Sky At Night this month. Looked a very wet affair by all accounts. I'm not sure a Star Camp is my idea of a good time but a star party might be fun. Don't see why such a thing should be booze-free.
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