Astronomy typed memories from 2006

 

I well remember taking these observations, the telescope used was a tiny 40mm refractor. 

Even though the telescope was really a toy, it still returned some lovely images of the lunar surface.

Sunspots AR2822 and AR2823.

A quick solar capture from this morning's observing session.  

The Nikon D70 and the Tal1 refractor are a good combination. 

Great to see such a prominent grouping, in the form of AR2822. 

The Story of Palomar, 1948

Highlights from SOHO's 25 Years in Space.

Beautiful images from the SOHO satellite.

Learn more about this amazing satellite in these links:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/soho/in-depth/

https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

Weather satellite image - 18/02/21

 

Clear skies this morning, with looming cloud on horizon. 

A bit warmer than last week, but still wooly hat weather.

Weather satellite images - 03/02/21

Mostly blue skies here, bit cold, Sun shining brightly, gibbous waning Moon in the west.

Beautiful February morning.

Weather satellite image: 02/02/21.

Looks like most of the UK is hidden under a veil of cloud this morning. 

Though parts of Mediterranean coastline look fairly cloud free. 

Not a bad image considering the weather satellite camera is some 530 miles above our heads!

Weather satellite image. 30/01/21.

This mornings weather fax. 

Downloaded from the NOAA 18 weather satellite, via my ham radio and decoded with weather data decoding software.

Pembrokeshire looks clearish this morning.

Clouds moving in from the east, bringing cold weather,

Mars 2020 apparition... A few drawings.

The 2020 Mars apparition has so far  been a bit tricky.  Many nights of bad seeing, and lots of cloudy evenings. 

On the whole I have only been able to capture the odd evening of Mars viewing. 

But those evenings you see above, more than made up for the lousy weather.

Mars on a typewriter

 

Welcome back Mars.

August 9th 2020 : 04h00mUT 76mm O.G. x112 Antoniadi I

Early this morning the world of John Carter, Tharks, Synthetic men and dreamers finally came back to life.

It has been a long wait, at least four years since I last had a decent glimpse of this most wonderful and enchanting of planets.

My 76mm refractor revealed with ease the white bright polar caps, the gibbous planetary phase, a hint of Mare Sirenum, and most interestingly a whisper of light over two small areas of the Tharsis region.

To my mind one of those small light areas might be connected to nearby Mons Olympus, the highest volcano on the martian surface.
Was I seeing the Nix Olympus "The Snows of Olympus"?

I made a quick sketch, said hello to John Carter, and dreamed the astronomer's dream, for maybe another half hour.
The night was now fast giving way to the day, I slowly packed away the telescope, and made a few notes.

This was my first observation of the 2020/21 apparition, the planet was 15.6 arc seconds in diameter.
From now until October, Mars is just going to increase in size.

The next few months are going to be exciting.

Welcome back Mars, you have been sorely missed.

Clear Martian skies

Mark.