Observing Calendar for February 9th to March 8th 2010 by Steve Woodbridge

Observing Calendar February 9th to March 8th 2010 (all times GMT) by Steve WoodbridgeDate February 10th Syrtis Major (the most prominent marking on Mars) on the central meridian at midnight. Mars is currently at its most prominent for 2 years and although its disc is only around 13-14” arc in diameter you should be able to see a few markings and the polar cap well even in a small telescopae (see my...

Observing Calendar for February 9th to March 8th 2010 by Steve Woodbridge

February 8th, 2010 | Featured Articles, Sky Diary | Read More

Observing Calendar for January – February 2010 by Steve Woodbridge

Observing Calendar January 12th to February 8th 2010 (all times GMT) by Steve Woodbridge Date January 12th Venus 1 day past superior conjunction. Venus is effectively invisible this period.January 15th New MoonJanuary 15th Procyon culminates at midnight. Procyon is the brightest star...

January 10th, 2010 | Featured Articles | Read More

Rosette Nebula (NGC2237) Imaged by John Moore

Rosette Nebula - click to enlarge The Rosette Nebula imaged with a Pentax 105SDHF and 0.67 focal reducer. Total of 5hrs narrowband.

January 6th, 2010 | John Moore | Read More

The Great Orion Nebula (M42) Imaged by John Moore

M42, The Great Orion Nebula in narrowband. 2.8 hrs of Ha, O3 and S2 with a Pentax 105SDHF. Click to enlarge

January 4th, 2010 | John Moore | Read More

Astrometry Tools and the Aladin Sky Atlas by Peter Campbell-Burns

I have recently completed an Advanced University Certificate in ‘Astrophysics of Galaxies’, a challenging two-year distance learning course run by the University of Central Lancaster. One of the course assignments required students to research the characteristics of a given peculiar galaxy using...

January 3rd, 2010 | Featured Articles | Read More

Flights to sunny spots

Astronomers face a number of factors that can influence our view or image of the stars and planets even in a “clear” sky. Some of them are natural effects, like clouds or the light from a bright Moon. Moisture in the atmosphere can also play a big part and is the reason why the stars “twinkle”...

December 28th, 2009 | Featured Articles, Observing | Read More

Minutes of the AGM – December 2009

Introduction by the Chairman. John Price reported that 2009 had been an active one for the Society. With the Society’s successful daytime public observing session in Farnham. Which commemorated the International Year of Astronomy, this was a highlight. Report of Officers: Chairman: John Price offered...

December 16th, 2009 | Meeting minutes | Read More

The Magnitude Scale by Peter Campbell-Burns

Even with the unaided eye we can make some estimates of the properties of a star against the dark background of the night sky. Perhaps the most obvious observation we can make is that some stars look brighter than others. Look very carefully and you will notice that some stars also reveal a hint of colour. A...

December 14th, 2009 | Beginners | Read More

Committee Meeting – 7 December 2009

Venue The Held at the home of Steve Woodbridge. AttendeesJohn Price (Chairman) Eric Grieve (Secretary) Peter Campbell-Burns Peter West John Price Steve Woodbridge Kevin Pretorius Danny ThomasMinutes of the Last Meeting Minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted. Actions remaining:JP to...

December 14th, 2009 | Meeting minutes | Read More

Why can’t I see fabulous coloured nebulae with my telescope?

We are all used to seeing fabulous, colourful images from space, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope or from some of the world’s best observatories, and I know this prompts many people to want to buy their own telescopes with expectations of seeing these delights first hand, only to result in...

December 11th, 2009 | Beginners, Featured Articles, Observing | Read More