From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 20:39:00 EDT
Subject: Great BBQ, Meade Binocs, ISS
Hi all,
1. IAA BBQ: Our great run of luck with the weather at the IAA's midsummer BBQ
at Amrmagh Observatory continued on Saturday 18th with a warm dry day and
some late afternoon Sun. We got some nice views of two major & complex sunspot
groups with my excellent little 70mm refractor from Lidl's.
But the highlight (apart from the refreshments, of course!) was the fun we
had with the Observatory's superb new 'Human Orrery' which would take far too
long to describe! Suffice to say that our host, Prof Mark Bailey (Director)
had compiled a fiendishly clever, challenging, and instructive competition
based on using the orrery, which was won by the pairing of Philip Baxter and Danny
Collins - well done to them.
I also ran a much simpler astronomy paper quiz, which was won by Pat
O'Neill - well done Pat.
Thanks again Mark, for the hospitality, and of course the lovely setting.
We had quite a few new visitors this year, all of who vowed to come back!
2. Has anyone had any problems, or even disappointments, with the Meade 10x50
binocs recently available from Lidl for £13.99 / €19.99? My pair are fine,
and I've heard 'good' to 'great' reports from others, but I've also recently had
a report from one person who was disappointed. In the interests of fairness &
honesty I'd like to hear from anyone else who was disappointed in their
performance.
3. The ISS is currently becoming visible in morning skies, and because of the
fact that the Sun doesn't get very far below the N horizon at local midnight
here, and the resultant very short break between evening and morning
nautical/astronomical twilight, it will become visible in the evenings by month's end
too. Full details for your own location are available free from
www.heavens-above.com.
They cover a period of up to 10 days ahead, but as the predicted
times get increasingly inaccurate over a period of more than a few days, it's
best to update them every second day or so.
That site also gives lots of other interesting astronomical information,
such as visibility of other bright satellites, Iridium Flares, comets, etc.
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
aol.com Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 20:39:00 EDT Subject: Great BBQ, Meade Binocs, ISS Hi all, 1. IAA BBQ: Our great run of luck with the weather at the IAA's midsummer BBQ at Amrmagh Observatory continued on Saturday 18th with a warm dry day and some late afternoon Sun. We got some nice views of two major & complex sunspot groups with my excellent little 70mm refractor from Lidl's. But the highlight (apart from the refreshments, of course!) was the fun we had with the Observatory's superb new 'Human Orrery' which would take far too long to describe! Suffice to say that our host, Prof Mark Bailey (Director) had compiled a fiendishly clever, challenging, and instructive competition based on using the orrery, which was won by the pairing of Philip Baxter and Danny Collins - well done to them. I also ran a much simpler astronomy paper quiz, which was won by Pat O'Neill - well done Pat. Thanks again Mark, for the hospitality, and of course the lovely setting. We had quite a few new visitors this year, all of who vowed to come back! 2. Has anyone had any problems, or even disappointments, with the Meade 10x50 binocs recently available from Lidl for £13.99 / €19.99? My pair are fine, and I've heard 'good' to 'great' reports from others, but I've also recently had a report from one person who was disappointed. In the interests of fairness & honesty I'd like to hear from anyone else who was disappointed in their performance. 3. The ISS is currently becoming visible in morning skies, and because of the fact that the Sun doesn't get very far below the N horizon at local midnight here, and the resultant very short break between evening and morning nautical/astronomical twilight, it will become visible in the evenings by month's end too. Full details for your own location are available free from www.heavens-above.com. They cover a period of up to 10 days ahead, but as the predicted times get increasingly inaccurate over a period of more than a few days, it's best to update them every second day or so. That site also gives lots of other interesting astronomical information, such as visibility of other bright satellites, Iridium Flares, comets, etc. Clear Skies, Terry Moseley
