Society for Popular Astronomy

This is really fascinating to see. How lucky we are to be able to be able to take a glimpse at these events. The intensity of it looks immense.

Thanks for taking the time to post the link.

Best wishes, Jeff.

Thanks Nigel, I might try and have a go at the inverse style of sketching that the author of the S&T article used, which I referred to. I think my poor seeing was more from my observation location on the front doorstep, with Jupiter directly above the roof of a tall nearby house, which I suspect...

How lovely to see clear skies this evening, with a very crispy and frosty night underfoot. The temperature was at -3 degrees Celsius here in North Staffs. I decided to set up my 90mm refractor right on the front doorstep to observe Jupiter. Using a 12.4mm eyepiece (80x), I had a very pleasing view o...

Really beautiful, David. Love the subtle colours and the slight hints of blue around the main equatorial zones. Well captured.

Best wishes, Jeff.

Thanks for the info, Nigel. I was going to point the 25x100 at it tonight, but I think I'll set my 90mm up and have a gander at Jupiter instead. I saw the magnitude +9.2 estimate on the Heavens-Above website and figured it would be a lost cause for me. Although, I suppose there's always that chance ...

What a lovely range of colours. The rust colouration is particularly fascinating.

Best wishes, Jeff.

Wow, -7 C is cold. I did venture out early this morning to see the Moon riding high in the west. I think we were at -2 C here, so not quite the Baltic temperatures you were experiencing. That looks like a frosty 'scope you had there, Nigel. I have to be very well prepared these days for sessions in ...

There’s an interesting article on the Sky &Telescope website, about the lineup of the Galilean moons over the coming months.

Well done on braving the cold. I saw the articles about it being the coldest November night since 2010. Brrrrrrrr.

Best wishes, Jeff.

An interesting article on the BBC Science News website, discussing a solar system that has remained almost unchanged since it formed over 12 billion years ago.

Best wishes, Jeff.

Beautiful image. There’s some lovely detail visible in the cloud belts. Isn’t it an incredible sight to see.

Best wishes, Jeff.

Lovely detail, Nigel. Each time I see your sketches I get aperture fever!

Best wishes, Jeff.

Thanks for the information, Nigel. Yes, I could see the effect of moonlight too. My naked eye limiting magnitude must be getting worse, for example, I could barely detect any of the Northern Cross. I'll have another go when the Moon has disappeared. Unfortunately, with my location, there's no where ...

I have had a couple of attempts over the past hour, Nigel, to no avail. I can see the target area perfectly (according to Heavens-Above and Stellarium-Web - which both tally), but there's nothing there in my 25x100. Tried all the usual tricks; completely shielding the eyepieces; wiggling the bino ge...

24 Nov 2023 at 13:15UT - 66mm William Optics Refractor and Baader Filter. My first solar obs for a while, and the first time I seem to have seen the Sun for a while, although I am sure it has been there. I was quite surprised at how active the disk was. It's getting lower in the sky, and a little bi...

Friday night looks good here, Nigel, I might break out my 25x100 and take a peek. Should be nice and easy to find with Vega and Theta Herculis as the guide line.

Thanks for posting the reports - it has inspired me to get out and observe.

Best wishes, Jeff.