Society for Popular Astronomy

David. What a sorry state of affairs! The simple pleasures of life are being eroded away before our eyes. Regards mike f

This am 11th Nov watched thin crescent MOON rise above the nearby South Eastern roof top, earthshine first, at 0600 GMT from Upper bedroom window. And soon was aware that Spica was nearby. Followed in various instruments, attempted a photograph. Moon and Spica were separated by something like 2° +. ...

Yes, saw some of it, between clouds and rain .First view was at about 6am with good views of these two worlds. Until clouded out. But did make a sketch at 0858 Am and took a few photos using astro master + 25mm ep + yellow filter with digital camera. Then it rained but another large gap appeared, en...

30/Oct: 1950hrs GMT: good view of Moon and Pleiades. From bedroom window, using Opticron GS52 ed X12.
If one included the main Pleiads, only the nearest edge of lunar limb fitted the fov. If one included the complete Moon , Alcyone was at the extremely of the fov. Regards mike f.

Attempted to view the eclipse... spent an hour or more watching clouds and rain passing, until had a couple of glimpses of the Moon but may have been too late. Even then not at all clear view in scope and unsatisfactory and as ucertain of the time re. BST or GMT. And gave up entirely. However, next ...

3rd Oct. 2023. O400 -0420 BST. Break in clouds enabled a view of Moon + Pleiades. Easily fitting the 8x42 Ed mono although Moon rather too bright. Bur in the AstroMaster 80 an excellent view of the Moon + the brightest stars of M45 just fitted the scope fov. Instrument as before..Regards mike.

Saw this also Jupiter + Moon.using AstroMaster 80 with 90deg diagonal and 15mm ep and yellow filter. Too far apart to fit this scope but easily fitting 8x42 Ed monocular. 1 st 0ct. Regards mike.

A few yearh ago when I worked at Foredown Tower and the Booth Museum, I was particularly interested in meteorites. , Many reports of " finds" turn out to marcasite nodules which can be found on the Sussex Downland. A "fall + find" report of a meteorite crashing through the canopy...

Did not manage to see the after -new crescent Moon until 18/9/23, when watched it set behind Southwick Hill behind the pylons, cables and ino cloud. The last view of the very thin old Moon was had at 13/9/23 @ 0530 BST when seen briefly as it rose above the Eastern rooftops but v soon disappeared in...

I rather fear that the comet is lost to us in the northen climes regards mike

Recently I came across 'Star Names Their Lore and Meaning' by Allen. I know that more modern research is probably more accurate but certainly this Dover publication is worth keeping and reading. Also . Collns Guide To the Night Sky , The only photographic field guide you can use in the wild. 1999. B...

Comet Nishimura P/2023P1: 1. Used 9-27×56 on a tripod, from the window in an attempt to locate this Comet. I finally identified the area, containing a line of faintish stars, with two fainter stars to the right and just maybe there was a fuzzy star or Comet between them. However the sky was too brig...

I will post my Comet Nishimura obsevatin in full later.

I also managed a good view and photo of this. What really supposed me was how many people expected it to actually be blue! My observational notes for this are below. Night of 30th - 31st August 2023: at 2200-2230 BST. Rising above the SSE rooftops from the garden in cla gaps in cloud, and later in c...

Hello,
Hopefully I will be able to share my obs here again, regards maf