Astronomy Buffs

[Sean]

You have been talking about stars around here for years, so how about the real kind?

[3LockBox]

I'm somewhat a buff. I was one of those weird kids that eschewed socializing for Carl Sagan's Cosmos on PBS. I also would check out Nova whenever I could.

[Jerjo]

Not what you call a buff but I love the fact that we're now in a rural area where I can see the night sky. A clear winter sky at night out here is spectacular.

[Scott Bails]

Don't know if I qualify as a "buff," but I love watching shows like The Universe, Through the Wormhole, etc. on the Science and History Channels.

Space and astronomy have always fascinated me.

[3LockBox]

Or did you mean to type astrology?

:p

[helicase]

Betelgeuse is overrated :D

[3LockBox]

hopefully, everyone knows of this website already (I took an intro to astronomy class in college)

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

[Mike Potter]

Ya - I'm a total astrogeek, and have been pretty much my whole life. Here's a picture of the observatories in my back yard - located just a few miles NE of downtown Baltimore, so the skies are murky orange most of the time.205

[Skeptrick]

I have been an avid amateur astronomer for most of my life. I had a 6 inch reflector telescope way back when, and have considered getting another one. Just don't have the time to devote to it, as I travel alot for my job. To show you how nerdy I am, when I went to Brazil earlier this year, I was most excited about the chance to get some dark skies so I could see some of the southern stars for the first time.

[Scott Bails]

To show you how nerdy I am, when I went to Brazil earlier this year, I was most excited about the chance to get some dark skies so I could see some of the southern stars for the first time.

Nah, man - that's cool! :up

[Hunnibee]

Astronomy in the buff? Six inch reflector? What are you guys compensating for? ;)

Seriously, I have loved astronomy since I was six years old. I have a rather odd story about what happened to me at age six, but I'll save that for another time. I joined the Astronomy Club in high school and received a small telescope for Christmas my Junior year. One of the nicer memories of me and my dad was watching a dust storm on Mars with that telescope.

I grew up in Alaska and only knew the winter stars until I became an adult and started traveling and moving around the other states. I still look for those constellations even in the Lower 48 because I am so attached to them, especially Orion. You can't see the summer stars up there.

I was a huge fan of Sagan and learned a lot from his books and his Cosmos show. Now I'm getting a kick out deGrasse Tyson. I watch just about every "astronomy" show on cable tv now. I'm not left brained enough to understand string theory, but I'm trying! Times and technology keep changing, and while Sagan seems "quaint" now, he helped to launch thousands of dreams among the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of stars out there. I love most sci-fi shows, too, that deal with space travel. I'm not quite a die-hard Trekkie, but I come pretty close!

Whatever happened to that goofy dude who would come on tv around midnight and talk about the current night sky? I liked him a lot, but I can't remember his name for the life of me.

[Skeptrick]

Whatever happened to that goofy dude who would come on tv around midnight and talk about the current night sky? I liked him a lot, but I can't remember his name for the life of me.

You must mean Jack Horkheimer, the Star Hustler (later changed to Star Gazer thanks to Google searches taking people to porn). Anyway, sadly he passed away a couple of years ago. I thought it was cool that he used part of Tomita's version of Debussy's Snowflakes Are Dancing as the theme music.

[WHORG]

I used to be an avid astronomer back in the day ... and have continued to save for a small, portable Televue refractor.

With a decent scope of moderate power, and a small collection of quality eye pieces . . . one can easily find most (if not all) of the Messier Objects, do our own planets, explore the moon, view the sun (with proper filters) . . . not to mention terrestrial viewing and everything else in between.

My older scope (Meade 80mm refractor) remains up at my Mom's house (Lake Placid), where my friends are using it to this day . . . I really want something highly portable though.

~JK

[spellbound]

Stargazing in the buff is a favorite pastime of mine, much to the annoyance of my neighbors.:)

[battema]

Well then: INCOMING!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2209293/Comet-brighter-moon-fly-Earth-2013.html

[headcrash]

The local news had a story last week about the International Space Station being visible for a couple of nights and my wife and I ventured outside early one evening to check it out. It took about five minutes to cross from our northwestern horizon to the southeast. I thought it was pretty cool, but my wife was not impressed. I think she was expecting something out of Star Wars instead of a tiny white light moving across the sky. :)

[Hunnibee]

You must mean Jack Horkheimer.

Yes, that's his name! Thanks, I couldn't remember. Sorry to hear he's now among the stars himself! He was very entertaining and made astronomy fun.

[AncientChord]

Anyone who loves Astronomy and the mysteries of our universe should watch the BBC show "The Sky At Night." I believe it's one of the longest running show on the Beeb, starting in the 1950's? And still with original host Sir Patrick Moore. Every month there is a brand new half hour episode, and each one always has fascinating subjects related to the solar system and the stars. It's a do-not-miss for those interested.

[NeonKnight]

Yeah big fan of the big rotating lightshow in the sky every night. One of the only benefits of being Frankenstorm powerless were the great views up here in the woods with no light pollution. I pulled out the binoculars a couple times and used my google sky map app with some success to ID a couple really neat features. In fact I may try that again tonight...

[spellbound]

http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/

This is a map of the US showing where there is dark sky at night, and where there is an abundance of light pollution.

[3LockBox]

So, anyone have a favorite non-mainstream theory at the moment regarding astronomical events/phenomena?

I have to admit, its kinda fun perusing YT for the Nibiru nuts.

[Scott Bails]

I'm a sucker for all of the Ancient Aliens stuff. Most of it is ridiculous, but I love how they can fit any phenomena into the theory.

[3LockBox]

I'm a sucker for all of the Ancient Aliens stuff. Most of it is ridiculous, but I love how they can fit any phenomena into the theory.

http://www.maverickscience.com/saturn.htm

I ran across this tangential story while perusing Electric Universe theory. Not alien related, but fascinatingly weird - real Coast To Coast AM stuff. Look it up on YT as well. Lots of flaky "end times" stuff regarding a wayward brown dwarf star named Nibiru which is said to be due to reappear... 12/21/2012, of course ;)

[Scott Bails]

Of course! :lol

[Chain]

Total eclipse coming up tomorrow. It will be about 96% where I live.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/townsville-eclipsing-northern-rival-for-best-spot-to-view-solar-eclipse/story-fndo2iwh-1226515430030

[Mike Potter]

Wow, Chain - you've got to get on a boat and go see it! I have a whole bunch of friends on a ship off the coast of Australia right now, steaming for the intersection of clear skies and central eclipse line. I'd be there myself but opted instead to purchase a new spectrograph for the observatory. There is nothing else like being on the center line for a total eclipse, a truly stunning experience.

Mike

[3LockBox]

A different approach to Mars' landscape

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=mhee&v=2wOogk2LSSw

[sonic]

Stargazing in the buff is a favorite pastime of mine, much to the annoyance of my neighbors.:)
Do you stand to attention while gazing at glistening orbs at night? :D

[HealthyNational]

Don't think today's eclipse will be visable here in NY. Too cloudy / rainy anyway.
FYI though, Leonid meter showers peak this weekend, particularly Saturday November 17th.

[3LockBox]

http://www.space.com/18393-alien-planet-super-earth-habitable-hd-40307g.html

Only 42-ly away! One day soon, we'll develop telescopes that can peer in on this world and see what was going on 42 years ago. Still, a much more productive use of tax dollars than protecting corporate foreign interests.

[Fractal5]

Just wondering if anyone knows...... [I haven't brought out my scope in a while]
What planet is in the East North America sky... when facing east...... a couple hours after dusk.

[3LockBox]

Just wondering if anyone knows...... [I haven't brought out my scope in a while]
What planet is in the East North America sky... when facing east...... a couple hours after dusk. If you have a smart phone, there is an app for that called Skymap. I'm thinking its Jupiter.

[helicase]

I'm thinking its Jupiter.
It is. It's in Taurus at the moment.

If you look early in the morning (an hour or so before sunrise), you should be able to see Venus and Saturn low in the east. And Mars can be spotted in the southwest just after sunset.

[Scott Bails]

Farthest known galaxy in the universe. (http://news.yahoo.com/farthest-known-galaxy-universe-discovered-201051161.html)

[WHORG]

What planet is in the East North America sky... when facing east...... a couple hours after dusk.


Jupiter I believe

Perhaps Mars . . .

[tom unbound]

Always been a buff myself.
Everyone remembers the first time they see the rings of Saturn, the moons of Juipiter, a cresent Venus....

[Scott Bails]

Anyone want to help out the U.S. Military? (http://news.yahoo.com/us-military-enlists-amateurs-track-space-junk-120749423.html)

[tom unbound]

Anyone want to help out the U.S. Military? (http://news.yahoo.com/us-military-enlists-amateurs-track-space-junk-120749423.html)

This has to be the stupidest idea yet.

Amateur astronomers have always been an important factor in new astronomical discoveries. But who's the bonehead that thinks tracking orbital debris is for amateurs ?? 30,000 of the largest and easiest to spot and track are being watched. And I believe radar can track pieces down to at least 6 inches. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that, please). Satellite photography has a following in the amateur ranks, and it's not too easy tracking them for a picture. How do you spot an unknown object one foot large going 18,000 mph ?? By constantly panning random orbital inclinations up to 90 degrees (polar orbit)?? Good luck finding that big black chunk of #@%^& that doesn't reflect radar. Yes, I saw the shuttle with the tethered satellite, but I say they can't spot and track a piece of the tether alone.

[AncientChord]

Anyone who loves Astronomy and the mysteries of our universe should watch the BBC show "The Sky At Night." I believe it's one of the longest running show on the Beeb, starting in the 1950's? And still with original host Sir Patrick Moore. Every month there is a brand new half hour episode, and each one always has fascinating subjects related to the solar system and the stars. It's a do-not-miss for those interested.

Sadly, it was announced today of Sir Patrck's passing May he rest in peace.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20657939

[Baribrotzer]

I never caught the bug myself, but my dad is one.

However, I think he was always more interested in building telescopes than actually looking through them. After he retired, he constructed several beautiful and ingenious designs, of which my favorite was a V-shaped refractor: It had a flat mirror about a third of the way along the optical path that turned the path around backwards, so the eyepiece was right next to the declination pivot - as a result, when you changed the declination it changed angle but not height. You could easily sit in a chair as you gazed through it, and not have to constantly shift between sitting, standing, and stooping.

[roddenberry]

Always been fascinated by astronomy, cosmology and stuff of that kind. Yesterday, I was reading about this supermassive black hole (not the Muse song) recently discovered...

"A supermassive black hole, 4,000 times larger than the one at the centre of the Milky Way, has been spotted by astronomers. It lies at the heart of a small lens-shaped galaxy called NGC1277, which is 220 million light years away in the constellation Perseus. The black hole makes up an enormous 14 per cent of the galaxy's mass. Other black holes found at the centres of galaxies account for only about 0.1 per cent."

I remember Asimov writing about the fact that these supermassive black holes could be used as a one-way ticket to time travel to the future... :O

Robert

[Scott Bails]

I never caught the bug myself, but my dad is one.

However, I think he was always more interested in building telescopes than actually looking through them. After he retired, he constructed several beautiful and ingenious designs, of which my favorite was a V-shaped refractor: It had a flat mirror about a third of the way along the optical path that turned the path around backwards, so the eyepiece was right next to the declination pivot - as a result, when you changed the declination it changed angle but not height. You could easily sit in a chair as you gazed through it, and not have to constantly shift between sitting, standing, and stooping.

That sounds really cool.

[Scott Bails]

Always been fascinated by astronomy, cosmology and stuff of that kind. Yesterday, I was reading about this supermassive black hole (not the Muse song) recently discovered...

"A supermassive black hole, 4,000 times larger than the one at the centre of the Milky Way, has been spotted by astronomers. It lies at the heart of a small lens-shaped galaxy called NGC1277, which is 220 million light years away in the constellation Perseus. The black hole makes up an enormous 14 per cent of the galaxy's mass. Other black holes found at the centres of galaxies account for only about 0.1 per cent."


My feeble brain that's never sniffed a Physics course never ceases to be fascinated and boggled by this kind of stuff. It's hard to even fathom these kind of numbers and sizes.

[spellbound]

Geminid meteor shower tonight

http://news.yahoo.com/years-best-meteor-shower-tonight-181403357--abc-news-tech.html

Sorry for the late notice, but I just found out. Enjoy.

[helicase]

Geminid meteor shower tonight.
One word: clouds :mad Hope other people had more luck.

[Skeptrick]

Went out last night and watched for a while. Saw maybe 10 meteors in 20 minutes, not bad!

[spellbound]

I watched the skies for a while last night after 11:00 pm. Saw about 15 meteors, including 3 in one small part of the southwestern sky within the course of one second's time. Quite a show. There were no clouds but there was a bit of haze which I think was moisture in the air. So it was not as clear as the previous night, but still plenty of stars. It was 20 F out. When there was a lull in the meteors, I got out some binoculars and was able to see one of Jupiter's moons.

[helicase]

There were no clouds
No surprise there, seeing as you're on Mars :)

[spellbound]

No surprise there, seeing as you're on Mars

Last night we were between dust storms here on the red planet.

I really live in Nevada, USA. But the only drawing I could find small enough to import for an avatar was Marvin the Martian. Someday I will find something else and update my profile accordingly.

[helicase]

I'm sure some parts of Nevada look just like Mars :)

[Scott Bails]

There were no clouds

Anyone else read this in the voice of Jon Anderson's son, from "Circus of Heaven?" :lol







Thought this was interesting (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50228933/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UM_rCewzqyA)

[tom unbound]

Actually, I was hearing Rickie Lee Jones in a new mix of Orb's 'Little Fluffy Clouds'........ X)

[Hunnibee]

So, has anyone spotted Nibiru yet? It's officially Dec. 21 now, and we're in alignment for the Galactic gamma rays. ;)


I'm sure some parts of Nevada look just like Mars :)

If Mars really does have water, it would probably look like Pyramid Lake.

[spellbound]

2013 events for watchers of the skies:

http://www.livescience.com/25865-best-stargazing-events-2013.html

[Obscured]

Perseids time! Peak is this Monday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/09/perseid-meteor-shower-2013-peak-how-to-see_n_3732614.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

[spellbound]

Thanks. I wanted to find this thread and remind everyone of the perseids, but my search for "astronomy" did not find it. Appreciate that you were able to find it. I didn't want to start a new thread when I knew this one existed. Been watching a little for the past couple weeks on nights when the sky wasn't obscured by clouds. Saw a few. Maybe Monday I can visit the heart of darkness and see a whole lot more.

[helicase]

If you want to see something you've never seen before, point your binoculars/scope (possibly naked eye) to Delphinus. A bright nova has been spotted there:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Bright-Nova-in-Delphinus-219631281.html

[Obscured]

We are (probably) not alone-
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/26/tech/innovation/nasa-new-planets/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Scott Bails]

Not sure exactly when it starts - March, sometime? - but Neil DeGrasse-Tyson's Cosmos is coming soon. :)

[PeterG]

"Stars" are just holes in the Sky, letting the light in from Heaven, which as we all know lies beyond that dark blue Firmament......OR.......God has hands like Edward Scissorhands & keeps poking holes in that dark protective Blanket he placed over our World........OR........stars aren't real Celestial bodies at all they are just specks of light reflected off our Sun......OR.......We only see Light reflected from the Earth when we look at Stars....OR....they are the Souls of the Dead.....OR.........(excuse me, it's time for my Medication.....NURSE!!!!)


"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy" Inuit saying

[hippypants]

Cosmos II not too far away, March 9th: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/neil-degrasse-tyson-is-optimistic-about-earths-future-and-his-new-tv

[3LockBox]

I watched Cosmos with Carl Sagan religiously as a kid.

[3LockBox]

If Mars really does have water, it would probably look like Pyramid Lake.
is Mars hollow?

[Scott Bails]

is Mars hollow?

Not anymore. ;)

[Obscured]

If you catch yourself looking up at the night sky this evening, you might notice what looks like a bright star with an orange tint. That's actually the planet Mars.
'The planet is expected to line up with Earth and the Sun. It happens every two years. You should be able to get a good look tonight.'
Bright orange dot in the sky tonight. That is Mars and it should be 10 times brighter than the brightest star in the sky.'

[Obscured]

1st of 4 "Blood Moons" in a year and a half will occur during tonight/early tomorrow's total eclipse-

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/tech/innovation/blood-moon/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

(Reuters) - Night owls and early risers in North America will be able to watch a rare celestial show on Tuesday as Earth's shadow falls across the moon, shifting its color from bright orange to blood red to brown, depending on local weather conditions.
The lunar eclipse will unfold over three hours beginning at 1:58 a.m. EDT when the moon begins moving into Earth's shadow. A little more than an hour later, the moon will be fully eclipsed and shrouded in a red glow.
The celestial show will be over by 5:33 a.m., according to astronomers at the University of Texas's McDonald Observatory

[bob_32_116]

Cosmos II not too far away, March 9th: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/neil-degrasse-tyson-is-optimistic-about-earths-future-and-his-new-tvwhich raises the question: what is the plural of "cosmos"? "Cosmoses" sounds and looks silly. Cosmes? Cosmi? Cosmosen?

[bob_32_116]

I took this photo a few years ago and was quite proud of it - a rare configuration of the Moon, Venus and Jupiter, looking like a smiley face in the night sky.

3553

[helicase]

which raises the question: what is the plural of "cosmos"? "Cosmoses" sounds and looks silly. Cosmes? Cosmi? Cosmosen?
Well, "cosmos" looks Greek to me, so I would guess "cosmoi".

[spellbound]

I checked out the eclipse last night. There were some high clouds, but thin, and not overcast everywhere. The view remained good and the high clouds made a big halo around the eclipsing moon. I stayed up until it was fully eclipsed and red.

[AncientChord]

I've already watched the first 5 episodes of the new Cosmos, and it is truly WONDERFUL! It's easily a DO-NOT MISS if you yearn for knowledge of who we are, what we are, and what the universe is all about. Best program about Science that I've seen on American TV in many a year. Neil Degrassi-Tyson is a great host, and the show certainly follow's up in Sagan's shoes. WAY - :up

[highaltitude]

I am sorry, but
The way your subject is presented you look like an entire and total asshole
I am sorry again....
lol



You have been talking about stars around here for years, so how about the real kind?

[Dave (in MA)]

Announcing Peggy

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/d0/02/69/d0026905080b9b6ea9b104d776dc72fe.jpg (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/04/16/saturn-births-new-moon/7773667/).

[Obscured]

Lyrid Meteor Showers peak from midnight till dawn. Visible through April 25th. Link below has a live stream too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/21/lyrid-meteor-shower-2014_n_5186204.html

[tom unbound]

Real clear down here last nite, but no action. Will watch for more tonite. All showers are real unpredictable, but the potential show could be amazing !! (insert 'Watcher of the Skies' pun here)

[Scott Bails]

Real clear down here last nite, but no action.

Boy, I can relate to this.


Wait...what?

[highaltitude]

I do am really sorry for the stupids words I have posted, following your first post, I do am really sorry for that, again

I am sorry, but
The way your subject is presented you look like an entire and total asshole
I am sorry again....
lol

[Obscured]

Is it just me or does it seem like there are more meteor showers than years past!
http://belair.patch.com/groups/trending-in-america/p/newest-meteor-shower-could-turn-into-storm-of-fireballs-in-the-sky
Looking forward to seeing this if the skies cooperate later in the week.

[NeonKnight]

The Galaxy Garden (http://aeon.co/magazine/nature-and-cosmos/do-you-know-where-you-are-in-the-milky-way/):

http://cdn-imgs-mag.aeon.co/images/2014/05/Galaxy-Garden.jpg

Decided I liked the article and photo so much, voila, hello avatar.



the artist Jon Lomberg kneels next to a croton plant, removes the cheap earring that pierces a speckle on one of its leaves, and fastens a new yellow stud into the same hole. This, he says, pointing to the stud, represents the Sun. He is standing 30ft from the middle of the 100-ft-wide Galaxy Garden in the Captain Cook district of western Hawai’i. The highly manicured garden is an accurate scale model of the Milky Way galaxy, where every step takes you 2,000 light years from where you stood before. Here, the speckles on the leaves of ‘gold dust’ crotons stand in for stars. The plants reach out in spiral arms from the garden’s centre, where a spouting fountain plays the part of a monster black hole. Along the spiral limbs crowd hibiscus, vincas and red and black crotons where nebulae, gas and dust belong.

[spellbound]

Orionid Meteor Shower Tuesday morning, midnight (Oct. 21) till dawn. That's tonight. Little or no moon interference.

[Obscured]

No moon, lots of clouds. :(

[spellbound]

Daytime - Clear, cloudless, windy.
10:30 p.m. - Overcast and raining.
Midnight - Clear and windy. Almost no clouds. Stayed outside a while. Lots of stars. No meteors.
6:00 a.m. - Moonrise and false dawn in east. Stayed outside a while. Plenty of stars overhead. No meteors.

Time spent watching the night sky is never wasted, but right now I'd trade it for a good night's sleep.

[Shadow]

Astronomy Buffs

Naked stargazers?

[spellbound]

^Is there another way?

[spellbound]

Annual Perseid meteor shower approaching, peaks Aug 12:

Perseid Meteor Shower 2016: When, Where & How to See It (http://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html)

[spellbound]

Geminid Meteor Shower peaks tonight. I went outside last night at 12:30 am (Wednesday morning) and saw 4 meteors in as many minutes. Tonight should be even better. The winter night sky is always incredible, with Orion overhead and the Pleiades a little to the west and Sirius a little to the east. No moonlight. One slight problem. It's cold at night. Was 16 degrees F when I was out. I was advised to view the southern sky.

[spellbound]

Time again for the annual Perseid meteor shower. Peaks night of Aug 12, but night of Aug 11 should be pretty spectacular, too. Crescent moon will set before midnight, allowing for Maximum Darkness, Man

https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0000/125/MI0000125761.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

[spellbound]

https://carsonnow.org/sites/www.carsonnow.org/files/dsc_2103-denoise-denoise.jpg

Photo by Randy Clark

18 July 2020, Eastern Sierra, comet Neowise.

[spellbound]

Anybody else go outside last night to check out the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn?

https://carsonnow.org/sites/www.carsonnow.org/files/2s.jpg
Photo: Bill Hopp

I was a bit disappointed in the news coverage, which claimed the two planets would be close enough together to appear as one giant star. But the celestial light show did not disappoint at all.

[spellbound]

https://youtu.be/pJh9OLlXenM

[hFx]

Anybody else go outside last night to check out the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn?

Impressive pic! Been cloudy here all December! Zero hours of clear...

[spellbound]

https://i.redd.it/p6am0mopjt661.jpg
Photo: Samuel Kahn. Looking west from White Mountains, California, over the Sierra Nevada.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

Impressive pic! Been cloudy here all December! Zero hours of clear...

Yes...sadly where I live it was cloudy at night, with some rain, so no chance for me to see anything. :(

[Hobo Chang Ba]

https://i.redd.it/p6am0mopjt661.jpg
Photo: Samuel Kahn. Looking west from White Mountains, California, over the Sierra Nevada.

Damn.

I'd swear that was a painting.

[3LockBox]

There was mention of this in the media but calling it The Christmas Star was a bit of a stretch. It's been all over Fakebook as well, with people posting enhanced images acting as if that was how it actually looked. I remember a few years ago people were perpetuating stories during Mars' close interval to Earth with fake articles saying that Mars was going to be a third the size of the moon in the night sky. The internet is so full of shit anymore.

[hFx]

Finally a clearing in the clouds tonight! I got a shot with my superzoom. I'll look tomorrow what was caught.

[KayBur]

The phenomenon that we observed the other day is unique and interesting. The only insult is that unscrupulous manipulators use such phenomena to deceive people. But such deceptions must be exposed and the direct way for this is the study of celestial bodies, the study of the laws of their movement and the calculation of trajectories. And this is possible with the emergence of new players in the space exploration market. I am interested in companies like https://dragonflyaerospace.com/ because they bring in some fresh ideas that have great perspective for humanity.

[spellbound]

Set my alarm to get up for the lunar eclipse early this morning (Wed. May 26). News goblins told us totality would be visible from here at 4:18 am. I was out in the yard by 4:05. The moon in the southwestern sky was dark except for a thin crescent of white light at the top. Then the moon started to go down behind the mountains. By 4:15 it had gone down completely. Presumably it was eclipsed totally a few minutes later. But I could no longer see it. Oh, well. Nice starry night with not a cloud in the sky. All it cost me is being tired today. I'll take it.

[Garyhead]

Yup.....got up 3:30AM.....too cloudy here in the PNW. Oh well......there's always another........

[3LockBox]

Yup.....got up 3:30AM.....too cloudy here in the PNW. Oh well......there's always another........

No, the PNW isn't the place to observe celestial events.

[Munster]

Some fine photography here. Don't know how well publicised this competition is, so thought I would provide a link:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/may/28/milky-way-photographer-of-the-year-2021-in-pictures

[spellbound]

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower will be Aug. 11, 12, and 13 this year, with no moon expected to spoil the view from midnight until dawn.

Perseid meteor shower 2021: All you need to know (https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower/)

[spellbound]

Perseid meteor shower 2023, Aug 11-13:


https://youtu.be/JruDNHg5WWc

[spellbound]

Went out last night around 1:00 or 1:30 am to look for meteors with my kid. I missed the first one, but then we both saw a real bright one streak across Orion. Made it worth standing in the cold watching the sky. Last night and tonight (13-14 December) is the annual Geminid Meteor Shower. We lucked into clear skies and no moon for this one.

[SteveSly]

Went out last night around 1:00 or 1:30 am to look for meteors with my kid. I missed the first one, but then we both saw a real bright one streak across Orion. Made it worth standing in the cold watching the sky. Last night and tonight (13-14 December) is the annual Geminid Meteor Shower. We lucked into clear skies and no moon for this one.

Looks like we have clear skies here in Southwest Michigan tonight too which is unusual for this time of year. Hope to catch a few tonight.

[spellbound]

^This year, they are catch and release.

[SteveSly]

^This year, they are catch and release.

:D

[progmatist]

Wasn't Ed McMahon an astronomy buff? I seem to recall him searching for stars.

[Klonk]

For the last 2 years I swear almost every single fucking astronomical event has been ruined by clouds in my area. I love the night sky :horns

[Dave (in MA)]

For the last 2 years I swear almost every single fucking astronomical event has been ruined by clouds in my area. I love the night sky :horns

We're supposed to be in the middle of an impressive meteor storm, but we're getting a rainstorm.