Clear Skies!...So whats on sky?

We've had to cancel tonight's session as well, unfortunately. Forecast looks dreadful. We will try to reschedule to a later date.

Cheers for the update Mike.

Next week during the weekdays looks very promising but I don't think you guys ever do your sessions during the weekdays correct?

Cheers for the update Mike.

Next week during the weekdays looks very promising but I don’t think you guys ever do your sessions during the weekdays correct?

We try to avoid weekdays for Blackheath events, as they tend to be more popular at weekends. However, it has been known.

The problem next week is that we've got a comet imaging event scheduled and also the lecture on Monday evening, so we have to work around these events.

Actually, the forecast looks grim for next week according to Scope Nights.

Still time for it to change though.

Going to be a clear night tonight.  So will head down Blackheath to do some astronomy if anyone like to join me.  Had a couple of other Flamsteed members join me last couple of weeks, we observed Jupiter and some clusters while I showed them how I image Jupiter via my laptop.  Will target an 84% illuminated moon and Jupiter tonight.

I am trying to figure out this debayer thing in using Firecapture software.  Apparantly, I need to have it off during capture but then my video is all in black and white...I dont get it.  But that's what I will try figure out tonight.  Unless anyone has some pointers for me?

Last Monday, after that excellent thought provoking lecture by Dr Diego Francisco, one our members was keen to find dark sky locations out of London and invited me along to join her as she drove to Newbury.   Not really dark enough skies but marginally better than in London.  I took a fun silly "ghostly me" selfie-indulgent timelapse of me setting up my scope and enjoying visual astronomy 🙂

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16806463@N04/24727042509/in/dateposted-public/

Am in Whitstable at the moment, Tej... but heading back to London soon. I'll try to pop out to Blackheath if I can... not sure I can bring much equipment, but I might be able to bring a camera.

Tej, wish I could join mate but I never knew you lads meet up apart from the scheduled events. If only I had known. The reason why I can't join is because I've been keeping a close eye on the weather and today looked fantastic so I promised my little one (since it's half term and she can stay up late) that we will do some stargazing from our back garden and that we can also see Jupiter. She'll well excited about it.

Tej, check your facebook mate if you can. I've sent you a message on the messenger side of it

Tej, wish I could join mate but I never knew you lads meet up apart from the scheduled events. If only I had known. The reason why I can’t join is because I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather and today looked fantastic so I promised my little one (since it’s half term and she can stay up late) that we will do some stargazing from our back garden and that we can also see Jupiter. She’ll well excited about it. Tej, check your facebook mate if you can. I’ve sent you a message on the messenger side of it

Oh no, no, no...this is my own personal spur of the moment endeavour due to a clear sky forecast (since, as you know, I am limited with astronomy in my home and normally take trips out of london), its not associated with Flamsteed official events and its never a planned thing!  Always a spontaneous thing.  I just thought to inviting anyone to accompany me, unofficially, tonight.

Tonight will certainly be a great opportunity to show your little one, craters on the moon and Jupiter with your 8" scope!

Am in Whitstable at the moment, Tej… but heading back to London soon. I’ll try to pop out to Blackheath if I can… not sure I can bring much equipment, but I might be able to bring a camera.

Ok, might see you then...but forgot to say, I am aiming for 9pm-10pm ish!

<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title">souls33k3r wrote:</div>
Tej, wish I could join mate but I never knew you lads meet up apart from the scheduled events. If only I had known. The reason why I can’t join is because I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather and today looked fantastic so I promised my little one (since it’s half term and she can stay up late) that we will do some stargazing from our back garden and that we can also see Jupiter. She’ll well excited about it. Tej, check your facebook mate if you can. I’ve sent you a message on the messenger side of it

Oh no, no, no…this is my own personal spur of the moment endeavour due to a clear sky forecast (since, as you know, I am limited with astronomy in my home and normally take trips out of london), its not associated with Flamsteed official events and its never a planned thing! Always a spontaneous thing. I just thought to inviting anyone to accompany me, unofficially, tonight. Tonight will certainly be a great opportunity to show your little one, craters on the moon and Jupiter with your 8″ scope!

Mate I know it's not the official thing but I'm always on a lookout for any chance I can find to get my scope out or view the night skies 🙂

The next time you have these spontaneous moments,  just drop me a line and I'd sure be looking to join you for the session 🙂

Ping me over your number on facebook (private)  and I'll message you from my whatsapp so that we can stay in touch via that

Moon is definitely on the menu but my powermate will most certainly become effective on the gas giant tonight.

Clear skies forecast tonight!

A feature to watch out for is comet Catalina joining the queue on Kemble's Cascade which is a striking line of stars at which one end lies a cluster, NGC1502.   It is also at this end that Catalina will join the line.  Catalina is not as bright as before and is only magnitude 8 now.   I learnt of this event from Pete Lawson's 2016 sky guide lecture at Astrofest.

I think this calls for a darker site to enjoy, so I shall step out of London for this...:)

A feature to watch out for is comet Catalina joining the queue on Kemble’s Cascade which is a striking line of stars at which one end lies a cluster, NGC1502

Kemble's Cascade is a beautiful feature... if you can see the comet too, it should be a very pretty sight.

We've got a Great Equatorial Viewing at the ROG this evening... looks like we might be in luck for a change!

Oh...wait, that's this evening?  I had this marked in my diary for 1st March, next week?!?  How did I get this wrong, I'm supposed to be assisting, Nick!  I'll change my plans if Nick is expecting me, and even if he's not and there is space for one more, I will come, gladly...as will be the first time ever, I will see anything through the great equatorial!  I've only been able to image the moon from it on a beginner's astrophotography course but that gave me no sensation, I want to look through the eyepiece!  I really hope Nick has me down to assist...

I will abandon, the trip, regardless, as I failed to notice that the moon is up all night at near full illumination, so making an effort to go to darker skies wont be that rewarding.  If there is no room for me at the great equatorial then will go to Blackheath...I will let you all know after I check with Nick.

Tej, you're on the list for this evening!

Yeah, Nick had me down for it!  Awesome...sorry, I didnt had it marked in my diary, terrible.  See you at the Great Equatorial 🙂