So often clouded out, rained off, even blown away, our first scheduled star party of the summer on June 11th from the West Cliff coincided with some fine evening conditions, allowing some fine views of the waxing gibbous moon, and to test out some equipment ...sort of. [Read more about Star Party - Report and Schedule ]
In this month's edition:
The constellation of Scorpius is not surprisingly one of Ptolomy's original 48 being one of the brighter, more distinctive patterns visible in the sky. It is also littered with many fine deep sky objects. It is however best appreciated from more southerly latitudes. [Read more about Scorpius]
It will be rather a slow start to the summer star Party season, with all the major planets not wanting to come out to play in the evening sky until early-mid August. [Read more about Summer Star Party - Schedule/Events ]
In this month's edition:
It could be tricky Star Party season earlier on this summer with all the major planets not visible in the evening sky until well into August. [Read more about Summer Star Party - Schedule ]
Our society meeting in May will be held on Tuesday 3rd, usual venue Room H1 - Caedmon College - Normanby Campus (ie Whitby College) starting from 19:30hrs. [Read more about Society Meeting - May (final one before summer recess) ]
Coma Berenices is one of those constellations visible in the spring sky perhaps not on the radar of some astronomers as much as it should. It is ill-defined, rather faint and sometimes mistakenly considered as a modern group. It is not, and further more is rich in interest for the deep sky and binocular observer alike. [Read more about Coma Berenices - The Amber Tresses]
In this month's edition:
With the introduction of BST (British Snow Time) it is after 21:30hrs before twilight deepens to astronomical levels in April. Spring constellations occupy much of the sky to the south and east...a direction which at this time of year offers a window onto the wider universe. [Read more about The Window on the Wider Universe - Virgo]
After acquiring a Celestron AVX GOTO mount and tripod in December, further acquisitions mean we can now marry refractor tubes assemblies to the mount via a dovetail saddle. [Read more about 'Saddled Up' And Ready to GO-TO ]
The meeting in April wil be held on Tuesday 5th, usual venue Room H1 - Caedmon College - Normanby Campus (ie Whitby College) starting from 19:30hrs. [Read more about Society Meeting - April ]
In this month's edition:
Born in 18th century France, Charles Messier devoted most of his astronomical career hunting for comets, the discovery of which could bring fame and fortune. In the persuit of doing so, Messier stumbled across numerous 'nebulae', cataloguing their celestial location with descriptive text. Messier once wrote; "what made me produce this catalogue was the nebula I had seen in Taurus 1758 while I was observing the comet of that year. The shape and brightness of that nebula reminded me so much of a comet, that, I undertook to find more of its kind to save astronomers from confusing this nebula with comets" In so doing one of the great astronomical works was fashioned - the Messier Catalogue, a work renowed by amatuer astronomers the world over and one that ultimately spawned a test Messier could hardly have imagined possible. [Read more about Charles Messier - The Comet Ferret']
Last month's Society monthly meeting had to be cancelled at the last minute due to unavoidable family circumstances for Mark. We tried to contact all those who normally attend, but appologise to anyone who did travel to the college and were met by Elaine. In the circumstances it was thought best to cancel. This month (March) the meeting is definately on at our usual venue Room H1 - Caedmon College - Normanby Campus (ie Whitby College) starting from 19:30hrs. [Read more about Society Meeting - March]
| Sun | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Actual | 08:23 | 15:39 |
| Civil Twilight | 07:38 | 16:24 |
| Nautical Twilight | 06:51 | 17:11 |
| Astronomical Twilight | 06:07 | 17:55 |
| Moon | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 11:54 |
