Whitby & District Astronomical Society

The Bruce Observatory, sited within Caedmon College grounds (formally Whitby College, formally Whitby School) is home to a vintage 5", long focal length Cooke refractor dating back to latter part of the 19th century.  It is excellent for Lunar and planetary observations - sometimes exceptional. 

Open to society members and public alike, Sunday evenings from October through to April (barring a few dates) are scheduled for observations.  In practice however, weather conditions over the North Yorkshire coast have been very poor this last winter, data suggesting less than 15% of nights being clear.  In short - it has been a struggle. 

March proved just as bad on the weather front as the previous 4 months.  March 3rd was half decent, with views of Jupiter but March 10th was clouded out.  March 17th proved to be a successful evening, with a south-westerly breeze keeping clouds mostly at bay allowing excellent views of Jupiter and a quarter phase Moon.  Attempts to view comet 12P/Pons-Brooks proved futile, moonlight and artificial light rendering the comet invisible from our location.  Mercury also eluded us, a cloud bank blotting out the west close to the horizon.  The 1st Quarter Moon looked spectacular through the eyepiece and utilizing Richard Randle's adjustable eyepiece-to-mobile-holder gismo some fine images were taken. 

The following week. March 24th, was also pretty clear, with Brian, John, Keith and Mark arriving at the college by 19:00hrs in order to track down Mercury from the field.  This was accomplished within a few minutes, the elusive planet emerging through the deepening twilight, going from binocular to naked eye object within the space of 5 minutes.  

Eyes were also peeled for any sign of visible auroral activity as levels were very high according to aurora watch sites. There was one annoying drawback present in the sky, namely an almost full Moon.  Nothing was forthcoming.  Jupiter was excellent again with the Galilean moon Io disappearing round the back side of Jupiter whilst we watched.  Again, the GRS should have been visible, easing into view, but we could not say we'd seen it for sure.  Mark decided to try for comet 12P Pons/Brooks outside, before a cloud bank obscured that area of the sky. Succeeding in spotting it, Brian, John and Keith also tried their luck but with no positive sighting.  Back in the observatory we turned the dome round to the Moon, that pesky cloud bank having eaten a great swathe of the sky to the west and south.  A lunar filter was fitted to the eyepiece to counteract the brightness, allowing lunar rays, particularly from Tycho to be scritinised. 

Predictably March 31st was clouded out.  Just when we needed a clear night!