Mooning on Saturday

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 28 Feb 2007, 19:56

Ha! No bums.

Apparently the moon is planning to have an eclipse on Saturday night. It should start about 8pm, peak at 11 (bright orange or blood red) and back to normal about 2am. If you lot aren't already out dancing at a club, if the sky is as clear and gorgeous as it is tonight, and if you're feeling like having a bit of outdoors then it might be worth wandering out to have a look upwards.

But if you aren't into wearing thermals, sitting on the beach/ up hills watching peculiar things, drinking hot whisky cocoa and taking photos in the dark, this probably won't interest you so much.

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 28 Feb 2007, 20:23

Rumours sweeping Portobello of a devil worshipping ceremony to take place on the Prom at midnight on Saturday - you heard it here first.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 28 Feb 2007, 20:48

There had better be no sacrificing of guinea pigs on the sea wall this weekend!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 03 Mar 2007, 14:20

It's tonight! 03/03/07

According to Mr Soupy the eclipse timings are
start at 20.18,
totallity begin at 22.44
Max eclipse at 23.20
totallity end 23.57
end 02.23

There's to be a live webcast on
www.lunarobservers.com

so if you dont want to go out in the cold you can always watch on the pc

All cloud permitting of course!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 03 Mar 2007, 21:02

thanks for the info SD

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Mar 2007, 21:12

I've just made the mistake of mentioning it to Homer and son. Aforementioned offspring now wants to dig out his telescope which is buried somewhere in the chaotic mess he calls his bedroom

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 03 Mar 2007, 23:15

Marya wrote:I've just made the mistake of mentioning it to Homer and son. Aforementioned offspring now wants to dig out his telescope which is buried somewhere in the chaotic mess he calls his bedroom

Much the same in our house but it's Mr Soupy in the chaos we call our bedroom.
He's got telescopes, tripod and camera set up.

I suggested the beach but he doesn't want sand in his precious instrument!

edit for spelling!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 03 Mar 2007, 23:20

Seems the link I posted earlier is having technical difficulties!
Moonbeams interfering?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 03 Mar 2007, 23:27

SoupDragon wrote:I suggested the beach but he doesn't want sand in his prescious instrument!

Anyway, you should be watching BBC4!!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 01:25

Anyway, you should be watching BBC4!![/quote]

I was, I was, and wandering through occasionally, in the dark, to see how he was doing.

Post by **wangi** » 04 Mar 2007, 01:28

Wasn't too happy with the results, but...

http://www.pbase.com/wangi/image/75137201

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 01:30

Beautiful, Wangi.
Mr Soupy green with envy at the quality of the pic.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 04 Mar 2007, 02:00

Ooh, I enjoyed that. What a lovely clear night for it too. Wasn't even too cold!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Mar 2007, 10:01

Don't know why you're not happy with the photo Wangi, it looks stunning.

Post by **wangi** » 04 Mar 2007, 13:29

Happier now, have replaced the image with another

The original one had a too long shutter time - blurring the moon and stars.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 14:17

You're just a perfectionist Wangi.
Think your shot a lot better then those posted on BBC site
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6416721.stm

Mr Soupy was trying with hand held camers through a telescope so they were a bit shaky. He was really more intrested in observing and timing the eclipse.

The SPA ( Society for popular astronomy) have some pics posted on their forum
They dont blether as much as us! No G&TT forum there

www.popastro.com

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 14:22

Start of the eclipse. Shadow starting on bottom right

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 14:29

Another one from mr Soupy
Bit blurred , sorry, about half way

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 04 Mar 2007, 17:08

great pic wangi

We forgot and only saw it half red.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 04 Mar 2007, 17:35

Lovely photos. I'm glad I mentioned this eclipse now; it seems to have unearthed all sorts of people and their equipment

If you lot still have your telescopes and big zooms at the ready, Saturn is clearly visible tonight and most nights round now-ish.

For those who still have neck strain from last night or prefer to be indoors, you can see Patrick Moore enthusing about Saturn on BBC1 tonight at 11.45pm.

Post by **wangi** » 04 Mar 2007, 18:32

Like Mr Soupy's pics! It's beena while since I took any photos of the moon... And my telescope isn't up for sticking a camera on it (and I've tried many a time).

Some more moon shots, but not last night: http://upload.pbase.com/wangi/moon

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 04 Mar 2007, 20:44

Glad it wasn't tonight the sky is really dark and gloomy.
My alternative name for Mr Soupy is "Shakes fist at clouds man"

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 04 Mar 2007, 20:56

SoupDragon wrote:Glad it wasn't tonight the sky is really dark and gloomy.
My alternative name for Mr Soupy is "Shakes fist at clouds man"

We were lucky last night; I think this weather would have had me joining in the Soupy cloud-threatening chorus

Post by **wangi** » 06 Mar 2007, 16:54

For a rather spectacular shot: http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/chann ... ay/8138019

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 06 Mar 2007, 18:34

What a beautifulpic on that link.
The astronomers have been busy posting on their site
http://www.popastro.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

Some lovely images to look through.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 11 Aug 2007, 10:16

Do any of our resident astronomers know if we'll be able to see the annual Perseid meteor shower this weekend?

Mr Soupy · Post by **Mr Soupy** » 11 Aug 2007, 11:21

In theory, this should be a super year for the Perseid meteor shower, There will be a new moon (ie you won't see the moon at all). To make the most of this you should find a good, dark Northerly horizon. ? Porty beach? A deck chair or garden recliner is the ultimate viewing aid, (Telescopes and binoculars limit your field of view too much), as you can just relax and keep your eyes scanning to the North. Do not look directly at the constellation Perseus, more meteors will be seen streaking across neighbouring constellations. Unfortunatley the absolute maximum rate will fall during daylight hours for the UK and will be invisible to us. The Perseids are a long drawn out affair however and in the early hours of the 13th you should still see about 1 every minute ( Possibly more). Remember, there are always more meteors visible after midnight than before! Due to work I will probably try to observe Saturday night, but the forecast looks a bit cloudy! ( Hence my Indian name - Shakes fist at clouds! ).
Good luck to anyone trying to observe this annual event.

Mr Soupy

Mr Soupy · Post by **Mr Soupy** » 13 Aug 2007, 10:39

Popped down to beach between midnight and 00.30 last night, Saw 12 Perseid meteors. - Lovley! Where were the rest of you?

Mr Soupy.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 13 Aug 2007, 10:51

Mr Soupy wrote:Popped down to beach between midnight and 00.30 last night, Saw 12 Perseid meteors. - Lovley! Where were the rest of you?

Mr Soupy.

My batteries had run out!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Aug 2007, 13:10

Mr Soupy wrote:Popped down to beach between midnight and 00.30 last night, Saw 12 Perseid meteors. - Lovley! Where were the rest of you?

Mr Soupy.

I was in bed by then Mr Soupy, but I have it on good authority - oh, OK it was Homer - that it was worthseeing. He was working late (at home) and said he saw quite a number.

Mr Soupy · Post by **Mr Soupy** » 14 Aug 2007, 10:48

Went out again last night for another look at the Perseids, this time with Soupdragon and a clanger in tow. The shower was still quite impressive. ( circa 14 per hour).
Beach was quite busy with youngsters drinking round bonfires. I supose they are mostly harmless?
Soupdragon and clanger seemed quite pleased to see meteors, but quite possibly they were just humouring the poor, deranged head of the household.

Mr Soupy

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 14 Aug 2007, 11:20

There was a lovely great streak of one just before midnight, followed by hoots of excitement from various gardens and dark bits of prom

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 14 Aug 2007, 11:48

Mr Soupy wrote:Beach was quite busy with youngsters drinking round bonfires. I supose they are mostly harmless?

Noisy at times as any gathering is (it's the girls' silly screams that get on my nerves) and usually OK behaviour (until too much drink is taken), but I do wish they would take their rubbish away with them.

And leave the benches where they are on the Prom - I saw, in the distance, that there was a green metal one on the beach near the cakestand this morning (or was that you, Mr S, wanting a place to sit!!

)

Mr Soupy · Post by **Mr Soupy** » 14 Aug 2007, 12:36

Not guilty! I have my own deck chair for meteor watching. But I did see that bonfire party had taken a bench onto the beach when I came down. Just as well it wasn't a wooden one or it might have been added to the bonfire!
Forecast is for cloud tonight.

Mr Soupy

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 14 Aug 2007, 18:14

It was amazing how many stars are visible away from the street lights, even the Milky Way looking like a bit wispy cloud.

Not so much a meteor shower as a light drizzle

Oh and anyone needing glasses should keep them on while using binoculars, helps tremendously