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Observation reports - Kerridge ...
Reading about other people's experiences at the eyepiece of a telescope
often inspires us to view the glory of the night sky. Go forth and explore
...!
Remember, don't forget to send your observing reports to observations@maccastro.com.
29/12/09 - observing Mars
For this observation - 29 December 2009 between 0200-0400 - sky conditions did not appear to be ideal for planetary observations, but it was the best opportunity I had in several days to observe the Red Planet. Scudding cumulus fractus was zipping across the sky unusually fast and there was a distinct haziness. However, the cloud soon dissipated, but the haze remained. Visually the seeing was quite poor (sometimes completely obliterating the planet into a blur twice the size of its real angular diameter) but there were a fair few moments of steady seeing, which provided the best views of Mars I had seen - probably since 2005, perhaps 2007. Notably, the Northern polar cap seemed less distinct than a few days earlier, but I wondered if this was down to the transparency. There were fleeting views of an very bright region on the limb of the planet (phase side), which must have been persistent cloud. I cannot recall seeing anything as bright as this during any other visual observations I have made. Occasionally, it flashed very brightly during moments of steady seeing. This soon subsided as the planet's rotation took the cloud out of view. Since this observation was made I have considered that the bright area may have been Hellas. However, from memory its position didn't match its location. I had the impression of a possible cloud cap over the South pole that extended upwards and around the trailing limb. I became confused during the observation as a dark area rotated into view throughout the session. It appeared very much like Syrtis Major, but squarer, shorter and stubbier. It also exhibited dark and light shading. The seeing kept trying to fool me by tapering the shape and making it look more like Syrtis Major. I wasn't convinced of my thoughts and I have since 'discovered' the region I observed was Acidalia Planitia. Mars is my all-time favourite planet, but it embarrasses me by my lack of understanding of its topographical features. I would love to learn more to become a better observer.
When the air steadied, Acidalia Planitia appeared to be joined or extended by a curving, dusky area towards the South which in turn joined a darker, unevenly shaped area (noted as the area around Valles Marinaris and towards Terra Meridiani) which seemed to skirt around and follow the place where I would anticipate the extent of a Southern ice cap (if one had been there). This may have been a contrast effect. As I have previously mentioned I observed possible cloud cap was over this area.
Unfortunately, the miniscus lens on the Intes 180 Alter had dewed during the session and then the sky conditions quite rapidly deteriorated. Just before 0400 as the gibbous Moon moved towards setting I spotted a faint upper tangent arc and also a fainter circumzenithal arc. The latter being the first time I had seen one of these associated with a lunar optical effect. A captured an exposure of the sky, which revealed what appeared to be a 44 degree halo running off the sides of the arc. However, by the time I had retrieved my camera, the halos were less evident to the naked eye.
Andrew Greenwood
06/11/07
- the amazing comet Holmes
Please note that since this observation, comet Homes has gone on to become
one of the wonders of the night sky in recent history. Its current size
(as of December 2007) is considerably more than the diameter of our Sun
- truly amazing!
I ventured out at about 2240 until 2310. I really wanted to set my 'scope
up to image Holmes but I wasn't entirely confident the sky would remain
clear (it did). I used my 12x36 image-stabilizing binoculars instead.
The comet is larger than a week ago and much closer to Mirfak (in the
same FoV). You can now see an elongation of the nucleus and a feathering
of the coma, which I believe indicates the direction of the minimal tail.
I have started to see very nice images showing a splayed ion tail, and
I really hope I can get my gear set up to capture it.
It looks so much like a planetary nebula it's quite uncanny. Using averted
vision makes it look really bright.
I also went on to look at a star cluster Stock2. I use the string of stars
leading from the Double Cluster to lead to it. To me it's quite spherical
and very open. I was amazed just by sweeping all around Perseus, Cassiopeia,
down to Taurus and Auriga, etc. just how many clusters you can sweep up.
M34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 45 (which I really felt I could see hints of the
nebulosity aound), Haydes and the Double Cluster ...
I stumbled upon NGC 752, which in the 12x36s looked like a lovely knot
of starlight detached from the Milky Way - in fact it reminds me of a
small version of the Sagittarius Starcloud. I think I might end up imaging
this sometime because it's very large. Whilst in this region I also looked
at M33 and M31 galaxies.
Mars was fabulously bright. Looking at M35 nearby, just drop down a little
and you'll find an small-ish asterism I call 'Concorde'. It's a bit kite-like,
but to me it looks like the aircraft flying overhead! Also, take a look
at the star near to M1 and then offset to the left. You'll sweep up NGC
cluster 2129. If you then offset right and up from M1 you'll find NGC
1746 and 1647. Have a look for them.
All in all, a very satisfying observing session.
Andrew Greenwood
13/08/07 -
observing unidentified objects and the Perseids
It was a very frustrating 2007 Perseid display for me. A group of us
met at midnight at Langley Cricket Club and after half-an-hour it began
to rain - hard! I was so upset, especially given that we were clouded-out
for Friday and Saturday at Hardraw.
We packed up and headed eight miles down the road to home. By the time
I got there it was clear! So I stood in the garden for 10 mins and whilst
admiring the Milky Way the most beautiful Perseid blazed through Cygnus.
I'd say it was -3 magnitude. It seemed to be 'exploding' as it fell. The
train was persistent for a couple of seconds. I saw fainter ones too,
and as aside, a lovely Tawny Owl was sitting comfortably on the side of
our cottage! I think he was watching as well.
I went inside and heaved my equipment outside and took several images
around Cygnus. I didn't capture any meteors though.
All-in-all a frustrating but satisfying night ended at 0230.
I did make a very unusual sighting earlier on in the evening though.
I sent this to an observing group for comment:
I know this is a real, real long shot, but - I saw something last night
(120807) that defies easy explanation. I have been observing for over
10 years and have seen a lot of sky events, but nothing like this. I would
expect that lots of people will have seen what I did but as yet no-one
has mentioned anything.
I live in the village of Kerridge, Cheshire.
Last night at 2235 I looked outside to check the (meagre) conditions in
anticipation of the Perseids. Looking SW I noticed a slow-moving, bright
orange, pulsating point of light. No trail, no train. It was the colour
of a naked flame and as I mentioned, it was flickering like one too. It
crossed the sky towards the NE as it moved away it could be seen for rather
a long time until it disappeared behind trees.
I estimated it magnitude as -4. It might have been brighter because it
was veiled by a thin layer of cloud.
That was bizarre, but here's the even more bizarre bit ...
At 2241 an object exactly the same brightness, colour - everything - came
from the same direction but its trajectory was perhaps 2-3 degrees to
the left of the first as it moved NE.
I have no idea what this might have been. I did wonder if it was a piece
of space junk or rock skimming the atmosphere. Yet I struggle with this
because there was no trail/train. It's left me stumped.
If no-one else saw anything, I'll have no choice but to file it under
'Mysterious'!
Andrew Greenwood
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 July and August updates ...
The bright twilight nights are slowly giving way to darker skies and the prospect of revealing a little-known nightly sight. Away from the towns and cities, the Milky Way will soon be glimpsed meandering through the constellation of Cygnus. This river of stars was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians ... Nowadays, especially when we approach the end of Summer, it's astronomers that turn their gaze skyward and praise the sight of a myriad of stars arching high above them.
The following sections have been updated: This month's night sky and observations.
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