Latest Events
The winter skies are back and with them come revisits to seasonal favourites like the Orion Nebula and Open Clusters in Auriga and Gemini.
Mid-December was marked by the great conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter which were visible in the same telescope field of view over a few evenings. Although the weather wasn't the most co-operative I did see them together on a couple of occasions.
Current observing targets
The Night Sky This Month (from Jodrell Bank)
Latest Meteor Activity (from the SPA)
Latest Comet Activity (from Comet Watch)
Latest Variable Star Activity (from the SPA)
Space Launches (from Space Flight Now)
Introduction
Whilst at University I became a keen amateur astronomer, interested in a variety of different areas including deep sky targets, the planets and Moon, comets and phenomenon closer to home such as Noctilucent Clouds and the Aurora Borealis.
I have two telescopes - an 8" Newtonian reflector (pictured right) and a 3.5" apochromatic refractor and the majority of the reports found in my Observations Log, which contains images, information and observing reports, were made with these 'scopes.
Whilst at University I was a member of the Durham University Astronomy Society serving as both Obs Officer (2004-2005) and President (2006-2007). The Society Website contains a lot of information as well as articles and observing reports.
I was a member of Aberdeen Astronomical Society from 2007 to 2010.
To see all my blog postings related to astronomy please click here.
Special Events
Since becoming interested in astronomy I have tried my best to observe some of the more special and unique events and targets that have cropped up in the skies over the UK. These are reports from some of the best.
- Total Lunar Eclipse - 28th September 2015
- Partial Solar Eclipse - 20th March 2015
- Partial Solar Eclipse - 4th January 2011
- Total Lunar Eclipse - 21st December 2010
- Total Lunar Eclipse - 3rd March 2007
- Partial Lunar Eclipse - 8th September 2006
- Partial Solar Eclipse - 29th March 2006
