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Post by stevie on Jan 31, 2007 23:40:35 GMT
I'll probably put the scud on by saying this, but the weather forecast for the weekend is very good, esp. Friday night into Saturday morning. Anyone up for an observing session if at all possible?
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Post by paulevans on Jan 31, 2007 23:43:16 GMT
Friday night looks good. One small factor - the Moon is full! I'll be observing from here if the weatherman delivers.
P.
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Post by markdj on Jan 31, 2007 23:52:25 GMT
Yeah, I was seeing the same thing, Friday looks good but the big Moon is up all night to spoil our fun - sounds like a long exposure landscape photo is on the cards...
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Post by markdj on Jan 31, 2007 23:56:10 GMT
At 11pm Saturn is only 9 arc minutes from the edge of the Moon. Are there any occultation webcasts from around the globe?
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Post by stevie on Feb 1, 2007 1:07:29 GMT
For a night which is both clear and moonless, we could have a long wait. Talking of which, any early plans for a Messier marathon this year (without snow please). New moon is on 19th March. A quick scan of Astronomy Now did not mention any occultations of Saturn, but the moon does pass through the Pleiades on the night of 23rd-24th Feb and, more interestingly, and rarely, also occults Uranus on the 18th, although this is at approx 5.50pm, just after sunset in a twilight sky, so will be difficult to observe.
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Post by eamonnpkeyes on Feb 1, 2007 1:51:32 GMT
Friday's out for me, unfortunately, as a social event calls. I'd do Saturday if it's passable though.
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Post by Veronica on Feb 1, 2007 9:36:22 GMT
Won't be able to stray too far from home either night, so it'll be a home session on a newly cat poo-free lawn! At least now I'll be able to see a bit more sky from further down the garden. The weather is at its most promising, so I'll forgive the moon for its bad timing. Just let's all keep our fingers crossed that the forecast stays the same this time!
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Post by paulevans on Feb 1, 2007 13:23:57 GMT
"Are there any occultation webcasts from around the globe? "
Saturn passes south of the Moon and is further away, therefore any occultation would take place to the North of here - a quick in the head calculation suggests that to get an occulatation you'd need to be approx 700 miles North of here - not by land, but directly North. Therefore there could be an occulation just about at the North Pole, but not much further south.
Next month's Moon/Saturn encounter is even closer but just misses occulatation for us.
P.
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Post by markdj on Feb 1, 2007 16:32:51 GMT
I have just looked at Starry Night Pro and moved location to Norway.
There is a clear occultation of Saturn by the Moon tomorrow night beginning at 23:48ut and finishing at 00:10ut.
I will try to find out if anyone is doing anything in Norway...
Browsing in SNP, I can see that the father East you are the better and lower the latitude required to see the occultation.
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Post by paulevans on Feb 1, 2007 18:59:39 GMT
"There is a clear occultation of Saturn by the Moon tomorrow night beginning at 23:48ut and finishing at 00:10ut."
So my little calculation all done in the head wasn't bad then :-)
P.
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Post by markdj on Feb 2, 2007 0:11:00 GMT
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Post by paulevans on Feb 2, 2007 7:14:19 GMT
A quick look at the atlas shows that that line passes approximately 700 miles to the north of here! Pretty much spot on. Also it's well over 1000 miles to the east so the Finns and the Russians would be the best bet for webcasts.
P.
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Post by eamonnpkeyes on Feb 2, 2007 12:25:25 GMT
Now having fog forecast for tonight. Tomorrow night might be better, though.
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