COMET TSUCHINSHAN

Added by Dave Davidson on 09 October 2024

update and information for seeing and photographing it. As you know, Wednesday the 16th of October is the evening of the Comet party at Culloden and that date remains as described, regardless of the conditions, just in case the window in the West opens even for a moment and lets us see Tsuchinshan ...

Perseid Party

Added by David Davidson on 25 August 2024

The Perseid Party on 12th August. The last Monday of the skool* holidays for staying up late and perfect timing to coincide with the annual Perseid meteor shower. The events surrounding the day of the 12th August 2024 is a tale of synchronicity, magic and faith. Let me explain. For a positive out...

Star Charts - A Brief History

Added by David Davidson on 14 August 2024

STAR CHARTS AND NAMING CONVENTIONS We can see about 10,000 stars on a dark night. You might think it would be a higher number, like grains of sand on a beach, but no, with just your eyes that's all. Still, that's a big number if you want to plot them all on a map of the sky and where do you place...

CLAVA

Added by David Davidson on 24 June 2024

Clava Stones Archeoastronomy. 1st June 2024 In the last few days of May and looking at the weather forecasts, one day stood out from the clouds.... Saturday the first of June! At last, here was the chance to do the archeoastronomy event that had to be cancelled last year because of thunderstorms....

Barbeque of the Sun

Added by David Davidson on 15 May 2024

Barbeque of the Sun. 3rd of May 2024 The daffodils are over and the fields and verges are bright with the golden glow of a million dandelions; their heads turned skyward, tracking the late afternoon Sun as it falls away to the West. The air is mild and carries with it the faint scent of wild flowers...

Pons-Brooks Star Party

Added by David Davidson on 05 April 2024

held on Saturday 30th March The last time that Comet 12P Pons-Brooks was visible, the first 'Wimpy' bar opens in London, the first British soap opera airs on TV (The Grove family), Roger Bannister breaks the four minute mile and the rationing of meat ends. That was 1954. Back in the day, ...

Selene

Added by David Davidson on 01 March 2024

Selene. Observing report of the evening of Saturday, 24th February 2024 The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her stron...

Holy Guacamole! Observing report for Tuesday 13th February.

Added by David Davidson on 15 February 2024

" Holy Guacamole ! " We are all used to hearing the exclamation " WOW! " ring out of the darkness when visiting the Observatory on a starry night. It is almost universal in the lexicon of astronomical terms and, to be honest, describes perfectly, the surprise that accompanies ...