2014-01-11 - Astronomical Observatory Stargazing ride

Forgive me if I offer this up as a taster of what an 8" aperture can do in suburban London - but no fancy Nikons for me, this was on a £5.99 Philips webcam from Morgan Computers.

Nonsense, it's clearly Photoshopped. I can see the pixels.

Well, to be fair it was an exceptional evening, with very steady skies. The stars weren't even twinkling, and there was a fine high altitude haze, and this image was made out of a couple of thousand individual 640 x 480 pixel frames that I'd....

.

@hainetnic
all this looking/photographing sounds brill - I've only ever used binoculars and a v-cheap 21/2" refractor. Does this mean this will be a night/finish at night ride?

Nic, Saw this on Horizon...what day , what direction, what time do we look please? http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/11/24/will-icy-comet-ison-survive-close-encounter-with-sun/

Can't believe I missed this, I'll put my name down too just incase there's the chance of two rides

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   9 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   
10. conker
    
11. mars (Aquarius)
    
12. HairyChris
    
13. Cazakstan
    
14. balmain
    
15. Ramaye (Aquarius)
    
16. theatomium
    
17. bothwell (Uranus)
    
18. Seraphinx
    --------------------
    b. Velocio
    b. blueprints
    b. middleofnowhere
    b. Bundo
    b. Eyko
    b. UmeVelo
    b.Temp
    b. Miss Mouse
    b. keanulooser
    b. T4
    b. BisonIncandenza
    b. Marco
    

Nic, Saw this on Horizon...what day , what direction, what time do we look please? http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/11/24/will-icy-comet-ison-survive-close-encounter-with-sun/

Alas you may be a touch late Tony... Is Ison still there?

Looks like it's melted.

Can't believe I missed this, I'll put my name down too just incase there's the chance of two rides

Same

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   9 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   
10. conker
    
11. mars (Aquarius)
    
12. HairyChris
    
13. Cazakstan
    
14. balmain
    
15. Ramaye (Aquarius)
    
16. theatomium
    
17. bothwell (Uranus)
    
18. Seraphinx
    --------------------
    b. Velocio
    b. blueprints
    b. middleofnowhere
    b. Bundo
    b. Eyko
    b. UmeVelo
    b.Temp
    b. Miss Mouse
    b. keanulooser
    b. T4
    b. BisonIncandenza
    b. Marco
    b. Husy
    

Two rides....Two rides....Two rides....Two rides....Two rides....!!!!!!!!

For budding astronomers, there is an Introduction to Astronomy course about to start on Coursera from the 2nd of December which should be an excellent primer pre-ride: https://www.coursera.org/course/introastro

I know the names of maybe 2 or 3 stars, good enough.

ha,lost me on the transposition of the algebra!!!!!!!!!!

The free version of the SkyView app keeps me and the wife entertained, great if you want to know what's what on a starry night

There's a programme I have somewhere, I'll try find it. It's basically like google earth but for the universe. You can see orbits and paths of satellites, comets, starts galaxies and everything. You can even fast forward and go back in time and do so much. I think it's called celestial or something.

It's called Celestia

and a free pretty skymap software stellarium

Yep, that one's more useful for stargazing I guess because it's from our viewpoint.

For budding astronomers, there is an Introduction to Astronomy course about to start on Coursera from the 2nd of December which should be an excellent primer pre-ride: https://www.coursera.org/course/introastro

+1
Good link bothwell. Love coursera courses
Will take this course

@Hairnetnic
Don't know how well you know the area around Mill Hill Observatory. If your not sure plan the route to Bunns Lane NW7, that way we can miss out riding up the A1

Also, what time are you thinking of setting off? Just trying to plan my diary

For budding astronomers, there is an Introduction to Astronomy course about to start on Coursera from the 2nd of December which should be an excellent primer pre-ride: https://www.coursera.org/course/introastro
12 weeks long - and 6-12 hours of work per week.

Sounds intense!

@Hairnetnic
Don't know how well you know the area around Mill Hill Observatory. If your not sure plan the route to Bunns Lane NW7, that way we can miss out riding up the A1

Also, what time are you thinking of setting off? Just trying to plan my diary

I was planning on swiss cottage, Cricklewood, Golders Green then west under the A1 and M1 at around Bunns Lane.

Setting off time is likely to be around mid afternoon, obviously stargazing is best done at night and as such would want to arrive at the observatory around 5ish. The route is about 30 miles so at 10 mph including stops then depart Greenwich around 2pm.

Unless anyone has major objections that's the plan.

Why not ignore Golders Green completely and carry on heading up Cricklewood. As you reach Colindale, cut across using Colinedale Avenue. Takes you right past the RAF Museum and then unto Mill Hill, turn right, two minutes down and hey presto.

Stellarium FTW!

^ ah, but that way it's too flat and not the *pretty way**

*a term used by mrs conker snr

^ ah, but that way it's too flat and not the *pretty way**

*a term used by mrs conker snr

Sigh, so very true! First time I got mugged was opposite the Police training ground.

Vaguely related, for those on Android using Tasker this gives a succession of cool astronomy wallpapers http://tasker.wikidot.com/apodwallpaper