The Stars and The Moon

[mick123]

nice.......i think i need to get the trackker for my telescope. only been using it for watching the moon.

[FineTuned]

Well, at the very least, it'll be a positive step towards getting good long views of the planets without constant hand twisting!

I was rather pleased I could split Saturn's Ring even under the limited seeing conditions.

Next primary target event is the extremely rare Venus transit (it crosses the face of the Sun!) on 6th June. Last time it happened in 2004, I watched it through my window at home in USJ. As a teaser, there's a partial lunar eclipse just 2 evenings before the transit. Next transit will be in 2117 (how do you rate your chances of being around to see it? ) Note: the last transit before 2004 was in 1882.

For l-o-l, there's an awesome annular solar eclipse next month. Unfortunately we won't be able to see here in USJ.

[lady-o-leisure]

Wow... the one and only time i got to see Saturn like that in real life was during the camping trip to watch the lunar eclipse last year and the expert there let us look at it thru his telescope. Nice pic, FT

Thanks also for the heads-up on the next solar eclipse, and that reminds me, i gotta remind hubby not to miss the next astronomers' gathering in my area. We always forget about it.

[FineTuned]

If your group is one of the members of the Astronomical League....then Astronomy Day 2012 falls on the 28th of this month! We don't have anything like this in Malaysia.

However, not to be left out, for those locals with telescopes, there will be a event coming up next month to try to create a new Malaysian record for the most number of telescopes at a single meet. More info to come when it reaches my ears.

[lady-o-leisure]

If your group is one of the members of the Astronomical League....then Astronomy Day 2012 falls on the 28th of this month! We don't have anything like this in Malaysia.

However, not to be left out, for those locals with telescopes, there will be a event coming up next month to try to create a new Malaysian record for the most number of telescopes at a single meet. More info to come when it reaches my ears.

At the moment, the Lyrid meteor shower is happening here, and i went outside for a while to watch the sky. Managed to see 3 flashes that went by soooo fast and they werent very bright. Don't think i hv the patience to wait outside again this time.

[FineTuned]

Thanks for the alert! I totally forgot the Lyrids this weekend, the expected peak was about 3 hours ago - which would have been during your viewing just now, lady. Can see some blue patches of sky right now....if it gets better later, I'll go out and stare up at the sky like a zombie tonight. Maybe can still catch some late comers.
Seems like I haven't seen a falling star for ages.

[mick123]

tried to shoot the milky way last night but too cloudy. tried time lapse while waiting for the clouds to clear.

[FineTuned]

Wah mick, you got an all sky camera. Where did you do that shooting?

I was thinking of building one this afternoon, after getting inspired by lady's 3 lyrids sighting. Maybe can save myself some neck pain for future meteor showers!

[lady-o-leisure]

Was that a meteor flashing at the bottom left towards the last bit of the vid? Wah!! nice one, Mick.

[mick123]

Wah mick, you got an all sky camera. Where did you do that shooting?

took that at kelanang. stayed back after a sunset shoot...............an all sky camera i'm sure Naka's wonder s95 kenot do

Was that a meteor flashing at the bottom left towards the last bit of the vid?

lolz......i had to watch it again and looks like one doesn't it

[FineTuned]

lolz......i had to watch it again and looks like one doesn't it

That ain't no mere meteor - it's a g****m BOLIDE!

BTW mick, pardon my poor geography...where's kelanang?

[lady-o-leisure]

That ain't no mere meteor - it's a g****m BOLIDE!

For real??? Double Wah!!!!! Whatever it is.. damn fantastic!

[FineTuned]

Your guess is as good as mine.

If it was only captured in one long exposure frame, it would be hard to identify since there is no indication of any vector. But if it is indeed a meteor, it could well be the biggest fireball ever recorded!

[kwchang]

Take note that it is a time lapse video. Mick, what was the timing between frames?
The "flash" may have taken a rather long time to move once you factor in the timing - so it cannot be a meteor and much less a bolide. Furthermore, it is a fish-eye view there the horizon is around the periphery of the circle - I would think it is a local light source like a moving vehicle that passed by slowly. Did you all notice the numerous lights in the sky towards the end? ... I think they were planes coming in for a landing in the distant horizon. This place may be near the KLIA

[kwchang]

correction, i watched it again and the streak was actually in the sky ... if not lights from a moving vehicle (not possible in a long streak) then it was probably an artifect? or an optical effect of nearby light