Roger Samworth

Another Solar post -flare loop? 19/06/2019

Posted by Roger Samworth
This morning I was trying to snatch some images in gaps in the clouds and I got this one. I was immediately struck by the similarity to the image I posted back in February https://roslistonastronomy.uk/strange-solar-phenomenon-02-07-2019
After some debate with the BAA and “Sky at Night” magazine (April “Message of the Month” it was concluded that this was a “post flare loop”
Again, this one was on all 200 frames of my basic .avi.
So I consulted the GONG web-site again, but unfortunately the only camera available for the time in question was the El Teide one. This camera’s images are always pretty poor, but also attached is a composite if its images bracketing the time of my image. I did a screen-grab and enhanced the contrast in GIMP in order to see anything at all. You can make out the prominence on all the frames (just)!, but I fancy the only frame that contains the feature I saw is the 10:49 one.
GONG images:
Copyright: GONG/NSO/AURA/NSF.

Jupiter 08-09/06/2019

Posted by Roger Samworth

Last night, conditions were about as good as they are going to get for observing Jupiter. The GRS was predicted to transit the meridian at 23:39 UT. Ideal for getting out the proper scope, as long as I had a bit of get-up-and-go. Unfortunately due to a lot of recent lack of sleep, my get-up-and-go had got-up-and-gone! Still, the opportunity was too good to totally miss, so I had to fall back on the trusty window-sill:

Callisto is out of frame, stage right.

It makes an interesting comparison to the last time I imaged Jupiter from the window-sill.

 

More time left yet for proper imaging this apparition.

Now there’s a Surprise!

Posted by Roger Samworth

This week, we spent a couple of days in the Dark Peak, primarily to visit the RHS show at Chatsworth. We stayed at the Fox House Inn on the road from Sheffield into the Hope Valley. I spent my childhood and pre-university years in Rotherham, and this area was one of my hiking and cycling favourites in my youth.  I had quite forgotten how ruggedly beautiful this area is, and since it must be 50-odd years since I was here last, I took the opportunity to re-visit some old haunts. As the road from Sheffield to Hathersage rounds a bend on Millstone Edge, suddenly the whole of the Hope Valley opens up in front of you. This is known as the “Surprise View”. There is now a car park there so you can walk and enjoy the view. Surprisingly (!) I encountered this enlightened information sign.

It seemed a little curious, although informative, to choose M64 to expand on instead of the more usual culprits like M31.

I wonder if we should consider something similar at Rosliston? (If we could get someone else to sponsor it!)

 

Out of interest, and for comparison, Rob recently imaged M64 at https://roslistonastronomy.uk/catching-up-on-images.

Here is my own re-processed PD camera version from 4 years or so ago:

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Window-sill Jupiter 27/05/2019

Posted by Roger Samworth

GRS transiting again at a reasonable time last night, but had to get up early this morning, so no chance to get the “proper” scope out, Anyway, lots of cloud about so getting the big scope out would have been fatal.

So took advantage of the window-sill’s “instant availability” to dodge the cloud and get this image. Looks like this is about the best that can be done with this set-up. (Not entirely a surprise!)

 

Spots from the Window-sill 23/05/2019

Posted by Roger Samworth

Jupiter again from the window-sill

Poorer conditions than last night. Lots of thin cloud wafting about. PD camera this time but image poorer. However the GRS was predicted to do a meridian transit at 01:08 UT, so this time the dark blob on the SEB IS the GRS! I think the light spots are real too. See:http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=153728

I consider that despite the poor quality of the image, it a minor triumph that I can see the GRS at all from the window-sill!

Must get the proper scope out, without forgetting that “The best telescope is the one you use the most!”

 

Jupiter from the window-sill 22/05/2019

Posted by Roger Samworth

Early hours & no sleep!

There was the Moon and Jupiter through the window, so I thought I would have a go. For convenience I dug out the old Toucam with X2 and X3 barlows.

I wasn’t expecting much given Jupiter’s low altitude, a low cost ST80 telescope and the double glazing, and I didn’t get that much!

This is the result after wringing as much out of it with GIMP as I could.

I am puzzled by the apparent feature at the far left if the Southern Equatorial belt. I thought initially it was the Great Red Spot, but none of the predictions show it anywhere near there at the time in question. Maybe an imaging/stacking artefact caused by a dust speck? It doesn’t look like it though.