Winter is coming - the rain is going. Now is the time to drag you telescopes out off the garage, dust off the lenses and charge the power tanks. Orion is still up there till 8pm sporting the famous Orion Nebula. For those fortunate enough to have a large aparture scope of 8" or more, Orion offers the challenge of grabbing the Horse Head and Flame nebula situated near the star Alnitak. This star is in the belt of Orion closest to Orions sword hint: look for a saucepan, use your imagination to make out the base of the saucepan (3 stars) and Alnitak is the closest to the handle. You may need to employ the use of a Hybrogen Beta filter (although I've heard UHC filters can also work)
Major planets are all out. Mars and Saturn to the North between 7pm and late with Jupiter making its presence around midnight. You will need about 90x mag to see planetary details for saturn and Jupiter - but higher magnification will give even more pleasing views.
Two whopping big globular clusters are nice and high in the southern sky. Omega Centauri or NGC 5139 siuated in the constellation Centaurus can be found by first looking for the southern cross. Then, find the bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri, again use your imagination to draw the shape of a hockey stick. Now find the very faint and fuzzy star at the handle hint: you may need binoculars at first. Then theres Tuc47 or NGC 104, use your binoculars first and scan south for a fuzzy looking star, if your lucky you have found second biggest globular for your scope to find.
More nebula's are for viewing in the southern skies. Again go to the Southern Cross, head high and look for a faint fuzzy patch with your findersope.With any luck you will see the Eta Carina Nebula. Using a large telescope and high magnification, zoom in on the read star. You will notice that the star is distorted in shape (like a butterfly). This is because it has gone to Red Giant phase and is shedding its layer - a big sign that its about to go bang!
There are many more sights to see as this is prime time for astronomy - Galaxies, Nebula and Star Clusters litter the sky, have fun finding them.
Clear Skies
Darren
Major planets are all out. Mars and Saturn to the North between 7pm and late with Jupiter making its presence around midnight. You will need about 90x mag to see planetary details for saturn and Jupiter - but higher magnification will give even more pleasing views.
Two whopping big globular clusters are nice and high in the southern sky. Omega Centauri or NGC 5139 siuated in the constellation Centaurus can be found by first looking for the southern cross. Then, find the bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri, again use your imagination to draw the shape of a hockey stick. Now find the very faint and fuzzy star at the handle hint: you may need binoculars at first. Then theres Tuc47 or NGC 104, use your binoculars first and scan south for a fuzzy looking star, if your lucky you have found second biggest globular for your scope to find.
More nebula's are for viewing in the southern skies. Again go to the Southern Cross, head high and look for a faint fuzzy patch with your findersope.With any luck you will see the Eta Carina Nebula. Using a large telescope and high magnification, zoom in on the read star. You will notice that the star is distorted in shape (like a butterfly). This is because it has gone to Red Giant phase and is shedding its layer - a big sign that its about to go bang!
There are many more sights to see as this is prime time for astronomy - Galaxies, Nebula and Star Clusters litter the sky, have fun finding them.
Clear Skies
Darren
Gleetings Earthrings!
I thought I'd get in and test this puppy out seeing as Dazza can't be bothered right now. I figure if I come here and poke him enough he might actually make some posts to push mine off the cover page.
I know, I'll give his wife access - especially after all the hard work
I put into the design and layout 
I thought I'd get in and test this puppy out seeing as Dazza can't be bothered right now. I figure if I come here and poke him enough he might actually make some posts to push mine off the cover page.
I know, I'll give his wife access - especially after all the hard work
I put into the design and layout