Look Out Of Your Window Now! Astronomical events.

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
I usually use this site:
Heavens-Above (heavens-above.com)

but I've set up an account so can get predictions for multiple visible objects from my location. I know a lot of people are reluctant to give up this information, but I've been on it for years.

This site is closely associated with SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
and is linked from the header bar on that site as 'Flybys.'
They plot Hamradio satellites as well but I don't have the gear for using those. (Busman's holiday !! :P)
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
I usually use this site:
Heavens-Above (heavens-above.com)

but I've set up an account so can get predictions for multiple visible objects from my location. I know a lot of people are reluctant to give up this information, but I've been on it for years.

This site is closely associated with SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
and is linked from the header bar on that site as 'Flybys.'
They plot Hamradio satellites as well but I don't have the gear for using those. (Busman's holiday !! :P)
I've had an account with Heavens-Above for a number of years and it's one of a number of sites I use from time to time.

I use a myriad of sites ranging from NASA and ESA through the likes of Zooniverse and the British Interplanetary Society to Lancaster University's AuroraWatch and Dark Sky Discovery Sites.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Underlit, rosy clouds this evening - delighted shepherds were in abundance.

DSC_0987.JPG
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
I just saw this digital enhancement of Einstein's Eclipse. This occurred in 1919 on the expedition to photograph it from several different positions that was to test a prediction of Albert Einstein's new General Theory of Relativity, which it did spectacularly.

The original photographic plates were processed and cleaned up to reveal a spectacular prominence on the Sun's surface. Absolutely colossal. It took some time, but I'd say it was well worth it.

restored.png (1500×1000) (spaceweather.com)
 
Last edited:

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
I just saw this digital enhancement of Einstein's Eclipse. This occurred in 1919 on the expedition to photograph it from several different positions that was to test a prediction of Albert Einstein's new General Theory of Relativity, which it did spectacularly.

The original photographic plates were processed and cleaned up to reveal a spectacular prominence on the Sun's surface. Absolutely colossal. It took some time, but I'd say it was well worth it.

restored.png (1500×1000) (spaceweather.com)
And if you look at the image you can see some of the stars that were where they weren't. ;)
 

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
A8E6491F-9307-4E89-BCC2-603D024725F2.jpeg


We arrived for football practice just in time for the hail storm. I’ve opted to wait in the car, eldest daughter on the other hand ........
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
It would seem helicopters misbehave on Mars the same as Earth. They've postponed the first flight to check out a problem. I'm not criticising NASA here, they're trying to do something never before attempted. Fly a helicopter from a distance of 173,000,000 miles, Mars is on the other side of the Sun now.

Brings to mind the old saying about choppers: If nothing's broken, don't worry. It soon will be.

Mars Helicopter Flight Delayed to No Earlier than April 14 - NASA Mars
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
It would seem helicopters misbehave on Mars the same as Earth. They've postponed the first flight to check out a problem. I'm not criticising NASA here, they're trying to do something never before attempted. Fly a helicopter from a distance of 173,000,000 miles, Mars is on the other side of the Sun now.

Brings to mind the old saying about choppers: If nothing's broken, don't worry. It soon will be.

Mars Helicopter Flight Delayed to No Earlier than April 14 - NASA Mars

It is only designed to have a 30 day 'life' on Mars. The 'helicopter' element, called 'Ingenuity', is very much a test mission, to collect data, so that a more robust machine can be designed for future missions.

That said, NASA have a proud record of extending things well beyond their 'shelf life'.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
The British mission to Mars, the Beagle, got the hard bit right, i.e. landing on the surface, but was unable to deploy all its solar panels which prevented it from extending its aerial for transmitting data.

As an old radio man once said: "It may only be a bit of wire, or a thin metal stick, but all the radio electronics in the world is just a paperweight without an aerial."

(I try to avoid using the word antenna, that's something stuck on a bug's head. It's a f****** aerial. :P)
 
Top