Amateur Astronomy

[blobrana]

My Website feature of the month.
A nice clean and informative astronomy website
www.astronomynz.org.nz

Worth bookmarking.

[Hyperspeed]

Yes, nice and simple layout with pictures. I won't read anything unless it has pictures, not even a train timetable!

[BillE]

Hi,

I just came across this thread.

> The amiga version is a bit stagnant.
> http://www.syz.com/DU/amiga/

I am continuing the development of Digital Universe for Amiga OS4.

There will be a demo version of DU 1.5 (beta) released fairly soonish on OS4 and Aminet. This is a revision to the current 68k version with a few enhancements.

The aim is then to develop version 2 to be in line with and hopefully beyond the current Mac version.

BTW. There isn't a PC version, that was abandoned long ago, in fact only the Amiga version is in active development ATM, though the Mac one may take off again.

Bill.

amiga@syz.com

[Agafaster]

Brilliant !

how much do expect to sell it for, and when do you expect to release ? do you need a beta tester (subtle eh!) ?

you dont have to answer the 2nd question in public, given how this public is about slipped deadlines ;-) !

[blobrana]

On Nov. 18-19th, sky watchers somewhere will see, weather permitting,  a dazzling storm of Leonid meteors.
On November 19th, the Earth passes very close to the centre of dusty debris shed by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle during the comet's 1932 return. The encounter with the 1932 trail will lead to enhanced meteor activity.
The calculated peak time of the outburst is 04:45 UT on November 19th, 2006. It will probably not last very long (i.e. meteor activity will rise and fall quite sharply).

Look to the East.

[JaXanim]

So, did anybody see any Leonids?
Apparently it was quite a good display for anyone blessed with a dark site.
Some interesting Leonid photos at Space Weather.
JaX

[Hyperspeed]

by jaXanim:
Apparently it was quite a good display for anyone blessed with a dark site.

For anyone blessed by the dark side?

[JaXanim]

@Hyperspeed

Tried that but still didn't see anything!

JaX

[JaXanim]

Ignore.

[recidivist]

 4" Meade with Autostar,4" Dob,several 60mm Tasco refractors,

 and the generally most enjoyable for my usually non-scientific stargazing,a pair of 20x50 .Also have 7x35 which are somewhat easier to steady.


  Not liking the cold hampers the stargazing here as summer weather is often hazy.

 All the people escaping the city have installed "security" lights so the horizon is ruined.And the skyglow from all the city lights is easily noted miles away.If there are high clouds they reflect an amazing amount of light down.(I know,if its cloudy you wouldn't see the stars anyway.)

[blobrana]

Well, 2007 is here, so i would like to take this moment to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Astronomy wise, 2006 was quite a year.  The most significant events of course would be the planetary missions and their findings, and new clues on dark matter; and new discoveries about  gamma ray bursts, and the news that Pluto was finally relegated to being a dwarf planet.
There were also many new discoveries about planets beyond our solar system, and  superb images of distant galaxies.
The year went by fast, and it was sure  one heck of a year. It was quite a job keeping up with the flood of news at times. Let's hope i can, as successfully, bring you the latest news and discoveries that this  year unfolds to us.

i thank you all for sticking with us this year and i  hope you're all going to find my website as useful in the future. . And a big thanks should go to the various contributors/bloggers, scientists, and news agencies that  supplied the material.

Feel free to drop in at anytime.

So once again, Happy New Year to all, and let's enjoy and make the most of 2007!

[Hyperspeed]

by blobrana:
let's enjoy and make the most of 2007!

Make the most of it? Do you know something we don't?

[JaXanim]

Comet McNaught anyone?

Never saw a thing from the UK. Now it's an Antipodean sight of biblical proportions. Check this out!.
Why do they get all the luck....!

Go to Space Weather.com for more superb images.

JaX

[BillE]

JaXanim wrote:
Comet McNaught anyone?

Not a thing here in Scotland. The few days it was visible in the northern hemisphere we had gales and driving rain. I never saw a thing. When the weather did get a bit better the comet was too close to the sun.

Canada had better luck, Dan Charrois, the original author of Digital Universe sent me a picture he had taken. You could see the comet quite clearly in bright twilight.

Never saw a thing from the UK. Now it's an Antipodean sight...
Why do they get all the luck....!

They always seem to get the best views, and it is not just the obvious reasons of weather or less light pollution. The comet is much brighter now than when it was viewable in the north.

Typical we are visiting South Africa on holiday later this year but by then we will have missed it.

Always at the wrong place at the wrong time :-(


Bill.

[Hyperspeed]

Aberdeen 2007... Hehe

[blobrana]

Hum,
someone has to live there...