Hi all

My annual Year in Review post is a little late - I usually wrap up the year before xmas but we had such a busy December that I've only now had the time to reflect on what a great year 2011 was.

So what were the highlights for IceInSpace in 2011?

As with every year, showcase astronomical events always bring the most visitors to IceInSpace - particularly the general public, and especially if the media grabs hold of it and reports about it on the various media outlets.

The four most popular astronomical events in 2011 were:

• Total Lunar Eclipse, December 10th
• Kreitz Sungrazer Lovejoy in late December 
• Total Lunar Eclipse, June 6th 
• Conjunction of four Planets and Moon in late April/May

Some of the most popular topics and threads on the IceInSpace Forum in 2011 were:

• Kreitz Sungrazer Lovejoy
• Total Lunar Eclipse, December 10th
• Anyone heard of PMX shipments yet?
• Base Load power
• 2011 David Malin Awards Submissions
• Taking Delivery of GSO RC12
• TC Yasi

During 2011, we passed some significant milestones, including:

• Passing 9,000 registered members in April, and 10,000 in December!
• Passing 2,000 Likes on the IceInSpace Facebook page in December 
• Turning 7 years old in September
• Passing 80,000 threads and almost 800,000 posts!
• Holding our 6th IceInSpace AstroCamp (IISAC2011)

Some other interesting IceInSpace statistics for 2011 include:

• Over 1,500 new member registrations (same as 2010)
• Over 133,000 new posts (a little more than 2010)
• Over 9,000,000 page views (almost 10% more than 2010)
• Almost 2,100 sets of items have been bought and sold through the IceTrade Classifieds. Slightly less than 2010 but only just.
• 35% of people are still browsing IceInSpace using Internet Explorer, but it's only #1 by a small margin (41% last year). 2nd is Firefox with 33% (37% last year). Safari is third with 15% (10% last year) and Chrome has a nice increase to 13% (8% last year). Safari's increase is mostly thanks to the iPad and iPhone no doubt.

I'm really looking forward to what 2012 will bring, for astronomy and for IceInSpace. We've got some major astronomical events coming up, including:

• Venus Transiting Across the Sun in June
• Total Solar Eclipse in November

Both of these will generate huge interest in astronomy, including from the mainstream media. I'm hoping IceInSpace can again play a crucial role in providing information and updates to people wanting to find out about these events.

On behalf of IceInspace, Terry and I would like to thank everyone for being part of a fantastic year and a fantastic community.

All the best to you and your families.

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Breaking News! Comet Lovejoy is now visible in the pre-dawn Eastern sky!

The image above by Colin Legg from Western Australia was captured this morning, 21st December and shows the tail of Comet Lovejoy rising in the East near Antares/Scorpius.

Colin has also posted a timelapse, which you can see on Vimeo.

To try and have a look yourself, look towards the East from 3:30am AEDST until the sky gets too bright. It may only be visible for a few more days - noone knows for sure yet.

In the last news post I mentioned the comet discovery made by Terry Lovejoy. Well it's turned out to be a massive event of its own and has had the attention of science-based media and starting to filter into mainstream media. The encounter between the comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) and the Sun was captured by space-based observatories and we've been able to watch in real-time as the comet headed towards the Sun and come out the other side in-tact, when it was expected to meet an untimely end and burn up.

There's a great wrap up of the imagery and videos here on YouTube.

Keep an eye on this IceInSpace thread for updates, including how and where you might be able to see the comet. Also keep an eye out here on our home page, or on our Facebook page for timely updates.

Total Lunar Eclipse Wrap Up

Wow, well what a night last Saturday night was. Predictions of terrible weather were cast across most of Australia, but for the fortunate ones it cleared right on command and many parts of the country were able to see the spectacular event.

The event received loads of media attention in the few days leading up to the Eclipse, and on the night of the eclipse itself the sheer number of visitors looking for information about the eclipse and reading the article on IceInSpace crushed our server and IceInSpace was struggling under the load. In the end, over 60,000 people read the article - and the vast majority of those were on Saturday itself before the eclipse!

Luckily, Facebook is designed to handle millions more visitors so I was able to share a stream of photos as the eclipse progressed into totality. If you're on Facebook, make sure you LIKE the IceInSpace page, so you can receive live updates if IceInSpace ever does have problems under severe load :)

There's loads more eclipse images posted on the IceInSpace Solar System forum, head on over and check them out.

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Countdown almost over! Total Lunar Eclipse on the 10th December 2011

After all the anticipation and the countdowns, the Total Lunar Eclipse is almost here. It's happening on Saturday night, starting before midnight AEDST on Saturday and going into Sunday 11th.  If you don't live on the East Coast of Australia, don't forget to adjust for your time zone. Check the article here on IceInSpace for more information and local times for you

The event is getting a bit of media interest over the last week, and if your family and friends know you're into astronomy or the night sky, they'll probably ask you about it. So brush up on your knowledge using the article above, and be able to explain to them what a Total Lunar Eclipse is, how and why it's safe to observe and how to photograph it. You can even send them the link to share it with them :)

The weather reports are looking pretty bad for most parts of Australia, but I'm still hoping for some sucker holes to be able to get a view of this great event.

Some resources for you:

• IceInSpace Article about the Eclipse
• IceInSpace Discussion Thread
• IceInSpace Facebook Page

Good luck, we'd love to see your reports and images!

Amazing Amateur Discoveries by IceInSpace members

I'm continually amazed by the dedication and talent of the IceInSpace Community. It's been a busy few weeks with some new amazing discoveries by amateur astronomers.

Stu Parker from New Zealand has racked up his 22nd supernova discovery (SN 2011iv) as part of the prolific BOSS supernova searching team. It's a bright mag 12 type 1A supernova in NGC1404. Read more about Stu's discovery in this thread.

Terry Lovejoy from Queensland has discovered his 3rd comet - a sungrazing comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy), which is due to smash into the Sun around December 15. What makes it even more special, is that it's extremely rare for sungrazing comets to be discovered from ground-based telescopes! Congrats Terry!

• Here's the IceInSpace thread discussing it.
• And here's an interview I did with Terry back in 2007 after he discovered his first comet
• And a thread discussing the impact with the Sun next week and how you may be able to watch it via the SOHO solar observatory:

Rolf Olsen from New Zealand has always captured unique and interesting photos with his 10" telescope and ToUcam webcam, but he went one step further this time - being the first person to capture a direct photograph of the protoplanetary disc surrounding the star Beta Pictoris.

His discovery and photograh has been around the world on every news stream - I've even had work colleagues mention it to me, and then I tell them "we saw it on IceInSpace first" :)

• Check it out for yourself here and read how he did it:
• He's also posted a new and improved image with further analysis.

My hearty congratulations to these three amazing amateur astronomers, who continue to inspire me with their commitment, dedication and passion for what they do - pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible.

What's Hot This Week

Each newsletter I thought I'd include some links to a selection of threads on IceInSpace and other sites which I like, and that you might find interesting too.

• Stunning timelapse preview by Tom Lowe for his upcoming feature length movie, Timescapes 4K.
• Beautiful timelapse by Alex Cherney taken around Lake Tekapo in New Zealand
• Bad Astronomers' 2011 Top 16 Photos from Space
• Martin Pugh's stunning image of Melotte 15 which is this weeks Image of the Week
• A nice sharp Jupiter image by Ray
• One of Damian Peach's best Jupiter images for 2011
• A great image showing the evolution of Earth compared to a 12 month calendar
• IceInSpace on Facebook, approaching 2000 Likes :)
  

Last Minute Xmas Gift - Special 30% Discount!

I'm out of Astronomy 2012 Yearbooks now, but we can still help you with that last minute stocking filler with a xmas special discount.

The Astronomy and Australian Sky 2012 Calendars are still available and are a perfect gift - affordable, informative, beautiful and useful.

For a single calendar, it's $19 delivered to your door (within Australia). However as a xmas special, if you order 2 or more calendars in the same order, you'll receive a massive 30% discount. Check them out here and click the big blue button to order online:

Buy Astronomy and Australian Sky 2012 Calendars Online

Thanks for reading! Please share with your friends. 

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Total Lunar Eclipse on the 10th December 2011

On December 10th 2011 there's an excellent celestial event - a Total Lunar Eclipse. It's where the shadow of the Earth is cast upon the Moon, and the moon turns red! It's completely safe to observe and easy to photograph.

The eclipse is visible in its entirety from all of Australia and New Zealand, and Asia. For North Americans, the eclipse is in progress as the Moon sets, while observers in Europe and Africa will miss the early stages of the eclipse as it will be in progress as the Moon rises. South America misses this eclipse entirely.

For Australians and New Zealanders this will be a well-placed eclipse. The partial stages start just before midnight on the 10th December (depending on your timezone) heading into totality in the early hours of the 11th December. It's quite a short eclipse, with totality lasting 51 minutes (the Total Lunar Eclipse in June 2011 lasted 100 minutes!).

To find out what a Total Lunar Eclipse is and how it happens, how to view it and photograph it, and times for your location, check out the article I wrote:

Total Lunar Eclipse, December 10th 2011

If you live outside Australia and New Zealand, you can also check the link for times of a city nearest you.

If you've got any questions, feel free to post on the IceInSpace Forum. We've got a forum thread specifically for lunar eclipse discussions, or head to our IceInSpace Facebook page, Like our page and post on our wall.

Good luck, we'd love to see your reports and images!

2012 Yearbook and Calendar stocks still available

Getting stuck thinking of xmas gifts? The Astronomy 2012 Australia Yearbook and the Astronomy/Australian Sky 2012 Calendars are a perfect gift! I still have stock left and now's the time to get your order in.

The Astronomy 2012 Australia Yearbook is must-have yearly almanac with star charts, dates for astro events and tonnes more info about observing the night sky in 2012. It's suitable for beginners and advanced alike, whether you use your naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. The price is AU$27 which includes postage within Australia ($6 extra for postage overseas), helps and supports IceInSpace, and IceInSpace stickers are included free with every order (while stocks last). You'll also receive a 10% discount if you order 2 or more.

Buy Astronomy 2012 Yearbook Online

The Astronomy and Australian Sky 2012 Calendars are a perfect gift - affordable, informative, beautiful and useful. Delivered to your door (within Australia) for only $19, and a massive 20% discount if you order 2 or more.

Buy Astronomy and Australian Sky 2012 Calendars Online

IISAC2011 Wrap

The IceInSpace AstroCamp 2011 was held just over a week ago, over 3 nights in the beautiful hunter valley.  The forecast leading up to the event wasn't fantastic, which unfortunately meant the camp numbers were down, however fortunately for those of us there, the forecasts were wrong!

After a cloudy and drizzly Thursday, it cleared at 9pm for a stunning clear sky that lasted all night. Friday was warm and sunny during the day, and we were treated to many fly-overs by some fighter jets from the nearby Williamtown RAAF Base. The night was a mix of patchy, hazy and clear. It would've been frustrating for the astrophotographers, but for the visual observers there was always an area of sky that was clear. I headed up to the top of a nearby mountain to get internet reception on Saturday morning, and the forecast was terrible! It threatened storms and rain, and was enough to prompt some people to pack up and go home. Fortunately again, it was wrong! The sky cleared at 5pm for a beautiful night. We could see lightening off in the distance behind the hills, but the sky above us was beautifully clear with the exception of about 30-40 minutes of cloud that came across.

The guest speakers were very interesting, the company was fantastic, and the skies were dark and clear! It doesn't get much better than that.

You can read more reports and see some photos (including the group photo, above) on IceInSpace. Start from this post and go forward or back a page or two to see the rest.

Book Review - "The Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present"

Having just written an article for IceInSpace on how to observe and photograph the Transit of Venus in June 2012, I was excited to receive the opportunity to review this book, "The Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present", written by Dr Nick Lomb, the Curator of Astronomy at the Sydney Observatory.

Published by NewSouth Publishing in association with Powerhouse Publishing, the book is a large hardcover book (240 x 235mm), 228 pages long and contains a great balance of text, with beautiful black and white and full colour illustrations and photographs.

Read my full review including pictures at:

The Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present

Thanks for reading! Please share with your friends. 

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A favourite yearly publication and almanac for Australians is the Astronomy Yearbook, and like clockwork, the 2012 version is now available for sale.

Astronomy 2012 Australia is an astronomy yearbook produced by Quasar Publishing (Glenn Dawes, Peter Northfield and Ken Wallace). It's a must-have yearly almanac with tonnes of info about observing the night sky during 2012. It contains star charts and other ephemeris, dates and details of important astro events during the year and much more.

In addition to the usual features, this year’s book includes information and articles about the rare Transit of Venus, and the Total Solar Eclipse.

The yearbook has been designed for anyone who looks at the night sky whether they are using just their eyes, a pair of binoculars or a telescope. The book has something for everyone from the basic novice up to the advanced amateur astronomer. This includes those with a casual interest who might just want to know, "what is that bright star next to the Moon?"

IceInSpace has organised a bulk order of the Astronomy 2012 Yearbook, and you can now order your copy online for only $27 each which includes postage to your door (within Australia). You will receive a 10% discount if you order 2 or 3 yearbooks in the same order.

IceInSpace AstroCamp 2011

The IceInSpace AstroCamp is now just over 2 weeks away! I'm really looking forward to catching up with friends and other members that we usually only interact with online - and making a bunch of new friends too.

It's never too late to register for the camp. Fill in the booking form online at the IceInSpace AstroCamp 2011 Info Page.

Keep your fingers crossed for fine weather and clear skies, and I look forward to seeing you there!

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The Transit of Venus across the face of the Sun occurs on June 5th or June 6th, 2012 depending on your location.

This is an extremely rare event, one of the rarest of the predictable astronomical phenomena, and will be the last time you'll have a chance to see this in your lifetimes!

So exactly when and where do you have to be to see it? How do you observe the sun safely during a transit? What's the best way to photograh it? Why is a Transit of Venus so rare? What's the historical significance of a Venus Transit?

All these questions and more are answered in the article I've written:

Transit of Venus Across the Sun, 6th June 2012 - Observing/Imaging Guide

If you have any questions, please feel free to post in this discussion thread on IceInSpace.

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Why does the picture of the Moon below have those funky colours? You can't see them with your eyes, or through the telescope like that, right?

Actually the colours are real - they've just been artificially boosted; amplified during processing. The colours themselves represent the various types of iron and mineral deposits on the Moon. The blue hues reveal titanium rich areas while orange and purple colors show regions relatively poor in titanium and iron.

I've written an article which shows you how to process your lunar images to bring out those colours. I'll talk a little about the equipment and capture, but most of the article will focus on the image processing.

How to Create a Colour Saturated Moon Photo

I hope the article inspires you to give it a go, and I look forward to seeing your results posted in the IceInSpace Solar System Forum.

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Another year rolls by, and IceInSpace passes another significant milestone!

Happy Birthday IceInSpace! We've just turned 7 years old!

A lot of websites come and go, so I think 7 years is a pretty amazing achievement. Year on year we've continued to grow, and our loyal, helpful and friendly community is the cornerstone of our success!

I turned this milestone over to the members, and asked them on the forum and on Facebook, what some of their best moments or memories were. What they got the most out of IceInSpace.

Here are a selection of their responses:

• Craig Jackson: I learnt that 8" Dob is the likely answer to any beginner astronomy questions
• Melissa Monck: IIS is my favorite link to all my favorite things in the universe :) Congrats on 7 years and a huge thanks to all the wonderful people who make IIS such a happy place to be.
• Dean Manton: Only joined the other day but picked up some awesum info on binoculars
• James Thompson: I just love the photographs
• Susan Kelly: Happy Birthday IceInSpace! Thanks for the advice, info on events and great video links
• Octane: Happy Birthday, my favourite site on the whole Internet, IIS
• netwolf: Happy Birthday IIS, we have some great skies in Australia and thanks to IIS we also have a great community to share them with
• Shelltree: Hip-hip-hooray! Happy birthday IIS!  Without this amazing site, I wouldn't have met such amazing people
• traveller: Thank you for a fantastic site and a wealth of knowledge among its members
• Suzy: Happy Birthday Ice in Space! Thank you for bringing me some great and dear friends into my life and thank you to everyone who has contributed all these years- I have learned so much! This forum is very much like a family to me
• Osirisra: I think my favourite moment and also for alot of others here, would be when I got back into astronomy and I found IIS while looking at astronomy sites. The awesome warm and friendly folks here that are always super helpful with tons of information is what makes IIS a brilliant place for anyone interested in Astronomy
• Mick: I’ll always remember the first day Mike, without your vision we would never have had this amazing community. The sharing of information and the wonderful images are the reason I visit nearly every day.
• sheeny: Being involved in such an active online community that is at times right at the cutting edge (thinking especially of Bird's impact discoveries! Enjoying and marvelling at the diverse interests and personalities of my fellow IISer's. ...it doesn't seem to matter what it is, someone here seems to be able to help if you have a problem! Just ask... Being able to admire some really superb astrophotography, and learn from "amateur experts" while still contribute to helping others... all in the one place!
• mishku: heartfelt thankyou to all of the lovely folks who have been so patient, kind and generous with their time and knowledge (can't tell you how much I've learnt since I've been a member of IIS.

Thanks so much to everyone for your birthday wishes, and for sharing how IceInSpace plays such a role in your lives.

The next milestone is 10,000 members - another very signifcant celebration of our community - giving people a reason to visit and a reason to come back.

Here's to 7 more years!

Thanks for your support. 

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It's a good week for our visual observers, with some great new articles and reviews just for you.

For the beginners, Faith Jordan (new to IceInSpace but not new to astronomy) has written a fantastic article about how to get into Deep Sky Observing. It's got some great tips and advice for those just starting out.

So You Want to do Deep Sky Observing?

If you've got a good pair of binoculars and are up for a challenge, compare your viewing experiences with Faith Jordan's successes and failures trying to observe the Messier list.

Finding the Messier Objects with Binoculars - Successes and Failures

And for those with a case of Aperture Fever - for that are looking to upgrade from their 8" or 10" telescope, check out Rick Petrie's thorough review of the Orion XX14i Intelliscope Truss Tube Dobsonian. It looks like a fantastic scope if you're ready to take that next step up in aperture.

Orion XX14i Intelliscope Truss Tube Dobsonian

Thanks to Rick and Faith for their fantastic contributions to the growing IceInSpace knowledge base of articles and reviews.

If you'd like to contribute a review or article, we're always happy to have your submissions. You don't need to be an expert writer, or an expert in astronomy. You just need to be willing to share your experiences and thoughts, which will in turn help out others going through the same thing.

To contribute an article or review, get in touch via our Write for IceInSpace page which has some general tips and guidelines.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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