Waiting for the clouds to clear.

[Mick]

I had a viewing night tonight with a few new veteran astronomers from U3a (University of the third age). While we were waiting for the sky to clear I snapped of these photos, beautiful cloud formation and colour. It cleared up to be a wonderful night we viewed Saturn, Jupiter, 1/4Moon, a few doubles and a -4 Iridium flare.

[Mick]

And here's the other photo. :D

[iceman]

Beautiful shots Mick! Is that a fisheye lens that took the second? Nice wide fov.

Oh but how do you have a new veteran astronomer? :P

[Mick]

Just the standard lens on a Nikon coolpix 4500 Mike, don't know why it turner out like that. Nice effect though.


U3a is an organisation for 50+ people they do all kinds of stuff, arts, crafts, games, fun science at the CQ University and now astronomy. The 6 people that were at the viewing night with me have always been interested in astronomy but never seen through a bigger scope. Saturn its ring system and Titan amazed them; we have two monthly viewing nights and meetings at the city library. They are a lovely bunch of people I like showing them the sky as much as the kids.


Thanks.:astron:

[mojo]

Mick, that first photo is absolutely brilliant. hmmm...could be used for artwork on an astronomy web site.....it at least deserves a place in the images gallery on the site.
don't lose the original image Mick.

[Mick]

Thanks you mojo and ice. Here's one without the scope. Later on that night there was a lovely ring around the Moon.

[astro_south]

Mick

Is that the silluette of a cane crop on the second one :) ?

I've attached a similar shot taken at Leyburn a few months ago with some nice colour / cloud formations

[astro_south]

The clouds extended out to the right and left, as shown in the shot below to the right of the one above

[astro_south]

...and still further right

[mojo]

Not very astronomer-friendly clouds, but you guys certainly get some beautiful looking skies.

[Mick]

Yes you are right the school oval we use for viewing backs onto a canefield. You have some very nice cloud photos as well astro_south, when the sky is like that I get the feeling of being the only one standing there, just immersed in the sky and colour. Maybe it's just the moment, I don't know but it's a wonderful feeling.

[ving]

clouds do make good subjects.. nice shots :)