How was your observing year ? Compared to others ? Did you see new things ? Special phenomena ? Buy new equipment ? Good weather ? Did the city council extinguish some streetlamps or just install skybeamers ?
For me is was rather good. Discovered in La Palma island and in central France with very dark skies that there are a lot more deep sky objects visible to the naked eye. I took astrophotos from La Palma and visited the Roque de los Muchachos observatory there. Further I saw two supernovae, the latter in M51 even in binos, found out that an iPad with Skysafari is a very useful starhopping help (now I use the Galaxy S2 with the same app). With that help I found lots of galaxies in the Virgin / Leo / Coma / UMa area. Furthermore I found out that with a 10" Dob (and even with a 4" Genesis !) stars till +5 are visible in broad daylight.
Seems you had a good year, well done, mine although not that full was great, and although not that much astro activity this year what i saw and did was well worth the effort.
Maybe 2012 will be more fruitful.
Replaced the beautifully dark skies of rural Zambia for the urban skies of Canberra. But got a nice scope (CGEM 925) with GOTO for the first time. So I have observed many objects this year - many of which I had not seen before. Not the best observing I have done (the old 10" dob under dark Wagga Wagga or Narrabri skies was better) but definitely the most new objects of any year. In the past I have concentrated on clusters, but 2011 saw me observing heaps of galaxies and PN.
Started imaging for the first time, but rain has really hampered any efforts.
Highlights are all first time objects:
1. Comet Loverjoy
2. NGC 3132 (Eight Burst Nebula)
3. NGC 6572 (PN in Oph)
4. Comet 2009 P1 Garradd
5. NGC 2070 (not a new object but new for me viewing with an OIII filter!!)
Well, as I may have mentioned elsewhere, whilst La Nina has been good for our drought ravaged countryside, she has been unkind to visual astronomers in my neck of the woods. I have barely bothered with galaxies this year, but there are plenty of other things to look at. A few supernovae - very exciting. And Comet Lovejoy has been a great finale.
I can honestly say I only set up the 8" scope twice specifically for visual this year.
I get more joy from laying back and cruising the sky with my binos while listening to my mount and camera do their thing.
High lights for me were Comet Garradd and of course the crowning glory of the year, Comet Lovejoy.
Grant , we get the same dark skies up here as darkest Africa , for just over 1/2 the year , awsome ! , I had read about this , and until I moved up her had never seen it , Its the best mate .
But in the 'wet' good nights , they are few and far between .
Ground hog day , during the dry mate, and I would not miss 6 to 8 months of perfect viewing . .
Groung hog day's .
Same as 2010 ,,, 2009 .... 08 ....
Awsome up here .
2 seasons in 1 year , "Split ENZ" .
Grant , we get the same dark skies up here as darkest Africa , for just over 1/2 the year , awsome !
, I had read about this , and until I moved up her had never seen it , Its the best mate .
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