Waiting for the clouds to clear.

Mick (Michael) · #1 20-03-2005, 12:23 AM

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 (Michael) · #2 20-03-2005, 12:26 AM

And here's the other photo.

iceman (Mike) · #3 20-03-2005, 06:16 AM

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

Oh but

Quote:

with a few new veteran astronomers

how do you have a new veteran astronomer?

Mick (Michael) · #4 20-03-2005, 09:06 AM

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.

mojo (Terry) · #5 20-03-2005, 01:38 PM

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 (Michael) · #6 20-03-2005, 09:06 PM

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 (Andrew) · #7 20-03-2005, 10:09 PM

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 (Andrew) · #8 20-03-2005, 10:14 PM

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

astro_south (Andrew) · #9 20-03-2005, 10:15 PM

...and still further right

mojo (Terry) · #10 21-03-2005, 02:11 AM

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

Mick (Michael) · #11 21-03-2005, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by astro_south
Mick

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

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 (David) · #12 21-03-2005, 03:01 PM

clouds do make good subjects.. nice shots