Topic: Keep watching the Skies!

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

the best meteor shower of the year should be seen on Friday (and Thursday) night, weather permitting

http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13036-years-best-meteor-shower-set-to-dazzle.html

[star]

That will be worth getting cold for if the sky is clear!

Thanks for posting :D

[Ceratonia]

Gemini is easy to find  - just up and left from Orion, (between Orion and the plough) in the eastern sky in the evening.

Mars is in Gemini currently, too. If you follow a line up the left-hand side of Orion, about the same length as Orion itself, you'll come to Mars.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

while we're at it this website gives the times and positions of iridium flares - caused by sunlight reflecting off communication satellites - there's a very bright one at 17:43:09 on Friday, in the East North East at 68 degrees altitude

http://www.heavens-above.com/

[star]

Havent seen any yet.....its cold out there. Very cold tonight :-\

Will look again tomorrow night

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

I saw a couple last night. Clear as a bell here today, but several degrees of frost.

[VP]

I saw a couple last night as well, but thought I'd imagined the first one. Will be watching out especially tonight as the forecast for Friday's not very good...

[banshee]

I keep looking but I haven't seen anything as yet!! 

[Slug_killer]

Mars is in Gemini currently, too.

I've been wondering what that brigth object was, sort of on the cross of the Betelgause/Pollux&Castor line and Capella/Sirus line. Its been there for several weeks now.

I was sure it wasn't a star, but as I've lost my planisphere, I couldn't check up. I had hoped that Sir Patrick would have mentioned it in his program 2 weeks ago, but they skipped the topical bit this month.

I did wonder if Saturn was still about, I'm sure it must be, but don't know where.

[Ceratonia]

I've been wondering what that brigth object was, sort of on the cross of the Betelgause/Pollux&Castor line and Capella/Sirus line. Its been there for several weeks now.

That would be Mars. Even not very good binoculars should show you the reddish colour, if nothing else. It's coming up to perigee next week (closest point to earth), so rapidly approaching brightest it ever gets - still dimmer than sirius etc. though.

Venus is still visible quite late in the morning (7:30?), low in the SE sky. Don't think any of the other planets are there to see in the UK at the moment.

[kenkew]

So, where should I point my compass and nose to get the best sighting Thu/Fri?

(Not got a sky compass, only an earthly type)  :D

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

the bods at New Scientist say they may come from anywhere (in the sky I mean). I've got an essay to write  ??? so fingers crossed for no cloud tomorrow

[Pesky Wabbit]

So, where should I point my compass and nose to get the best sighting Thu/Fri?

(Not got a sky compass, only an earthly type)  :D

Not quite sure. It should be South East, but I've just had a shufty outside and can't even see Orion.
Me thinks there's quite a lot of high cloud tonight. I'll have another look in an hour or so - once I've warmed up again.

[Pesky Wabbit]

Just been outside again - More cloud that ever, an its Brass Monkey weather. I don't think I'll be seeing any meteors tonight.

[Baaaaaaaa]

Just spent the last hour watching the meteors - Baaaaaaa-riliant.
Its certainly wooly jumper weather out there tonight.

Orion and Gemini are currently South-West-ish (@22:00 BST and slowly moving left to right)

Looked at Mars with binoculars as well - just out of this world.