Society for Popular Astronomy

I gather that the Saturn V model has 1,969 pieces. Not sure if this is intentional or not!

Best Wishes,

Geoff

Hi All,

Could someone provide (or suggest a link to) a really straightforward layman's explanation about optics, including the relationship between focal length and field of view?

Thanks in Advance,

Geoff

I wouldn't be surprised if this leads to the Trump orbital casino, the Trump Moon hotel and 'Space Race 2'!

Geoff

I suppose getting Ursa Major and Canis Major mixed up is easily enough done for a non-astronomical person!

Best Wishes,

Geoff

The news about Peter came as a shock.

We first corresponded in 2006 when he contacted me about a Transient Lunar Phenomenon observation I'd made. Peter was a brilliant lunar observer and draughtsman and his passing is a terrible loss.

Geoff

Hi All,

This is one for any astro-imagers out there, to contribute to a citizen science project headed by Dr. Dirk Froebrich at the university of Kent. Just been to a fascinating presentation about it.

http://astro.kent.ac.uk/~df/hoyscaps/index.html

Best Wishes,

Geoff

There's an Exploring and Understanding The Universe Facebook page if you'd also like to drop in there for an astronomy chat and post your comments or questions.

Best Wishes,

Geoff

Hi All, I've got a Celestron C8-NGT Newtonian I'm interested in selling. I had a serious illness over a year ago and have been recovering since. The 'scope hasn't been used for about 18 months and could do with a good home rather than gathering dust. I think maybe it's time to take up solar observin...

Hi All, If you're starting out in astronomy, check out a new online TV astronomy show called Exploring and Understanding the Universe. The show is presented live on Tropical FM by Sammiee Fowler every Sunday evening at 20:00 - 21:00. You can also catch up any time on past shows, including a recent i...

Are there any preferred settings for constellation photography?

I'd like to get some images of constellations (Orion, etc) and am thinking that f2.8 at ISO 800 (or faster?) for an exposure of 5 - 10 seconds should do it?

Geoff

Hi All, There are various articles circulating that Russia is training macaques to fly a mission to Mars. Can anyone see a point to this :shock: ? Humans have spent months at a time in Earth orbit and in ground-based simulations for decades now, so we know the requirements for a Mars mission anyway....

Thanks for posting Brian.

I'm reminded of Carl Sagan's 'Pale Blue Dot', especially at this time of year.

Geoff

Dear All, I'm presently studying an online course about Moons of the Solar System. A fellow student has asked why the recently discovered Trans-Neptunian Object V774104 is designated as such (OK, I realise it's not a moon !). It set me wondering too, because I thought that TNOs were given a sequenti...

David,

A quick 'Google' under 'Alraigo Incident' will tell you all.

Best Wishes,

Geoff

I'm intrigued as to the path this chunk of rocket might have taken over the past year or so. Would it have merely been floating about on the surface, swept into the murky depths before eventually being washed ashore, or even drifted backwards and forwards across the Atlantic? We shall never know.......