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The sky at night (meteors, Iridium flares, the moon)


Colin
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With the voice of Marvin the paranoid android: I just thought you'd like to know that the Mirrie Dancers are out right now - fully overhead, in a fairly major geomagnetic storm. It would be quite spectacular. You can't see them though, it's 8oktas cloud cover, chances of it clearing tonight - minimal. More like none. But, at least you know what you are missing now.

 

.

 

:evil: Just gone running out in the hope of seeing them but can hardly see the gate with the wind and rain :evil:

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With the voice of Marvin the paranoid android: I just thought you'd like to know that the Mirrie Dancers are out right now - fully overhead, in a fairly major geomagnetic storm. It would be quite spectacular. You can't see them though, it's 8oktas cloud cover, chances of it clearing tonight - minimal. More like none. But, at least you know what you are missing now.

 

:(

Here's what you missed!

http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01feb10_page3.htm?PHPSESSID=ggir06lk7tssbcp8mjovgub450

Feel better now? :D :(

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If anyone has a phone that uses the Google Android operating system, I can thoroughly recommend the Google Sky Map App.

 

Uses the GPS and Compass in your phone to create an interactive sky map in front of you that moves about as you move about. Showing you what's in the sky in front of you. It's got both me and my girlfriend addicted to sky watching. Shows stars, planets, satellites, etc.

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Oi! :evil:

 

 

They are out again tonight, you may have noticed. No, not the loonies, the Mirrie Dancers. Guess what... they are right overhead again, but no can see, again. Looking at the satellite images, there may be a clear spell at about 3 or 4am, if you want to take a chance on it. I would, if I could, but I can't. Meh.

 

Mind you they may be gone by then, of course.

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They are out again tonight, you may have noticed. No, not the loonies, the Mirrie Dancers. Guess what... they are right overhead again, but no can see, again. Looking at the satellite images, there may be a clear spell at about 3 or 4am, if you want to take a chance on it. I would, if I could, but I can't. Meh.

 

Mind you they may be gone by then, of course.

 

Njugle - Please could you post a link to the satellite image site you refer to - I will be up and about all night - cheers

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Njugle - Please could you post a link to the satellite image site you refer to - I will be up and about all night - cheers

 

Only if you stop arguing with Koy here. :wink:

 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_uk_ir.html

 

It's just the Met office. There is a clearer patch in the cloud cover moving in from the east. If it continues on current path it should mostly clear over central Shetland in an hour or two and then clear further for another couple of hours. It might still be hazy, but the Mirrie Dancers have been bright enough earlier tonight to be a visible glow through the heavy cloud cover.

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I have seen a plane flying across the sky e-w, disappear, then back again w-e etc until there were 4 or 5 trails (parallel lines) like in the first picture Koy posted. I took a photo, because I wanted to see if I could zoom in on the picture any better than I could see with binocs. I thought it must have been some kind of survey plane. Just been searching for the photo but the damn government must have hacked into my computer and deleted it! :shock: Don't worry Fjool, if I find the pic I'll start a new thread!

 

Crofter - new thread sorted - see - http://www.shetlink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=141738#141738

 

Njugle - thanks for the link - useful stuff.

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DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT:

 

Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, Feb. 19th, at 7:54 pm EST. This sets the stage for a weekend of double flybys. The ISS and Endeavour will be circling Earth in mutual proximity, streaking through the night sky as distinct points of light. The show will continue until Endeavour lands at Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Feb. 21st, at 10:16 pm EST. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker to see if you are favored with an apparition: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

 

NEW AND IMPROVED:

 

SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker app for the iPhone and iPod touch has been improved. It now predicts flybys worldwide, uses GPS location services, and more. Check it out at http://simpleflybys.com .

 

GREAT NORTHERN LIGHTS:

 

This past week, Arctic sky watchers have seen some of the best auroras in years. It's another sign that the sun is coming back to life after a long, deep solar minimum. Recent images may be found in our photo gallery; start browsing here: http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01feb10_page3.htm

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Aha! That's what I saw! Nipped down to the postbox to fetch the paper and saw the brightest Shooting Star that I have ever seen, looks like it was the Endeavour judging by the time and direction.

 

ISS-Endeavour 08:47:22 pm WSW 08:49:42 51° -3.4 (very bright)

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