Astronomy

Can’t really complain, the Metcheck forecast for tonight has panned out pretty much as expected, enough high, hazy cloud to degrade the view, in all except a circle straight above, to make it not worthwhile getting set up. Metcheck have forecast just 2% cloud around midnight tomorrow so, as I have a late start on Monday morning, there may still be a little something doing this weekend, though Venus will be gone again by that time.

but not terribly surprised. Midnight rolls around and ten tenths cloud, I suppose the beeb’s weather monkeys can claim some accuracy, it was very mild, but that wasn’t the element of the forecast I was interested in. Just checked the forecast for tonight, the beeb is saying partial cloud around midnight again but Metcheck suggests 99% cumulative, with a lot of high and mid-level cloud at that time. But Metcheck astronomy section does indicate a cumulative 17% between 18.00 and 21.00, so another peep early evening will be in order and maybe a look at Venus.

On the upside, had my first look at Galaxy Zoo 2, looks good.

Checked the forecast on BBC and it suggests there should be clear skies for a while around midnight tonight, sadly that will not be early enough to have a look at Venus, which I believe sets around 21.30. Also forecast 7°, which is a bonus. So here’s hoping to get a little, astronomical, action.

Sadly I seem to be back in the previous routine of recording non-events; nothing happened again tonight and the forecast indicates there won’t be anything doing again tomorrow night. I have a number of things that I could be doing and need to check out the cost of brake pads for my Mondeo, none are quite as appealing as doing a little stargazing but it looks like they will have to suffice for this weekend. The problem is that with each occasion the weather deprives me of using my telescope, I feel less inclined to plan to use it and start to plan to do other things, most of these things are passive and don’t necessarily exclude the possibility of changing plans, but being the weekend they are generally things which I enjoy doing or have to do. I know it’s not realistic to have a cloud free sky available as and when I have the inclination to do some observing, but how about a break every now and then??

So it looks like the night will be spent watching the NHL, doing some fantasy baseball draft preparation and pricing brake pads.