Ah, star trails? I've had a few tentative attempts at those - I need to get somewhere properly dark though to do it. Hmmm, wonder if the Saturday skies are clear...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Any Astronomers Here?
(66 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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You get some trail effect on a 30 second exposure, although it's minor enough to be easily mistaken for camera jiggle.
I'll have a poke about and see if I can bully the camera into giving you a longer exposure.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Thinking of routes, the hardy(or daft!) could always MTB it from Colinton over the hill.....
Posted 12 years ago # -
No joy in getting more than 30 second exposure, which is a euphemism for CBA to look it up.
I was back home in pleasantly deepest darkest rural Tayside for the weekend, so while the full moon put the kibosh on any DSO spotting(like BSO spotting, only shinier) it did let me take a few landscape pictures, which turned out nicer than I expected:
Posted 12 years ago # -
May or may not be your sort of thing, but star gazing in the Royal Botanics tomorrow....
Posted 12 years ago # -
Just seen this. I went and found a bigger version of the light pollution map, its a long pedal out of Edinburgh to get some where thats really dark.
Edit: Just found a much better map including weather averages... its a very long pedal to the best bits on this map.
http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/bestukastrolocationmap2.html?0OPosted 12 years ago # -
There's a lay-by just north of Hawick that is a great spot for pulling up on a cloudless night and checking out the Milky Way. Not the most convenient spot for a cycle from Edinburgh, admittedly...
Lights out for darker skies.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I have just seen an interview about light pollution on BBC, you know where they get one pro and one anti person on whatever it is.
Pretty much the whole discussion revolved around drivers. Drivers need blinding lights at all times especially in towns because they are so many obstacles in the way like traffic islands and pedestrians. Some of those pedestrians may even be out late at night! Presumably they particularly need statues and public buildings brightly uplit all night in case they get in the way.
Correct me if I am wrong, don't cars already come with lights?
Posted 12 years ago # -
The moon's good and new for the next week, but the forecast's not looking that clear, much as it's cloudless this minute.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Correct me if I am wrong, don't cars already come with lights?"
Yes, but you'll see in the countryside, where there are no lights, that the place is littered with crashed cars that go straight into unlit hedges and trees and farmhouses and barns. Carnage it is.
I reckon turning off lights in cities would actually make people drive more slowly, just a natural reaction (unscientific presumption).
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's an odd argument to hang a justification of streetlighting on drivers. I'd have some sympathy for an argument for pedestrians and their safety (from crime, rather than vehicles), but so that drivers can see where they're going? Tosh.
I'd like to see the lights go out after a particular time at night. It might force ninja cyclists to get some lights too ;)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Went out to Glencorse tonight, but either tonight was quite hazy, and I think it was, or it's not far enough, because it wasn't as dark as I'd hoped.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Rumours and substantiating pictures all over Twitter this evening that Aurora was visible earlier this evening over Edinburgh and should be for next couple of days.
Watch the skies!
Shot taken from Porty prom seemed great. Think Arthur's Seat would also be good location?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yeah, only saw those reports after the event. Will definitely be seeking out viewing points - Tuesday is apparently looking particularly good for some reason...
Posted 12 years ago # -
BBC forecast is for clear sky in the first half of tonight but cloudy tomorrow night.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Walked along Porty beach last night about 10 pm.
Aurora was beautiful. One of the best I've seen from Edinburgh.Posted 12 years ago # -
Really? Boooo! I was there at 10.40 and there was nowt. Pah.
Posted 12 years ago # -
You must have just missed it. Some high cloud came over just as I was leaving, but the aurora had started to fade a bit by then anyway.
Posted 12 years ago # -
If you google spaceweather.com there is a facility to sign up for free e-mail alerts/forecasts for aurora and other celestial activity.
Posted 12 years ago # -
photographic evidence from the Real Edinburgh blog suggests that Harlaw is a good location for some stunning photographs to be captured at
Posted 12 years ago # -
Noice. My first jaunt only took me as far as Blinkbonny Road, which is a couple of clicks short of Harlaw, but was pretty good.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Strangely there's a different Harlaw with an observatory -
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/277355/digital_images/west+linton+talla+observatory
(Or a typo...)
Posted 12 years ago # -
That's interesting. That's the tower that was discussed on another thread.
We thought it was a sighting/survey tower, so in essence an observatory.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Used Google Sky Map last night to confirm Jupiter / Venus sighting.
Have also recently installed Satellite AR for tracking manmade things in space. Haven't spotted anything yet. Cool app though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Used Google Sky Map last night to confirm Jupiter / Venus sighting."
That's a great app though it takes a bit of wiggling to get the orientation right.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Have also recently installed Satellite AR for tracking manmade things in space. Haven't spotted anything yet. Cool app though."
Watching the ISS track across the sky is great fun. I even managed a hazy photo of it. Got a few night sky apps, but not heard of the ones you mentioned so will be checking those out as well!
Posted 12 years ago # -
ISS is pretty amazing to watch, I was able to be at the World Scout Jamboree when this happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=1swyCCTbP1w
Very cool :)Posted 12 years ago # -
Also if you want to listen to sattelites, there is a uk website http://www.uk.amsat.org/ which has a pretty neat pass predictor :-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Strong solar storm to hit Earth"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17295337
Forecast for this evening is looking cloudy though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anyone fancy a look through an 8" and 3" scope tonight, either in Harrison park or the Royal Edinburgh Community Garden (up by myreside) if we can get access
Last night the moon, Venus and Jupiter were all pretty cool to look at.
If enough people interested I can PM you the time to meet (and exact final location)
Posted 12 years ago #
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