The usual small group carried out our regular butterfly survey of the (freshly-mown) churchyard. Some species were present in large numbers, particularly Large White and Meadow Brown: others were conspicuous by their absence. Nevertheless, we recorded eleven species, as well as several other interesting insects.
Another beautifully clear night, so I thought I'd take a few long exposures of the ISS as it passed over just before midnight. It was fascinating to see how many other satellites appeared on the photos: orbital space is becoming alarmingly crowded!
Jupiter and Saturn popped up over the garden fence, while - if you look closely - you can just make out the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, on the image of the 'W' shaped constellation Cassiopeia.
Linda and I returned to the Norfolk Showground at the weekend, this time for the regular Antiques & Collectors' Fair. We knew it would be busy, so paid a little extra for an early Trade Ticket: well worth it! We spent over three hours wandering around the many stalls (both inside and out) and added lots of items to our various collections.
I found two nice Egyptian pieces - a Shabti figure and a lapis lazuli kohl (eye makeup) bowl - and yet another 'illusion' glass for my antique glass collection.
As we walked around the good weather brought out a few birds: several Red Kites and Buzzards, as well as a pair of low-flying Oystercatchers!
A warm, clearish night prompted me to set up the laptop outside and connect it to my Sky-Watcher Mak127 and ASI CCD. Using the hand controller, I was able to sit at the patio table and scan across the Moon's surface, grabbing images of anything that interested me! This is still very much a learning curve: it's a lot more complex than the online help-sites would have you believe. Nevertheless, an hour's session produced some half-decent images of Copernicus and the Apennine Mts, Plato and the Alpine Valley, the Straight Wall and the giant crater Clavius.
Eventually (around 11.30) Jupiter and Saturn rose above the garden fence and I tried to find them in the 'scope. Despite refocusing on the Moon, I just couldn't find either: this can only be an exposure issue with the Sky-cap software. More research needed!
Another clear sky at midnight was the incentive to stay up and photograph the two largest planets in the Solar System. Using a DSLR connected to the telescope with a 'T' piece, I was able to get a little detail, but I need to devote an evening to setting up the laptop on a table outside and making use of the CCD camera: I'm sure both planets will look really impressive.
I noticed that there is a second 'V', much closer to the famous 'X': you can see all three in the photos below.
As mentioned below: it was a beautiful evening last night, so I attached a DSLR to my telescope and took a few photos of the crescent Moon. When the terminator runs down the centre of the Moon the crater-fields are spectacular: last night the famous 'letter V' was visible (but not the 'X' by the time I went to bed!) In the west Venus was hanging low over the horizon, but I couldn't make out the nearby planet Mars.
