If any of you who read this are unaware of his fascinating perspective on extraterrestrial life, here's a video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gLfcnr5Sg
Monday, 8 February 2016
Edgar Mitchell
While looking for material for a piece I'd been asked to write, I found a photo of the last time I enjoyed a drink and a chat with this intriguing gentleman...
If any of you who read this are unaware of his fascinating perspective on extraterrestrial life, here's a video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gLfcnr5Sg
If any of you who read this are unaware of his fascinating perspective on extraterrestrial life, here's a video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gLfcnr5Sg
Sunday, 7 February 2016
Mercury - at last!
Despite being at a wine tasting hosted by our good friends and neighbours Peter & Sue until just before midnight, I got up before dawn and drove to the top of the Heath for a clear view of the eastern horizon. (I should say I had drunk very little: it was a wine tasting and I'm not a big fan of oaky Riojas!)
An irritating little band of cloud lurked in the east, but eventually, at around 7.00am, I caught sight of both Mercury and Venus: finally all five planets were visible at the same time!
An irritating little band of cloud lurked in the east, but eventually, at around 7.00am, I caught sight of both Mercury and Venus: finally all five planets were visible at the same time!
Friday, 5 February 2016
Dr Edgar Mitchell
Very sad to hear that Dr Mitchell passed away on Thursday night...
I met Edgar on numerous occasions and had the opportunity to discuss at length his experiences of and ideas about the UFO phenomenon. As those of you who have read my first book 'Forbidden Moon' will know, I have certain reservations about the published accounts of the Apollo missions, but Dr Mitchell played a major part in helping me formulate the basic thesis of the book. He is the only one of the twelve 'Moonwalkers' to have declared openly his belief in the reality of UFOs and their extraterrestrial origin.
I count myself very fortunate to have spent so much time in his company.
I met Edgar on numerous occasions and had the opportunity to discuss at length his experiences of and ideas about the UFO phenomenon. As those of you who have read my first book 'Forbidden Moon' will know, I have certain reservations about the published accounts of the Apollo missions, but Dr Mitchell played a major part in helping me formulate the basic thesis of the book. He is the only one of the twelve 'Moonwalkers' to have declared openly his belief in the reality of UFOs and their extraterrestrial origin.
I count myself very fortunate to have spent so much time in his company.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Ferruginous Duck, Red-necked Grebe and Shag: north coast fill-up!
A reasonably early start found Martin & me on the North Coast by 9.00am: the weather wasn't perfect, but at least it was dry!
At Wells Quay the long-staying Shag put on a show-stopping display, often with a Cormorant. A fly-by Kingfisher was good to see.
From there it was a short drive (but longer walk!) down to the lake at Holkham. After spending half an hour scrutinising several dodgy hybrids with white UTCs, we eventually located the Ferruginous Duck lurking under a fallen tree: a terrific little bird. Nearby were a couple of dozey drake Scaup and a Barn Owl feeding on a rat! The park held a fine herd of Fallow Deer: some of the bucks had beautiful antlers.
We moved west to Brancaster Staithe, where we quite quickly located the Red-necked Grebe. It was always distant and the light was appalling, but it was good to finally catch up with this long-staying individual. Other birds on the channel included three Mergansers and a few Goldeneye.
After coffee at Cley, our last stop was Kelling Quags: several Stonechats and lots of Curlews, but afterburner antics by a pair of Typhoons was somewhat counterproductive for birds!
A great day out and a pleasant escape from my car-less week at home!
At Wells Quay the long-staying Shag put on a show-stopping display, often with a Cormorant. A fly-by Kingfisher was good to see.
From there it was a short drive (but longer walk!) down to the lake at Holkham. After spending half an hour scrutinising several dodgy hybrids with white UTCs, we eventually located the Ferruginous Duck lurking under a fallen tree: a terrific little bird. Nearby were a couple of dozey drake Scaup and a Barn Owl feeding on a rat! The park held a fine herd of Fallow Deer: some of the bucks had beautiful antlers.
We moved west to Brancaster Staithe, where we quite quickly located the Red-necked Grebe. It was always distant and the light was appalling, but it was good to finally catch up with this long-staying individual. Other birds on the channel included three Mergansers and a few Goldeneye.
After coffee at Cley, our last stop was Kelling Quags: several Stonechats and lots of Curlews, but afterburner antics by a pair of Typhoons was somewhat counterproductive for birds!
A great day out and a pleasant escape from my car-less week at home!
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
International Space Station
Should you wish to wave at Tim Peake (remember him?) the ISS began a long series of passes over the UK tonight: I attach a photo of it going behind the Acer tree by my pond!
There's also a photo of Orion with another, fainter satellite passing through and a couple of images of well-known and bright constellations you might enjoy picking out,
The table shows when the ISS is visible from the eastern UK: the middle column shows magnitude (brightness) Minus numbers are the brightest! The third column gives the time when the space station becomes visible in the south-west.
There's also a photo of Orion with another, fainter satellite passing through and a couple of images of well-known and bright constellations you might enjoy picking out,
The table shows when the ISS is visible from the eastern UK: the middle column shows magnitude (brightness) Minus numbers are the brightest! The third column gives the time when the space station becomes visible in the south-west.
Planetary alignment update
A lovely crisp morning, so I dressed warmly and found a clear horizon: four planets and the Moon were easy to find, but Mercury is still not high enough to be visible. If it's clear at the weekend (when hopefully we'll have the new car, ) I'll drive out to somewhere higher with a clear eastern horizon!
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Bramblings and Buntings at Hemblington
During the weekend's Garden Birdwatch it occurred to me that the new woodland plantations just south of Hemblington Church should be good spots to search for Bramblings. Since I'm without transport until we pick up the new car on Friday, I walked up to Jary's Wood to see if this was the case.
In fact there were several mixed flocks of both finches and buntings feeding on the maize stands left for them by the environmentally-friendly farmers: these held the hoped for Bramblings (100+) as well as Yellowhammers, Goldfinches and Reed Buntings. Other birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and several Common Buzzards.
There was another, less-impressive display of iridescent clouds around 2.00pm.,..
In fact there were several mixed flocks of both finches and buntings feeding on the maize stands left for them by the environmentally-friendly farmers: these held the hoped for Bramblings (100+) as well as Yellowhammers, Goldfinches and Reed Buntings. Other birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and several Common Buzzards.
There was another, less-impressive display of iridescent clouds around 2.00pm.,..
Iridescent clouds: a rare phenomenon!
Around dawn this morning (during a futile search for Mercury!) I was treated to the rare sight of cloud iridescence. Not to be confused with sun dogs or rainbows, this is a phenomenon that is only very infrequently witnessed: here's a Wiki link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence
The Moon was pretty impressive, too, with several spectacular craters on or near the terminator.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence
The Moon was pretty impressive, too, with several spectacular craters on or near the terminator.
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