Page 16 • Astronomy • Non-Gaming • Science & Technology • Eurogamer.net

the_milkybar_kid 21 Feb 2015 20:09:31 8,474 posts
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The moons looking rather awesome tonight. Apparently Mars and Venus are also visible.

Edited by the_milkybar_kid at 20:12:02 21-02-2015

ILoveThrashMetal 23 Feb 2015 18:40:08 1,066 posts
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@the_milkybar_kid mars and Venus then turn round and Jupiter is visible to.

SuperCoolEskimo 23 Feb 2015 19:43:33 11,892 posts
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Bit cloudy out, can't see Mars and Venus to the west with the moon but pretty sure we can see Jupiter to the east.

the_milkybar_kid 24 Feb 2015 10:02:41 8,474 posts
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@ILoveThrashMetal Ah, nice one. I saw the Brian Cox had retweeted some pictures this morning, Mars and Venus seemed to be directly above and below the moon, but I'm pretty sure I saw Jupiter.

Benno 24 Feb 2015 10:06:03 11,854 posts
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You can see Jupiter most nights at the moment, its quite bright really. Got some decent views of it and its moons through my telescope last month.

solarspot 24 Feb 2015 11:38:47 292 posts
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Just a heads up that on March 20th there will be a solar eclipse and from the UK while you wont get totality it should still cover quite a large section of the sun. It's well worth looking out for, it'll be a Friday morning so a good excuse for a long weekend. If you go out and buy the March issue of Sky at Night magazine they are giving away a pair of eclipse glasses so you can safely watch it so that's an idea too.

Benno 24 Feb 2015 11:59:07 11,854 posts
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solarspot wrote:
Just a heads up that on March 20th there will be a solar eclipse and from the UK while you wont get totality it should still cover quite a large section of the sun. It's well worth looking out for, it'll be a Friday morning so a good excuse for a long weekend. If you go out and buy the March issue of Sky at Night magazine they are giving away a pair of eclipse glasses so you can safely watch it so that's an idea too.

Thanks for the tip!

Any way I can slap a quick and easy sun filter on my 10x50 bins? Ideally something that has no risk of burning my macular

solarspot 24 Feb 2015 12:07:25 292 posts
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Yeah you could, I would recommend only using a specialized filter from a telescope shop.
Personally I use this stuff and just DIY a filter holder for it http://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-astrosolar-safety-film-nd-50.html
Not sure what stock levels are like though as I imagine a rush on it. Still it's very safe stuff as long as you use it correctly.

RyanDS 24 Feb 2015 12:39:41 14,073 posts
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I use that Baader film on my telescope. It is great stuff.

DaM 24 Feb 2015 13:28:13 17,729 posts
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the_milkybar_kid wrote:
The moons looking rather awesome tonight. Apparently Mars and Venus are also visible.

That was an axcellent view. I could just see Venus on Friday night, but was out of town on Saturday and Mars was easily spotted.

ILoveThrashMetal 24 Feb 2015 13:32:22 1,066 posts
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@ZuluHero join astronomy for beginners on facebook, lots of very helpful people on there.
Astronomia are extremely helpful, but for great deals check out Harrison's telescopes.

RyanDS 24 Feb 2015 13:39:52 14,073 posts
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ZuluHero wrote:
Can anyone here recommend a good starter telescope for an 8 year old who might possibly lose interest somewhere in the future (you know how these things are)?

Budget? I would suggest astromaster 70, should be cheap enough.

Where are you based?

Benno 24 Feb 2015 18:49:52 11,854 posts
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if you've got clear skies, venus and mars are very clear to the west, about 30 degrees

Benno 24 Feb 2015 18:50:42 11,854 posts
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as in right now, that post my sounds strange reading it on Weds morn

Deleted user 24 February 2015 23:42:31

Too busy getting your sausages organised? No time to look at the sky? Let me help you out, with my essential short guide to tonight's sky:

Moon 4/10
Stars 3/10
Sun 0/10
Clouds 1/10
Moving stuff 5/10

solarspot 16 Mar 2015 09:43:30 292 posts
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Around 90%ish for those in the UK. You need to go to the Faroe Islands to see totality. Still it should be good if it's not cloudy.

DaM 16 Mar 2015 10:44:53 17,729 posts
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I think we get up to 95% in Scotland - better the further north you are.

Can't wait!

the_milkybar_kid 16 Mar 2015 11:00:23 8,474 posts
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Hope it's a clear morning. I'm off work too that day, hopefully put my new camera to good use.

ILoveThrashMetal 16 Mar 2015 11:36:40 1,066 posts
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Get your solar specs or a welding mask at the ready!� Dont look at the sun then put the specs on like my nob of a colleague.South east is roughly 9.30am.

solarspot 16 Mar 2015 11:45:04 292 posts
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If using welding glass then NASA recommends not using anything below No.14 welding glass as anything lower could and likely would damage your eyes. If you don't have access to either it pretty simple to make a pinhole projector out of cardboard.

Benno 16 Mar 2015 11:56:12 11,854 posts
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I've got my free sun-filter glasses from Sky at Night magazine all ready for Friday

/clouds over

Tonka 16 Mar 2015 12:56:22 31,979 posts
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I've been trying to spot mars with the naked eye for over a month now. Is it doable. I see a super bright "star" I've been assuming to be Venus every evening in the west. Mars is supposed to be close by but I can't see it.

Now I'm starting to doubt it's Venus I see.

RyanDS 16 Mar 2015 12:58:33 14,073 posts
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Venus is very easy. Mars is very difficult as it sets the same time as the sun at the moment. I doubt you could see it.

RyanDS 16 Mar 2015 12:59:07 14,073 posts
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Oh, download Stellarium. Free software, and is brilliant astro software for identifying / finding things.

solarspot 16 Mar 2015 12:59:10 292 posts
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Venus is the real bright one to the west, Mars isn't as easy as it was a month ago to spot as it is underneath Venus at the moment but on sunset you may be able to spot the smaller orange star below.

Astronomy • Page 16