Simon Gregory wrote:

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There is a free planetarium for the PC called Stellarium, I have been using for a few years if you put your long and lat co-ordinates in, it's spot on to what is outside.


-- Edited by Simon Gregory on Sunday 21st of November 2010 09:00:22 PM

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I second that, sorry forgot about this!!!!

There is a free planetarium for the PC called Stellarium, I have been using for a few years if you put your long and lat co-ordinates in, it's spot on to what is outside.


-- Edited by Simon Gregory on Sunday 21st of November 2010 09:00:22 PM

One called 'planets' for iPhone users

If you have an android smartphone there's a free app called "google sky map". It's rather good. You just point your phone skywards and a map of the stars appears on the screen. It covers the full 360 panorama and even works indoors.

cheers Dean.

sid ashton wrote:

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Not actually a birding post but may be of interest to scope owners. Just had a look at the sky after a call from Ms O, the "Manx Birder" who pointed me in the direction of Jupiter. It is a very bright star just now to the right of our Moon and three of Jupiters moons can be seen clearly with the help of my scope. Apparently it won't be this close again for 50 years so it's worth a look.

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Fascinating subject and I might just have to blow the dust off my Skywatcher astronomy telescope.

I have been lucky enough to see all the Planets (except for Pluto, however this is no longer classed as an actual planet) and never tire of seeing them.

I remember seeing Neptune from Teggs Nose on a clear night to complete the full set!!

Astronomy Now and The Sky at Night magazines provide some very useful information including Sky Maps to keep you occupied over these long dark winter nights.

I too am a stargazer, although not as avid as once was. I sort of dropped it when I realised that the wheels of astronomy actually turn more slowly than do those of birdwatching in Greater Manchester (sometimes!). The thing that really turned me off, though, was the lack of dark skies. When you go to somewhere like Africa and look up there, it really does make you think about what it's all about (life I mean). Anyway, it didn't stop me from looking through my telescope last month when Uranus was very close to Jupiter, and I'm fairly confident I saw it. Anyway, better get off here before the thread is closed mid sent.....

I have to admit to finding this sort of thing fascinating - last time i saw Saturn I spent a good half hour looking at it - it is amazing to see.

Thanks for the tip off.

Hi Paul,
As regards Saturn (and its rings and 5 moons), you might wish to pencil into your 2011 calender a reminder for April 3rd (or close dates either side). If you scan the southern sky at midnight you should find it easily. It will be some 8.6 AU's distant. ( 1 AU being the distance from Earth to Sun).

Presently it's above our horizon only in daylight hours and so not viewable from Britain.

Mike, dont mistake that the fact that this was an easy twitch
No expense, loads of brownie points for getting the kids involved, the id side was easy as well, no sub-species,or Coverts problems, no primary projection to consider, just its big and round and up!

Nice to see we can share other interests without getting obsessed, now how do I tick off saturn

Keep watching the stars

What a surprise this is! - Kindred spirits on a BIRDING forum?

I've been following Jupiter for months recently (and for years less recently) and trying to enthuse some of my birding pals into taking a look up there, seeing that it's been so dominant in the eastern skies (early evenings) and southern region in the small hours.

Jupiter has loads of moons, but only the big 4, Ganymede, Europa, Io and Callisto are obvious. They were first discovered by our old pal Galileo in 1610, so most of you should spare him a respectful thought, seeing he ticked them precisely 400 years ahead of you!

The inner three moons have precise orbital ratios of 4:2:1; i.e. for every 4 orbits of Io (the innermost), Europa does 2 orbits, and Ganymede (the biggest) does 1.
Callisto, the outermost of the 4, breaks the progression. I guess there always has to be a maverick, ( so I guess Callisto could be described as the LGRE of the lunar (or possibly loony) set?).

I'm not sure where Saturn is just now, but when it is viewable, that's the one to see. The rings are easily visible on a clear night at X 60 mag.

Thanks Sid for the tip, been out and had a look. Really clear with the 4 moons

Cheers Sid, just 'scoped it and 4 moons clearly visible... shame my camera cant pick them out.
I cant believe how far away from Jupiter the 4th moon appears to be! Amazing stuff!

Amazing sight Thanks for the tip off Sid.

Thanks all - Just checked again at 21.00 - Jupiter has moved more to the South and now four moons are visible

Just digi- scoped the moon,put my efforts on Dave Winnards Flowery and Furry website.

Kids enjoyed scoping the planets, cheers sid.

Amazing Just looked outside and seen the amazing sight through my scope, the moons are clearly visible, thanks to original poster
Cheers Ian
PS Thanks to Bill for telling me how to use extra emoticons

Thanks Sid, just had good views before the fog rolled in off the Mersey.

nice one sid, wondered what that planet was, she looks great, , for the morning people , venus is showing well eastish , still bright , when the sun comes up.

Not actually a birding post but may be of interest to scope owners. Just had a look at the sky after a call from Ms O, the "Manx Birder" who pointed me in the direction of Jupiter. It is a very bright star just now to the right of our Moon and three of Jupiters moons can be seen clearly with the help of my scope. Apparently it won't be this close again for 50 years so it's worth a look.