PEAK STAR PARTY 2012

Peak Star Party 2012

Following on from the huge success of Peak Star Party 2011, we are delighted to announce PSP2012, from 19 to 22 October.

Even Better Than Last Year!

We have been working hard to make PSP2012 even better than last year and can already promise:

• huge 20m x 20m (60ft x 60ft) marquee to host talks, workshops and stay dry, no matter what the weather!
• all weekend catering. Exact details tbc but we are hoping to run catering from 10am to 6pm, to include breakfast, dinner and snacks.
• Snack and drinks tent available at all times - hot and cold drinks and some snacks available through the night for day visitors

Astronomy Day Part 2

Saturday 20 October is Astronomy Day Part 2. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People", and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events.
PDDS will be hosting a series of events through the Friday and will be working closely with local schools and other groups to show how astronomy can help make science fun and interesting. We are still working on the details but we are hoping to include solar observing demonstrations, planetarium shows, series of fascinating talks from eminent scientists in the region and more. All visitors will of course be welcome to take part in our already (in)famous bottle rocket competition!
If you are a science teacher in or around the Peak District or if you look after a group of Scouts, Guides or similar and are interested in bringing a group to Astronomy Day, please e-mail info@peakstarparty.co.uk for more information.

Bookings can be made at  http://www.peakstarparty.co.uk/

Recent image's and news

It's been quite a while since I updated my blog. For one, the weather hasn't been very co-operative with producing clear skies. And coupled with that. We still haven't seen Winter.

We've had the odd cold frosty night, which has allowed me to do some astro-imaging. But nothing like as many as I would have liked.

And when those skies are clear for me. We usually see a big fat Moon which, really doesn't help when imaging faint deep sky objects.

Last week-end January 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th. We had a very pleasant run of skies, that allowed me to take a good number of astro images.

These are all taken through, my little William Optics ZS66mm Doublet, and my trusty Atik16ic and 13nm HA filter.

I am now able to control everything from inside my house, through the use of two, 5mtr USB repeater cables and, a 5mtr RS232 mount control cable.

It makes it more relaxing, as I only have the telescope/mount outside, with everything else here in the warm.

My first image for you is no1 on Charles Messier's list of famous nebulae. The Crab nebula or M1.
Messier 1 is a supernova remnant in Taurus, and it was seen as a bright supernova in the year 1054 by Chinese astronomers.

This is my first really long exposure. Three hours comprising of 601 second exposures.

The second image is from Monday 16th, and is a one hour exposure using 300 second exposures.
This is part of IC410 which, is situated in Auriga, and is a huge molecular star forming cloud.
You will see in this picture, two object's that are named the "tadpoles"

The Tadpoles are composed of denser cooler gas and dust, and are around 10 light-years long. They are potentially sites of ongoing star formation. The wind and radiation from the cluster stars, causes their tails, to trail away from the cluster's central region. IC 410 lies some 12,000 light-years away,

My final image is again from Monday 16th, and is a three hour exposure. SH2-235 is a bright nebula in Auriga and is an object which, you don't see imaged.

I was able to begin imaging this object shortly after 1800hrs and didn't finish imaging it for another three hours.

SH2-235 is a kidney shaped HII region at the intersection of two giant molecular clouds. Causing intensive star forming. SH2-235 is 7000 lyr away and 130lyr across.