Star Gazers

=TK= · Jun 22, 2017

Mr Fad said:
My stepdad runs the astronomy centre in Todmorden...
http://www.astronomycentre.org.uk/

Last Christmas day I totally blew him away by showing him elite over a few beverages it was an awesome moment tbh 

I had no idea that was there - I'm North West so not far from me at all

Thats brilliant that he liked Elite.

Cmdr Nemo · Jun 22, 2017

Though I still do the sidewalk astronomy thing every year which may spawn interest in the hobby. I no longer view the night sky like I used to. Now days I only observe the moon and the sun. It is quite the rush viewing a crater being formed by an impacting meteroid hitting the moon. Though I've never done it, there is a process in place where as if one is the first to report and it's verified, the observer can choose the name of the new crater. The sun hasn't had any activity worth viewing in a few years, it goes in cycles. But utilizing a approiate solar filter, one can view beautiful looking prominence's that occur. Some reaching outward from the sun millions and millions of miles.

Old Duck · Jun 22, 2017

Billl said:
It is quite the rush viewing a crater being formed by an impacting meteroid hitting the moon. Though I've never done it, there is a process in place where as if one is the first to report and it's verified, the observer can choose the name of the new crater..

How frequently (on average) do lunar impacts happen, observed or not?

Cmdr Nemo · Jun 22, 2017

Jintosh said:
It always surprises me how few people actually look up. A few years back, when there was a set of aurora that got south enough to be seen all over Ireland. They were even bright enough at one point to be seen from the middle of Dublin city. While I waited to get picked up to head off to the Wicklow Mountains (which are a good place to get a dark-ish sky) I was spending my time between the amazing light show, and being amazed that I was the only one watching o.0

The Earth is bombarded with meteorites which are meteroids that actual hit the surface, which prior to comming in contact with the Earths atmosphere were asteroids which are meteors who debris has totally be cast off, thus no longer have tails, constanly measured in the thousands every day, the vast majority are burned up in the atmosphere. Unlike Earth, the moon doesn't have an atmosphere so more of them reach the surface. Just like Earth, they number in the thousands per day. However, they have to be pretty large to be seen from a backyard telescope, using a lens (eye piece) that is on the cusp of being out of focus. And pointed at the right place on the surface. There has been times where I've seen serveral, and times where I haven't seen any. The later is the most common.

The best viewing is along the area referred to as terminator, because the moon as Earth is in constant motion, one can view the various shadows on the sides of creators move. Though there are those that aquait it with watching grass grow. One never observes it during the full cycle, it's to bright and almost impossible to focus closely on anything.

JSweaty009 · Jun 22, 2017

Usually every October i drive up to Northern Maine to visit family before the long winter hits them, and this past October my cousin and I went gold panning up at these falls that sit waaaay back in the woods. We did find some gold dust which we always do but at that time i found a small weird looking rock. Come to find out I found a small meteorite under a lot of sand while panning. I think I was more excited about that then any of the gold we found.

Old Duck · Jun 22, 2017

JSweaty009 said:
Usually every October i drive up to Northern Maine to visit family before the long winter hits them, and this past October my cousin and I went gold panning up at these falls that sit waaaay back in the woods. We did find some gold dust which we always do but at that time i found a small weird looking rock. Come to find out I found a small meteorite under a lot of sand while panning. I think I was more excited about that then any of the gold we found.

There's gold in Maine?

JSweaty009 · Jun 22, 2017

Old Duck said:
There's gold in Maine?

Believe it or not people use to find nuggets years and years ago especially way up north where my family lives. But over the years it has been hit hard so nuggets are rare. My cousin and I have found a lot of gold dust and specks over the years. And I still have them in vials in my man cave. Years ago somewhere up in those woods some geological survey team were drilling into rock and when they pulled the huge drill bit out there was gold wrapped in the veins of the drill bit. But all we have is small gold pans and small sluice box. But meteors are the big thing people like to find up there.

Cmdr Nemo · Jun 22, 2017

JSweaty009 said:
Believe it or not people use to find nuggets years and years ago especially way up north where my family lives. But over the years it has been hit hard so nuggets are rare. My cousin and I have found a lot of gold dust and specks over the years. And I still have them in vials in my man cave. Years ago somewhere up in those woods some geological survey team were drilling into rock and when they pulled the huge drill bit out there was gold wrapped in the veins of the drill bit. But all we have is small gold pans and small sluice box. But meteors are the big thing people like to find up there.

You actual mean meteorites, which by the way sells on the open market for an average of $10.00 U.S. per gram. I lived in Las Vegas NV for a dozen years and spent a lot of free time walking around the edges of dry lake beds looking for meteorites with a metal dectector. The largest I ever found was 11lbs. The going price was lower 20 years ago, but I still managed to sell it for $40,000 U.S to a collector.

JSweaty009 · Jun 22, 2017

Billl said:
You actual mean meteorites, which by the way sells on the open market for an average of $10.00 U.S. per gram. I lived in Las Vegas NV for a dozen years and spent a lot of free time walking around the edges of dry lake beds looking for meteorites with a metal dectector. The largest I ever found was 11lbs. The going price was lower 20 years ago, but I still managed to sell it for $40,000 U.S to a collector.

Yeah what you said Bill that's what i meant lol the one I found back in October is probably the size of a quarter so it isn't that big. But i have a relative that has one somewhat smaller than a softball. She doesn't plan on selling it anytime soon. Sometimes they can bring more money than gold, like yours for example. I don't plan on getting rid of mine just for the fact this thing i have in my man cave came from space. And awesome a fellow metal detectorist, glad to know someone else that does my favorite hobby.

Old Duck · Jun 22, 2017

Well I should go visit Maine. Between space rocks and yellow dust, perhaps I'll be able to afford that new HOTAS when all is said and done! And I can watch the stars as well!

U-Boat captain, where in Maine do you go? You can give me general idea if you rather keep town private. Looking at map, it seems Aroostook county IS northern Maine, depending on how you define "north." Don't worry, I won't go up and steal all your gold

JSweaty009 · Jun 22, 2017

Old Duck said:
Well I should go visit Maine. Between space rocks and yellow dust, perhaps I'll be able to afford that new HOTAS when all is said and done! And I can watch the stars as well!

U-Boat captain, where in Maine do you go? You can give me general idea if you rather keep town private. Looking at map, it seems Aroostook county IS northern Maine, depending on how you define "north." Don't worry, I won't go up and steal all your gold

Haha spot on Duck, Aroostook county is correct. And I don't care to tell you the town in Allagash along the St. John River. Good luck finding the falls though since that's family property lol but you can pick any stream, river bed etc and you will find at least specks or dust. That land is loaded with it.