It’s been almost a fortnight since I posted any fresh material up here, but it really has been an on-going battle with the weather. Saturday night offered some respite from the stormy conditions that hit the east of Scotland by late afternoon and I was able to get out for half an hour with the Bresser 10×50s to take in a view of Messier 41 in Canis Major. The hazy visibility and the local light pollution really didn’t do this beautiful open cluster any justice, but it was still nice to get out and do some star gazing for a change. In addition to this I’ve also been doggedly trying to pursue 144P/Kushida as it glides through the constellation of Taurus, but I’ve had very little success with this elusive comet. My last observing session was over two weeks ago and since then I’ve only managed to snatch the odd hour or two during the last couple of nights, but still to no avail. Bad sky transparency and general light pollution have ensured that my runs at Kushida have become a frustrating chore rather than an exciting challenge. Still I am optimistic that I can grab a decent if not better observation of this ghostly comet as it slowly reaches perihelion in the next few days.
Even although the weather has proved to be a thorn in my side when it comes to observational astronomy, I have found myself becoming more and more interested in it as a subject. The formation of cloud systems particularly interests me, which I have began to photograph over the last week or so. On the back of this I decided to start a new project called White Light which is built upon the open source photoblogging software Pixel Post. White Light join Flickr (you can view my photostream over at http://www.flickr.com/photos/photonjunkie/) will serve as a testing ground for my photographic skills and as a to showcase for some of my more interesting ’skyscapes’ which I hope you will enjoy. While I try to harmonize my passion for astronomy with my new found cloud obsession, I really do wish that the weather would clear up just enough so I can catch a glimpse of Kushida. As someone once said: “Of all ills that one endures, hope is a cheap and universal cure.” I guess I’ll be clinging on to that cheap and universal cure then . . .
[Post edited 07.02.09]
Tags: 144P/Kushida, Bresser 10x50, Canis Major, M41, Taurus, Weather