Astronomy Events – May 2016

by Adam Welbourn Summer is just around the corner, you can almost feel it in the tingles of warmth you get from the Sun, for those few moments when the wind drops… After an unusually cold April the forecasts finally show some sign of improvement, and it’s about this time of year that stargazing becomes even…

Astronomy Events – May 2015

by yaska77 I am so eager to dust off the scope and have another night out under the stars imaging away it’s starting to make me twitchy. The plan is to get some of the Sky-Watching founders (that makes us sound far grander than we could ever hope to be) together the first clear evening…

Astronomy Events – May 2014

by yaska77 Now we’re talking, the weather is warming up nicely and hanging around outdoors for the evening is no longer the daunting (and chilly) prospect it was just a few months ago. We admit we’ve not exactly flooded this blog with our images recently, but the impetus is there to rectify that soon so…

Astronomy Events – May 2013

by yaska77 Hot on the heels of an unexpected break in the weather (allowing us to see April’s partial eclipse of the Moon) we’re eager to get stuck in to another new month of astronomical events! Now spring has finally arrived in the UK we’re hoping to be able to get some new images to…

Astronomy Events – May 2012

by yaska77 Despite a relatively good start to April, the proverbial showers soon set in and the second half of the month has been a washout under one rainstorm after another! It can’t rain all the time though (can it!?), and with May now upon us there’s a whole new list of astronomical events coming…

One up for the amateur astronomer!

by tte-77 I read a great article today at EarthSky.org about the great Saturn storm and thought it was worth sharing. A giant storm began raging on Saturn in late 2010. The image above shows the storm raging in Saturn’s northern hemisphere and was the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 19, 2011….

Endeavour crew to check thermal protection

by yaska77 Today the crew of Endeavour STS-134 will perform the standard scan of the space shuttle’s thermal protection system, using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System attached to the end of Endeavour’s robotic arm. While the inspection is underway, Mission Specialists Mike Fincke and Drew Feustel will work on preparing the spacesuits onboard the shuttle…

Endeavour launch at 11 hour countdown hold

by yaska77 NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour is still on course for it’s launch on 16th May at 08:56 EDT (12:56 GMT/13:56 BST) and is currently waiting in the built in 11th hour countdown hold.  Typically lasting between 13 to 14 hours, the built in hold allows technicians to finish launch pad inspection and move the…

Endeavour slated for 16th May launch

by yaska77 Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center will finish closing out Endeavour’s aft compartment and will retract the access arm to the external fuel tank today, as work continues to prepare for the start of the countdown on Friday. Endeavour is now scheduled to launch Monday 16th May at 08:56 EDT (13:56 BST) on…

Astronomy Events – May 2011

by yaska77 Here is the latest of our monthly posts, listing upcoming Astronomy events for May.  It’s a little earlier than last time but there’s nothing like being prepared, here’s hoping we get clear skies for them! Sunday 1st May – Venus is visible low down in the dawn sky from 05:10 BST, and if…