SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Dec 26 4:25 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Dec 24 4:25 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Dec 23 5:13 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 53 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Dec 22 6:01 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 46 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Dec 22 4:25 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Dec 21 5:13 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Dec 20 6:01 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Dec 20 4:25 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Dec 19 5:13 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Dec 18 6:01 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Dec 16 6:00 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: SSE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Nov 23 5:31 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 49 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Nov 22 6:18 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 41 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Nov 21 5:32 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Nov 20 6:19 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Nov 19 5:33 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Nov 18 6:19 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Nov 17 5:33 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

 

The Minster and the Moon

 

A respectable photo of the moon taken with the Nikon D700. It features an illuminated York Minster and the silhouette of a large tree with the moon taking presidence in the centre. The clouds had just moved away in time to take this photo! Exposure time 30 seconds, ISO 200, 24mm lens.

Tom Plowman

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Nov 16 6:19 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 48 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Oct 23 6:35 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 49 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

All set for tonight

The weather is not going to be terrific tonight, but it won't actually be raining apparently. I will therefore open up the observatory from 8pm - please park in the school grounds and come straight to the observatory. We'll be closing at about 9.15pm. If we can't see anything, I will I will give a short presentation on the night sky, just so you know what you are missing!

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Oct 22 7:23 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 41 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Oct 21 6:35 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Oct 20 7:23 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Oct 19 8:10 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Oct 19 6:35 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 53 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Oct 18 7:22 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

The dark skies are back at last!

It's high time we had an open evening in the observatory. I would therefore like to invite any members of the ISSP group from March 2013, or any members of the Bootham community to join me in the observatory from 8pm on Tuesday 22nd October.

Planets are rather scarce in the evening at present, with Jupiter and Mars both well-positioned in the pre-dawn sky, and Saturn heading off to the deep south, from where it won't be returning until late in the next decade! However, before the Moon rises, we should be able to have a look for the great Andromeda nebula and learn the key constellations of the autumn sky. There are a few open clusters that would be fun to see as well, and with a low ISS pass at 20:59 to mark the end of the session, there should be plenty to do. We have several telescopes to try out, and we might try a little astrophotography with the school's Nikon D700 as well.

At 18:56 that evening, there will be a brightish iridium flare just near Aquila, so if the sky is clear, see if you can spot it by looking south, and about half-way up the sky.

I WILL BE GIVING LIVE UPDATES ON TWITTER before the session, just to let you know if it is going to happen. Please follow me using the button on this site, and then you will have very up-to-date information, including the irdium flare and an earlier pass of the ISS at about 18:30.

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Oct 17 8:10 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Oct 17 6:34 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Oct 16 7:21 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Oct 15 8:09 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Oct 13 8:08 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: S

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Sep 27 5:00 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Sep 26 5:47 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Sep 25 5:01 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Sep 24 5:48 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Sep 23 5:02 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 52 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Sep 22 5:49 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Sep 20 5:49 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Aug 16 9:23 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 50 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Aug 15/10:11 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Aug 14 9:23 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Aug 13/10:12 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Aug 12/11:00 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 49 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SSE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Aug 12 9:24 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 53 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Aug 11/10:12 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Aug 10/11:01 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Aug 09/11:49 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 45 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SW

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Aug 09/10:13 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Aug 08/11:01 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Aug 07/11:50 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: S

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Aug 06/11:02 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 41 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Aug 05/11:50 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 42 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Aug 03 2:18 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Aug 02 3:05 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 53 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Aug 02 1:32 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SE, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Aug 01 3:53 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 46 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Aug 01 2:19 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Jul 31 3:06 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Jul 30 3:53 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Jul 30 2:19 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Jul 29 3:06 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Jul 28 3:53 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Jul 26 3:54 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Jun 13/10:39 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Jun 12/11:28 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Jun 11/10:40 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Jun 10/11:29 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Jun 10 0:18 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 49 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Jun 09/10:42 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 52 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Jun 09 1:07 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 41 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Jun 08/11:31 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Jun 08 0:20 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Jun 07 1:09 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Jun 06/11:32 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Jun 06 1:58 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Jun 06 0:21 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Jun 05 1:10 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Jun 04 1:59 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Jun 04 0:23 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Jun 03 2:48 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 53 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Jun 03 1:12 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 49 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Jun 02 3:37 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 46 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Jun 02 2:00 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Jun 01 2:49 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 58 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri May 31 3:38 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri May 31 2:03 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 42 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu May 30 2:51 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 50 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed May 29 3:39 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon May 27 3:41 AM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

Luke Bussell goes viral!

The story is in all the papers, but it began here on this blogsite! Hats off to Observatory member and Astronomy GCSE student Luke Bussell for winning the SHA essay prize AND securing a programming role in the British Interplanetary Society's KickSAT mission.

With luck, we'll be able to source some funding to get going on a project to build a ground-station here at Bootham so that we can communicate with the microsat networks that KickSAT will launch into orbit. I had always hoped that Bootham might become a part of the space programme, but I never thought it would be so soon!

Society for the History of Astronomy

The school has recently joined the Society for the History of Astronomy. It makes sense, given that we have such a lovely (and significant) old observatory. The Society aims to promote a wider understanding of how astronomy developed around the world, and perhaps in Britain in particular, and how this fascinating branch of science has made such a difference to the culture we all share.
Yesterday was the day of the spring conference of the SHA, and as luck would have it, it took place in York at Friends' Meeting House on Friargate. The society has generously funded an annual essay prize for young people to write on topics of astronomical history, and the Bootham GCSE group really rose to the challenge, presenting essays on topics ranging from the discovery of Neptune to the life and work of Gallileo. Some of our students and I enjoyed an afternoon of fascinating lectures covering (in order), the self-taught telescope making geniuses of Scotland, the bitter yet comic feud between two early pioneers of astrophotography and finally a wonderfully lively review of cosmic ray research from Sir Arnold Wolfendale, a former Astronomer Royal. After these talks, Sir Arnold awarded the first and second prizes to Luke Bussell and Annie Howard, both (of course) students at Bootham. The officers of the SHA said some very complimentary things about all the Bootham submissions and it is very good to get independent confirmation of what I have always believed about the academic prowess of our student body.

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Apr 19 8:43 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: SE, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Apr 17 8:44 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Apr 16 9:34 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 52 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Apr 15/10:24 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Apr 15 8:48 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Apr 14 9:38 PM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Apr 13/10:29 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SW

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Apr 13 8:52 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Apr 12/11:19 PM, Visible: < 1 min, Max Height: 48 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: W

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Apr 12 9:43 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 52 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Apr 11/10:33 PM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SW

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Apr 10/11:23 PM, Visible: < 1 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: W

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Apr 09/10:37 PM, Visible: 1 min, Max Height: 47 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: WSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Apr 02 3:49 AM, Visible: < 1 min, Max Height: 46 degrees, Appears: ESE, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Mar 31 3:53 AM, Visible: 1 min, Max Height: 55 degrees, Appears: ESE, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Mar 30 3:41 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Mar 29 4:30 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Mar 29 2:57 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: ESE, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Thu Mar 28 3:46 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Mar 27 4:34 AM, Visible: 5 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Mar 27 3:01 AM, Visible: 1 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: ESE, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Mar 26 5:23 AM, Visible: 1 min, Max Height: 48 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: W

SpotTheStation

Time: Tue Mar 26 3:50 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 52 degrees, Appears: S, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Mon Mar 25 4:39 AM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Mar 24 5:28 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 56 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: WSW

SpotTheStation

Time: Sun Mar 24 3:54 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 40 degrees, Appears: SSE, Disappears: E

SpotTheStation

Time: Sat Mar 23 4:43 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 48 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: ESE

SpotTheStation

Time: Fri Mar 22 5:32 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 54 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SW

SpotTheStation

Time: Wed Mar 20 5:37 AM, Visible: 2 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: SSW

Another chance to visit

The weather all this week is set to be atrocious, but on Wednesday, I'll open the observatory for the ISSP group anyway. If you didn't get over before, come for a look around at 7pm - 8.30pm. If the sky clears at all, we can do some observing, but otherwise we can just have a look at the facilities.

I can't believe it!

For exactly the hour between 7.30 and 8.30 pm, the sky cleared over Bootham, and the small select group who came along got to see a range of interesting phenomena. The lunar crater Cleomedes, just north of the Mare Crisium, all four Moons of Jupiter, as well as the north and south equatorial belts, the Pleiades star cluster, The Great Orion nebula and many lovely stars. As if by magic, the clouds slid back into place at exactly half past eight, like the safety curtain in a theatre.

This was most unexpected, and all very exciting. see you all at the next meeting I hope...

Oh dear

Thick cloud over York. I don't think it very likely that we'll see anything tonight. I've left this as late as I could in the hope of a break in the weather, but nothing has opened up yet. I'll be there to give a guided tour of the observatory for any of you who come, but I can't promise any comets...

Tonight's ISSP event

Not looking that great at the moment (07:55) but they are giving sunshine and showers for the North East this afternoon, so things might pick up. Please check this site, or twitter before you decide to come in - if the sky is cloudy, we can always try again next week.

However, if everything looks good, please come into the school and meet at the science block, where we ran the ISSP session on saturday. Parking at the school will be tight tonight, as we have a big concert on in the school hall, so please park up on the area near the school pitch.

Timetable

19:00 - session starts - short introduction.
19:20 - looking for PanSTARRS - I haven't seen it yet either, so fingers crossed...
19:40 - the Moon and Jupiter - everyone will get a go at drawing what they see, so be prepared!
20:00 - the late winter sky - a starhopping tour for those new to stargazing.
20:30 - end of session.

Grant from the Institute of Physics

I am very pleased to announce that our observatory has been awarded a very generous grant from the Institute of Physics, to help us set up our own seismometer at Bootham. With it, we will be able to listen to the world at the same time as we watch the skies. Somehow, I feel sure that adding an "Earth Observatory" to our repertoire is a sensible thing to attempt, and when we get the seismometer reporting via a datalogger, we will post its output on this site.

Will you get a view of comet panSTARRS?

Sky and Telescope magazine has this excellent guide on where to look - it makes no difference that they are in the USA. If the sky is clear this Friday, it will be the first object we try to spot, using the roof binoculars.

ISSP 2013 going well

The first half of the ISSP was lovely, and we were able to cover plenty of material on constellations and stars. The group worked really hard, and I am looking forward to seeing them all next week. If the sky is clear, I would like to invite any of this year's ISSP intake for an observing night on Friday 15th March, from 7pm until 8.30pm - don't forget to bring a grown-up with you - they are handy for lifts! Follow me on twitter for instant updates about the event.

Near Earth Asteroid Flyby

This Friday you can witness a once-in-a-lifetime close encounter with an asteroid. 2012DA14 is thought to be about 45 metres across, and it will pass so close to the Earth that it will be "beneath" most of our satellites!

During the evening of Friday night, it will pass through the constellation of the Plough, and although you won't be able to see it with just the naked eye, it will be quite possible to pick it out with ordinary binoculars as a dim star that seems to move from one minute to the next against the stellar background.

This handy chart from Heavens Above (link on this page) shows where the asteroid will be at various times in the evening. The ideal time will be at around 21:30, as it passes close to some very easy to spot stars.

If you stay out to watch - why not twitter your experience to @boothamshaw?