Get ready for the Draconids!

Put this in your diary --- Saturday the 8th October. The Draconid meteor shower will take place over Western Europe just after it gets dark here in the UK. A Canadian astronomer thinks he has worked out that it will be a particularly good display, for about an hour. This is not a meteor shower that delivers perfect displays every year, as the comet that makes it happen has yet to unclump and spread its debris all around its orbit. However, Paul Wiegert thinks he has unpicked the pattern of good years and bad years by looking at historical records, and applying his understanding of solar system dynamics.

It has got to be worth a look, and I'll be opening the observatory at 6.00pm BST and closing again at 8.00pm. Places are limited, so the first ten families - Bootham or ISSP to apply will get a place for an adult and a young person! Mail me here to get your place...

Only One Picture!

So what did we manage to cover last night? We saw the Moon briefly using binoculars and the Cooke refractor, and we managed to get a glimpse of Arcturus through a gap in the cloud. We also spotted a star in Virgo that I am pretty sure was, well maybe, Vindemiatrix. We also did a nice little experiment to prove that your eyes respond to darkness and sudden lights. I think we covered the laser reflectors left behind on the Moon by the Apollo missions, and we also tried to spot the ISS, but saw some Chinese lanterns instead. And then there was quite a lot of surveillance on Radio York, Dave the Security Man and York Minister.

Oh well, better luck next time!

At least we all got to meet up again- what a pity the cloud wouldn't let us see much. Still, it was really fun meeting up with the team and their parents, so keep checking in here for a repeat evening in october some time. I'll try to keep posting things to this blog in the meantime...

The final decision...

Well, I'm prepared to turn up if you are. It's not looking clear yet, but it still isn't terrible. I'll open the Portland Street gates (off Gillygate) at 9.50pm, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all then!

Still looking good!

I am still seeing a report for clear skies in York tonight, so I am going to go ahead as planned for now. If possible, check this blog again at 9pm for a final, final decision!