Saturday 15 August 2009

Ready to go

The last of Felicia's remnants have gone and we had no problems opening the dome at sunset. It looks as though we're in for a full night's observing in some spectacular conditions. The moon isn't up yet and the sky is very dark. The Milky Way is a spectacular view as I write this, stretched out in the night sky above Mauna Loa. Unfortunately my camera can't do justice to it, but at least I tried!

5 comments:

Keera Ann Fox said...

Both pictures are gorgeous! You're lucky to live where you can see the Milky Way in all its glory. It's very faint in my part of the world.

Anonymous said...

You know that's pretty good camera justice, when I say 'WOW'. My husband and I were in Uruaguay a year or so ago and in my lifetime I've never seen the Milky Way co clear. It was awesome.

Tom said...

Keera - first time I saw the Milky Way was from a hillside in Wales - completely dark sky and it blew my mind. I'm sure there must be places in Norway which are dark where you can see it, you definitely don't stand a chance near any towns or cities though. Still, the sight in Wales simply doesn't compare to here!

Carlae - I'm so glad you got to see the Milky Way - spectacular, isn't it? Most people have never seen it with their own eyes and some mistake it for clouds! Thanks for the compliment, but when I see pictures taken by Wally Pacholka I know mine are utter crap! Have a look - http://www.astropics.com/

He was in Hawaii recently so check out his Hawaii galleries (from the sidebar on the left of that page - there are a couple of images of the telescope I work at!).

Tom

Keera Ann Fox said...

Light pollution is ruining a lot of fun. There was a lot less of it when I moved to my neck of the woods 20+ years ago. I wish people cared more about not seeing the night sky well.

Tom said...

Keera - couldn't agree more but I reckon there are so many people now that have grown up in cities and towns and think the light-polluted sky is normal and have no idea what they're missing.

Tom