Astronomical Images - Robin Hughes Robin showed some fo his latest webcam images. These are superb! Images of Jupiter and Saturn can be found in our webcam gallery. Robin has also made three contributions to the Lunar 100 list. Clavius at sunrise (No 9); The Straight Wall (No 15) and the new addition of the Hyginus Rille (No 24.)
FTN Observations May 2006 - Brian Thomas We are awaiting an image of the Tadpole galaxy, requested as an off-line image. The next on-line observing session will be on 24/5/06. Brian try to capture an image of the Dumbell Nebula and will also try to capture one of three possible peculiar galaxies as well as Jupiter.
More Spots on Jupiter - Brian Thomas Observations from Galileo and Hubble of Jupiter show that white ovals can combine and darken; brown and then turn red. Three white ovals have ben observed for about ten years, taking the last three years to combine. So there is now a junior red spot in the atmosphere of the planet. The Hubble site has more details about white oval-shaped storms.
Solar Storm Warning! - Brian Thomas Presently we are in a solar minimum. A solar maximum occured in 1958. So intense was the activity that the Northern Lights were visible in Mexico! Modelling of the Solar Conveyor Belt predicts that in 2010 or 2011 there will a maximum of some 30-50% of the 1958 intensity. Brian illustrated his talk describing how the Conveyor Belt model controls the sun spot cycle, regenerating spots and leading to solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The Nasa site provides a good overview.
