Sirius in May

This is something I'd never actually managed to observe before tonight, a combination of later evenings, clouds and an unfavourable south-western horizon. But there it was tonight, in binoculars, half an hour after sunset; hugging the adjacent hill but still glittering determinedly. By the time I'd returned with the camera, it had gone. Nice to chalk another ambition off the bucket list.

Finbarr.

Well done, Finbarr.
That must have been a Sirius-ly good sighting!

Aubrey.

Sunset was 2113 tonight (May and I observed Sirius in binoculars from 2058 to its disappearance at 2120. That's a full 9 days beyond my record from previous years thanks to this fabulous weather.

Finbarr.

You certainly are a busy man, Fermi, these days.
I took the time to do a bit of observing on Monday night.
A first time observation of a carbon star called RU Virginis was on the menu.
And I accidentally saw a double star in the same field of view. It is Struve 1681.
Both magnitudes are 8.9 and it looks good at 40X.
RU Virginis is my 49th observed carbon star.

That is a wonderful observation you got of Sirius, Finbarr.
Congratulations once again.
Needless to say, you will definitely be trying to see the brightest star for the rest of the week to break further records.
May the excellent clear skies continue for some time to come.

I hope to use my telescope again on Thursday night. I might have friends visiting if skies are clear.

Clear skies,
Aubrey.