Lockdown Blues

Hi all, hope everyone is keeping well.

When lockdown was announced early in January, I tried to look on the bright side and see the positives.  Being off work meant no 6 o'clock alarms and with not having to be up early, there was the opportunity for longer observing sessions, going into the early hours of the morning.
However, the Irish weather decided that sounded like too much fun and set about putting a stop to any such notions.  The weather for the past couple of weeks has been absolutely terrible and I cannot remember when the skies were last clear, even the daytime conditions have made solar observing difficult.
Knowing the cruel way the weather behaves in this country, it is almost a guarantee that when lockdown is eased, and that 6 o'clock alarm is employed again, the skies will magically clear.
And by the way, next week is going to be worse.
Enjoy!

Paul

I completely agree with you, Paul.
It has been precisely 2 full weeks since I last set up my Williams Optics 158 mm apochromatic refractor in my back garden.
That was Thursday 21st January!
I should have set up the scope on Monday 25th January, but something else was happening.
Therefore I have to ask the question: when o when are the skies going to clear?
All I seem to be doing is visiting my beloved IFAS and Cloudy Nights websites these days and nights.
But I have been something a little fruitful too.
I have been updating my list of carbon stars on an Excel Spreadsheet. There are about 200 such stars before I am completely finished.
Also thankfully Valerie and I are getting out for our daily walk whenever it is not bucketing rain.

I wish everyone clear skies (when?!)

Aubrey.

I feel your pain Paul and Aubrey ...shocking weather as of late. My eyepieces have never been so clean though. 

I just popped out there, and there is a small break in the clouds... I'm tempted... I really am.

Clear skies, here's hoping, 

Darren. 

Same here guys, the weather is dreadful, this has to be the worst time of year now, change to very cold weather from Sunday onwards, I’ll gladly take clear freezing cold nights. 

As the Wilson-Phillips song goes “hold on for one more day”

Keith..

Here is something which might cheer us all up for a short while.
For those who observed the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in December 2020: go to the apod.nasa.gov website and click on the Archive link.
Then scroll down to December 20: A Volcanic Great Conjuction.

I have since downloaded this most extraordinary image onto my Desktop Background.
I reckon I will be looking at it for quite some time each time I turn on my PC.

See what you think, my friends.

Aubrey.

Nice image, Aubrey.

I really liked the February 1, 2021 shot, beautiful.
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210201.html

Paul