Astronomical Events Observed Mercury Description From 2^nd May 2 to 20^th May 2008, Mercury was well placed in the early evening sky and easily visible at –1 mag. A thin crescent Moon was only 4 deg north east on 6^th May. Space Shuttle Launch Date 31^st May 2008 Time 21.09 UT Description After watching the launch of the Space Shuttle (STS 124 – Discovery) on NASA TV, we went outside to see the ISS pass at 21.09 UT. About 20 minutes later two +2 mag stars appeared – this was the Shuttle and the fuel tank. It was so easy to see in the twilight sky. In binoculars, the fuel tank already separated from the shuttle was a very obvious orange colour. I have tried several times to see the fuel tank, but with out success until tonight. Update Time 22.44 UT Had a further bonus - the shuttle was visible again after the second ISS pass of the night at 23.44 UT. It was only 16 deg high max and much fainter than that amazing first view of it. Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) Date: 19^th / 2oth June 2008 Time: 23.00 UT Description Following several reports from N Ireland that NLC had been see in recent days I observed some from the Centre tonight. The NLC formed bright eerie electric blue waves across the northern sky. Some patches had close striations across them while other parts formed wispy waves. Starting about 23.00 UT it had virtually faded away by 00.45 UT. The image here is an initial low res picture. Better images will be posted later. Venus Date: 2oth / 21^st July 2008 Time: 20.40 UT Description Due to its -3.9 Venus is visible only 4 deg above the horizon just after Sunset. Fireball Date: 2oth / 21^st July 2008 Time: 22.00 UT Description A bright fireball was seen heading almost horizontally due east just under Cassiopeia. Appearing as a white ball at magnitude –3, it had no obvious tail, but this might have been due to the bright twilight. Also observed by our two guests. Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) #2 Date: 27^th / 28th July 2008 Time: 01.45 UT Description The bright smallish Noctilucent Cloud was seen glowing above the northern horizon. Although we had been out with our guests observing until 2am , there had only been the vaguest hint of thin strands of to the North West. The cloud was about 15 deg high and 60 deg long. The brightest patch was at first X shaped with wisps of cloud all around it and stretching a little to the east. This rapidly changed to a Z shape with long streamers flowing out to the east which merged to form almost a uniform glow a sheet with fine ripples in it. As the cloud was just below the Plough it was easy to see that the whole thing was slowly moving horizontally west. It started by the end two stars of the back legs of the Great Bear and moved till it was under Alcor & Mizar in the tail – overall about 25 deg. It faded rapidly by 3.45. I had thought the NLC season might be over, but it would seem not. Images will be posted later. Partial Solar Eclipse Date: 1^st August 2008 Time: 08.24.50 UT Description Despite a poor weather forecast large breaks in the cloud appeared at 8.00am. Our 8" reflector and 4" refractor both with solar filters were set up in time for first contact (as the Moon just touches the edge of the Sun) at 08h 24m 50s. The Moon rapidly edge onto the Sun reaching maximum of 30% coverage by about 09.20am. Unfortunately, by 10.50am the clouds came back. At high magnification it was obvious that the curve of the Moon was rough and irregular due to the craters and mountains along the edge. For the event, an "open house" was held at the Centre and well attended. The Sun remains completely free of sunspots as it has been for more than a year. Images will be posted later.