Astronomy / The Universe

[Unknown user]

1 hour ago, maroonlegions said:

Ha ha, lost the argument have we, resorting to name calling and childlike tantrums..   

Not one grown up response or debate on any of my posts..

 

Not even one grown up acknowledgement that you are way out of your comfort zone  when faced with very credible sources.

 

And you call me dafty ..

 

Only person so far who has no idea how to debate from one apple to the next is you sweetheart..

 

And for the record ,try and act like a grown when debating.

 

 

You'll die having never known first contact 🤷‍♂️

[Unknown user]

You know that scene in Casino where 3 big money puggies pay out at once and Robert de Niro immediately understands that the odds of it happening means that it couldn't have happened?

 

They could show aliens landing, crowds out to greet the new overlords, new banknotes with their wee faces, and I'll know for a fact that it's bollocks because of the numbers involved.

[il Duce McTarkin]

10 minutes ago, Smithee said:

 

You'll die having never known first contact 🤷‍♂️

 

With reality. 

[il Duce McTarkin]

1 hour ago, maroonlegions said:

Fair point.  

 

What's fair about it.

 

Seems you self styled experts never comment or debate on  any thing with a credible source.

 

And when shown or faced with it then the personal insults fly.

 

Nothing fair or well put sweetheart..

 

 

*shamelessly nicked from @Dick Dastardly. 

[Dick Dastardly]

8 minutes ago, Dirk McClaymore said:

 

 

*shamelessly nicked from @Dick Dastardly. 

I could laugh at that until the universe contracts 

[Cade]

Falcon Heavy (currently the world's most powerful launch vehicle) made another successful trip to space today.
This time they used three rockets strapped together.

Two of them were used as boosters and made return landings perfectly.
The central core went all the way to orbit and burned up on re-entry after delivering the payload.

Here's a spectacular video of the two boosters landing back on Earth. 

It's LOUD.

 

[Cade]

 

Edited November 1, 2022 by Cade

[Unknown user]

5 minutes ago, Cade said:

 

Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun what do you mean Flash Gordon approaching?  dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun

[Maple Leaf]

The fact that booster rockets can launch their payload into orbit, then turn around and land safely back on earth still blows my mind.  Incredible.

 

For decades, with all nations, it was a once way trip finishing up in the ocean.

[Cade]

2 minutes ago, Maple Leaf said:

The fact that booster rockets can launch their payload into orbit, then turn around and land safely back on earth still blows my mind.  Incredible.

 

For decades, with all nations, it was a once way trip finishing up in the ocean.

 

SLS is one of they ancient relics that's fully disposible.

Which is why it's so expensive.

Falcon boosters get cleaned up, refuelled and used again. And again. And again.

[JFK-1]

7 hours ago, Maple Leaf said:

The fact that booster rockets can launch their payload into orbit, then turn around and land safely back on earth still blows my mind.  Incredible.

 

For decades, with all nations, it was a once way trip finishing up in the ocean.

 

Almost like science fiction isn't it.

 

 

[hughesie27]

Sure, but it's more entertaining when it doesn't go to plan.

 

 

[Cade]

SpaceX do things differently.

They do rapid assembly, rapid testing and rapid re-designing.

At the start they couldn't even figure out how to weld the steel sections together.

Now they're the world premier heavy lift vehicle operators and have fully reusable rockets.

Staggering progress in a very short space of time.

 

They believe in actual physical testing to destruction of their gear.

Wind tunnels and computer models only go so far.

They'd rather just build another rocket then actually fire it and see what happens.

 

NASA is now looking at 14th November for their next attempt to launch their already obsolete fire and forget non reusable SLS rocket, which is supposed to take man back to the moon.

 

[Cade]

RocketLab attempting to launch and recover a new type of re-usable launch vehicle.

 

Their plan is to catch it mid-air with a halicopter.

No, really.

They tried once before and missed it.

 

Even if they do manage it this once, I can't see this being repeatable every time.

Still, it'd be cool if they did catch it.

 

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/catch-me-if-you-can/

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by Cade

[Cade]

Helicopter boys never even saw the rocket before it hit the ocean.

 

It's a ludicrous plan anyways.

 

 

[hughesie27]

Took this last week just before sunrise. 

[maroonlegions]

On 29/10/2022 at 15:29, Smithee said:

 

You'll die having never known first contact 🤷‍♂️

You two sweetheart .

 

[henrysmithsgloves]

18 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Took this last week just before sunrise. 

Good photo,what camera or phone was that took on? Take it is a time lapse looking at the clouds😎😎

[Maple Leaf]

21 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Took this last week just before sunrise. 

 

@hughesie27Well done.  Nice view of Orion.  And is that The Pleiades just above the clouds?

[Pap]

Always thought of this as the Monopoly dog. Kind of has the same shape. 4 paws as well

 

[Unknown user]

3 hours ago, maroonlegions said:

You two sweetheart .

 

Yes, I know.

[hughesie27]

10 hours ago, henrysmithsgloves said:

Good photo,what camera or phone was that took on? Take it is a time lapse looking at the clouds😎😎

Samsung Galaxy Fold4 and aye, 30 second time-lapse with a low ISO 

7 hours ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

@hughesie27Well done.  Nice view of Orion.  And is that The Pleiades just above the clouds?

Spot on.

[henrysmithsgloves]

Inspired me to have a go tonight when walking the pup.

Motorola g10 cheap as chips phone

[JFK-1]

On 04/11/2022 at 12:20, Cade said:

RocketLab attempting to launch and recover a new type of re-usable launch vehicle.

 

Their plan is to catch it mid-air with a halicopter.

No, really.

They tried once before and missed it.

 

Even if they do manage it this once, I can't see this being repeatable every time.

Still, it'd be cool if they did catch it.

 

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/catch-me-if-you-can/

 

 

 

I think if I were a chopper pilot they were asking to do that I would likely respond you go first. Show me.

[That thing you do]

Went to Mills Observatory in Dundee on Friday night. Cracking views of jupiter and the moon. 

 

Heading to a dark sky park this winter at some stage.

[gjcc]

12 hours ago, Pap said:

Always thought of this as the Monopoly dog. Kind of has the same shape. 4 paws as well

 

 Looks more like Pedo Bear to me. 

[Cade]

SLS back out on the pad.....

 

But another tropical storm/hurricane is on the way and there is currently a 7% chance of SLS being damaged.

 

A reminder that this is a $4.1 billion rocket which is fully disposable and there is no backup if this thing gets wrecked.

The programme as a whole has cost $23 billion so far.

 

[Cade]

NASA press conference at 3pm EST to discuss the state of the SLS after the hurricane and future plans for launch attempt(s)

[Gizmo]

Here's a shot from a recent foray out in the dark. It's quite difficult this type of photography, the randomness of when we get clear skies doesn't help. 

[Taffin]

1 minute ago, Gizmo said:

Here's a shot from a recent foray out in the dark. It's quite difficult this type of photography, the randomness of when we get clear skies doesn't help. 

 

That's magnificent!! 😍

[Gizmo]

4 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

That's magnificent!! 😍

Man, thanks very much! ☺️ 

I'm new to it and the learning curve is steep, even getting used to standing in pitch darkness for hours feeling a wee bit vulnerable, in the hope ooof getting something worth processing. But it gets me out and off my butt rather than full on hibernating. 

[Taffin]

3 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Man, thanks very much! ☺️ 

I'm new to it and the learning curve is steep, even getting used to standing in pitch darkness for hours feeling a wee bit vulnerable, in the hope ooof getting something worth processing. But it gets me out and off my butt rather than full on hibernating. 

 

Well, that one is certainly worth the standing about imo. I find when a layman (no offence intended!) has captured an image, it all just feels so much more real. I find myself getting quite lost looking at the picture.

 

Not so much recently, but I got into going out and looking at the sky with binos last year. That vulnerable feeling is so true, eventually I got quite comfortable being out and sat in a farmers field with a mug of coffee. Maybe I'll give it a go again and take a camera along too...but I'm a total novice at photography!

[henrysmithsgloves]

17 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Here's a shot from a recent foray out in the dark. It's quite difficult this type of photography, the randomness of when we get clear skies doesn't help. 

That's amazing but not taken in the UK,where did you take it and what equipment used?😎😎

[Gizmo]

41 minutes ago, henrysmithsgloves said:

That's amazing but not taken in the UK,where did you take it and what equipment used?😎😎

Thanks man.
Pentax K-70 with the 35mm f2.4, GPS unit and astrotracer.
Shot in a field in East Lothian, had to point the camera straight-up.

 

44 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

Well, that one is certainly worth the standing about imo. I find when a layman (no offence intended!) has captured an image, it all just feels so much more real. I find myself getting quite lost looking at the picture.

 

Not so much recently, but I got into going out and looking at the sky with binos last year. That vulnerable feeling is so true, eventually I got quite comfortable being out and sat in a farmers field with a mug of coffee. Maybe I'll give it a go again and take a camera along too...but I'm a total novice at photography!

What surprised me was how not dark a dark night actually is when your eyes adjust, quite surprising when so used to living under artificial lights. 

I seriously want to get into proper astronomy. 

I got lots of info from this site: https://www.lonelyspeck.com/ if you do fancy taking your camera next time you are out.
 

[henrysmithsgloves]

13 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Thanks man.
Pentax K-70 with the 35mm f2.4, GPS unit and astrotracer.
Shot in a field in East Lothian, had to point the camera straight-up.

 

What surprised me was how not dark a dark night actually is when your eyes adjust, quite surprising when so used to living under artificial lights. 

I seriously want to get into proper astronomy. 

I got lots of info from this site: https://www.lonelyspeck.com/ if you do fancy taking your camera next time you are out.
 

Amazing 👍👍 good website 😎. Just a bit confused about your photo though🤔 the exif metadata said it's a composite from 1998😳😳 I like checking that data to give me a clue as to the equipment and places used to help me take photos 🧐 here what it said about your cracking photo.

 

 

 

[Cade]

SLS seems to have survived being left outside in a hurricane.

 

A few of the connecting hoses got blown around a wee bit but they sent some people round to push them back into place with a stick.

 

Still aiming for Nov 16th launch.

 

 

[henrysmithsgloves]

3 minutes ago, Cade said:

SLS seems to have survived being left outside in a hurricane.

 

A few of the connecting hoses got blown around a wee bit but they sent some people round to push them back into place with a stick.

 

Still aiming for Nov 16th launch.

 

 

Here's hoping😬

[Gizmo]

22 minutes ago, henrysmithsgloves said:

Amazing 👍👍 good website 😎. Just a bit confused about your photo though🤔 the exif metadata said it's a composite from 1998😳😳 I like checking that data to give me a clue as to the equipment and places used to help me take photos 🧐 here what it said about your cracking photo.

 

 

 

Cheers, yeah I stuffed it onto an image dump as it was too big to upload direct so it's probably not pulled all of the exif data with it just some adobe crap. Original was shot in raw, something I'm only really trying now because I was otherwise lazy! 

Exif incase its of interest:

 

Main IFD
--------
Camera make:RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Camera model:PENTAX K-70
Software:Adobe Lightroom 5.5 (Windows)
Date/time:29/09/2022 18:06:49
Image description:
Copyright:
Orientation:
Title:
Subject:
Author:
Comments:
Keywords:
Resolution:240 x 240 inches

Exif sub-IFD
------------
Exif version:2.31
Aperture value:2.526069
Colour space:Uncalibrated
Date/time original:26/09/2022 16:59:54
Date/time digitised:26/09/2022 16:59:54
Exif image width:0
Exif image height:0
Exposure programme:Manual
Exposure time:60 seconds
Exposure bias value:0
File source:
Flash present:Yes
Flash mode:Compulsory suppression
Flash fired:No
Flash red eye reduction:No
Flash strobe light:No detection function
F number:2.4
Focal length:35
Focal length in 35mm film:52
Focal plane resolution:2556.5339050293 x 2556.5339050293 centimetres
Gain control:
Image unique ID:
ISO speed rating(s):6400
Light source:
MakerNote data offset:0
Metering mode:Pattern
Related sound file:
Rendering:Normal
Scene capture type:Standard
Scene type:
Sensing method:One chip
Shutter speed:6E004 milliseconds
Spectral sensitivity:
Subject distance range:Distant
White balance mode:Auto

 

[henrysmithsgloves]

5 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Cheers, yeah I stuffed it onto an image dump as it was too big to upload direct so it's probably not pulled all of the exif data with it just some adobe crap. Original was shot in raw, something I'm only really trying now because I was otherwise lazy! 

Exif incase its of interest:

 

Main IFD
--------
Camera make:RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Camera model:PENTAX K-70
Software:Adobe Lightroom 5.5 (Windows)
Date/time:29/09/2022 18:06:49
Image description:
Copyright:
Orientation:
Title:
Subject:
Author:
Comments:
Keywords:
Resolution:240 x 240 inches

Exif sub-IFD
------------
Exif version:2.31
Aperture value:2.526069
Colour space:Uncalibrated
Date/time original:26/09/2022 16:59:54
Date/time digitised:26/09/2022 16:59:54
Exif image width:0
Exif image height:0
Exposure programme:Manual
Exposure time:60 seconds
Exposure bias value:0
File source:
Flash present:Yes
Flash mode:Compulsory suppression
Flash fired:No
Flash red eye reduction:No
Flash strobe light:No detection function
F number:2.4
Focal length:35
Focal length in 35mm film:52
Focal plane resolution:2556.5339050293 x 2556.5339050293 centimetres
Gain control:
Image unique ID:
ISO speed rating(s):6400
Light source:
MakerNote data offset:0
Metering mode:Pattern
Related sound file:
Rendering:Normal
Scene capture type:Standard
Scene type:
Sensing method:One chip
Shutter speed:6E004 milliseconds
Spectral sensitivity:
Subject distance range:Distant
White balance mode:Auto

 

Cheers👍

[ri Alban]

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

[henrysmithsgloves]

55 minutes ago, ri Alban said:

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

I'd probably send the Mrs, she's a royal pain tonight🤣

[Taffin]

4 hours ago, ri Alban said:

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

 

I'm almost the other way around. My gut instinct is 'definitely not', but once I start to think about it I find myself thinking it would be so hard to turn down the chance to experience that.

 

I'd be too lazy and unmotivated though, there's so much on this plastic a long to see and experience but never do it.

[Unknown user]

5 hours ago, ri Alban said:

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

 

4 hour flights are bad enough, **** that.

Once they open coffeeshops there, maybe.

[Taffin]

31 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

I'm almost the other way around. My gut instinct is 'definitely not', but once I start to think about it I find myself thinking it would be so hard to turn down the chance to experience that.

 

I'd be too lazy and unmotivated though, there's so much on this plastic a long to see and experience but never do it.

 

 

Wow, should proof read.

 

"There's so much on this planet I long to see" that should read.

[ri Alban]

2 hours ago, Taffin said:

 

 

Wow, should proof read.

 

"There's so much on this planet I long to see" that should read.

We know what you meant bud. 😂

[Maple Leaf]

On 11/11/2022 at 13:18, Gizmo said:

Here's a shot from a recent foray out in the dark. It's quite difficult this type of photography, the randomness of when we get clear skies doesn't help. 

 

That's an incredible shot for an amateur.  Well done.  If I had taken that I'd be chuffed as hell. 

[Maple Leaf]

18 hours ago, ri Alban said:

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

 

Not a chance.  But there are several people I would encourage to volunteer.

[Unknown user]

18 hours ago, ri Alban said:

If given the chance, would you go to Mars or any other voyage of no return? "Too right" I hear you say. But when you really think about it, would you?  

People talk about teleporting, they'd maybe be interested in going to space if they could just zip there.

I think they're putting a lot of faith in a machine that tears your atoms apart.

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by Smithee

[ri Alban]

1 hour ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

Not a chance.  But there are several people I would encourage to volunteer.

🤔... Wait a minute. 😠

[ri Alban]

1 hour ago, Smithee said:

People talk about teleporting, they'd maybe be interested in going to space if they could just zip there.

I think they're putting a lot of faith in a machine that tears your atoms apart.