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The co-ordinator of the BAA’s Campaign for Dark Skies describes how amateur astronomers can fight the curse of light pollution and suggests some objects to observe from even the most light polluted areas.
‘Observing basics’ is a series of articles by BAA Section Directors and other experts, designed to help you get started in observing, whether you are a newcomer to astronomy or an ‘old hand’ thinking of taking up a new area of interest. Look out for further articles in the series in future issues of the BAA Journal!
The Journal of the British Astronomical Association
Volume 122, No.4: 2012 August
On the cover
The transit of Venus, 2012 June 6.
Top left: The Sun at 02:38UT, imaged from Svalbard, Norway with a 10cm OG, Baader Astrosolar film and green filter. Pete Lawrence.
Top right: The transit glimpsed between clouds at 04:35UT from Burgh Heath, Surrey with 10cm OG, solar filter and Nikon Coolpix 4500 camera. Ron Johnson.
Bottom: A series of drawings of 3rd & 4th contacts by Mario Frassati (Crescentino, Italy) with 203mm SCT and full aperture solar filter at ×133. Note the illuminated atmosphere of the planet (with brighter parts) as it exits the disk.
See Dr Richard McKim’s report below.
Notes and News
Observing basics: IV
Refereed papers
The opposition of Mars, 2007: Part I ... Richard McKim
Auroral activity reliably observed from Birmingham southward in England, 1976-2010 ... Ronald J. Livesey
A comparison of two simple magnetometers ... Sam Dick
Short paper: Isolated total lunar eclipses ... Tony West
Atmospheric dispersion and its effect on high-resolution imaging ... Damian Peach
The 2011 February superoutburst of the dwarf nova SDSS J112003.40+663632.4 ... Jeremy Shears et al.
The orbital period of the eclipsing dwarf nova SDSS J081610.84+453010.2 ... Jeremy Shears et al.
Observers' Forum
Right: The partially eclipsed Sun setting over Bryce Canyon, Utah on 2012 May 30.
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