by VirtualAstro | Nov 14, 2018
Santas ISS Passes – Watch Santa (The International Space Station) on his Practice Runs.
Santas ISS: For the past few years, we’ve had some great festive fun in the UK with International Space Station passes in December.
Many Parents, grandparents and guardians have told their little ones that the ISS is actually Santa on his practice runs. This sounds silly to some, but many small children with playful adults found it magical and really thought they could see Santa!
Will your children see Santa on his practice runs this year? Perhaps they are too old now and know it’s the Space Station. Regardless, the ISS is an amazing sight to behold and we can use it to spread some extra magic and inspire them to find out more about Space this Christmas. Read on to find out more.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 13, 2018
Morningstar Venus – This Winters Brilliant Morning Object
Morningstar Venus: If you’re up early before sunrise this winter, you will notice the unmissable Morningstar Venus. Venus will be shining brightly in the eastern sky before the sun rises. It will also be visible for a short time after sunrise due to being so bright!
Venus became the “Morningstar” early in November and will become more and more spectacular. Read on to find out more.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 8, 2018
50 Awesome Space Christmas Presents – Helpful Gift Ideas for Kids.
Christmas Presents: Tis the season to be jolly and Christmas presents are foremost on our minds. Therefore the Meteorwatch team have put together a fine collection of children’s Christmas presents which are out of this world. Instead of the usual guides and articles, we have simply put some space-related gift ideas together for you – It’s Christmas! There are Christmas presents to please the tiniest Space Cadets and gifts to impress the more grown up Space Rangers. It can be hard work thinking about what Christmas presents to buy friends and loved ones. So we made this gift list so you don’t have too.
There is also a full list of Kids Gift Ideas on amazon here. It should help find that perfect gift or stocking filler.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 6, 2018
The Pleiades, Seven Sisters, Subaru, M45 – Star Cluster of Many Names
The Pleiades star cluster is the jewel of winter skies. It is an object with many names. It is also referred to as the Seven Sisters, or Messier 45 (M45). The Japanese have their own name for this prominent star cluster also. “Subaru” – meaning to unite.
Read more about this amazing object and how to see it in the night sky.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Oct 30, 2018
ISS Long Exposure photo of a visible ISS pass Credit: Mark Humpage
UK ISS Pass details for November/ December 2018
The International Space Station (ISS) is back over UK skies with some great evening passes during November/ December 2018.
The ISS is the largest Space Station/ laboratory ever built! it can be spotted with the naked eye at certain times as it orbits Earth at 17500mph at an altitude of roughly 200 miles.
Spotting the station is very easy and you don’t need any special equipment. You only need your eyes! Read the rest of this post to find out when and how you can spot the station this November/ December.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Oct 30, 2018
Leonid Meteor Shower 2018
Leonid Meteor Shower 2018 – Leonids. The Leonid Meteor Shower peaks on the evening of the 17th/ 18th November 2018. In the past, it’s been one of the most dramatic and infamous meteor showers. Read on to find out more. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Oct 30, 2018
November 2018 Night Sky Guide.
November Night Sky 2018 – November is a fantastic month for stargazing. The autumn equinox has passed so we now have long and dark night skies. The first month of winter and as a result, cold crisp and clear evenings. When it isn’t cloudy of course!
There are some fantastic sights to see in Novembers night sky. So read on and lets see what you can see…
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Dec 3, 2016
Photograph Stars, Meteors, Satellites and even Nebulae with your iPhone and NightCap Camera
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 15, 2018
Kids Books – Astronomy, Space and A Whole Lot More…
Kids Books For Christmas: Tis the season to be jolly and Christmas Presents are foremost on our minds. Kids Books have always been the perfect Christmas gift and a gift for all seasons.
For Christmas this year, the Meteorwatch team have put together a fine collection of kids books which are out of this world. There are books to please stargazers and books to impress wannabe astronauts and more! It can be hard work thinking about what Christmas presents to buy friends and loved ones. So we made this kiss book list to help you.
There is also a more general list of Space and Astronomy books here You can also check out Space Gift Ideas for kids here.
Pour a glass of festive cheer and enjoy the list of Kids books here:
Please read on for some great kids book ideas for Christmas. There are no spammy pop-ups, spammy articles, or the need to click through endless pages. Just scroll down the list effortlessly. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 10, 2018
Books – Astronomy, Space and A Whole Lot More…
Books For Christmas: Tis the season to be jolly and Christmas Presents are foremost on our minds. Books have always been the perfect Christmas gift and a gift for all seasons.
For Christmas this year, the Meteorwatch team have put together a fine collection of books which are out of this world. There are books to please armchair astronomers and books to impress wannabe astronauts and more! It can be hard work thinking about what Christmas presents to buy friends and loved ones. So we made this book list to help you.
Pour a glass of festive cheer and enjoy the list of books here:
Please read on for some great book ideas for Christmas. There are no spammy pop-ups, spammy articles, or the need to click through endless pages. Just scroll down the list effortlessly. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 10, 2018
Taurid Meteor Shower 2018
The Taurid meteor shower is one of the annual meteor showers. It’s not a shower with lots of meteors like the Geminids in December or Perseids in summer. The few meteors it produces are notable for incredibly bright fireballs! Well worth looking out for. Read on to find out more. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Nov 9, 2018
Long Exposure Photograph of the ISS Credit: Mark Humpage
Photograph the International Space Station (ISS)
Photograph the International Space Station (ISS): If you have seen the International Space Station (ISS) pass over a few times with your own eyes, (here’s a guide to seeing the ISS) you may want to have a go at photographing it.
Photographing the International Space Station ISS is very worthwhile and gratifying. There are two basic methods; one being easy and the other being a little more difficult. Both methods are incredibly rewarding and good results can be obtained fairly quickly, once you have mastered the basics. (more…)
