Comet Holmes

While we were looking for Comet Loneos, the usually dim Comet Holmes surprised everyone by brightening by an enormous amount to become a naked-eye object which can still be seen in Perseus. According to SkyMap Pro's database its magnitude when I first saw it was predicted to be about 17. Yet it was shining as brightly as a 3rd magnitude star.

It's now heading away from us and from the Sun so will gradually fade unless something else unexpected happens. If you haven't seen it yet have a look for it on the next clear night. It looks good in binoculars and there are images taken by Steve Loughran at http://zorlac.peonic.net/?p=42

Congratulations to Lee

They say that Comets bring bad luck but not for Lee who has just become engaged to Sue. He proposed on bended knee at the top of the leaning tower of Pisa and Sue said yes. We wish them both the very best of luck in their future together.

New Web Site

We've been beavering away to update our web site and move it to www.green-witch.com  Observant visitors to our old site will have noticed that it's actually at www.greenwich-observatory.co.uk  The move is a rationalisation to make the address we promote the same as the one the search engines know.

The new site uses Version 8 of Actinic, the software we use to generate the online shop. This allows new features that we're still developing. One of these is a best-sellers list that you'll see on the home page. Others will be introduced in due course.

The old and new sites will run in parallel for a short time and you will be able to place orders on either. New products will only be added to the new site and I recommend changing your bookmarks to use it instead, ready for when we close down online shopping on the old site.

The layout of the new site is similar so navigating around it should be easy. I would appreciate it if you could let me have your comments, especially if you find problems or things that need to be improved.

Best-dressed Astronomer

Astronomers are not known for their sartorial elegance, usually dressing for comfort rather than appearance. It's dark when they are observing so what does it matter? But with our cloudy weather it's not unusual to retire to a pub or other warm and light location until the cloud clears, in which case appearances may become more important.

We thought it would be fun to have an astronomical fashion show on our web site so a page has been set up and just awaits your pictures. Let us have one showing how you or your friends dress to observe and we'll pin them up.

The Astronomical Patrick Moore

The first small batch of DVDs of Patrick's biography arrived and sold very quickly; the main batch is due in the next week or so, in good time for Christmas. I've watched it several times and it really does capture the essence of the man. Details are on our web site at http://www.green-witch.com/acatalog/DVD_Section.html This is an ideal present for parents, grandparents, or any adult, and they don't need to be interested in astronomy to enjoy it. It is highly interesting, at times funny, moving and controversial - a real classic. 

Patrick is an avid lunar observer and his hand-drawn map is something of an icon. It's now been reprinted 40 years after it was used by NASA in planning the Moon landings. The Ordnance Survey have made an excellent job and the finished product is supplied rolled in a cardboard tube ready to be framed or mounted. Patrick has difficulty signing his name now and usually uses a rubber stamp. However, he has signed a very small number of the maps which are sure to appreciate in value in years to come. All three options are available from Green Witch, signed, stamped or plain.

Star Parties

We've held two star parties so far this season, one on Halloween which was completely clear, and one on Tuesday that was cloudy. At Halloween we celebrated Green Witch's 9th birthday and spent most of the time outside looking through different telescopes and giving a guided tour of the sky. Our raffle raised a hundred pounds for MacMillan Cancer Support and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening.

On Tuesday Lee gave a talk on galaxies and I used Stellarium to suggest a few objects to look for when the sky cleared. As we packed up to go home the sky started to clear and we could see Comet Holmes with the naked eye. A pity it didn't clear a couple of hours earlier but the evening was still a success.

Our next three Tuesday star parties are on 20th November, 4th and 18th December starting at 7 pm. There's no need to book; just turn up on the night. Full details are on the web site under 'events'.

Arizona Sky Village

I had a very pleasant phone call this week when one of our customers rang to say how much he'd enjoyed spending a week in our house at the Arizona Sky Village. He's booked up to go again next October because he and his wife enjoyed it so much. We've had lots of repeat bookings, the record so far being five visits by a Canadian astronomer who is planning two further visits next year.

If you're still wondering how to sell the idea to your non-astronomer partner then you are welcome to phone Lucy on 01767 677288 to hear what she thinks of it and to get the non-astronomer's perspective on the wide range of activities besides the beautiful skies. You can also read about some of our visits at www.arizonaskyvillage.co.uk

Do You Skype?

If you are a Skype user you will know what the question means. If not, a few words of explanation may help.

Skype is a method of using the internet to phone other Skype users completely free of charge. Skype was one of the first companies to offer a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service and is one of the most popular with millions of users around the world. The software is free and uses your computer sound card and a microphone such as the one in your web cam (if you have one). Alternatively, you can buy 'Skype Phones' for better audio quality.

Green Witch is a registered Skype user so you can Skype us for free instead of using a conventional phone. Our Skype username is green.witch.skype

For more details of how to get and use Skype please see their web site at www.skype.com

Extra Help in the Showroom

Ralph usually works three days a week but will be working full-time until Christmas to help with the rush. If you want to contact him, and he seems to have picked up quite a few regulars in the short time he's been with us, then you should be able to reach him any time we are open.

Astronomy Jokes

There's a small collection of astronomy jokes on our new web site. I set my 14-year-old daughter the task of finding some for me and these are the ones you will see. If you have a favourite we'd like to hear it and add it to the collection (although we reserve the right to exclude or edit it).

And finally...

I stayed up all night wondering where the Sun had gone... and then it dawned on me. This is one of the better jokes on our web site. I'm sure you can do much better.

Best wishes and Clear Skies

Neil

www.green-witch.com
www.arizonaskyvillage.co.uk
www.astroblast.org.uk