Comet hunt.

Posted on 13th Mar 2013 by essiep

-2° ~ +4°C, strong NE.
It was 12 years since Hale-Bopp and Halley’s was hidden by cloud.

This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Malay Wikipedia for the 36th week, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rushed home to get out to a good viewpoint tonight. Comet Pann-starr is grazing the sun today and should show a decent tail for the next few days. Awkwardly, it is very low on the horizon just after sunset. That means there is short time between pale twilight sky and and the object setting.
I knew where to look, I had binoculars, but there was still a problem.
A narrow bank of cloud lay over Cannock Chase. I knew where it was, and there were a few gaps in the cloud but not where I wanted one.

Comet Pan-STARRS Invades Northern Skies (news.discovery.com)
Seeing Comet PanSTARRS is tricky for skywatchers, but it’s easy online (cosmiclog.nbcnews.com)
Year of the Comets: 2013 May See Brightest Comet Show in Years (space.com)

Baltic.

Posted on 10th Mar 2013 by essiep

+1°C, felt much colder.

I rode in bracing driving snow with MapMyRide! Distance: 30.9mi, time: 02:20:03 http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=782386567082672129

Due to family commitments, I had to go home after only two hours. Shame that because I could have managed a much more.
There won’t be 1,000 miles on the block before Easter at this rate.

Oh snow.

Posted on 10th Mar 2013 by essiep

2C, light snow, heavy north-easterly,
A thread of snowy weather hangs over us. We have been warned of severe wind-chill, but its slippery surfaces that worry me. Why? Because I have the fizzy legs.

There are persistent thoughts of mountains creeping into my mind. A longing, but wait until Easter my boy.

New lodger.

Posted on 9th Mar 2013 by essiep

3C, grey, easterly.
We have a new lodger. I have put in new door locks.

Winter is coming back for a reprise to annoy us. Wood is cut and scuttle filled.
Today- much mending. I planed two interior doors: this is the path to a unique pleasure from opening and closing doors. What else? Fitted a lockable catch in the study door- with was not the most competent job I have done. There is more, but I won’t bore you further.

The ride of spring.

Posted on 3rd Mar 2013 by essiep

7°C, SE light. Sun at first. I rode with MapMyRide! Distance: 39.17mi, time: 02:48
http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=6040392368157360129 Not the most energetic ride this year. Energy ran out after half-way. By then, the sun had gone and remaining miles dragged slower and slower.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Monthly Archives: Mar 2013