Anticipating Orion
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theexcession

Original Poster:

11,669 posts

280 months

Thursday 1st September 2005
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Not for the first time this year, I've just been outside looking to the heavens.

Once again I find myself mesmerised at the constellation of Casiopea, the vaguely W shaped arrangment of stars. Yet over here it can be disconcerting to spot. Backed by the full glory of the Milky Way and another thousand stars in close proximity you might often wonder if you had spied her at all.

The plough as ever stands bold and alone, close to the horizon which means only one thing.

As a smaller child I could always feel the coming of Orion, perhaps the most glorious of our colder constellations.

The bringer of winter, frost, snow and sledging. Hallowe'en and Christmas. The hunter is not far away. An old faithful friend, departed yet always to return. Soon now, very soon he will rise again.

best
Ex

Eric Mc

125,677 posts

295 months

Thursday 1st September 2005
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I spotted the Piaedes over the weekend. They are always the harbinger of Autumn/Winter.

theexcession

Original Poster:

11,669 posts

280 months

Thursday 1st September 2005
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I spotted the Piaedes over the weekend. They are always the harbinger of Autumn/Winter.

yup, just been out to check and there there are, about an inch above the horizon to the East. I had to move from my usual spot to see them rising through the forests on the hill.
A glorious sight - my precious

lazyitus

19,931 posts

296 months

Thursday 1st September 2005
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My fave 'cluster' has to be Andromeda.

So enchanted by its glow as a kid, my interest deepened when I found that its so far away, you actually view it as it was in the stone age.

It may have blown up by now but its taken the light that long to get here, you'd never know. Much the same as most galaxies and constelations.


What probably fascinates me most is that the stars in the 'W' that ex refers to are further apart from each other than we are to the nearest star in that W.

Do you see what I mean?

ETA: Thought I best add this little fact - Its mass is estimated at 300 to 400 billion times that of the sun.

>> Edited by lazyitus on Thursday 1st September 23:40

moleamol

15,887 posts

293 months

Friday 2nd September 2005
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If you're struggling anticipating 'Orion' just imagine an Escort with a boot.

8Pack

5,182 posts

270 months

Friday 2nd September 2005
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'ere Excession, ........

May I suggest you change your name to: "storm lamp"!

It seems hat you never go out!


Sorry mate. ..........I simply couldn't resist!!! Please forgive me!...........

theexcession

Original Poster:

11,669 posts

280 months

Saturday 3rd September 2005
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8Pack said:
'ere Excession, ........

May I suggest you change your name to: "storm lamp"!

It seems hat you never go out!


Sorry mate. ..........I simply couldn't resist!!! Please forgive me!...........



I've been contemplating a PH name change for a while now, originally I was going to go for 'Captain Thread Stopper' as I do seem to have an inate abillity to get the last post to a majority of threads to which I contribute. Perhaps I really am a deluded uninteresting old fart.

Recently the lads in the local have taken to calling me 'schnaeghte'(sp) - pronounced shnock-ter - Irish for 'snow' - well it is my name.

I always retort with 'lum schnaeghte' - 'me snow' - it has a ring to it you have to agree?

So votes for:

'Captain Storm Lamping Shnockter Thread Stopper'

All say aye!


best
Ex

esselte

14,626 posts

297 months

Saturday 3rd September 2005
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moleamol said:
If you're struggling anticipating 'Orion' just imagine an Escort with a boot.