Barry the Snowman 2021

 

Our good friend and Christmas visitor Barry the Snowman 'rocked up' in Oulton Broad on the 3rd of December. This is one of the earliest appearances in December since pagan times and augers a 'cracking Christmas in the making. What Barry doesn't know about having an exceptional yule celebration is just not worth knowing!

GradientXterminator

 

Messier 31 . Data  rework - Credit Pip Stakkert.

" Our generous 'Observatory Sponsor' Anita Roberts has kindly donated new data processing software and  consequently I decided to ask our imaging expert Pip Stakkert to reprocess the image of the Andromeda Galaxy M31. The data was collected earlier in the year using the Observatory's Altair Astro 66mm Doublet Refractor and the Canon 600 DSLR camera. With Christmas on the way we have good reason to believe Santa may stop by to present us with a narrow Tri-band filter which will enable us to reduce the affects of light pollution and sky glow". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The last of the Summer Sky - a widefield image of the autumn sky over the roof to the Observatory Visitors Centre. The Pleiades star cluster is clearly visible in the top left, the Summer Milky Way may be seen top right and The Andromeda Galaxy is a small smudge of light towards the top centre of this image.

Nearly Full on the 17th of November 2021

 

Easy to forget how exquisitely beautiful our Moon is!

Look what's up!

 

Orion the Hunter peeking over our hedge, a really pretty constellation.

Every year after 'the clocks go back' and as the evening temperature becomes quite chilly. our old friend Orion levers himself above our hedge at the bottom of our backyard. Orion heralds the onset of winter but never the less, we always look forward to his annual appearance. Can you spot the constellations Auriga the Charioteer and Taurus the Bull and also the Hyades and Pleiades asterisms?

Winter, Barry the Snowman and Christmas are definitely on the way!

This evening low in the west, the planet Venus is a bright star amongst the branches of our neighbour's apple tree. You can just make out that its current phase is gibbous.

Tartiflette - big flavours without meat or fish.

 

My Tea on a cold autumnal night.

" Boiled potatoes sliced and mixed with fried; onions, garlic and wild mushrooms, layered with lots of sliced Reblochon cheese and fresh chopped sage and rosemary from the garden. All these tasty ingredients nicely arranged in an ovenproof dish  and covered in a slurry mixture made from a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and half a teaspoon of sugar added to a glass of dry white wine. Sprinkle a little sea salt, black pepper and grated nutmeg over the top and place in a hot oven until it bubbles and the top browns. Serve with a seasonal salad and a truffle oil flavoured mayonnaise. This is a seriously satisfying supper for a chilly autumn evening".

Sheffield St Mary's Gate

 

'Sheffield Premier' - digital media - George Roberts

" A memory of a wonderful weekend in Sheffield with friends and family".

All a bit Mervyn Peake

 

'Gargoyles' - George Roberts 2021- Credit  ZBrushCoreMini freeware

Lots of fun!