AstrotalkUK

Not for profit website/blog on astronomy, space and my writing

Comet Neowise

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So here are a few pics with limited post processing. These are my first pictures of a comet since Hale-Bopp in 1997! Got some nice pictures of Hale-Bopp from San Francisco during WWW06 in April 1997. Hale-Bopp has a period of 2500 years and comet Neowise about twice that. So both are once-a-life-time events.

After a couple of futile attempts last week when I did see it between the gaps in the clouds but these were fleeting moments and I got no pictures. The following pictures were taken during the early hours of 20th July 2020.

Yes, I know, this is a pretty feeble attempt compared to some stunning images (I and you will have) seen elsewhere. But ..

Comet Neowise

Presentation Slides 18 July 2020

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The BIS-WM branch organised a live presentation today (18 July 2020) using Zoom. Thanks to all at BIS-WM for organising and all of you who joined. I said I would share the links and slides.

1. Astrotalkuk.org – Episode 68 from 2014. Archive material from March 2020.
2. Look inside the book.
3. Purchase book. Use  33% discount code = YYFEP4D during checkout only on this link. If in India then use Pothi.com
4. Indian Airmails.com – Piyush Khaitan. Other useful links.
5. British Interplanetary Society

Click for the presentation in pdf format

Download the slides used in the presentation in pdf format. The video of the recording will be made available soon. All those who registered will be notified by email when it is available online.

India’s Forgotten Rocket Pioneer – Fee Zoom Meeting 14:00 – 15:15 Saturday 18th July

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Early development of rockets took place in several countries during the 1930s and 1940s. In Austria it was Friedrich Schmiedl, Germany had Gerhardt Zucker and in India it was Stephen H Smith. Although was a contemporary of Hermann Oberth, Robert Goddard and Willy Ley, Smith’s contribution was not in the same league. 

Organised by the West Midlands branch of the British Interplanetary Society. Join us live. It is free but you need to register here.

Smith joined the BIS in late 1934 and details of his rocket experiments were published in the BIS bulletin in 1935. So this presentation will have a strong BIS component.

Want to look inside the book – click here or the image below.

Look inside the book

The main contact for Smith in India was BIS secretary Leslie Johnson. Most of the letters I found were from Smith to Johnson but one was from Johnson to Smith. I will speak about this during my presentation.

Letter from Leslie Johnson to Stephen Smith dated 31st Aug 1938

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