Bloody Astronomers
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 12:26 am
Are these astronomers taking the pee?
We were told that tonight would be a great opportunity to see ‘The Perseids’
“The Perseids meteor shower will light up Britain's skies this year with a display that could prove to be one of the brightest and most impressive seen in recent years” we are told.
So ask me which prat checked the direction relevant to my weather vane, North East was the given direction, check!
Switch off any garden lights, check! Obscure any other light source that may be distracting, check! Hope for a clear sky, check! Best time for spotting will be after 11 p.m., check!
Everything was perfect to witness the 50 or more per hour predicted meteorite flashes as we travelled through the dust debris left by the comet named ‘Swift-Tuttle’ whoever they were?
So I sat there with a large G&T and awaited the event, my eyes had adjusted to the dark and I could see better than a cat. I saw the odd flash of an aircraft light as it approached or left Manchester airport air space and once I thought I saw a single streak that may have been a satellite, but meteors? Zilch!
Annie was sitting on my knee keeping me company and I slowly sipped my drink, my eyes were watering from the strain and I was starting to get cold. After about half an hour I thought to myself “stuff this for a game of soldiers” and headed back inside again, bloody astronomers, they get bugger all right!
We were told that tonight would be a great opportunity to see ‘The Perseids’
“The Perseids meteor shower will light up Britain's skies this year with a display that could prove to be one of the brightest and most impressive seen in recent years” we are told.
So ask me which prat checked the direction relevant to my weather vane, North East was the given direction, check!
Switch off any garden lights, check!
Obscure any other light source that may be distracting, check! Hope for a clear sky, check! Best time for spotting will be after 11 p.m., check! Everything was perfect to witness the 50 or more per hour predicted meteorite flashes as we travelled through the dust debris left by the comet named ‘Swift-Tuttle’ whoever they were?
So I sat there with a large G&T and awaited the event, my eyes had adjusted to the dark and I could see better than a cat. I saw the odd flash of an aircraft light as it approached or left Manchester airport air space and once I thought I saw a single streak that may have been a satellite, but meteors? Zilch!
Annie was sitting on my knee keeping me company and I slowly sipped my drink, my eyes were watering from the strain and I was starting to get cold. After about half an hour I thought to myself “stuff this for a game of soldiers” and headed back inside again, bloody astronomers, they get bugger all right!
:d2: 
mind you it has started to rain a little bit now and they do say we could get as much rainfall in two days as per the average for a whole month. 
