Astrofiammante's Botheration Log

“I have spent a reasonable percentage of my life in libraries – I like the hush.” Robin Ince

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The Skylight Project: 2/01/2012

January 2nd, 2012 · Comments Off · Skylight Project 2012

Today could not have been more of a contrast with yesterday – cloudless blue skies for most of the day, enough cloud by the afternoon for an impressive sunset then a clear sky during the evening offering a lovely view of the moon and nearby Jupiter.

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Daily photo: 28/12/2011

December 28th, 2011 · Comments Off · But is it Art?, Daily Photo 2011+

Albion (n): A traditional personification of England, also the oldest known name for the country, derived from the Greek language.

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Daily photo: 19/12/2011

December 19th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Sunrise (n): The point each day when the sun appears over the horizon, the witnessing of which is a once-a-year event on this blog.

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Daily photo: 18/12/2011

December 18th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Eventide (n): A somewhat archaic word for the onset of evening.

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Daily photo: 13/12/2011

December 13th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Sombre (adj): Subdued, low-key, serious or grave.

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Daily photo: 8/12/2011

December 8th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Thermosphere (n): The part of the earth's atmosphere in which auroras occur.

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Daily photo: 28/11/2011

November 28th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Light pollution: A phenomenon in which excessive artificial light levels produce consequences for astronomy, ecosystems and potentially human health.

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Daily photo: 20/11/2011

November 20th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Aerial (adj): Of the air or atmosphere.

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Daily photo: 18/11/2011

November 18th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

November (n): The last month of autumn; also the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar, taking its name from its previous placing as the ninth month of the Roman calendar.

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Daily photo: 24/10/2011

October 24th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Livid (n): A dark bluish-grey in colour.

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Daily photo: 20/10/2011

October 20th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Troposphere (n): The lowest layer of the earth’s atmosphere and the place where clouds form.

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Daily photo: 17/10/2011

October 17th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Inky (n): Dark like ink, or resembling an ink stain.

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Daily photo: 12/10/2011

October 12th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Streak (n): A horizontal or vertical ray of light, a line or stroke, a conspicuous blot of colour on an area that is predominantly a different colour.

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Daily photo: 7/10/2011

October 7th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Cumulus mediocris: A sub-species of cloud that forms at low levels.

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Daily photo: 3/10/2011

October 3rd, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+, The Queen's English

Geoluhread (n): An Old English word once used to refer to the colour orange.

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Daily photo: 27/09/2011

September 27th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Afterglow (n): Light visible in the sky after sunset as twilight proceeds, usually due to dust or other particles in the atmosphere.

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The Northern Lights come south

September 27th, 2011 · Comments Off · Smoke and mirrors, The great outdoors, The truth is out there

Last night, there was a large-scale solar storm, bringing the promise of possible aurora sightings further south than is usually even imaginable. It is one of my lifetime ambitions to see the Northern Lights – but, as someone who lives not much more than 50 degrees north, I have to accept that I’m highly unlikely to fulfil it on my own doorstep.

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Daily photo: 26/09/2011

September 26th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+, The great outdoors

Skein (n): A collective noun for geese in flight.

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Daily photo: 25/09/2011

September 25th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Lens flare: A photographic term for visual effects caused by unwanted light in the camera mechanism.

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Daily photo: 8/09/2011

September 8th, 2011 · Comments Off · Daily Photo 2011+

Condensation (n): A process describing water moving from a gaseous to a liquid state, important in cloud and vapour trail formation.

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