8:20am Wednesday 4th November 2009
By Mike Didymus
Hundreds of amateur astronomers from across the globe hooked up with their Croydon compatriots last weekend, as stargazers exchanged stories and pictures to mark a worldwide Moonwatch.
Excited members of Croydon Astronomical Society were the envy of moonwatchers from America, Australia and beyond as they enjoyed a relatively cloud free night of viewing the satellite moving towards its full phase on November 2.
Society chairman Paul Harper said the conditions gave observers the perfect opportunity to view the moon’s spectacular mountains, as the boundary between its night and day threw sections of them into light and shadow.
He said: “We connected up with other astronomical societies throughout the world using Twitter and other systems, and shared pictures over the web.
“At one point we were having a conference on a radio station called Astronomy FM in the States, with one or two people from Michigan and from Newbury as well.”
The group are planning another viewing in December. More information is available at croydonastro.org.uk.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk