I have observed the elusive Gegenschein these last two nights. On the March 2nd at 02.00 from a country location i seen it as a fairly bright object within the body of Leo close by and to the east of Regulus as a 10* dia green oval patch of light...amazing! Also seen 15 meteors and one bright blue fireball.

Again on March 3rd at 22.15 i observed it again from my back yard high in the SE. I happened to be talking with John Mc Connell on the phone and i aksed him if he could confirm it for me. He went outside and about 10mins later he also seen it at the same location with averted vision. Thanks John for confirming this for me on the 2nd year in a row! This is my 15th obsv of this elusive counter glow!

Clear skies!

what on earth (or out of it) is a Gegenschein?

I googled it and got this:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gegenschein

I initially guessed that it was another comet, silly me. :oops:

. . . and the really keen can have a go for the Clouds of Kordylewski

I Googled that and found a Wiki mention too! Click on this following link;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kordylewski_cloud

more info in Fred Schaff's book "Seeing the Sky" or David Levy and Stephen Edbergs "Observing Comets, Meteors, and the Zodiacal Light" (has very detailed chapters on the Gegenschein, etc.)

John

Good stuff guys))))
Well you learn a little something every day.....
Something to add to my observing list.

Cheers guys!

SLEEP:
A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli.

:wink:

LOL LOL

Gene Shoemaker there on your avatar didnt bother much with sleep either

Well done!

You must have very clear dark skies where you live.
Quote - "Expert observer, Nik Syzymanek, whose book of amazing astronomical photos "Infinity Rising" has just been published, has looked for it many times in the incredibly clear dark skies on the summit of La Palma in the Canaries, but has never seen it!

Gegenschien (counterglow) appears directly opposite the Sun in the sky, and is best seen at midnight here.

-Lucky you, 2 years running and 15 all told.

I believe Nick is not an observer as such and his expertise is within the field of imaging. If the Geg can be seen from my back door in Maghera with a town nearby then there is no reason why he shouldnt have seen it.

I spotted again during our Messier Marathon on Fri night however it was not easy because of the air frost. 16 observations now.