#bring m32 the light

[tread-ever-litely]

The Abyss Chasers - Revised 3.0

(( Hello heretics! Haven’t been as active but I am still whittling away at my usual 40k hobbying. Some months ago I made a big post about my homebrew warband, well a little bit ago I’ve finally complied it into something I’m relatively happy with. More story feeling. Hope you like it! I am also planning on writing a few 40k fics in the future to rekindle my passion for this little world I’ve made! ))

++

Chaos God: Chaos Undivided

Allegiance: Chaos

Founding: 999.M32

Numbers: roughly 1000-2000 marines and untold thousands of the Lost and the Damned

Leader: Silas Decurin, The Abyssal Lord

Home World: Vorago; Former Maiden World

Allies:

Sons of the Serpent

Rot Heralds

Brazen Skulls

Helsson’s Hounds

Battle Cry: Unknown

Colours: Black, Purple, & Silver

Pre-Heresy

Cognomen (Prior): Emperor’s Children

Home World: Chemos (Perditas)

Colours: Purple & Gold

“Let it be said that on this day we have finally cast aside the shackles of our past, our fathers and brothers, fallen so far into the depths they cannot see the stars, would weep at our achievements. We have claimed this world in the name of the Gods, in the name of our Legions, and in the name of our legacies. In the name of true glory, we shall bring ruin to the Imperium!”

- Lord Silas Decurin, at the Triumph of Vorago

The Abyss Chasers are an infamous Chaos Warband formed in the bloody age shortly following the Horus Heresy. During the Great Crusade and later Horus Heresy, the warbands eventual leader, Silas Decurin , was a captain of the Third Legion, the Emperor’s Children. Along with the rest of his brothers, Silas would sink into the depravity and excess the legion would become known for, under the sway of the Dark Prince Slaanesh. He fought in many of the major battles the Third were known for, such as Isstvan and even the Siege of Terra. When the Heresy ended and the Traitor Legions soundly defeated, Silas accompanied his brethren fleeing to exile in the Eye of Terror. There the future Abyssal Lord witnessed the Emperor’s Children further splinter, and fall apart entirely, scrabbling to survive. Awakening to the reality of the path he had fallen upon, Captain Decurin took his company and broke away from Fulgrim’s Chosen. If the remnants of the legion even noticed, Silas did not care. Over the next ten thousand years, he would gain allies and build a new force, attempting to return the Third Legion to the glory they deserved, trying to keep his brothers united despite their fracturing minds and souls, the galaxy their birthright, whilst also struggling against the corrupting, twisting influence of the Dark Gods that he and many swore allegiance to in this new, grim age.

Warband History

1. Remembrance

During the Great Crusade, the company Silas led gained many honours, fresh souls born of Chemos and raised under the light of the early Imperium. Notably fighting alongside the Sons of Horus, due to their Primarch-Father’s close friendship with the Warmaster. Captain Silas Decurin was particularly noted for his ability as a poet, even amongst his brothers of the artistic and proud Third Legion. Captain Decurin is also known to have made a friendship with a Remembrancer attached to his company, and the pair recorded many of the early campaigns in a flowing prose.

2. Heresy

It was upon the alien planet Laer that Captain Decurin and his company would be forever changed, the taint of Slaanesh falling like a shroud upon the legion. Not long from there the Warmaster’s rebellion would begin, and the company would battle throughout the Galaxy at the behest of their primarch and their leaders. Most notably Isstvan III and V, and the Siege of Terra. Along with the rest of the traitors, they would flee into the Eye of Terror after the failure of the Siege.

3. Legion

In the Eye of Terror the former united legions splintered, squabbling and fighting amongst themselves. The Emperor’s Children, fully lost to depravity, barely even noticed their fall finally sealed for the rest of time. Captain Decurin and his company were entirely in the thrall of the Dark Prince, and it would take some time for this to change, the company practically fighting on their own. Time is fickle in the warp, and it's hard to say how much time truly passed, but eventually Silas awoke to the truth, seeing how utterly ruined the legion he once saw as the finest Astartes in the Galaxy had become. At the end of the aptly named ‘Legion Wars,’ Silas would take his company and truly break away from the remnants of the Third Legion.

4. Warp

For centuries the scraps of the company would travel the currents of the warp, emerging to raid isolated worlds, void-stations, and supply fleets, and conserving their greatly diminished strength. By this point the small fleet they had was reduced to a single strike cruiser, the flagship of the company, the Echo of Glory. To the sons of Fulgrim still with minds to recall, and the former captain, they felt as though merely a century had passed, a short time in the near-immortal forms of the Astartes. When they would finally track the time in real-space, they would find nearly a millennia had passed. Drifting along the winds this would continue, the company slowly being corrupted by the malign influence of Slaanesh. Captain Decurin would struggle to keep them all on the same path, like a family watching helplessly as a loved one succumbed to addiction. Their numbers would only further diminish, a full company dropping to maybe fifty battle-brothers by the end of the thirty-second millennium.

5. Allies

Moving into millennium thirty-three, Captain Decurin was on the verge of abandoning his endeavour, the whispers of Slaanesh nearly impossible to ignore, pressing upon his mind to merely return to the Eye and join his gene-father and spiral into the depths of damnation. This changed with an unexpected arrival. On a piratical raid of an Imperial void-station, the company encountered a single frigate on the far end of the solar system they resided in. This frigate belonged to the newly formed ‘Sons of the Serpent’ warband. A faction of the enigmatic twentieth legion, the Alpha Legion. The leader of this group introduced himself as Alpharius, as the masters of misdirection always did, after Captain Decurin pressed the warlord to drop the antics, the Alpha Legionnaire would re-introduce himself as Naethar Sestus.With the aid of Sestus and his company, Silas would find some relief, and his numbers bolstered as the Alpha Legion soldiers offered an accord to band together.

6. Abyss

Some time later, the level-headed, and seemingly uncorrupted Sestus advised that Captain Decurin truly disconnect himself from the past that could no-longer be reclaimed. Silas understood that clinging to the past would not bring back the glory he knew his brothers could achieve, and thus did he rename the company, The Abyss Chasers were born, if they would be damned, they would be the hunters of the depths, not the victims. The strike-cruiser flagship would also be renamed, an acknowledgement of the god that Decurin could never truly escape from, the Echo of Ecstasy.

7. The Left Hand

On a forgotten world, now dead, the Abyss Chasers and their allies would fall upon the innocents of the Imperium. It is said a single boy stood against the Abyssal Lord, noting his courage and psychic potential, Silas would take the boy and through the baleful magics of the Empyrean, and lost sciences, raise the child to the ranks of the Astartes. Now called Vezeral, who would become one of the warbands finest leaders, and close advisor of Lord Silas. Vezeral in his risen form is a master psyker, a sorcerer of Chaos who utilizes the magic of the Dark Prince as easily as he uses his wargear.

8. The Red Hand

In the following centuries, in a tale now lost to time, the Brazen Skulls warband would splinter off from the Twelfth Legion, the World Eaters. This warband was led by Tyrax Revka, once a proud captain, now feeling the bite of the Butcher’s Nails just like the rest of his brothers. Tyrax would encounter the newly formed Abyss Chasers and their leader Silas. For reasons known only to the pair, either an understanding, a duel, or anything in-between, the berzerker lord would offer his allegiance and the forces of his warband to the Abyssal Lord, further strengthening the growing Chasers with the warriors of the Blood God. This also marked the first time the warband could be called an Undivided force.

9. Corruption

Despite the best efforts of Lord Silas and his advisors, he could not stop the endless march of the power that is the warp. The tenuous alliances of Heretic Astartes would only indulge their dark desires, bloodlust, and other whims as time went on. Even the Abyssal Lord himself was not immune, as the taint of Chaos can never be removed once it takes hold. Daemons run rampant in the depths of the Echo of Ecstasy, and the brothers of the warband mutate and twist. Silas constantly teeters on the edge of sanity at all times, keeping the Abyss Chasers together. His goals remain ever the same, but the methods grow more brutal and depraved. The honour he once sought out would forever be lost, but the glory, now that could still be attained. In response, the advisors formed the Council of Claws to keep the drifting mind of their leader on the correct path.

10. Judgment

In the Galactic North, Segmentum Obscurus, was a region of Imperial space known as the Judicium Sector, small but well traveled and fortified by various forces. In 988.M41 the Immaterium would once more spit out the twisted vessels of the Abyss Chasers, and they made their way towards the agri-world of Riothea. The planet would be raided by the warband and razed to near destruction. The local PDF held for weeks until the timely arrival of Astartes assistance in the form of the Marines Exemplar chapter. The Abyss Chasers would battle the loyalists for weeks, eventually being forced to withdraw. To the Imperium it is unknown why the heretics attacked the planet, to the Council of Claws, it was to test the defenses of the Sector, and the response times of the servants of the Corpse-Emperor.

998.M41 would see their return, a trail of worlds were razed by the warband before coming into fire with Judicium's battlefleet, and the Abyss Chasers were forced onto the capital planet Rubedo where a lengthy engagement continued for months. The local Planetary Defense Force was eventually aided by a detachment of Adepta Sororitas from the Order of the Black Sepulchre, and the Atropan 985th Imperial Guard Regiment. The fighting grew so intense that a company of Adeptus Astartes were even deployed, from the Flesh Tearers chapter. This great conflict would become known as the Scouring of Judicium, the largest engagement the warband had ever fought in since the ancient days.

11. Maiden

After being pushed back to the Eye of Terror, the Abyss Chasers were battered but succeeded in their goal, while they recovered they examined their discoveries. Just beyond the edge of the sector, close to the Eye, they had discovered a world that was held in secret by the Imperium’s foul Inquisition, never traveled and dubbed ‘taboo’ due to its connotation. An Aeldari Maiden World called Blathdahan. The mostly Slaaneshi forces could not pass up such a prime chance to bring carnage to their ruinous mistresses' most delicious foes. At the command of Lord Silas and the Council of Claws, the fleet, and the Echo of Ecstasy began the journey through the warp to find the hidden world.

12. Witch

The warband discovered the world after pinpointing coordinates stolen from Rubedo, and fell upon the lush, green world with all the wrath of the Ruinous Powers. The world would not take it lying down however, as the native Aeldari, called ‘Exodites’ fought back against their kind’s most feared enemies. Heretic Astartes and mortal cultists fought against wild xenos and their dinosaurid mounts and pets. The battles raged across the surface for weeks, but the corrupting influence of the unleashed warp eventually wore down the Exodites, and their planet would fall to the full force of the Abyss Chasers and all their accumulated allies, including the original advisors, as well as the Rot Heralds of Nurgle, and the Scions of Dawn of Tzeentch. Chaos Undivided conquered the world, and Lord Silas would lay claim to it. A hidden world known to few, a perfect foothold to launch even greater devastation upon the dogs of the corpse-god. The fallen Maiden World was renamed ‘Vorago’ from an old Chemosian word for ‘witch.’

13. Port of Call

Similar to other Chaotic ports of its kind, Vorago would quickly grow due to its proximity to the Eye. More arrivals and allies came to the banner of the Abyssal Lord. A renegade Knight known as the Violet Tear, the warband of Heretic Astartes known as Helsson’s Hounds, who are former sons of Russ, and many, many others. With the numbers swelled, the warband was no longer that broken shadow of the Third it used to be, so long ago. At the centre of the former Exodite city was a temple to their xenos gods, now renamed ‘Cordomus’ and transformed into a dark temple, and fortress, to the four gods of Chaos. In the centre of that bastion, is the throne-room of Lord Silas Decurin.

14. Thirteenth Black Crusade

In 999.M41, before the warband could begin any further plans, Lord Silas was contacted by an emissary of the new Warmaster, Abaddon the Despoiler. This envoy told the Council and the Lord of the incoming Black Crusade, the Warmaster’s attempts to attack the gates of Cadia and ram down the doors of the Imperium. Lord Silas was always unsure of the Black Legion, but he understood that Abaddon had similar aspirations, to finally bring an end to the Emperor that forsook them so long ago. The Abyss Chasers agreed to the accord, and would sail to join the Black Legion in their great siege of Cadia. It is noted they took up the colours and banners of the Warmaster’s forces during this brief period, alongside the many other groups that came to Abaddon’s call.

15. Dark Millennium

After the 13th Black Crusade came to a galaxy-shaking conclusion, the Abyss Chasers would break away from the Warmaster of Chaos’ forces and return to Vorago. Their journey was fraught with calamity as the massive warp-wound named by the Imperium as the Cicatrix Maledictum tore itself across the stars. Battered by the end of the trek, Lord Silas and the Council of Claws decreed the warband lay low for a time. Of course, the silence did not last long as only a few standard years into the new age the forces sworn to the Abyssal Lord once again began their raids. The Judicium Sector plunged into shadow as a result of the Great Rift.

16. Advent

“My brothers, we have received word of something most dire. The wretched son of the False Emperor, Roboute Gulliman, a thousand curses upon his name, lives again. Alongside him came an abomination to our perfect forms, the so-called ‘Primaris Marines.’ We will show the lapdogs what true Astartes look like, and pray to the Dark Gods that foul Gulliman meets his true and final end.”

- Lord Silas Decurin, addressing the Abyss Chasers

As the 42nd Millennium began its cycles, the Abyss Chasers would first meet Gullimans Primaris on an outskirt world called Drenades. These new marines clashed with the fallen first and showed how powerful they were despite the difference in experience. Outwardly Lord Silas would show disgust and disdain as many of the Heretic Astartes did across the galaxy, but silently he wondered if their power could not be turned to a better purpose, a purpose of enacting the will of Chaos.

Experiments would begin in the secret levels of Cordomus, under the watchful eyes of the Chasers’ Apothecaries. Indeed, Silas would even hear word of the great and terrible Fabius Bile attempting similar testing, and would wonder how perfect they could be if such creatures were created.

More and more conflicts arose across the neighbouring sectors as the forces of the Imperium pushed their way across the Cicatrix Maledictum, but the Abyss Chasers heeded it little, as always their purpose was personal glory in the name of the gods.

17. Endless War

All across the galaxy war erupts, grim and bloody and full of the laughter of the gods. Octarius saw Tyranids defeat and devour the Orks that held it for ages, the Realm of Ultramar came under siege by the noxious forces of the Death Guard, and a region of the Nephilim Sector falling to all-out carnage as the Necron xenos created the Pariah Nexus. As always, the Abyss Chasers continue their raids into the Judicium Sector and its surrounding regions, now contending with Primaris Marine bolstered chapters and renewed Inquisition forces under the Ordo Hereticus. They do not stand alone however, Vashtorr the Arkifane sending daemonic envoys to Vorago, as well as others to neighbouring warbands. Their numbers increased with the techno-arcane horrors of the aspiring god. There are also the ever-flowing arrivals of lost and damned, demigod and mortal alike. War is eternal, war is ecstasy, and the Abyss Chasers welcome it always.

[creedomnissiah]

Magos Cybernetica Ikovhor Gresh

Scion of the Schiparelli Catacombs of Mars, a vast solemn mausoleum complex that previously belonged to a clave of psyker tyrants from Old Mars known as the Wasting Lords. The core architecture of this haunted sepulcher has remained intact despite the ages, with the accretions and developments of the Machine God only going so far to dispel the gloom.

Ikovhor Gresh was raised in these tombs, a disposable clone thrall serving the assembly line that converted his less compliant kin into servitors. The first 15 Martian years of his life were spent more in the company of half-brained cyborgs than thinking men or women. He passed the aptitude tests granting rights of study to the Martian populace, and was taken under the wing of a minor Magos Cybernetica who Ikovhor long ago eclipsed in fame and success. His talent for the augmentation of the living and the mechanically undead is second to but a scant few, and his creations are often said to carry a spark of the Motive Force that banishes dread and fear. This blessing is by design, as by the glow of lumen censers and forge embers, Acolyte, then Adept, and finally Magos Gresh, has been building his creations to bring such comfort from the very beginning. In the pitch dark of the catacomb halls, where very real cybernetic and mutant threats abound, the ability to sense the Machine God’s presence in a tangible warmth and light is a powerful comfort. It bolsters the soul even as the servitor it radiates from punches phosphor rounds into aberrant monstrosities.

Gresh has been accompanied since his time as an Acolyte by a Kataphron Breacher known as Radiant-82. Armed with an Arc Carbine and equally electrified claw, the power of the Motive Force, and the very light of the Machine God seems to surround and infuse the protective machine. Gresh himself is heavily augmented, and all but one arm is augmetic, his limbs maintaining their human shape but infinitely tougher and stronger for being made out of red iron and diamantite toothed clockwork. The Magos has two additional appendage sockets for weaponry or testing equipment, and in battle he greatly prefers to utilize the searing blasts of an Arc Rifle alongside the phantasmal glow of a phosphor revolver. He has removed the majority of his organs in favor of more efficient ones, and uses the extra space in his torso to store various trinkets and small tools in a shockingly organized space. He has 4 eyes, arranged like a spider, and projects a noospheric halo of crackling lightning that intensifies with his battle cant.

He leads his mechanically undead servitor legions with a vigor he lacks in nearly everything else, rejoicing in his creations ability to banish the darkness of the alien and the traitor. Outside of battle he is withdrawn, expressing little emotion and conveying information in short, blunt pulses. Even after all this time he is still deeply terrified of the dark, and covers himself in light emitting talismans, and if denied light from other sources, he can emit a powerful blue or orange glow from both the optics of his gas mask, and from his ticking organs beneath his scarred flesh.

Years Active 0.946.M27 – 9.007.M32, Lost with all knowledge battling a raiding force of Night Lords in the Verosi system

“Into dark and haunted marches where mankind fears to tread, I shall go with the Machine God’s favor to shield you from all you dread.”

[tech-shoppy]

Samsung Galaxy M32 review

The M32 shares a whole lot with the Galaxy A32, like a 90Hz Super AMOLED Full HD+ display, MediaTek Helio G80 chipset, and a 64MP rear camera, but there are a few changes. Samsung has upgraded two key features: You get a larger battery (6,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh), and support for 25W fast charging even if the box comes with a 15W charger. Samsung has also downgraded a couple of specs. The 5MP macro and 5MP depth cameras on the back have been replaced by 2-megapixel sensors, but considering both of those cameras are gimmicks that don’t bring much to the table anyway, I wouldn’t call these downgrades, especially when you’re getting something much, much better in return – the bigger battery and faster charging, as mentioned above.

Plus, the Galaxy M32 starts at around $70 lower than the Galaxy A32 for the base variant, and that instantly makes it a much better deal on paper. But is that enough to make this phone worthy of your attention? Well, that’s the question I’m going to answer in this review. However, unlike our usual reviews, this will be a short one, given just how much the M32 is similar to the Galaxy A32.

What we like

Excellent Super AMOLED display 

90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smooth... when it works 

Versatile camera setup with good daylight performance 

Terrific battery life 

25W super fast charging support 

Android 11 and One UI 3.1 out of the box 

Decent gaming performance

What we don't

Too much lag and stutter for a 2021 phone

Cameras suffer from lack of detail in many situations

Macro camera is mostly useless

Speaker too quiet

15W charger in the box

Buy now click below: 10% Instant Discount up to INR 1000 on SBI Debit Card Trxn. 

[onlineandyou]

Amazon.in Great Indian Festival 2021 – Deals Preview

Amazon.in’s biggest celebration the Great Indian Festival brings a host of never-seen-before deals & offers on unique products from lakhs of sellers, Small & Medium Businesses (SMBs) and popular brands. Customers can get amazing deals on the widest selection of products from top brands across categories including smartphones, appliances, TVs, consumer electronics, fashion & beauty, Amazon Devices, home & kitchen and more. Customers will also have the opportunity to shop for unique products from thousands of Amazon sellers under various programs such as Local Shops, Amazon Launchpad, Amazon Saheli, Amazon Karigar, and enjoy deals & offers extended by lakhs of small businesses. The Great Indian Festival would include over 1,000 new product launches from top brands such as Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Sony, Apple, Boat, Lenovo, HP, Asus, Fossil, Levi’s, BIBA, Allen Solly, Adidas, American Tourister, Prestige, Eureka Forbes, Bosch, Pigeon, Bajaj, Big muscles, Lakme, Maybelline, Forest Essentials, The Body Shop, WOW, Nivea, Dabur, P&G, Tata Tea, Huggies, Pedigree , Sony PS5, Microsoft Xbox, Hasbro, Funskool, Philips, Vega and more. The Great Indian Festival starts from October 3, 2021. Prime members to get early access. Here are some top deals & offers by participating sellers this ‘Great Indian Festival’ Smartphones and Mobile Accessories - Up to 40% off on Smartphones and Accessories with offers on bestselling models across all price bands - OnePlus 9 Series at its lowest ever prices - Get savings of up to INR 10,000 along with additional up to INR 3,000 off on exchange on select devices and up to 9 months No Cost EMI. - The OnePlus 9R, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro will be available at their lowest ever starting prices of INR 36999, INR 46999 and INR 60,999 respectively. Customers can avail additional up to INR 7,000 off with HDFC bank cards. - OnePlus Nord 2 and Nord CE 5G will also get Extra INR 1,000 off on exchange on select devices and additional 10% Instant discount on HDFC Bank cards. Get additional INR 1,000 off with coupons on the 12GB variant of the OnePlus Nord 2. - Lowest Price ever on iPhone 11 - The iPhone 11 will now be available for just INR 38,999 during Prime Early Access. - Top Deals on Samsung Smartphones - The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G will be available during the event with an introductory offer of INR 1000 coupon discount starting INR 25,999 net price. - Get flat 55% savings on the purchase of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G. Get the 5G smartphone for just INR 36,999 - Customers can also enjoy irresistible offers on the entire Samsung M series range, including up to 30% off on top rated smartphones, exciting bank offers and up to 9 month No Cost EMI - The Samsung M12 with 48MP quad camera and 6,000 mAh battery will be available at its lowest price ever of INR 9,499. Samsung M32 with 64MP camera and FHD+ Samoled 90Hz refresh display will be available for INR 12,499. The Samsung M32 5G, featuring India’s first 720D mediatek processor and 12 band 5G support,  will be available at INR 16,999 - Prime Customers will additionally get free screen replacement of 6 months along with purchase of select Samsung M-Series smartphones - Irresistible deals on iQOO Smartphones - The iQOO Z5 5G will be available at an introductory offer of up to INR 3000 off with coupons and HDFC Bank offer taking the net effective price of the iQOO Z5 5G to INR 20,990 (8+128GB). - Customers can also enjoy attractive offers on the iQOO Z3 5G and iQOO 7 5G which will be available for flat INR. 17,990 and INR 29,990 respectively with flat savings of up to INR 2000. Get additional Up to INR 3000 instant discount with HDFC Bank Cards and up to 9 month No Cost EMI. Prime Customers will additionally get free screen replacement of 6 months along with purchase of iQOO smartphones. - Great Deals on Best Selling Xiaomi Phones starting at just INR 6,799 - The newly launched Redmi 10 prime comes with a 50MP AI Quad Camera and India’s first Helio G88 and will be available for INR 11,999 - Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G, another new launch that comes with Snapdragon 778G 5G, AMOLED Display and a Feather Weight Design will be available for just INR 26,999 - Get up to 10% off on Redmi 9A, Redmi 9 and Redmi Note 10 Series - The Mi 11X 5G will be available for only INR 26,999 - Mobile Cases and Accessories starting at INR 49 - Power Banks Starting at INR 249  Appliances & TVs - Up to 60% off on TVs & appliances with additional cashback, no-Cost EMI starting INR 291/month, Extended Warranty starting INR 99, 48-hour installation with safe, scheduled deliveries - Offers from top brands in appliances including Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Bosch, IFB and more side-by-side refrigerators starting INR 38429, with up to 24 months EMI - Double door refrigerators starting INR 13,990 with exchange offers and no-Cost EMI up to 24 months. Fully Automatic Top load washing machines starting INR 9,990 with No Cost EMI up to 24 months. - Up to 40% off on split air conditioners with No Cost EMI up to 24 months - Dishwashers starting INR 13,999 - Microwaves starting INR 4,099 - Up to 60% off on Chimneys | Starting INR 4,490 - Offers from top TV brands including Redmi, Xiaomi, Samsung, LG, Sony, OnePlus and more - No Cost EMI on TVs starts as low as INR 973 - Smart TVs starting at just INR 8,888 Consumer Electronics - Up to 70% off on Electronics & accessories, up to 24 months No Cost EMI, up to INR 25,000 off on exchange and 14,000+ Amazon Coupons  Laptops & Desktops - Up to 50% off on Intel & AMD powered laptops - Up to 24 months No Cost EMI, Up to INR 25,000 off on exchange. Coupons of up to INR 10,000 - Deals on SSD laptops for faster performance, laptops under 40,000, student laptops, ultra-fast gaming laptops and more - Partner offers including free OTT app subscription, free and discounted courses from edtech partners and free AI bootcamps for students on select laptops, game packs. Extended warranty at rock bottom prices  Audio - Get access to 20+ Launches and Pre-book offers - Truly wireless headphones from Boat, Sony, Boult, Bose, Noise and others starting at just INR 799 Soundbars with subwoofers from Boat, Sony, Blaupunkt and others starting at INR 2,999 Noise cancelling headphones from Bose, Sony, Sennheiser and JBL starting INR 5,699 and No Cost EMI from just INR 624 - Speakers from Boat, JBL, Sony and others starting at just INR 519. Free 3 months Hungama Music + Play combo subscription, 4 months of Audible membership on audio products - Up to 3 Month of Kindle unlimited subscription on Headphones - Up to 18 months No cost EMI - Additional 10% off on HDFC on audio products worth INR 1,000 or more  Wearables - Up to 60% off smartwatches and fitness bands like Apple, Samsung, Mi, Boat, Noise and Amazfit. - Up to INR 19,000 off on Samsung watch 3 - Get the Apple watch SE starting at INR 19,990 - Up to 65% off on Boat Xtend and attractive offers on the Amazfit GTS 2 mini and Noise Ultra  Tablets - Lowest price ever on iPad Air - Extended warranty at rock bottom prices - Free accessories worth INR 3000 for limited period with select Lenovo tablets - Accessories at 999 (worth 3k) with select Lenovo tablets - Get added offers including offers on OTT apps, discounts on ed-tech partners and many more. Get extended warranty, no-cost EMI and attractive Exchange offers  PC Accessories - Up to 70% off on Computer accessories from Logitech, Lenovo, Zebronics and more - Lowest ever prices on Webcams, UPS and Work from home accessories - Up to 70% on gaming accessories from Redgear, Zebronics, Cosmic Byte - Wireless gaming accessories starting INR 799  Cameras - Up to INR 40,000/- off on select premium Cameras from Sony & Fujifilm with 12month No cost EMI - Lowest price ever Security Cameras starting at INR 899/- from top brands such as D-link, CP-plus, Imou, TP-link - Lowest price ever Alexa enabled smart security cameras starting at INR 1,599/- from top brands such as Mi, TP link, realme - Find the perfect Festival Gifts from Fujifilm range if instant Cameras & Accessories starting at INR 299 - Biggest range of tripods and ring-lights for all you mobile photography needs starting at INR 297 - Get up to 50% off on Lenses from Sigma - Attractive pricing on the Sony ZV1 with up to 12 months No Cost EMI - Get up to 50% off on action cameras from goPro, insta 360 and Sjcam with - Up your mobile photography game with Gimbals from DJI, Zhiyun, Moza with up to 60% off  Printers - Up to 60% off on printers with 12 months No Cost EMI - Up to INR 4,000 off on ink tank printers from HP, Canon and Epson - Up to INR 5,000 off on all in one laser printers from HP, Canon  Storage - Hard Drive starting from INR 3,499 - Pen Drives and Memory Cards starting INR 349 - Up to 6 months No Cost EMI, HDDs starting 599 per month - Portable SSDs starting INR 4,999  Musical Instruments - Up to 80% off on Keyboards, Guitars, Microphones and more - Up to 12 months No Cost EMI, Same Day Delivery on bestsellers - Acoustic Guitars Starting from INR 1999, Professional Microphones starting at INR 449 and many more deals Components - Up to INR 5,000 off on high performance SSD’s and components Networking - Up to 80% off on Routers| 12 Months No Cost EMI - Routers Starting INR 749 from Top Brands, Tp-Link, D-Link, Netgear & more - Routers with Best Performance & Top Notch Security Just INR 999 - Wireless Hotspot Devices from Top Brands starting INR 1,899| Study From Home  Amazon Fashion & Beauty - Up to 80% off on 40 lakh+ styles and 1000+ top brands - Deals on 80,000+ styles - Pocket -friendly fashion under INR 499 - More savings through Coupons on 3 lakhs+ styles - Free shipping + 20% cashback on 1st order - Up to 70% off on Women’s Ethnic Wear from top brands such as Biba, W, Aurelia and more - Up to 70% off on Men’s Casuals & Formals from USPolo, Levi's, Pepe Jeans, Allen Solly and more - Up to 70% off on Kids Clothing from leading brands such as USPolo, UCB, Allen Solly Junior, - Min 25% off on Casio, Fossil & More - Up to 80% off Fashion Jewellery - Up to 40% off on Gold and Diamond Jewellery - Pocket friendly makeup available under 399 from top brands such as Maybelline, Swiss Beauty, Lakme, Colorbar - Half Price Store | Flat 50% off on top brands such as Lakme, Mama Earth, Maybelline, Makeup Revolution, Nicka K & more - Serums available under INR 499 from Minimalist, Wow, The Derma Co among others - Free lipstick on purchase of INR 499 or more from MyGlamm - Free gift on purchase of 1 or more products from Colorbar, Swiss Beauty & Faces - Flat 15% off + Free gift on purchase of INR 2,000 & more from L’Occitane - Free paddle brush or sheet mask with every purchase from L’Oréal professional - 2 Free gifts on every purchase of Kama Ayurveda - Enjoy mix & match with buy 2 Get 1 or buy 3 Get 1 free! Body Care at Flat INR 799 from Bath and Body Works - Up to 35% off and free makeup brush on every purchase from Maybelline - Flat 50% off on Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick (Pack of 2) Daily Essentials & Personal Care - Up to 60% off on over 20,000 daily essentials products across Grocery, Baby, Healthcare & more - Up to 10% extra savings on 60,000 products with repeat delivery & free shipping - Subscribe & Save - Up to 50% off on groceries - Deals starting at INR 1 - Get INR 200 back | Shop now Amazon Fresh - Up to 70% off on 50,000+ products across baby shampoos and lotions, strollers, walker, carriers, wipes and diapers - Up to 50% off on health & wellness products like Chyawanprash, vitamin supplements & Ayurveda products - Up to 70% off on Chocolates and Snacks like Ferrero Rocher chocolates, Maggi 2-minutes Noodles and packaged sweets - Pet Food from Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin & more at the lowest prices of the season. Up to 65% off on wide range of bestselling Pet Accessories, grooming & healthcare  Home and Kitchen - Up to 70% off on Home and Kitchen products | 25000+ deals, Top brands - Extra INR 400 cashback on min. order of INR 4000* on Home and Kitchen | (*valid on first 7 days of the event) - Free Delivery on your First Order in Home and Kitchen - No Cost EMI on 9000+ products | Valid On Credit Card, Debit Card, Bajaj Finserv - Save min. of 10% with coupons across 9 Lakh+ products | Up to INR 400 cashback - Buy more, get more | Save up to 10% extra | 6000+ products | Top brands - Up to 70% off on Kitchen & home appliances | Top brands | 1000+ deals| No Cost EMI up to 18 months - Up to 70% off on Cookware, Dining & Storage | Top brands like Prestige, Pigeon, Milton & Cello - Geysers & immersion rods starting INR 499 from top brands like Bajaj, Crompton, Havells & more - Up to 70% off on Water Purifiers | Top brands | Exchange offer min 850 off* | Free Installation*| No Cost EMI starting INR 800* - Up to 50% off on Kitchen & bath fixtures from top brands like Plantex, Alton, Kohler | 80,000+ products - Up to 50% off : Safety & locks from top brands like Godrej, Amazon Basics, Yale - Up to 70% off on Home & Decor | Lowest prices of the year on 6000+ Home & Kitchen products - Up to 50% off on Premium bedsheets | Spaces, Swayam, Bombay dyeing & more - Up to 70% off on Bedsheets, Curtains and more | Double bedsheets starting INR 299 - Festive Decor Starting INR 79 | Diyas, candles, lights, idols, showpieces and more - Festive Deals of the year on Gardening essentials: Starting INR 79 |Pots & planters, Live plants, Seeds, Tools and more - Lowest prices ever on home essential Pest Control solutions | Up to 40% off Mosquito Repellants, Nets, Racquets, Cockroach Gels, etc. - Up to 70% off on Furniture & Mattresses| 350K+ selection, 2000+ deals, Lowest prices of the year, No Cost EMI up to 24 months - Up to 70% off on Work from Home furniture| No Cost EMI starting INR 145/month - Up to 60% off on Mattresses| No Cost EMI starting INR 370/month - Up to 60% off on Sofas, coffee tables & more| No Cost EMI starting INR 390/month - Motorised Treadmill starting INR 9,999 | Up to 70% off on Treadmill & Fitness Bikes | Free On-Site Installation - Up to 80% off | Home gyms & Dumbbells | Lowest Prices of the Year - Up to 50% off on Cycles | Starting INR 1,999 | No-Cost EMI starting INR 1,333 on Premium Selection from Lectro, Firefox - Up to 60% off on Core Sports | Cricket, Badminton, Football, Cricket & more - Up to 60% off | Car & bike parts & accessories | Festive deals - Up to 30% off Helmets by Steelbird, Vega, Axor, Royal Enfield & more - Up to 45% off on Vehicle appliances & equipment | Pressure washers, Tyre inflators, Vacuum cleaners & more - Car accessories starting INR 199 | Top deals on 5000+ products across Car covers, Seat covers, air fresheners & more - Starting INR 199 -Vehicle cleaning supplies | Car shampoos, Cloth & dusters, Wax & more - Up to 25% off Deep Freezers from top brands | No cost EMI up to 3 months - Starting INR 199 | Testing & measuring instruments | Multimeters & more - Up to 35% off | Philips Home & Kitchen Appliances - Up to 45% off | India’s 1st SmartGRID Luxury Mattress | Sleep company - Up to 50% off | Mattresses | Sleepyhead - Up to 40% off | Vinod Stainless Steel Cookware selection - Up to 40% off | Eureka Forbes Water Purifiers and Vacuum Cleaners - Up to 45% off | Bajaj Home & Kitchen Appliances - Up to 50% off | Havells Home & Kitchen Appliances - Up to 40% off | Phillip Lighting - Up to 40% off | Prestige Appliances and Cookware - Up to 50% off | Kitchen Appliances and Cookware Selection from Wonderchef Books, Hobbies, Gaming and Toys Toys - Best-selling Toys starting just INR 99 - Up to 80% off on Party supplies - Never ever before prices on 500+ deals - Up to 70% on STEM and Educational Toys - Minimum 25% off on Ride-ons and scooters - Deals on Art & Crafts starting as low as INR 69 - Buy Infant Toys starting just INR 99 - Get upto 30% additional discount on Buy more get more offers across top brands - Buy a Funskool Toy and get another free - Receive additional discount on deals by purchasing more than 1 item Books - Never before prices on Book boxsets - Bestselling books starting INR 99 - Up to 60% off bestselling children books - Up to 50% off on books for upcoming exams - Up to 50% off on Indian Language Books - Up to 50% off on Fiction and non-fiction books - Up to 50% off on College Textbooks - Up to 40% off on School Books - Up to 40% off on top new releases Personal Care Appliances - Amazon special launch of FitBit Charge 5 - Up to 70% off on Grooming devices - Up to 70% off on wellness devices - Up to 70% off on healthcare devices and massagers Video Games - Never before offer | Get freebie on bestseller Video games and accessories (Select asins) - Min 25% off on Cosmic Byte Headset - Up to 55% on Video Games and Accessories. Read the full article

[solankimeera71]

Samsung Galaxy M32 with sAMOLED fullHD screen of 90Hz refresh rate launched

South Korean electronics maker Samsung on Monday launched in India the Galaxy M32 smartphone. The budget smartphone boasts super AMOLED fullHD screen of 90Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy M32 will be available in 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB configurations priced at Rs 14,999 and Rs 16,999, respectively. It will be available in black and light blue colours on Amazon India, Samsung online store and select retail stores from June 28.

As an introductory offer, consumers can avail an instant cashback worth Rs 1,250 while paying with ICICI cards. The cashback offer brings the effective ownership price of the 4GB+64GB variant to Rs 13,749 and 6GB+128GB variant to Rs 15,749.

As for the specifications, the Galaxy M32 sports a 6.4-inch fullHD+ super AMOLED screen of 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is touted to push the peak brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM) to about 800 nits for good sunlight legibility.

Read Full Article Here

[0122358]

OPORD: OPERATION MILK-HEAT

TIMEFRAME: 14 OCT-31 OCT 2016

Area of Operations: Wabakimi Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

SITUATION: A. Enemy Forces: Eight (8)- Ten (10) members of a species named “Wendiigo” have been roaming the Canadian wilderness for the past six months. They are a tall, heavy creature built for speed and strength. Limited  intelligence exists other than lore and scant detail from unreliable encounters. Some sources state that these creatures are prior human beings so PSYOPS may be an option. Color ranges from black to dark earth tones with glowing eyes at night. Uses claws, teeth, and rash attacks at its offense.

B: Friendly (Indigenous) Forces: Royal Canadian Mounted Police operate a small detachment near the park, but have all but been exhausted during their hunt of the creatures. No support other than  for insertion, extraction, supply drops, and intelligence on the region will be given. Indigenous Forces are evacuating local residents and those engaging in outdoor activities throughout the area of operations for the duration of the mission.

C: Intent: To locate, identify, and destroy the threat to bring back stability to the region while assisting local forces/civilians to safety.

MISSION:

Operational forces will be inserted into the area of operations through float plane. Three (3)  CC-138 “Twin Otter” float planes will insert a total of twenty (20) men consisting of three LRRP sized teams and one (1) STA size team [six man and two man respectively) onto Omdahl Lake at 0630 hours local time.

Team will conduct a Long Range Recon type patrol of the Area of Operation, attempting to locate and destroy the threat whilst setting up a Forward Operating Base (FOB) out of one of the remote cabins throughout the area northwest of the region.

Team will depart from Fort Hope Airfield and fly into the area of operation Approximately 85 miles South West of the airfield. From there, the aircraft will take off and returning to Fort Hope to retrieve additional supplies such as portable canoes and man portable UAVs before returning to drop off these as well as additional supplies at both Omdahl and Crozier lakes before returning to Fort Hope to remain on standby for immediate evacuation of wounded personnel. Once the team has reached a suitable FOB they will begin to set up defenses and bring about a reconnaissance schedule. The three teams will operate on a “Sleep, Watch, Hike” schedule, with one team on a recon patrol on a designated route, another maintaining defenses around the F.O.B, and the final team resting/sleeping while acting as a quick reaction force for the team on patrol. The defensive team will also have access to one of the three provided RQ-11B “Raven” Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, with the other two RQ-11B's being deployed with the reconnaissance and STA teams out in the field.  

Reconnaissance Teams will operate on a three day rotation, taking a day to maneuver to a designated area, setting up a patrol base, gathering intelligence on possible enemy location, while setting up potential ambush points to try and lure enemy forces into suitable kill zones. On the third day, the reconnaissance team will maneuver back to the FOB and relieve the next team going out on patrol.

The STA team will operate out of the FOB on five day missions, moving farther out than the reconnaissance teams, using the Raven UASV as their advanced out of sight force multiplier, and using surrounding elevation to scan for targets, use tracking skills to look for previous signs based on intelligence provided, attempting to guide reconnaissance teams to a suitable kill zone of their own. The STA team will return for two days to resupply at the FOB and rest.  

Each reconnaissance team will have at least two suitable members trained in tracking, and wilderness capture techniques.

LOADOUT:

      Each reconnaissance team will consist of three rifleman armed with LWRC IC .308 rifles, two machine-gunners armed with Ohio Ordnance M60E6 Enhanced General Purpose Machine Guns, and one medic armed with a Bravo Company Manufacturing CQBR MK18 chambered in .300AAC Blackout. Two of the riflemen will be armed with under-barreled M320 grenade launchers for increased firepower, the third carrying an M32 Mikor multi-barrel grenade launcher. Two Short Barrel Benelli M1014 shotguns will be carried by selected members for close in/specilty work. All personnel will have a Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistols, carrying enhanced Mec-Gar anti-grip 20 round magazines. IC .308 rifles and the medic's MK18 will have detachable X-products and Magpul D60 drum magazine for first contact reaction. 

Follow up magazines will be 25 round Magpul PMAG-SLR for rifles chambered in .308 and 40 rounds in Magpul PMAG40 if chambered in .300 AAC Blackout. Eight (8) additional magazines for the rifle and four (4) additional magazines for the pistol will be included in the load-out. Four (4) additional 40mm grenades and one-hundred (100)  rounds of .308 machine gun ammunition will be carried by each team member. These numbers will be increased when assigned to a member with the designated weapon system through the use of grenade belts or machine gun pouches from Tactical Tailor. M67 fragmentation, M18 Smoke in red/white, M84 Stun and M15 White Phosphorus grenades will be carried by each member in quantity of two (2) each. Each team member will also carry up to three M118 Claymore anti-personnel mines.

     Rifles will be set up with Gemtech supressors, Aimpoint CompM4 Red Dot Sights, Geissle Super Select Fire triggers, Surefire M600 scout lights with IR filter, and Steiner DBAL IR system. GPMGs will be set up with Armasight day/night optic with white/black hot capability and Gemtech suppressors. P226s will have aforementioned extended magazines, Surefire X300U lights, SRT triggers, and night sights.

     40mm grenades will consist of M1060 Thermobaric, M433 High Explosive Dual Purpose, and illumination (both IR M992 and M680 white light flare). Weapons chambered in .308 will carry Mk316 Mod 0 ammunition. MK18's chambered in .300 AAC Blackout will carry Remington 125 grain open-tip match ammunition. The P226 9mm's will carry Hornady 135 grain plus-P flex-loc ammunition.  The .300 Winchester Magnum Nemo SLR carried by the STA marksman will be loaded with 200 grain Hornady GTX hunter ammunition.

     Personal equipment will consist of a camouflage uniform (ATACS-AU and M81 woodland combat shirt or blouse with trousers), wicking undershirt, skivvies (Silkies or Ex-Officio boxers), socks (Merino wool either Darn Tuff or Smartwool) and boots (gore-tex, mid height). Gloves (nomex or mechanix type), eye and ear protection, an Ops-Core FAST helmets with NVG mounts for PVS-14 goggles, Surefire white/IR lights with Streamlight red light and a camera feed will be worn along with a Mayflower APC plate carrier carrying lightweight level 3 armor plates that are stab/slash proof. Communications will take place via headset and VHF radios. A battle belt will be worn under the plate carrier and will not be removed at any time consisting of first line gear (Safariland/ G-code drop holster, RAT-5 knife, HSGI rifle/pistol pouch, Blue Force Gear Blow-Out kit, Tactical Tailor grenade pouches) and last ditch supplies. Rucksacks will consist of Kifaru EMR packs with Tactical Tailor operator packs attached. Breakdown of gear will consist of appropriate clothing for climate including rain gear, base layers, extra socks/skivvies, and long/short sleeve shirts.

     Each member will carry an emergency ration and a survival kit on their immediate person at all times either in pockets or pants belt attached "fanny pack". Each member in their rucksack will carry basic gear such as appropriate sleeping bag, bivy bag and sleeping pad. A Kifaru Woobie, sil-nylon camouflage poncho and USGI issue casualty blanket will be issued as shelter. Two (2) three liter bladders will be carried as well as two (2) 40oz metal canteens with canteen cup. Every two men will carry entrenching tool, pack saw, or axe. Every member will carry in the bottom of their ruck; camouflage netting, personal ghille wrap, and 10-15 sandbags to be filled.

     One week of rations consisting of MREs and LRRP style dehydrated meals will be carried along with four (4) First Strike Rations while on patrol. FOB rations will be 10A tray meals and other camp food to be utilized with the stove found in the cabin. Food will be resupplied in subsequent drops. Local animal population will be hunted if necessary for both food and bait. 

@celtic-tactical

[astrogeoguy]

Pretty Evening Planets, a Late-rising Last Quarter Moon, and Gigantic Galaxy-Gazing!

(Above: The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, imaged in December, 2016 by Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario. Foreground galaxy M32 sits to the lower right and background galaxy M110 is towards the upper left. Your telescope may flip this image.)

Astronomy Skylights for this week (from September 30th, 2018) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, or another in your area, visit www.astrogeo.ca.

If you’d like me to bring my Digital Starlab inflatable planetarium to your school or other daytime or evening event, visit DiscoveryPlanetarium.com and request me. We’ll tour the Universe together! 

Public Events

Every Monday evening, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday evenings after dark, they offer free public viewing through their telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

On Saturday, October 6, starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour will present their planetarium show entitled The Life and Death of Stars. Tickets and details are here. 

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 7 pm, the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo will host a free talk and webcast by Dr. Avery Broderick entitled The Event Horizon Telescope. Registration and details are here. 

The next RASC Public Event at the David Dunlap Observatory will be a Speaker Night on Saturday, October 20 – and it’s all about the Moon! There will be a lecture by an astronomer, a tour of the giant 74” telescope, and viewing through lawn telescopes (weather permitting). The doors will open at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm start. Attendance is by tickets only, available here. If you are a RASC member and wish to help us at DDO in the future, please fill out the volunteer questionnaire here. And to join RASC, visit this page. 

The Moon and Planets

The moon will be rising late this week, appearing over the eastern horizon after midnight local time and then lingering into the morning daytime sky. It will reach its Last Quarter phase on Tuesday morning. At that time, it will sit at a 90° angle to the sun and Earth, and appear half illuminated, on the left-hand side (as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere). 

In the pre-dawn eastern sky on Wednesday morning, the eastward orbital motion of the waning crescent moon will carry it less than 2 finger widths to the lower right of the large open star cluster known as the Beehive (or Messier 44). Minimum separation will occur at about 5 am EDT. During the coming weekend, the slim crescent moon will make a pretty sight low in the eastern sky before dawn. 

(Above: The western evening sky this week features the two bright planets Venus and Jupiter, as shown here at 7:20 pm local time.)

This week, very bright Venus will be visible low in the western sky for only a short period after sunset. Tonight, it will set at 7:35 pm, only 40 minutes after the sun. In a small telescope, Venus’ disk will resemble a slim crescent moon, lit only on the sunward side (although your telescope might flip the view). The planet is still growing larger in apparent diameter because it is travelling towards the Earth right now. 

Jupiter has been carried towards Venus by the westerly motion of the sky. This weekend, it is only 1.4 outstretched fist diameters to Venus’ upper left. But Venus is outpacing Jupiter as she swings towards the sun – so they won’t get closer than they are now. We are finished with decent telescope views of Jupiter for this year. By the time the sky gets dark at 8 pm local time, the mighty planet will sit less than a fist’s diameter above the southwestern horizon. It will set in the west-southwest at about 8:45 pm local time. Using binoculars, try to see Jupiter’s four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede) forming a line to either side of the planet. 

(Above: Bright reddish Mars and dimmer yellowish Saturn will sit above the southern horizon during early evening this week, as shown here at 9 pm local time.) 

Brighter, reddish Mars and dimmer, yellow-tinted Saturn occupy the southern sky after dusk now. At 8 pm local time, both planets will be about two fist diameters above the horizon, with Mars about 3 fists east (left) of Saturn. Mars will set in the west after 1:30 am local time. It’s still well worth looking at, even in a small telescope. Try to see a small white oval near the top of its disk. That’s the southern polar cap! 

Saturn will set in the west before 11:30 pm local time. This summer, the ringed planet has been 5 finger widths to the upper right of the “lid” star of the Teapot in Sagittarius (the Archer). As the sky darkens, even a small telescope should be able to show you some of Saturn’s larger moons, especially its largest satellite, Titan. Using a clock’s dial analogy, Titan will move counter-clockwise this week - from a position at 11 o’clock (nearly above Saturn) to 7 o’clock (nearly below Saturn). (Remember that your telescope might flip and/or invert the view. Use the moon to find out how your telescope changes things and keep a note of it, since that will always be the case.) 

Distant Neptune recently reached opposition, so it is visible all night and almost its closest and brightest for this year. Using a decent quality telescope you can see the very blue planet among the dim stars of Aquarius (the Water-bearer). Look for the magnitude 7.8 planet sitting midway between the modestly bright star Phi (φ) Aquarii and the brighter star Hydor (Lambda Aquarii). It will highest in the sky (best viewing conditions) at about midnight local time. 

Blue-green coloured Uranus is visible nearly all night, too. You can see it without optical aid under very dark skies, but binoculars and telescopes work better, especially with this week’s bright moon. The ice giant planet is located in the eastern mid evening sky, about 4 finger widths to the left of the modestly bright star Torcular (Omega Piscium). That star sits a generous palm’s width above the “V” where the two starry cords of Pisces (the Fishes) meet. Through the night, the planet will be carried higher – making it easier to see.

(Above: The naked-eye galaxy Messier 31, plus satellite galaxies Messier 32 and Messier 110, together sit eight degrees above the medium-bright star Mirach in Andromeda, as shown here at 9 pm local time. The top three stars of Cassiopeia can be used as pointers. The big Triangulum Galaxy, designated M33, sits below Mirach.) 

Seeing Giant Galaxies

This is the season to look for the farthest object a human eyeball can see without help* – the Andromeda Galaxy, or Messier 31. This large spiral galaxy is a sister to our own Milky Way galaxy. It sits 2.5 million light-years away from our sun, meaning that its stars’ light has been journeying for that length of time. And, if there are alien astronomers there looking at us, they are seeing our solar system as we were 2.5 million years ago! 

Under dark skies, using unaided eyes only, you should be able to see a faint fuzzy patch that is elongated left and right. The galaxy spans six full moon diameters across the sky, but only its bright core and surrounding, dimmer halo are usually seen visually. It’s quite easy with binoculars. 

Because their fields of view are too narrow to see the entire galaxy, small telescopes generally only show its bright core. Be sure to look for M31’s two companions, the small elliptical galaxies designated M32 and M110. M32 is close to the big galaxy’s core and situated just to the lower right. M110 is above the main core and slightly farther away. At 2.49 million light-years, M32 is closer to us than the Andromeda Galaxy. M110 is 200,000 light-years farther away. 

To find M31, you can first find the medium-bright star Mirach. It’s the second star east of the eastern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. Then look for a dimmer star about 4 finger widths above Mirach. The galaxy is higher by the same distance. Alternatively, you can use the highest three stars of the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia (the Queen). Those three bright stars form an arrow that points directly at M31. 

(Above: The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, imaged in December, 2017 by Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario.)

*Another large galaxy, called Messier 33 in Triangulum (the Triangle), is 2.75 million light-years away. Observers with very keen eyes under very dark sky conditions can sometimes see it, too – setting the record. This galaxy is tougher because it is oriented nearly face-on to Earth – so its light is spread across a larger patch of sky, making it dimmer overall. It sits only 1.3 fist diameters below M31, a palm’s width below the star Mirach. 

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.