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Forbes
04-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Don't Miss This Weekend's Sky Show — Venus And A Stunning Star Cluster
Venus and the Pleiades as seen from Beijing, China, on April 3, 2020 (Costfoto/Barcroft Media via ... More Getty Images) Early risers on Saturday, July 5, are in for a pre-dawn treat — Venus shining brightly as the 'Morning Star' close to the glittering Pleiades star cluster. Two of the most stunning sights in naked-eye astronomy will shine together just before sunrise. Here's everything you need to know about when and where to see them. Where And When To Look To see the duo, head outside about an hour before sunrise and look east. Venus, shining brightly at magnitude -4.1, will be unmistakable even in the growing twilight. Venus will be just beneath the Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45), one of the closest open clusters of stars to the solar system. It's about 444 light-years from the solar system. What You'll See Look below-left of Venus — directly beneath the Pleiades — and you may be able to make out a V-shape of stars centered on one bright reddish star. The star is Aldebaran, a red supergiant star and the brightest in the constellation Tauris, the bull. Its name means 'the follower' because it appears to follow the Pleiades through the night sky. It's also known as the 'eye of the bull.' Both the Pleiades and Aldebaran are typically thought of as winter objects. They're currently making a brief pre-dawn appearance and will soon be lost in the daytime sky until fall. Between Venus and the Pleiades will be the planet Uranus, though it's far too dim to be seen without a telescope. Saturday, July 5: Venus And The Pleiades Observing Tips Most people immediately think of a telescope when they think about astronomy. It's not necessary for this event. You'll see much more just by using your naked eyes. However, a pair of binoculars is always useful when stargazing, allowing you to zoom in on the Pleiades, not only to see more of its over 1,000 stars but also the incredible nebulosity between the stars. That light is a passing molecular cloud of gas and dust being lit up by the stars of the Pleiades. Choose an observing location with a clear, unobstructed view to the eastern horizon, if possible, away from city lights — though light pollution makes zero difference when observing planets. Pleiades open star cluster with nebula (Messier 45) in constellation of Taurus photographed with ... More high quality amateur telescope. What's Next In The Night Sky Look to the southern sky from about 45 minutes after sunset on Sunday, July 6, and you'll see a bright waxing gibbous moon shining close to the famous summer constellation Scorpius, the scorpion. Return 24 hours later, and it will be closer to Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I own Britain's BIGGEST car collection worth £40m – I've a one-off Bentley but my most-special treasure is different
He's been collecting for 60 years now TREASURE TROVE I own Britain's BIGGEST car collection worth £40m – I've a one-off Bentley but my most-special treasure is different THE MAN with Britain's biggest car collection worth £40million has revealed his most treasured item. Rodger Dudding, 87, from Kent now owns more than 450 classic cars at his Studio434 in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Advertisement 6 Car enthusiast Rodger Dudding has amassed the biggest collection of classic cars in Britain worth an estimated £40 million Credit: Barcroft Media 6 Of the several Aston Martins in Rodger's garage is a mini motorised one Credit: Barcroft Media 6 He also collects old motorcycles, with the only bike badged as a Bentley Credit: Barcroft Media The car enthusiast and business magnate started collecting vehicles around 60 years ago, which are all now housed in his £7m garage. Nicknamed "Mr Lock Up" or "RD" by staff, Rodger has been best known for his accumulation of no fewer than 24 Aston Martin Lagondas. This includes the first and last examples of the rare model from the British car manufacturer. Aston Martin only built 645 of their Lagondas, meaning Rodger owns 3.7% of their total production. Advertisement He said: "The Aston Martin Lagonda, you love them or you hate them. "You probably have to be nutty to own one, and you should be taken to the lunatic asylum if you've got three or more. "I don't know where that positions me." On top of that, the Tickford edition included in his Lagonda collection is complete with a boomerang TV aerial in the boot, being just one of four made in 1984. Advertisement But for Rodger, the most precious in the collection is his 1952 Morris Minor, known to sell for around £10,000 in perfect condition. This is the automobile that started Rodger's love for cars and collecting, bought by his father in 1955. He said: "It is totally and absolutely an original. "I can look upon a motorcar in many cases as a piece of three dimensional art. Advertisement "It doesn't have to be an expensive motorcar. "It could be very small motorcar." "And as an art collector of major specialist brands I thought there was a gap there and people were not necessarily saving for posterity, for history, and that's why I buy unusual pieces of machinery." Other notable vehicles in his collection are a 1984 Ford Capri, an early Honda NSX from 1992, a Taxi, Jaguar XJ220 and Jaguar XJ fire tender. Advertisement The 2002 London Taxi Company TXII that Rodger owns is a unique addition to the collection, which was also one of the first of its breed. A 1968 Jensen Interceptor FF is also a special addition, being the first car Rodger purchased to start his collection of the UK's largest private collection of classic, vintage and modern vehicles. A few Interceptors are kept at Studio434, but this one is a convertible making it real rarity. Just 267 convertibles were made between 1974 and 1976 as Jensen went bankrupt, and Rodger's is one of the earliest examples. Advertisement He also owns more than two dozen Jaguars, but the XJ220 is particularly special because it is one of just 274 made between 1992 and 1994, having a top speed of 213mph and able to do 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds. The XJR is also special addition which was built in 1995 to act as the fire tender at Donington Park racecar track. 6 Rodger also keeps some of the cars that he regularly uses at Potters Bar Credit: Barcroft Media 6 He is still adding to his ever expanding fleet of iconic cars Credit: Barcroft Media Advertisement
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I own Britain's BIGGEST car collection worth £40m – I've a one-off Bentley but my most-special treasure is different
THE MAN with Britain's biggest car collection worth £40million has revealed his most treasured item. 6 Car enthusiast Rodger Dudding has amassed the biggest collection of classic cars in Britain worth an estimated £40 million Credit: Barcroft Media 6 Of the several Aston Martins in Rodger's garage is a mini motorised one Credit: Barcroft Media 6 He also collects old motorcycles, with the only bike badged as a Bentley Credit: Barcroft Media The car enthusiast and business magnate started collecting vehicles around 60 years ago, which are all now housed in his £7m garage. Nicknamed " This includes the first and last examples of the rare model from the British car manufacturer. Aston Martin only built 645 of their Lagondas, meaning Rodger owns 3.7% of their total production. Read More Motors News He said: "The Aston Martin Lagonda, you love them or you hate them. "You probably have to be nutty to own one, and you should be taken to the lunatic asylum if you've got three or more. "I don't know where that positions me." On top of that, the Tickford edition included in his Lagonda collection is complete with a boomerang TV aerial in the boot, being just one of four made in 1984. Most read in Motors But for Rodger, the most precious in the collection is his This is the automobile that started Rodger's love for cars and collecting, bought by his father in 1955. He said: "It is totally and absolutely an original. "I can look upon a motorcar in many cases as a piece of three dimensional art. "It doesn't have to be an expensive motorcar. "It could be very small motorcar." "And as an art collector of major specialist brands I thought there was a gap there and people were not necessarily saving for posterity, for history, and that's why I buy unusual pieces of machinery." Other notable vehicles in his collection are a 1984 Ford Capri, an early Honda NSX from 1992, a Taxi, Jaguar XJ220 and Jaguar XJ fire tender. The 2002 London Taxi Company TXII that Rodger owns is a unique addition to the collection, which was also one of the first of its breed. A 1968 Jensen Interceptor FF is also a special addition, being the first car Rodger purchased to start his collection of the UK's largest private collection of classic, vintage and modern vehicles. A few Interceptors are kept at Studio434, but this one is a convertible making it real rarity. Just 267 convertibles were made between 1974 and 1976 as Jensen went bankrupt, and Rodger's is one of the earliest examples. He also owns more than two dozen Jaguars, but the XJ220 is particularly special because it is one of just 274 made between 1992 and 1994, having a top speed of 213mph and able to do 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds. The XJR is also special addition which was built in 1995 to act as the fire tender at Donington Park racecar track. 6 Rodger also keeps some of the cars that he regularly uses at Potters Bar Credit: Barcroft Media 6 He is still adding to his ever expanding fleet of iconic cars Credit: Barcroft Media 6 Rodger stands in front of a parody car based off the iconic car in TV show Only Fools and Horses Credit: Barcroft Media
