A lack of bite

Tayport reader Reg Mulheron is home recuperating after a spell in Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital. “I have nothing but praise for the treatment I received,” he says, “but I would like to sound a note of caution for anyone attending soon.

“On my last day, I was preparing to return home and had a facecloth, toothpaste, toothbrush and my upper set of dentures sitting on a table ready to get freshened up. A hospital auxiliary came round, tidying up and cleaning up.

“I soon discovered that her enthusiastic tidying included making off with my dentures. They were nowhere to be seen, and, indeed, they appear to be gone forever.

“It’s no laughing matter as I am still without them and awaiting a dentist’s appointment. Apparently, this is not an uncommon occurrence, so be warned!”

Galactic neighbour

Ken Kennedy, of Dundee Astronomical Society, tells us what to expect in November’s night sky. “Wonderful Pegasus is flying past the meridian in October,” he says, “and by 10pm Andromeda is high to the south.

“I briefly mentioned our largest galactic neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, last month and this is the best time of year to have a look at it. From the top left hand star of the Square of Pegasus, move two stars to the left then upwards past two fainter stars and, using binoculars, you’ll not miss the hazy elliptical patch of light which is the galaxy.

“If there is no moon and you are shielded from street lighting it may be seen with the unaided eye. I have called the Andromeda Galaxy a neighbouring galaxy and this may seem inappropriate when its distance is given as 2.5 million light years, but in galactic terms, this is a next door neighbour!

“It is the largest galaxy of our local group and it is estimated that it contains up to one trillion stars. It certainly has a larger diameter than our own Milky Way galaxy and light would take 220,000 years to travel across it.

“Not far away in Triangulum is the other large local galaxy known as the Pinwheel Galaxy. It, too, can be seen with binoculars but is a bit further away at three million light years. In ideal conditions it may be possible to see this galaxy with the unaided eye – if you do you can say you have excellent eyesight!

“November is the month of the Leonid

This scenic shot of Letham Glen in Leven was sent in by reader Gillian Harrower.