The Ecliptic Road

A silent morning, but for the thrum of Atlantic waves, starlit still. Above to my east and prominent were Regulus, Jupiter, Mars and Praesepe, in that order, all four visibly walking the Ecliptic road.

Leo looked huge above the hills facing the beach. Jupiter shone bright and true.

Mars with a visual absence of red presently sat close to M44 Praesepe (the beehive), both fitting in the view of our 8x30 binoculars. In our 30mm achromatics, Mars had a definite tinge of red.

Turning to the south west and above the sea, Orion shone with a standalone brilliance, Betelgeuse reddish , Rigel white, Saiph was lilac, and looked smaller than usual.

I was most interested in that triangle of stars in Canis Major, the three grabbed my attention more than the brilliant Sirius this morning.

The twilight was now noticeably handing over the reigns to this new morning.

Time to retreat to the warmth of a cup of tea in my favourite enamel mug.

Star Splitting the L.F.B. List with a 60mm f/15 Refractor.

To me there is something very comforting about reading vintage astronomy books, especially when the  wind and rain are shouting outside on a cold winter's night.

Being curled up on the favourite chair, all dance and flicker with woodstove glow and candlelight to illuminate, those old school astronomy words and pictures come to life.

Long before digital imaging and GoTo mounts, digital text and apps, books such as Sir Patrick Moore's "The 

Observer's Book of Astronomy" were my favourite type of guide to the night sky. 

This pocket sized book for a long time was my only guide to astronomy,  albeit with a bit of help from a trusty planisphere, and not forgetting my Tasco 40mm/f15 telescope.

One of the visual highlights of that little book is the artwork of astronomer Mr Leslie F. Ball (L.F.B.).

His paintings of coloured double stars as seen through an old-school lens and thought, is something that modern digital photographs just can't replicate.

Over the next few months, I’m having a go at chasing down these picturesque doubles and see if I can rekindle that Leslie F. Ball artistic feeling.

With a 60mm f/15 refractor, I'm going to search out for those (L.F.B.) double stars.

The L.F.B. List (plate no: 21)

1. Alpha Herculi(Rasalgethi).

A wide pair featuring a bright orange-red giant primary and a contrasting blue-green secondary.

In the 60mm: An easy and beautiful wide split.

2. 70 Ophiuchi

A binary system showing a bright yellow-orange primary paired with a slightly fainter purplish or yellowish-red companion.

In the 60mm: A good test of steady optics, a high-power eyepiece (around 80x–100x) should separate them.

3. Alpha Piscium (Alrischa)

Located in the cord connecting the two fishes, this pair shows two similar pale green/white or yellowish-white stars. 

In the 60mm: A delicate pair. While the colour difference isn't as dramatic as Rasalgethi.

4. Gamma Andromedae (Almach)

Sometimes called the "Northern rival to Albireo," this is a great double featuring a golden-yellow bright primary and a sapphire-blue companion.

In the 60mm: A 60mm f/15 refractor handles this pair easily, textbook Airy disks with distinct jewel-like colours.

5. Gamma Arietis (Mesarthim)

A tight, bright pair of matching brilliant white stars, often observed with slight bluish or silvery tints.

In the 60mm: A good test for clean optics and high magnification. 

They appear as two bright headlights sitting close together in the field of view.

6. Beta Delphini (Rotanev)

A tight binary system in the constellation of the Delphinus, showing yellowish-white components.

In the 60mm: A great autumn target. 

Though challenging due to their closer separation, an f15 refractor's steady, pin-point diffraction patterns will tease them apart on a steady night.

WHY A 60MM f/15 REFRACTOR?

In an era of big aperture and computerized tracking, catching doubles

with a 60mm/f15 refractor allows the hobby to again explore that old school spirit. 

The slow f/15 focal ratio naturally reduces false colour on bright stars and 

provides those sharp high-contrast views needed to split tight binary 

pairs. 

Plus, centering objects manually using a simple alt-azimuth or 

wooden equatorial mount turns every star split into a small personal achievement

As and when I capture the L.F.B. list, I'll write up a blog post of my findings.

Sailing West, the Harvest Moon.

This morning's twilight revealed a very welcome sight.

Looking out towards the Emerald Isle, you could clearly see the inquisitive Harvest Moon tipping west across the Lundy sea, and sailing out towards the big pond of the Atlantic. 

What a treat for all poets and dreamers.

With the sea air sleeping, and the Birdlife yet to awake, that big old Moon just hanging there, seemed to be conducting a silent symphony.

At times like this I strongly remember why astronomy has  played such a big part in my life.

Eclipse of the Moon with Sandwiches

Up at 2.30am BST ready for the eclipse.

Decided to drive to higher ground.

About a mile down the road we realised that higher ground would be covered in cloud and mist!

We pondered for a moment  

then turned around and headed back to our original park spot.

Only an hour to go, but with the cloud milling all around, I wasn't sure if we would witness the event.

Fully dressed and cat napping, the clock alarm sounded at 3.40am BST.

I busied myself with setting up  the Vixen telescope. 

More importantly Helen made tea and sandwiches.

Still the clouds lurked, though mostly over towards the North and hidden low on the East and West horizon.

My telescope setup was identical to the one used on the August 12th solar eclipse.

This particular setup performs well on the  Moon and Sun.

We were able to capture images right up to the maximum coverage. 

Then, as if on queue, the clouds rolled over the Moon and the curtain fell on this early morning's wonderful eclipse.

The Moon throughout our observe wasn't as red tinged as eclipses of past.  

I think the best red eclipse we ever witnessed was that of December 9th 1992, a memorable event with a very  dark umbral shadow.

The Bat Moon Transit.

We were parked up on Newgale seafront, the sky darkened, Venus shone low down on the horizon.

No stars as yet.

Over the nearby hill the Moon slowly appeared. 

Through the Vixen telescope you could clearly see the lunar phase was very near full.  

For a few minutes I drifted off into a lunar dream.

Then I spotted it, perfectly silhouetted against the moon's face.. a bat!  

I quickly set up the camera  for a shot. 

No photo was captured, I had no chance, the little mammalian flyer was to quick for me to click the camera's shutter.

Having abandoned the idea of a bat transit photo, I put the camera to one side and went back to my lunar dreaming.

Solar eclipse with Cornflakes.

The day was sweltering, the grass was golden brittle  brown and push cut to the ground. 

Above us the autumn hinting blue sky was heavily tinted with that burning hot summer chrome, sharp and  shining out of every earthly reflection.

It was way too hot, the air was still  and there was no shade.

The Sun needed a parasol... the Moon was soon to oblige!

Today's solar eclipse was about to commence. 

Earlier in the day I had set up the little red telescope, hooked up my smartphone adapter and prepared all the phone camera settings for optimum "sit-on-a-deck-chair" eclipse viewing. 

The first contact occurred at 18h16m BST.

For the next two hours Helen and I sat enthralled.

The temperature within the first hour fell noticeably, the scorching heat was no more. 

The Moon parasol was working well.

The event went by without a hitch.

I got to sit on my deck-chair for most of it, eating cornflakes with ice cold milk, whilst enjoying every second of that most perfect Sun/Moon dance.

Solar Observe on Star Wars Day

It's that "May the 4th be with you" day.

Here's a photo capture of today's Sun, burning bright and beautiful with a stunning May time radiance.

The little Vixen telescope is back in the motorhome, where it belongs.

Recently I bought myself one of those camera adapters that fit over the eyepiece.

It cost the princely sum of £2 !

The adapter did a great job of holding our smartphone in place.

Seeing that the phone was now held tight I could spend some time adjusting the manual focus settings, which made all the difference.

Revisiting 1996 via the AI Time Machine.

Whilst recently cataloguing a bunch of my old black and white 35mm prints I happened upon this 1996 memory.

The photo was taken sometime in that  inbetween gap of the Summer and Autumn of 1996, at my parents' farm in Llanycefn. 

It was a glorious night, the stars were waking up and the Moon shone brightly, and all around was touched with that warmth that only comes from several weeks of summer heat.

The horses in the foreground where quietly going about their business. 

I was quietly going about mine with my Olympus OM10 35mm camera.

The above picture was developed and printed in my attic darkroom, and over the years has been lost and found again on several occasions.  

It's last incarnation has one of my haiku poems attached to it.

Recently having been "found" again I wanted to rejuvenate the picture, remove the haiku and possibly add a "1996" mood filter!

It seemed a great challenge for the modern darkroom, otherwise known as Gemini AI to undertake.

Here is Gemini's result:

Considering the visual quality of the original black and white image, it did a great job of reconstructing my "1996" memory of that night.  

As yet, I'm not sure what I think about the AI revolution... time will tell!

For now I sit on the fence, and look at the stars.

Quick peeps from Goodwick

Out with 60mm/800fl red Tasco. 

Eyepieces binoculars? 12.5mm x64.

Quick observe tonight as the mist was rising fast and obscuring much.

Jupiter near/below Gemini.

Splendid as always, showing two distinct bands and satellites. 

Castor  showing primary smaller and slightly grey/purplish colouring. x64.

Algieba was the top dog tonight.

The secondary was a beautiful 'green' colour. 

Primary was whitish but that secondary was "Opal Fruits" green, a similar green to that of the Gamma Delphinus comes.

No moon up yet, just a quick observe to keep my eyes trained. 

The Tasco is doing a fine job at x64. 

Algieba especially put on a great show, considering how tight that double is at x64.

Alas the mist took soon took hold and I retired to the warmth of Martha.

Today's Sol Image.

A quick Sol image, before the clouds moved in.

Sparrows chirping in the hedgerow, fairly mild weather, with the odd gust.

Much cloud about, but thankfully a few gaps to catch a quick photo.

"Compared to a star, we are like mayflies, fleeting ephemeral creatures who live out their lives in the course of a single day". Carl Sagan

The Red Vixen & February Sol.

These past few months my little Red Vixen has been taking a vacation in our Son's attic.

Yesterday I decided to dust off this most wonderful micro telescope, and take it on a few more journeys in the 

Motorhome.

Down to Newgale this afternoon, not long before sunset. 

Old Sol was hiding behind much cloud, but, with the odd gap appearing I managed a few pictures through the little Red Vixen.

First Sol image of February, fingers crossed for more to follow over the next couple of Fevrier weeks.

Hello February. Remembering Tal

This first day of Février was made up of four seasons.  

An early morning Winter, a midday Spring, a Summery promise around teatime, and a decidedly Autumnal evening!

The Sun headed over the mountains and far away at 16h53m UT tonight. 

It was a glorious sight to see the now noticeable return of the light. 

Today I deleted my Instagram account, its been long overdue.

Before doing so I downloaded all my photos.

 

Here's a photo of my old Tal1 Newtonian reflector. 

This little telescope revealed many of the wonders of the night sky. 

If you can find one of these gems grab it, you won't be disappointed.

Newgale - Meanderings typemachine & Baguettes

Down to Newgale beach this afternoon.

Looking out to sea.  

With several days of wind and rain now thankfully in our rear view mirror.

It's good to sit on the kitchen step, listening to the gentle sound of the waves crashing against this most Welsh shore. 

With the calming view came the urge to do some typing on the old poetry generator.

I picked out one of my poems from my "Stream of Consciousness" poetry collection. 

There's roughly about 650 poems in this collection; below is number 251.

Written in France, back in 2024, whilst heading our slow zig zag way towards the Dordogne and beyond. 

The whole journey seemed fuelled entirely by Baguettes, Camembert, Boursin and grape juice.

I practically ate my own body weight in Baguettes over the next two months!

Back in the UK I'm allergic to bread.

Someone, somewhere has an explanation for this.

The Aurora Dance of the Green & Red

Tonight's Aurora display was definitely the best naked eye display I've ever seen.

With just the camera phone to capture the event, here are a couple of  pictures.

The phone captured the red glow beautifully.

Though the naked eye didn't pick out the red that well.

By eye alone the green colouring was very prominent, ribbons of long stretched out cloud one second, then  tufts of singular green cloud the next, totally mesmerising! 

That dance of the green aurora continued for over an hour.

At one point a streak of billowing green appeared and slowly weaved its way past Orion and upwards towards The Pleiades.

Later on our son turned up to visit us, which made the evening all the more memorable.

It was a magical evening, never to be forgotten. 

Newgale Aurora : photo Jac Lee.

Jupiter Rising over the mast - Later the Mist.

It was finger-tipping cold, the sky was clear, the light was fading, we were driving eastwards. 

Right in front of us was the evening star, not Venus, this time it was Jupiter the planet of gas enshrouded mystery.

The stars hadn't yet made an appearance, we drove on.

Ten minutes later we reached our park up for the night. 

Now we had the star show, above Jupiter Gemini was out and about.

The phone camera captured this picture: 

In the distance you can see the red lights of the Preseli Mast.

Gemini stands out in this.photo, you can see Bright Jupiter just to the left and below the star Wasat.

A great start for the evening, but alas an hour later in came the Preseli Mist and all stargazing was put on hold for another night.

Still it was great to see Jupter and Gemini on this most cold of nights.

Poem for the Moonlight.

It is cold outside.

With just this night, in the stillness of a  year beginning.

Stargazing with mind and eye, soaking in the bright snowy white Moon.

Studying Orion as it peeps over scudding  winter clouds. 

What luck to be beneath the Heavens, feet planted firmly with gravity glue.

Looking up and out into the cold, bone-drying freeze of the Cosmos.