The Sun & Moon in Eclipse.

Thought these diagrams might be of interest to eclipse chasers in the UK.

From one of my favourite astronomy books, written by the great Welsh Moon mapper Percy Wilkins.

I noticed the forthcoming April solar eclipse is absent from the list.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@2648147?iso=20240408

Considering we in the UK will only glimpse it for maybe a few minutes I can see why the event wasn't included.

If you ever spot a copy of "Guide to the Heavens" buy it quickly, you won't be disappointed, a great trip down amateur astronomy memory lane. 

Lunar Flying & Selenites

These past many weeks (months!), Pembrokeshire has not been kind to astronomers. 

Lots of rain and too much wind have kept the dustcaps on all telescopes in our county. 

Tonight that all changed.

It was a pleasure to finally take the telescope out and do a bit of Lunar watching. 

Since it was the "first light" for this little Skywatcher refractor I thought the Moon would make a great target. 

High up in the sky and clear of the horizon murk and dust, the views the refractor delivered were very steady and sharp. 

No real observing of craters was done, this evening I only wanted to fly over the Moon.

Tonight's moon peep was for soaking in the moonlight, whilst lost in my thoughts of H.G.Wells' Selenites, Apollo landings and future lunar drawing projects.

Fingers firmly crossed for better weather and clearer skies.

The pencils are sharpened, the ink pens are waiting; can't wait to make some Lunar sketches and drawings.

Clear Skies wherever you are. 

Mark.

The night of Christmas day

 

This year's Christmas tree

The roaring winds dropped, the clouds parted and the night of Christmas day was cloaked in the light of the nearly full moon.

We had waited weeks for a sky clearing, and here it was, I wasn't about to waste any of it.

Helen and I stood outside for ages, drinking in the stillness of this most Christmas night.

The scudding clouds touched the moon and wiped away the days of wind and rain.

It has been ages since we witnessed a near full moon in such a quiet setting. No cars, no planes, no dogs on leads barking at trees. 

The absence of all 21st century racket and rush was most welcomed.

Not a soul to be seen; all at home enjoying the Christmas evening.

To the South Selene was up high, shining with almost a full December intensity. 

 

Overhead Cassiopeia.

To the West a tall pine tree with a star above (Hello Jupiter) made up completely for our lack of actual Christmas tree in our motorhome.  

To the North, a vixen was calling to the night.

For several minutes she gave out her haunting call.

The cry of the vixen

All in all it was a perfect Christmas night.