First evening of 2025

Welcome to 2025, and what better welcome than a crystal clear January 1st winter evening sky.

Such a beautiful night, stars shining and bright.

A shooting star from Auriga to Ursa Minor (Kochab). A long slow trail, slightly broken in places. Almost bright enough to be put in the bollide category.

Binocular views through my Russian 8x30s revealed M36, M37, M38, M41, M42, M44, M45 and the Hyades. 

Mars was shining bright just above the Beehive Cluster M44.

21.30 UT  - Leo rising near Roch Castle, a cold evening, no wind. 

So silent, so welcome, it's been ages since I witnessed a night like this.

Slowly and with no fuss a few sounds meandered their way. 

Firstly the distant crash of the waves on Newgale's pebbled beach, then a nearby owl hooting, plus an aeroplane high up heading out across the cold Atlantic ocean.

With fire lit and embers, wood smoke smell from chimney the  stars truly became more brilliant. 

There had been an aurora earlier in the evening, nothing that the eye could detect, but the phone camera captured a whisper of that familiar red.

Aurora Glow - Apologies for the wobbly wobbly stars

It was light  until about  16:50 UT tonight.

Spring is definitely getting closer, the nights are starting to noticeably draw out.

Here's to many more 2025 clear skies.

Opera glass to the Moon

I didn't manage to sketch the recent Full Moon, but I had a go at the gibbous Moon, as seen with my opera glasses. 

It was a cold night, I felt a chill and decided I preferred the warmth of our motorhome to the cold November air. 

Still, some detail of various mare were noted.

The sketch I wanted to do at Full Moon will have to wait for another day.

Here's the initial lunar drawing I was taking notes from.

Maybe I will have better luck with  the Full Moon of Christmas time.

Which will be on December the 15th.

Clear Lunar skies 

Les étoiles, toujours étoiles.

Having just come back from France, I thought why not post some of my camera phone astro images.

Simple pictures with an astronomy theme was pretty much my limit. 

I will leave the long exposures and star tracking for another time.

It was great to see the various constellations that much higher in the sky (at one point we were 44 degrees north).

       

Orion over the church spire

Scorpio was an amazing sight.

Being able to see the entire constellation from the south of France was a sight not to be forgotten.

        Full Moon over 

Pont Brottone

Next time we head off to France I will pack a digital SLR camera. 

Our old Nikon D50 took some excellent shots of the night sky.

* Must remember to post my "opera glasses" Moon sketch in the next post.

Clear Skies 

Mark.