The Moon Maiden Sings to the Wren.

A tiny wren has taken up residence in our garden, she dances and flits through the undergrowth. Every day we spot her searching for food.

She finds food most definitely! only yesterday she was seen bashing the living daylights out of very large grub/caterpillar. 

After the bashing and much pecking the grub was quickly swallowed whole... 

Such is Nature.

A size to ratio equivalent I guess would be me eating a whole chicken in one gulp! 

Last night the Moon was peeping at me from above some nearby rooftops, en passant, the woodsmoke from a nearby chimney was wafting and coiling about our garden, a beautiful smell to complement the cold winter night.

Out came the Newtonian, and very soon the Moon was within my grasp.

Straight away I could see the old familiar Moon Maiden, lounging sleepily on the nearby terminator.

Craters Helicon and Le Verrier stood out well, and the Mons Pico was bright, I'm looking forward to see the various Mons Pico shadows over the waning phase.

Mars was close to the Moon and I did manage to see some surface detail, though not enough to accurately make a sketch. 

Hopefully I'll catch a few sketches before Barsoom once again sails away.

Sol - December 29th 2022.

“A flower will always grow in the direction of the sun because beauty recognises beauty.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

Boxing Day Luna.

The Boxing day crescent Moon stood still in a Pembrokeshire blue sky, I had to capture the moment.

Within five minutes the telescope was all set up and ready to go.

The evening was cold, the clouds were nearby, I had maybe ten minutes to grab a few images.

The Mare Crisium stood out well, the photo below shows some of the craters of Crisium and surrounding area.

Here's a more detailed image with some labelling of the major craters. 

Cleomedes, Burckhardt and Geminus return beautiful black rim shadows at this part of the lunation.

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.

This morning's Christmas solar image.

The Solstice hedgerows & the promise of longer days.

There is a lovely hedgerow prominence visible on the Sun at the moment.

Haven't seen a decent hedgerow display for ages. 

photo: Harold Zirin's book  "Astrophysics of the Sun"

What better display to celebrate today's Solstice.

As of today our days will be getting that little bit longer, the promise of Spring and Summer 2023 is upon us.

Crescent Waning, Schickard on the edge.

Horizon hugging clouds didn't spoil the Moon watch this morning.

A quick setup of the Newtonian, a simple 25mm eyepiece and our old Samsung S6 phone returned a half decent view of the waning crescent.

Along the terminator, Schickard Nasmyth & Phocylides were easily spotted. 

No hint of Mare Orientale this time, I think the libration wasn't favourable, but even so the glare of the sunlight on the Moon's limb at this time would have probably ruled out any Orientale observations.

Sol 15/12/22 - Perfect Pembrokeshire Morning.

This morning's sky was winter blue, and frosty. 

A beautiful morning with a glorious high above waning Moon.

The perfect Pembrokeshire morning.

The Newtonian performed well, helped in part by a steady clear sky. 

I was very pleased to glimpse a hint of the Mare Orientale.

The low winter Sun creates beautiful contrasts, at the moment, but for the Robin and Wren, all is still in our garden of long shadows.

Old Sol wanted a morning portrait, I was happy to oblige.