The Sun shines, the clouds are plenty.

It's a Sun shining Monday morning. Much cloud milling about, though not enough to hide old Sol.

This will be the first decent solar viewing I have had in eleven days! The wind and rain have battered poor old Pembrokeshire for most of that time.

All is forgiven now, the Sun is out and the washing is on the line.

The big old Sun wanted another portrait picture, I happily obliged.

Messier Revisited and Revisited again.

Below is an old blog post published in 2013 on this day of January the 8th.

I have posted it today to remind myself to dig out my Messier Album Book by John H. Mallas and Evered Kreimer.

It's a fantastic book for the study of Charles Messier's list of objects to avoid whilst looking for comets.

Messier Revisited.

This year I'm hoping to sketch a lot more of the Messier objects list - using the Tal1. 

To get me started, I've reworked a couple of my sketches from last years collection.

Also I've added a photo of the Pleiades that I took; I think back in November.  

I'll have to dig through my CD's to find the actual date.

I've had Tal1 for nearly two years, and in that time I've not as yet attacked the Messier list with any real conviction.

Over the years I've seen many of the Messier objects through various telescopes, but it will be interesting to see what the mighty Russian reflector is capable of.

With Tal1 as company it will be nice to revisit some of my Messier favourites.

I'm expecting mostly to make sketches of my Messier-Tal1 findings, but sometimes it will be easier just to train our Nikon D50+ 300mm lens onto my intended target.

The picture below of M45 was taken with our 70-300mm telephoto lens.

I wonder if the 300mm lens will capture the Beehive Cluster ?

The Messier Album an observer's handbook.

One book that is indispensible if you're chasing the Messier objects is, The Messier Album an observer's handbook by John H. Mallas and Evered Kreimer.

John H. Mallas visually observed and sketched the Messier's with a lovely 4" Unitron refractor. 

Whilst Evered Kreimer photographed the Messier's with his 12.5 inch Cave reflector...again another beautiful looking instrument.

Between these two astronomers, they managed to produce a beautifully illustrated and informative book. 

John H. Mallas's sketches in particular give a wonderful representation of what you will actually see through most small telescopes with the naked eye. Equally Evered Kreimer's black & white photographs are really impressive ... 

Most of the photos in this book are black & white.

Although there are 16 pages in the back that contain colour pictures of the Messier objects, from several other amateur astronomers. 

In total the volume runs to some 230 pages.

Plus if you look on Amazon, you can pick this up for only only a few pounds.

If I was only allowed one Messier book on my shelf this would be the one.

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.