Monday 25 December 2023
The night of Christmas day
Friday 1 December 2023
Return of the blue skies Sol.
Not much chance of astronomy these past few weeks.
Partly due to the weather, and partly due to having a stinking cold a week or so ago!
Thankfully the cold has now gone, and the blue skies are back.
The pst was taken out for a quick peep at Sol.
I only have my small tripod at the moment, so everything is a bit wobbly to say the least.
A few Sol shots were captured, but mainly it was all naked eye viewing this morning.
The camera I use had a flat battery, so I tried out my other phone camera... nowhere near as good, but it managed to capture two of the major prominence.
Loads of sunspots today, this solar cycle is definitely picking up.
Sunday 22 October 2023
Moonlight over Newgale.
Took a spin to Newgale today, we haven't been for ages, at least not since the pandemic.
It was wonderful to see the vast stretch of beach.
Helen and I, and our son Jac spent fifteen years living only two miles from this glorious seafront ( 2001-2016).
Today, with every footstep we made in the sand, it was a trip down memory lane.
The gibbous Moon was visible over the nearby hill, only the second time we have seen it this lunation, blame the wind and rain!
As the night deepened, I set up the camera phone on a flimsy little £3 tripod I bought a few days ago.
After a bit of trail and error I managed to capture the following.
Mizar and Alcor (The Horse & Rider)
Amazing that the phone was able to capture Mizar AND Alcor, I didn't expect that.
The view from the camper van of the Moonlight over Newgale will stay with us always.
Sunday 15 October 2023
Sundogs over Mynachlogddu.
The sky gods behaved today, mo more rain for awhile.
The last few weeks have been a testing time for any astronomical activities.
So much rain! So many cloudy nights!
Today all sins have been forgiven, the good weather quietly and calmly returned to Pembrokeshire.
We ventured over to Waldo's stone over at Rhosfach Common near Mynachlogddu.
There was an excellent Sundog event in progress.
Lots of information on the Internet about sundogs, not so many actual displays, it was great to see one today.
I think the last time we spotted one was back last December.
They always seem to occur on those most quiet and calming still air days.
Tuesday 26 September 2023
The Moon sat on the leaves of a tree.
She totally caught us by surprise, and radiated that warm orange glow that only the Moon knows how to do.
We sat and gazed, and Moon bathed, and dreamed of past lunations. All those many Moon rises, lifting out of rock, trees, salt water and earth.
Not forgetting the eclipses, both lunar and solar, who could ever get tired of seeing those.
Tonight's Moon was no exception, as always a welcome old friend.
Thursday 21 September 2023
Hello Pleiades, heralding the Autumn
Out and about in the camper van , spent the night at a favourite local dark sky location.
What a beautiful night, witnessed the Moon rosy red and westward bound, melting into the nearby hills near Maenclochog.
Several meteors flashed by, Helen spotted a possible bollide, she mentioned that it left a definite trail in its wake.
Of course I missed it completely, at the time I was totally distracted by the the Plough asterism!
Out towards the east Jupiter was bright and sharp, and nearby the Pleiades was rising, a sure sign that Autumn is here.
Here's a picture I managed to capture with the phone camera.
A perfect night for all astronomers, hopefully the first of many in this new autumn astronomy season.
Saturday 16 September 2023
This Universe we all share has such wonder.
The French Scorpion.
Last night we camped in the village of Sereilhac, some maybe 20 miles south west of Limoges. The temperature all day hovered around 30°C ! ...
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Today's Sol image revealed a beautiful snake like filament . It got me thinking... How long is that filament? With the help of the lapt...
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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...
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Took a spin to Newgale today, we haven't been for ages, at least not since the pandemic. It was wonderful to see the vast stretch of be...