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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ! ...
