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Round dawn on the 2nd October 2005 (05:30 UT)- not much hope at seeing the last crescent but the stars were out in force earlier at around midnight with Mars in the SE.

Perseus strode high in the E above Capella in Auriga; Taurus chased Mars with the Pleiades for company.

Orion was rising - winter must be coming

1st October 2005 ... cloud ... but caught a glimpse of Saturn again AND the Beehive Cluster briefly 04:30 UT and had the Tal out for Mars earlier ... no details seen except phase ...

Been a very Low Tech lunation with no sightings of the moon through the TAL

But - plenty of binocular viewings - even some from Oz - fingers crossed for clear skies on Monday

30th Sept 2005 ... cloud, cloud and more cloud ...

Rain and cloud earlier in the previous evening - blanket cloud when the moon should have been rising in the early hours ....

Not a lot of chances left this lunation but ... you never know ...

Swathes of thick cloud (and rain) had curtailed a telescope viewing of Mars around midnight - and they still kept smothering bright stars and the moon in the early hours of Thursday when the binoculars came out ..

Mars was further south when the moon came up with Saturn bright in the east in Cancer. Couldn't see the Beehive cluster but there was a bright star close to Saturn which might have been Asellus Australis in Cancer?

0400 BST altitude around 23 deg - above middle tree

Earthshine again - Mare Humorum still biting a dark chunk out of the terminator. Two craters showed beneath the sea - Mersenius and Vieta possibilities.

Magnificent Schickard clear with Phocylides alongside to the south.

Grimaldi had more shape and looked like a crater rather than a dark patch. Rocca? dark further south with Byrgius A still shining bright.

Not so bright was the area round Aristarchus - though a dark crater shape was visible

Again - pics for phase reference, taken through 20x50 old binocs on a tripod through glass!! Thick cloud, with some clearer spots

Time 0230 UT

Earthshine

Moon high in ENE - well, about 19 deg alt but well over roof tops and trees!! The mountains forming the Sinus Iridum showed clearly in the shadow at the terminator - a lovely sight. Mare Humorum still complete and Grimaldi still dark with the bright Byrgius A below.

Schiller's distinctive shape was clear near the southern terminator edge with possibly Mee and Hainzel above

0100 UT Bright and clear in ENE

Viewed 0100 - 0200 UT

Earthshine

Through 20x50 binocs

Sinus Iridum showed beautifully clear in the NW as did Copernicus. Kepler, Aristarchus, Grimaldi all showing well

Mare Humorum clear with Bulliadrus sharp above. On the terminator several large craters showed well - probably Newton, Blancanus, Clavius, Longomontanus, Wilhelm ...

Hope these will interest you - the Moon as she appears from near Brisbane, Australia. A friend took these in his backyard in Maleny, through 10x binoculars with camera in one hand, pointing through the lens. Great shots, Ian, you must have a steady hand. Thanks!!

Grimaldi in the south, Crisium in NW, Mare Frigoris in SW. Aristarchus bright, Stevinus A/Furnerius A too. Rays seen crossing Mare Serenitatis from Menelaus in 2nd pic

I'd been trying to work out what angle the moon would appear to viewers down-under so Ian sent these shots in. The moon appears to have just over 90 deg anti-clockwise turn - not what I'd expected though should have guessed from the Day 3 crescent sent earlier this lunation.

Taken on 18th Sept 2005, moon low and full in the east from Maleny, Queensland, sky dark and clear


13-09-05 - Belgium to Kiel Canal	13-09-05 - 9 day moon	14-09-05 - Kiel Canal into Baltic	14-09-05 - 10/11 day moon

16-09-05 Finland to Russia	16-09-05 - 13 day moon Mars appeared	20-09-05 - Sweden to Denmark Mars now in shot	20-09-05 - 17 day moon

21-09-05 - Denmark to Germany	21-09-05 - 18 day moon	22-09-05 - Germany to Holland Mars overtaking	22-09-05 - 19 day moon
		Back to daytime moons!!
Amsterdam 23-09-05	Amsterdam 23-09-05 - 20 day moon		England 24-09-05 Last quarter

If you can view the moon on the 15th Sept around 20:10 - 20:18UT watch out for the occultation of the star Kappa Capricorni

details

Click for a link to more on Occultations or sign up for Alerts from the SPA

rain ...rain ...

Day 3 crescent OZ Clouds on Day 3 UK Rain on Day 4

In case I miss tonight too, here is a picture from Australia from 10:00UT 7-Sept-05

thanks Hils and Ian - Moon and Venus

Did miss out again - clouds over Greater Manchester ... on 7-Sept-05- now rain on 8-Sept-05

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