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Archives Index Latest - on new web
Lunation 1032 - May 27th - June 24th 2006
Summer Solstice - 21st June 2006
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| Spotted the silver crescent of the 24 day moon rising around 02:40
BST. Naturally it was in the trees about to disappear again behind a chimney and
even bigger tree!! Venus was no doubt behind the roof Sky was pale with a few stars shining - the little 'trapezium' of Pisces was below brighter Pegasus to the SE with Perseus appearing to the NE (see SkyMapPro for details) |
A couple of hours later - the sun was rising on the longest day and the moon had hidden in the clouds - for a change! |
(watch for Saturn and Mars getting friendly on the 14th)
Jambo, moon friends! - been away - without a scope - but here are some sky encounters ;-)
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| Watched Venus from the plane in the dark sky somewhere over Sudan (?) - here dawn is just breaking as Venus gets higher | And a few minutes later the sun came up and Venus was blotted out - June 6th had arrived! | And later the sun, finishing its 12 hour shift, sets over the elephants and baboons - pole, pole! |
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| Sunset from Tsavo on the 7th | 10 day Moon - terminator at the bottom here just south of the equator | Jupiter was about - but so were clouds - even here! |
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| Kilimanjaro as the sun goes down on the 8th | And the typical African colours of sunset - asante sana Hamisi!! |
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| 12 day Moon through the coconut palms over the Indian Ocean in the east on the 9th | You can just about make out the shape - round at the top with the terminator at the bottom | Jupiter gets friendly in Mombasa. Sawe, sawe - hakuna matata |
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| Sunset in the Bamburi forest - then Full Moon over the Indian Ocean on the 11th - not bad going, Sue? - thanks for the guard, Zamte |
Kwaheri
3rd June 2006 - First Quarter
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| Drifting thin cloud - beautiful 7 day Moon at 21:30 BST |
2nd June 2006 - 6 day moon
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| Moon visible in Backyard - moving through the chimneys. Set the Tal up | Had to wait till around 22:00 BST before the sky provided a reasonable contrast - thin cloud and roof heat! | And even then the sky in the NW suddenly lit up with the last rays of the sun on the clouds ... more later |
1st June 2006 - 5 day moon
| Layers of cloud coming up in NW - moon just sneaks in shot | 5 day Moon dodges in and out of cloud at 21:30 BST |
| In the East the Manchester sky trails and jet over the bamboo | Patterns in the SE but clouds looming from the West |
31st May 2006 - 4 day moon
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| Clear sky for the 4 day Moon - seen here when the sky was still bright before 22:00 BST. Later Saturn could be seen below to the left, with the Beehive between it and the Moon. Mars was small to the right. | 4 day Moon - Earthshine still clear - craters showing in south. Cloud came over as it became dark around 23:00 BST blocking out the stars and then the Moon (Bresser) |
30th May 2006 - 3 day Moon
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| Peeked out again around 23:00 BST and caught it unawares!! (Bresser) | Earthshine was beautiful - just about seen here through the finderscope! Tried to get the Twins in as well but they declined the offer! | Didn't have long to look - the moon found the trees. Mars and Saturn nearby - streetlight even nearer!! |
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| What I want to know is - how did the clouds know when the England V Hungary match finished!! There'd been a lovely 3 day crescent there while the match was on!!!! |
clouds, rain, clouds, hail, clouds ...