Backyard Moon 1032


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!

Jambo, moon friends! - been away - without a scope - but here are some sky encounters ;-)


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!


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!


Kilimanjaro as the sun goes down on the 8th	And the typical African colours of sunset - asante sana Hamisi!!


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

Sunset in the Bamburi forest - then Full Moon over the Indian Ocean on the 11th - not bad going, Sue? - thanks for the guard, Zamte

Drifting thin cloud - beautiful 7 day Moon at 21:30 BST


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


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


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)


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!!

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!!!!