After nearly a month of waiting through overcast and wildfire smoke haze, I had a chance to see and photograph May’s young crescent Moon.
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Almost Full Moon (99%) April 2023
Very clear skies this early morning offered a prime opportunity to observe and photograph a nearly Full Moon.
Read moreWaxing Gibbous Moon 88%, April 2023
Despite the colder temperatures and increasing wind, I used my homemade Dobsonian telescope tonight to photograph the Moon approaching Full.
Read moreVenus on March 27th, 2023
It was finally time to photograph Venus once again, close up. Over the past several years I have posted Venus “cameos” where the planet was a dot in the sky, maybe next to the Moon, for example. But here, finally, I used my Mak-Cass to pinpoint on Venus and nothing else.
Read moreJupiter and Venus Together on March 1st, 2023
Sometimes there are appointments and commitments that interrupt even my astronomy hobby on important dates. This past Wednesday was one such occurrence. For despite the close approach of Jupiter and Venus and the remarkably clear skies (minus wisps of clouds), I was unable to be anywhere near my telescope or to have a passable astrophoography camera setup to record the event.
Read moreMoon in Late February, 2023
I have not posted an image of the Moon since last year, for a variety of reasons, but here is a good one from this past cycle in late February 2023.
Read moreJupiter and Venus After Sunset, February 26th, 2023
A view over my house of Jupiter and Venus close in the sky, after Sunset on February 26th, 2023.
Read moreAstronomy and Blog Update, Early 2023
Thoughts and comments about the start of 2023, mostly focused on my inability to see anything in the night sky, including comet C/2022 E3. Includes a look-ahead to upcoming activities and content.
Read moreWindow of Opportunity — Mars Opposition 2022
The sky was still not ideal, with a Full Moon. And with Mars almost due above, I had difficulty manually nudging the telescope. The focus wasn’t quite right. Despite all this, one set of my Mars videos was passable.
Read moreMy First Mars of the 2022 Season
The Mars opposition is days away, and though I have been watching the planet night and morning, this was may first take at it in over two years.
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