Derekscope

Monday 21st January 2019 – early morning
Great opportunity to see a Total Lunar Eclipse again place on Monday 21st January 2019 in the UK, it starts after 2:30am but the best view to be seen between 4am and 6am for the Red Moon.

Total Lunar Eclipse Event;
(Times shown in local time – GMT.)

Penumbral Eclipse begins:-
02:36am- The Earth’s penumbra start touching the Moon’s face.
Partial Eclipse begins:-
03:33am – Partial moon eclipse starts – moon is getting red.
Total Eclipse begins:-
04:41am – Total moon eclipse starts – completely red moon.
Maximum Eclipse begins:
05:12am – Moon is closest to the centre of the Earth’s shadow.
Total Eclipse ends:-
05:43am – Total Moon eclipses ends.
Partial Eclipse ends:-
06:50 – Partial Eclipse ends.
Penumbral Eclipse ends:-
The Earth’s penumbra ends, the Moon close to the horizon.

Welcome Back

I hope you had a lovely Christmas & Happy New Year 2019!

Not perhaps, definitely the astronomical highlight for January 2019 will be the lunar eclipse visible from the UK and europe in the very early hours of the morning that takes place on the morning of Monday 21st January – from today as Monday 7th, this happens in two week time.

At 4am the bright full moon will have fallen into Earth’s shadow darkening and turning an unique red colour – also known as a blood moon, visible from the UK in the very early hours of the morning.

(For observers in the North America and South America, the eclipse will take place between the evening of Sunday 20th January and the early morning hours of Monday 21st January.)

It’s sure to be an awesome spectacle, as long as the great British weather doesn’t spoil things!

Deaf astronomers from Milton Keynes Deaf Astronomical Society (MKDAS) team will be at the Emberton Country Park in Milton Keynes for this event and you are very welcome to join us!

Total Lunar Eclipse Event
(Times shown in local time – GMT.)

Penumbral Eclipse begins:-
02:36am – The Earth’s penumbra start touching the Moon’s face.
Partial Eclipse begins:-
03:33am – Partial moon eclipse starts – moon is getting red.
Total Eclipse begins:-
04:41am – Total moon eclipse starts – completely red moon.
Maximum Eclipse begins:-
05:12am – Moon is closest to the centre of the Earth’s shadow.
Total Eclipse ends:-
05:43am – Total Moon eclipses ends.
Partial Eclipse ends:-
06:50 – Partial Eclipse ends.
Penumbral Eclipse ends:-
The Earth’s penumbra ends, the Moon close to the horizon.

Best wishes and clear skies for 2019!

Derek Rowley

Thursday 22nd February 2018 – all night
See the Lunar X is a effect in which light and shadow creates the appearance of a letter ‘X’ on the rim of the Blanchinus, La Caille and Purbach craters.
(The X is visible only for a few hours before the first quarter, slightly below the lunar terminator.)

Friday 16th February 2018 – between 5.30pm and 5.45pm
Good opportunity to be seen a very thin crescent Moon which can be hard to spot in twilight skies, fortunately you can guide by the bright planet, Venus.

Thursday 15th February 2018 – all night
New Moon @ 21:06 / 9.06pm

Great time to look out for the constellation of Leo (The Lion).
Link: http://www.derekscope.co.uk/constellation-20th/leo/

Wednesday 14th February 2018 (23:00 – Thursday 15th, 1am)
The spectacular view of Messier 44 – The famous Beehive Cluster the constellation of Cancer (The Crab).

Monday 12th February 2018 @ 06:30am
Spotted the Waning Crescent Moon (Moon age: 26.5 days old / Moonlit: 11%) and catch a glimpse of earthshine this morning – this was definitely worth getting up for.

Saturday 10th February 2018 – Sun Pillar
I happened to look out my window and saw beam of orange light shooting straight up into the sky out of the sunrise. It’s a Sun Pillar.

Friday 9th February 2018 from 4am onwards
Close approach of the Moon and Mars.