Derekscope

Moon at First Quarter

• The 7 days old Moon rises around midday, is highest at sunset, and sets around midnight.
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• This is one of the best phases for telescopic observation, as the low Sun angle along the terminator casts long shadows that reveal craters, mountains, and valleys in striking detail.
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• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  Not visible for the UK Observers.
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  –…Today: Thursday 20th August 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
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• The next one will be on Friday 18th September 2026.
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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Conjunction of the Moon and Venus

• The young waxing crescent Moon and Venus form a beautiful pairing in the evening sky on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2026.
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• Looking toward the western horizon beginning 30–45 minutes after sunset.
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• Brilliant Venus will be easy to spot, with the delicate crescent Moon nearby.
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• The pairing will be visible to the naked eye and will make an excellent target for binoculars or wide-field photography.
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• The evening of Saturday 15 August is likely to be the more photogenic, with the thinner crescent Moon hanging low in the twilight.
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Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury

• Jupiter and Mercury are in conjunction, appearing very close together in the morning sky.
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• The conjunction occurs in the pre-dawn sky.
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• Look 45–60 minutes before sunrise toward the east-northeastern horizon.
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• The two planets will be close enough to fit comfortably within the field of view of most binoculars, creating a striking pairing against the brightening dawn.
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• However, because they are only about 12° from the Sun, they remain low in the sky and require a clear, unobstructed horizon.
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• Stop using binoculars or a telescope before sunrise to avoid accidentally viewing the Sun.
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Venus at greatest elongation east

• Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation, one of the best times to observe it as the “Evening Star”.
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• Outstanding in the western sky after sunset.
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• Looking 30–45 minutes after sunset toward the western horizon.
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• Venus will be unmistakably bright and will remain visible until late evening, making this one of the finest evening apparitions of 2026.
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Thank you to everyone who texted me to say thanks for sharing about the eclipse! ~ I’m so glad many of you got to witness it.
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Check out my astrophotography shot of it below!

Next one – Monday 2nd August 2027

• UK observers will see a partial solar eclipse in the morning around 9am BST on Monday 2nd August 2027.
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• While the path of full totality will pass through southern Spain, Gibraltar, North Africa, and the Middle East, observers staying in the UK will still get a significant partial view.
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• The eclipse of the Moon will cover between 30% and 45% of the Sun, depending on how far south you are located ~ for example, observers in London can expect roughly 42% to 45% coverage.
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Mercury and the Moon rising

• Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury.
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• The very thin waning crescent Moon and Mercury rise together in the pre-dawn sky, providing one of the month’s most attractive morning pairings.
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• Both are in the constellation Cancer.
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The Moon at Perigee

• The Moon reaches perigee ~ the closest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

• The waning crescent Moon is in conjunction with Mars, making a pleasing pre-dawn sight.
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• For observers in the UK, look toward the east-northeastern sky about 1–2 hours before sunrise.
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• The slender crescent Moon will act as an easy guide to the reddish-orange Mars.
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• The pair will be visible to the naked eye, and binoculars will enhance the view, although they are too far apart to fit together in most telescopes’ fields of view.
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Moon at Last Quarter

• At the exact moment of Last Quarter, the Moon is in the constellation Aries.
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• It rises around midnight, is highest near sunrise, and sets around midday.
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• This is an excellent time to observe the Moon through binoculars or a telescope because the line between lunar day and night (the terminator) highlights craters and mountains with dramatic shadows