Dec's Guide to the Night Sky for Amateur Astromomers - including Melbourne weather

@Owlunar . I was wondering what that star was near the moon. Jupiter.

Thank you.

Thanks @utopia

That was really bright wasn't it -

Last night the moon had moved away from Jupiter and now Antares is clear - it was really cold - too cold to wander around outside looking for stars and planets but the Scorpion is overhead in July - and so creeping up the sky in the early evening - and last night it was near the moon - tonight it's Saturn's turn but that's not as bright as Jupiter thought the moon is waning now - it's interesting to see if going outside doesn't freeze our fingers off -

Last night - Yes - I had to put my bins out - talk about the sublime and the just plain ordinary - and the sky had cleared briefly after heavy rain during the afternoon and again - more rain this morning and now - #Here we go round the mulbery bush# weather

Tonight Mercury and Mars are close together but might be too hard to see even if we get a clear sky - they are setting before 7.00 om so they are very close to the sun but If the weather is cooperating I will take a walk to see - it's worth the effort of going out in the evening - but not everyone feels that way

I'm glad I could help Utopia - keep your gloves on though - it's nippier in Central Victoria

Dec

I'm a smoker @Owlunar and I only smoke outside - in my backyard, so I always (clouds permitting) get a good view of the moon.

I have my super warm dressing gown and slippers on every evening. Keeps me warm while I moon gaze.

Okay - @utopia

At least you get out into the fresh air to smoke - and see the sky - clouds permitting - i used to smoke - I couldn't pay for that and a mobile phone so the phone won

We have light polution in the city too - I had a great time looking at the sky from my balcony in Canberra - that was a wonderful holiday - I can hardly believe that was 3 years ago next month - time flies

Winter - it's not my favourite time of year - strange then that autumn is

Dec

Your descriptions are mesmerising @Owlunar. How have the views been lately?

@Owlunar, I know you are away at the moment , but love to hear more xoxo

Hello @utopia , @outlander , @Gazza75

@Owlunar

I forgot to tag you into the craft thread, but, this seems like a good spot to show you my latest little diamond painting. Hope you like it 🙂

Hi @Gazza75

What a pity - I missed that tag - and I remember what I was doing back then - I was getting ready for 2 weeks in Cairns and that was a time worth having

And I am still enjoying my memories - I won't be going away again for the foreseeable future.

Anyway

@Gazza75 @Shaz51 @Ali11 @utopia @outlander - I actually have a couple of photos that my new camera helped me produce - three planets have been in what is called conjunction or alignment for the last few weeks and so let's see how the photos look here. I took them early in the morning - it was worth getting up and going outside with my phone to take the photos - astronomy is my passion and last year was not a good year - with the weather and the planets being too close to the sun - this year is better

Great - the moon is not full but there was a lot of wispy cloud around the area and there are a few stars there - part of the constellation of Sagittarius - they just make the picture pretty. The three planets are below that - Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. I'm not sure how they will look when they are posted in the site but let's see because I have another one

Dec

Bewdy - I am proud of this shot

Wow @Owlunar xx

What camera do you have ?

Hello @Gazza75 , @utopia , @outlander , @Determined

I just used my smart-phone @Shaz51

I did have a camera for a long time and I could take pics and it was great - I still have a lot of those pics in my very old laptop.

But I did take pics of those planets over several days and it was interesting watching Jupiter catch up and actually pass Mars - and soon Saturn will pass Mars too

I am really passionate about the solar system - I have been for decades now

Dec

Here Jupiter and Mars are really close together with Saturn following and the crescent moon is just rising