My June Observing Highlights!

Ive always noticed that June has been a month for clouds and this year it has been no exception. There where a large number of overcast nights however i made the most of it and observed on every clear night and day i could get. Here have been my personnal observing highlights....

1) I made a handful of Venus observations during the middle of the day with the sun near over head. First using a telescope and finder then i managed a 100% naked eye sighting of the planet with the glaring sun near by. I did not use anything to shield the sun. I am very proud of this observation as it is something i have always wanted to do

2) Observed 4 colourful sun dogs (many double sightings)

3) Seen 3 solar pillars

4) Observed a 22* solar Halo

5) Seen one elusive murk white Upper Tangent Arc

6) Seen a lovely bright rainbow coloured Circumzenithal Arc

7) Observed 2 lunar pilars - both visible at same time.

Seen one naked eye sunspot

9) Seen the largest full moon in 18 years rise in the SE!

10) Seen a fantastic thunder and lightning storm where i obtained my first image of lightning strikes touching the ground!

11) The nice Jupiter and Moon conjunction

12) The recent amazing Venus and Mercury Conjunction!!!

13) I made 3 sightings of Noctilucent clouds. 2 of these displays where incredible and i obtained many good images.

14) Because of the cloudy skies i only got 6hrs and 14 mins of comet hunting done. Which brings my total to 771 hours 26mins of telescopic searching spread over 540 comet sweep sessions since May 1st 2000. I have also logged 2597 telescopic satellites and 204 telescopic meteors.

Who knows what July has in store for amateur astronomers. I look forward to the nights getting darker and the impact on Comet tempel. Maybe if we are all very nice the next great Comet/Nova/Super Nova will appear for us to marvel at over the summmer. Fingers crossed

Clear Skies to you all

Martin - you sure have been busy! Well done and especially for logging it all and letting us know!

By the way, I look forward to Deep Impact NOT splitting Tempel 1 and sending it hurtling toward Dublin... If it did Bertie would have an excuse for the cracks in the Port Tunnel, a leaking swimming pool and a busted roof ad nauseum... :lol:

Thanks again and keep us all posted on your July escapades!

Cheers

Dave McD

lol lol lol

Thanks Dave!

Yea ive heard of these bogus reports about the comet being knocked towards the earth. I guess some people just never do any research into these things. Hope the media doesnt get hold of it.... tut tut tut

Maybe if we are all very nice the next great Comet/Nova/Super Nova will appear for us to marvel at over the summmer. Fingers crossed

The best things come to those who wait..........Bring on that supernova, this time of year would be excellent.

Keith..

and a busted roof ad nauseum... :lol:
Dave McD

It beats blaming the wind. :lol: