…..in the clearest darkest sky. New long distance specs revealed pin sharp stars with a planet way above Orion. Click ‘open link’ on these thumbnails to see fantastic images and an excellent star atlas.
Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka are in the belt, Betelgeuse above, Rigel below. Wonderful names.
I nearly broke/twisted myself last night, out on the circuit, I was engrossed in star gazing, mis-footed off the road, heck! Smud was mad for the scent of hares.
As with most nights the fields are full of ghosts. Seven years of feeding now reduced to one grey mare, lovely as she is. We were so lucky, and so they were too, for seven years of friendship. I never ‘knocked’ the owners as its due to them we had so much worthwhile activity.
This second pic gives the relationship to Taurus and the Pleiades. Unseen on the left is Sirius the dog star, Procyon, Auriga, Castor and Pollux. All old friends. Knowing a little abt Orion leads on to the Messier catalogue and the famous M42 below Orions belt.
After the result seen last year I am very aware of December 14th and the expected meteor shower. Fingers crossed for clear skies.
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