Super Moon!

Tonight is a Super Moon! The Moon is now the closest to the Earth in 18 years and it is a full Moon which makes it beautiful to watch!

Took these images tonight with my Skywatcher 80ED Pro telescope and Canon 350D camera.

In reality, the Moon is only slightly larger than usual, but with clear skies and a full Moon it looks very bright. I looked at lots of websites tonight about the Super Moon and the bad omens connected with it.

The earthquake in Japan is an amazing co-incidence don't you think?

Now I am not the sort of person to spread doom and gloom, but when you think about it...is it possible that the Moon had something to do with the earthquake in Japan?

Do you think that the forces of gravity involved makes it possible? Earth and Moon interact with each other applying forces on each other. If the Moon is closer to the Earth then a larger force by the Moon is exerted on the Earth which may cause stress in certain areas of the Earth. Maybe it was 'the straw that broke the camel's back' and the Earth cracked and caused the earthquake in Japan and not long ago in New Zealand. Here is a good explanation of the 'Supermoon' and it's myths! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/03/18/kryptonite-for-the-supermoon/

ISS and Discovery

ISS and Discovery approaching from the West with Hyades and Pleiades in top left.

Tonight I set up and waited for the International Space Station and Discovery to make it's high pass over England. It was 18.45pm and clear skies. I set up the Canon 350D on a tripod and aimed at the West, the point of approach, with a wide view. Overhead the ISS was very bright mag -3.3 ... a wonderful sight!

I managed to capture three 20 second exposures. One on approach, one overhead and one decending away to the East.

ISS and Discovery overhead with Hyades and Pleiades to the right.

In the photos you can also see the star clusters of Hyades and Pleiades as the ISS passes close by.

ISS and Discovery silently moving away to the East.

I also made a video of the ISS using a 'Flip' Camera.

Orion wide view

Tonight I set up my Canon 350D on a tripod ready to capture the pass of ISS and Discovery. The ISS was a beautiful sight approaching from the West and destined to cross the Orion Constellation. Then just as the ISS reached Orion...it vanished! I checked on 'Heavens above' and sure enough it fades before it peaks!

Never mind...try again tomorrow!

Still managed a nice photo Orion without ISS!