Yule

Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

At 12.02 GMT on Sunday 21st December, the sun will be overhead at the southern Tropic of Capricorn. We in the Northern Hemisphere will have our shortest day of the year, our longest night.

Thereafter, the sun returns northward as we anticipate spring

My little Solstice tree brings welcome light to my living room

Whilst my gilded angel plays her violin sweetly and keeps an eye on....

the Solstice treats....

May the promise of the returning sun bring joy to your hearts, warmth to your bodies and fertility to your gardens (and anywhere else that you might wish).

Happy Yuletide Everyone!

You may click on the Yule Tree for a treat!

Tails in the air!

Ryanair and stratus at dawn, Stansted Airport, London

Gondolas, Venice

Ring-tailed Lemurs, Madagascar

Sky Watch Friday

Maalie selects images from his albums of travel pictures for Skywatch

Click here for a complete list
of all the participants
of this week's Sky Watch!

Occultation of Venus

On December 1st there was a close conjunction of the New Moon with the planets Jupiter and Venus. Indeed, Venus itself was "eclipsed" as the moon passed in front of her (technically, when the moon obscures a planet, the term is occultation).

I was able to see the event on a clear cloudless night on the shores of the Irish Sea in Wales.

Jupiter is plain to see above the New Moon, but where is Venus?

The reason you can see the "dark" part of the moon's disc is due to sunlight reflected from earth back to the moon, and then back again to us!

Ah, she was hiding behind the Moon. You can see her just
peeping out at the bottom right of the moon

Growing less shy now, Venus decides to show herself to the world...

Growing in confidence, she comes right out!

By the Light of the Silvery Moon... The Moon, Venus and Jupiter
set over the Irish Sea in Wales keeping company with each other

You may click on the picture for a treat...

Sky Watch Friday

Maalie selects images from his albums of travel pictures for Skywatch

Click here for a complete list
of all the participants
of this week's Sky Watch!