Moon 28th December 2017

Two photos, one hour apart, and the Moon appears to have rotated nearly 20 degrees clockwise.

But this is an optical illusion. The reason it appears to have rotated is because we look at the moon at different angles! This is because both the Earth and Moon are rotating anti-clockwise but the Moon rotates about 30 times slower.

Here is a video that may help!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZIB_leg75Q

(first photo, 21:30 / second photo, 22:31)
Distance 230,421 / 230,421 miles.
Waxing gibbous phase / waxing gibbous phase.
207 degrees SW compass point / 246 degrees SW compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 43.4 / 38.3 degrees.

Moon 27th December 2017

First moon after Christmas!

So I chose the nearest moon landing to Christmas Day to talk about which is Luna 13. It landed on Christmas Eve 1966, in the region of Oceanus Procellarum, the only 'ocean" on the Moon! It sent panoramic TV pictures on Christmas Day, and its last contact was 51 years ago today!

Back to my Moon photo, look at how it has rotated (compared to my 2nd October 2017 photo).
1, Mare Tranquillitatis
2, Tycho
3, Montes Apenninus or Apennines

Time 22:39.
Distance 234,323 miles.
Waxing gibbous phase.
240 degrees SW compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 27.5 degrees.

Moon 15th December 2017

Last Moon before Christmas.

It was an early, cold, clear, bright morning. Wonderful distinct silhouette of the Moon and Terminator but no detail.

Have a nice Christmas.

Time 07:35.
Distance 250,027 miles.
Waning crescent phase.
145 degrees SE compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 17.2 degrees.

Sunday 10th December 2017

Compare this to the previous post: same time, same place, different day, no Moon.

All astronomers until 1965 had the problem of weather stopping them from investigating space. But in 1965, the Russians launched Proton-1, the first orbital telescope, which worked on gamma rays. The first optical telescope was Hipparcos, by the European Space Agency in 1989.

Time 10:32.
Distance 236,811 miles.
Last quarter phase.
250 degrees W compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 20.6 degrees.

-1 degrees C.
Wind speed 13 mph.
NNE wind direction.
Humidity 97%.
Poor visibility.
Barometer 976mbars.

Saturday 9th December 2017

Snowy Moon!
I was riding my sledge today in the park and I could see the Moon!
The photo doesn't show any detail (I only had my small camera) but at least it's there!

Time 11:12.
Distance 233,162 miles.
Last quarter phase.
270 degrees W compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 10.7 degrees.

2 degrees C.
Humidity 80%.
Barometer 1020 mbars.

Moon 29th October 2017 & Moon 29th November 2017

What a difference a month makes!

Same moon, one calendar month apart. The Terminator is slightly further left in November and the October Moon appears brighter.

Historic weather report shows 29th October to be "scattered clouds", 4 degrees C, humidity 85%, barometer 1010 mbars, whilst 29th November was "passing clouds", 0 degrees C, humidity 86%, barometer 997 mbars.

29th October 2017:

Time 17:50.
Distance 243,498 miles.
Waxing gibbous phase.
150 degrees SE compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 20 degrees.

29th November 2017:

Time 18:26.
Distance 232,709 miles.
Waxing gibbous phase.
140 degrees SE compass point (azimuth).
Altitude 32.2 degrees.