The Halo

 Clear skies, hexagonal ice crystals in the air, meant that the moon on Tuesday night put on a spectacular 22 degree halo for those skywatchers among us. 

I'm sure one of my readers must have seen it.  

As a binocular astronomer at the moment, the moon is normally bad news for me - I like looking for open clusters that get drowned out by the moon's light. But, there's still plenty of things that pop up for the naked eye viewer. 

And this saintly, crowned moon, was one of them. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.12.25 

A Celestial Event

 We have had a period of unbelievably gloomy weather the last few days - continual fog and mist, the air full of moisture that made the rim brakes on my bicycle scarily useless at times, and a sun that may not exist anymore for all I've seen of it. 

Earlier in the week however, I accidentally saw a wonderful sight in the night sky as I was cycling home from work, and stopped to take photographs. The moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus were all in a line across the night sky just after sunset, with Venus just hovering above the lights of the industrial estate of food factories and chicken hatcheries. 

Sadly Saturn was a mite too faint for my camera to pick up. The next mobile phone I get better have a night photography mode on it!

This weekend, I've managed to get some decent walking done, although there hasn't been an awful lot to see apart from bare trees in a clinging damp fog. However, my attempts to find the first flowering plant of the new season in the cemetery have succeeded, and it was not what I expected. 

Was it a snowdrop or a winter aconite? 

No. It was a red dead nettle, which come March will form a vital source of nourishment for early pollinators. 

Of course, at the moment there is nothing flowering. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.12.21

Celestial Bodies

Lovely close approach of Venus and the crescent Moon tonight, dominating the skies as I rode home and then went shopping later on.

The only thing other than the moon you will see at night that is brighter than Venus, is a supernova. Remember that. You never know when it may happen.

The building works at the old Robin Hood Hotel have required the arrival of a crane, that oerlooks my garden like one of the sinister Deceptacons from the Transformers movies.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.02.20

Cycling to Venus and the Moon

The close conjunction of Venus and the thin crescent moon last night captured a lot of attention from casual observers, and many pictures found their way into my twitter feed of this beautiful celestial conjunction in various settings. Over Salisbury cathedral, in a glowing twilight, over peaceful waters and quiet towns and farmer's fields.

My picture is a rather more urban capture from my ride home last night!

Also in the night sky, the dimming of the star Betelgeuse - don't even think of pronouncing it Beetle-Juice no matter how many times Brian Cox says it that way - in Orion has also attracted a lot of attention. Normally one of the ten brightest stars in the sky, this vivid orange-red star is typically easily identifiable as the left shoulder of Orion, the most distinctive constellation in the sky.

But in late 2019, it began to fade, and now in late January 2020 it has become fainter by a factor of 2.5. Now Betelgeuse's eventual fate as a supergiant star has long been thought to be exploding as a type 2 supernova, and there has been much speculation that this sudden fading is a precursor to its collapse and explosion.

I wish so much that this would happen in my lifetime - when it does so it will be as bright as the full moon for a few weeks and as I read today it would be the most significant event in the history of astronomy on this planet. But chances are it may still have the odd hundred thousand years to go.

Spectacular though it would be for us, for any civilisation within 50 light years of the star the resulting radiation from the explosion would destroy it utterly.

At 700 light years, we believe we are safe...

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.01.20

The Rising of the Wolf Moon

The moon seems to be many things these days, blue, blood, and now wolf, and I have no idea what any of them are. What's a wolf moon? Is it hungry like the Duran Duran song? Does it cry like A-Ha sang it did? No bloody idea.

I didn't even know it was a wolf moon when I was incredibly lucky to see it rise exactly as the sun set this evening, and get some rather ropey photographs. Later on it became the "Wolf Moon", and my stepfather had a crowd of folk looking at it through his theodolite on the street - pop up astronomy!

There has also been a penumbral eclipse, although to be honest I doubt anyone could really tell the difference!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.01.20

Aconites and Running in the Sunset

Horrified at some Christmas pictures I've seen of myself, and with the idea of doing the 100km Race to the Stones in my mind, I'm already looking toincrease my exercise and hence fitness, helped by my new little fitness band that chides me onwards with its little vibrations.

This morning saw me out walking to take photos of the aconites in better light, and not even are they out, some of them are fully open before the year has even ended.

It's remarkable, really.

So, after a bit of lunch and relaxing, I took to the roads like a pro in my new running gloves and old running tights, and did a gentle 7km around the town to take in the sunset over the Trent, which was as beautiful as it always is. The added bonus was the crescent moon and Venus shining down upon me too, out of a golden sky that made the effort worthwhile.

Although I could have just walked a hundred yards down to the river.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.12.19

The Sun Sets over the 2019 League Season

It hasn't really felt like enough of a season, alas. We have lost so many games to weather, or teams folding, that I don't feel like I have played enough cricket.

Many of my team mates would probably say that was a relief.

Today I was with an already relegated second team, when we went to play Chilwell 2s on a municipal park ground on the (very) far side of Nottingham. I was expecting the wicket to be a bit ropey, as these public park grounds usually are, but on first inspection it looked like it might be worse than that, a green strip of grassy pudding, tufted and scabby.

A sort of smallpox afflicted wicket.

Well, we ended up having first usage of it, while I took on my now usual umpiring role. The ball immediately started bouncing high, rolling along the ground, and moving yards off the seam, with "oohs" and "ahhs" from the opposition virtually every ball.

We lost one of our openers early, and then built a bit of a partnership, much to the frustration of the opposition who while being a bunch of very nice guys, were also rather eccentric. At first I thought the captain had a radio transmitter sticking out of his head; it turned out to be a feather he used for marking his run up and when he removed his cap he revealed a bright green 70s style towelling headband a rave Bjorn Borg might have worn. The wicket keeper tried to stump the batsman every ball and was wearing some sort of Hannibal Lecter mask, another player was clad in a flat cap.

The opening bowler was also having a hard time, shaving the stumps with several deliveries before a dropped catch caused him to lie on the floor screaming and banging the turn with his hands, before the fielder threw the ball back to him and nearly hit him on the head.

However, they were still getting us out; players got starts but every so often an unplayable ball would be produced that would get one of us out. Apart from me, I just made a total arse up of a delivery and was caught. For 0.

I them dropped several sandwiches on the floor at tea, as we pondered if we could defend 105.

We made a good start, but only our young opening bowler really bowled well as we reduced Chilwellto 26 for 3. But then the sun came out, and the wicket stopped misbehaving, when we could hit the bloody thing that is. I bowled 4 full tosses in two overs, more than I've bowled all year and I still don't know why. I just felt utterly crap.

My cricket seasons never end well, I think it's just my body running out of steam.

I did try to make a slip catch off our quickest bowler. I even dived. Never mind the fact ball was already twenty yards past me as I hit the ground like that whale from Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

We lost by 6 wickets in the end. Which mean we got home in time to see our first team making a hell of an effort to clinch promotion against Hickling after a bad start to their innings. Alas they fell short, but it clearly didn't affect their spirits as a massive shout of "Go on, get an erection!" rang out from a closed dressing room I was very glad I wasn't in.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.09.19

Show Off Red Arrows Again

Well, it was a bitterly cold night, leading to a bitterly cold cycle to work with the degree of hand pain telling me it was -2.

Accurate too, as ever!

The ghostly moon faded and sank into her bed as the morning dawn came on, leaving the seagulls almost dazzling bright in the light while the carrion crows looked like nuggets of coal, hard as anthracite.

More man made creatures were also at work, with the Red Arrows doing their practicing a few miles away off to the north over featureless farmland. The hawk jets are invisible, but you can see the smoke trail emitted as the practice looping the loop, then looping the  loop inside their loop the loops.

Us earthbound mortals drink our tea, look out the window and wonder how much pain I'll be in cycling home.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.01.18

Eclipse Fail

I did stay up for the total lunar eclipse last night, hoping that in the end the clouds would part an allow me a glimpse of the moon turning that potent crimson colour - everyone else says "blood red" and I  refuse to succumb to that cliche! - as it passes through the shadow of mother earth.

Of course the clouds never did part, so all I got for my troubles was very cold, very tired, and thus stressed for the visit of my landlord and a valuer to my flat. On a bright clear day good for photography, I  then had to stay home waiting for a plumber to show up to fix my kitchen tap.

The only wildlife I saw all day were these two.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.01.18

Moon and Venus on a Bicycle

It was a freezing morning today, which meant I got to wear the neck warmer I bought yesterday and thus set off for work feeling like a Poundland lady ice skating coach from Omsk. It did help though.

I drew the line at the balaclava until it gets colder. It is too gimp like.

My hand thermometer told me about zero degrees and that indeed was what it was. Having read lots of  reports on twitter I wondered why I wasn't seeing Venus. The answer was that I was looking in the wrong direction - Venus in the morning is in the Eastern sky, idiot!

Dawn wasn't far off but it was still a very bright object, with the added bonus of there being a beautiful thin sliver of moon nearby.

Obviously my phone doesn't take great pictures of astronomical objects, but I  hope I've picked up the flavour of my cold, crisp morning.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.12.18

Lights, Moon and Lights

We've had some very wild days the last few days, my to and fro bicycle commutes have been rather interesting. I have been incredibly busy at work  preparing our Christmas events.

We now have Christmas lights on in town and I have been photographing them  in relation to the moon and things.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.11.18

Evening Skyscapes

After my tumultuous floor mopping exploits yesterday, I was rather knackered today and knowing I was going to have a workout in the evening - 65 minutes on the exercise bike - I took it easy and ended up repeatedly falling asleep while watching Hugh Jackman in "Logan".

Eventually I went out to  sort some library books out, and enjoyed the crescent moon, joined nearby by planet Saturn as the evening darkened.

I may do some astronomy later, or carry on watching Luther boxsets.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.11.18

Sun and Moon

Had a really tiring day at work yesterday, running around like a maniac sorting out Black Friday stuff for our staff. It really caught up with me; I just could not wake up this morning and ended up falling asleep in the bath.

Luckily with my head above water.

My time outside consisted of shopping, and getting my hair cut; really was rather untidy looking. And the Cadfael bald patch is rather too evident unless I keep it short. Oh well, I'm 6 foot 1 so if I stand up all the time people won't notice.

The moon in the sky is better than the moon on my head.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.11.17

The Lights

As ever, when you hope you are going to have a relaxing Friday at work, everything goes as manic as hell in the afternoon, right up until 529pm.

Someone I follow on twitter is having #anhouroutside campaign which I'd really like to be a part of: rather difficult when you are working until long after the sun has set and an injured ankle is not letting you run. But I suppose I have my commutes, and my weekends, and my evening runs, if I can ever have them again. That would add up to an hour.

Instead of running, I've been trying an exercise bike on quite a resistant setting. That also hurts my ankle. It wouldn't matter so much if I wasn't such a terrible snacker and grazer. Zeppelin levels of obesity probably await.

The moon and the cars made for a nice shot tonight.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.11.17

Venus and the Moon

Back to work tomorrow, but of course, I'm never off duty, always with my eyes open trying to find interesting things to show you!

As I'm sure many of you have noticed in the early evening after sunset, planet Venus has become an increasingly dominant sight lowish in the south-west; tonight a two day old crescent moon was there to partner it, with mars as a rather fainter bonus a little way away in the opposite direction.

During my 11km tonight, starting at 345 and finishing an hour or so later, I was able to watch a perfectly clear sky darken, and have some magical views over the local landscape.

Initially, as I ran along the cycle path, only the moon was visible, but soon the sky darkened enough for Venus to come into view, and then the two objects dominated the south-western aspect. Mars, at 10 o-clock, was rather fainter and is not visible in these shots.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.01.17