Derekscope

• Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter
  – Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June ~ noticeably close.
  – Monday 8th June ~ extremely close.
  – Tuesday 9th June ~ most impressive closest conjunction.
  – Wednesday 10th thru Saturday 13th June ~ still close but gradually separating.
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• This will be one of the best naked-eye planetary pairings of 2026
  – Look 30 – 45 minutes after sunset.
  – face west to northwest.
  – Venus will be the brighter object than Jupiter.
  – Binoculars will make the pairing especially striking.
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• Jupiter and Venus really are “crossing paths” this month, and June 2026 is the perfect time to keep looking up.
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• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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• A rare “monthly” Blue Moon will occur in May 2026, featuring a second full moon on Sunday 31st May 2026, at 09:45 BST, following an initial full moon on Friday 1st May.
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• This makes 2026 a year with 13 full moons, with the next full moon after the Blue Moon arriving as the Strawberry Moon on Sunday 29th June 2026.
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The Jewelled / Golden Handle for the UK Observers

(Photo above The Jewelled Handle ~ Image by Derek Rowley)
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• The Jewel Handle or Golden Handle
  The Moon’s Golden Handle is visible from the UK once each lunar month, roughly 2-4 days after First Quarter Moon, when the Sun grazes the Montes Jura and lights their peaks while Sinus Iridum is still in darkness ~ this creates the bright “handle” effect along the terminator.
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• After the First Quarter Moon (half-moonlit), the Moon increases towards the Full Moon in the waxing gibbous phase ~ the time when the Jewelled handle shines brightest.
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• This effect is only visible for a few days each month ~ roughly 2-4 days after the first quarter Moon.
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• Equipment
  You will need a small telescope or binoculars (8×42 or 10×50) are enough to show the arc beautifully.
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• Timetable ~ The Jewelled / Golden Handle for the UK Observers
  – 2026 / 2027 / 2028 / 2029 / 2030
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(More search for The Clair-Obscur Effects from her website for
essentially the dates, times, explanations or how to observe them – www.marymcintyres.astronomy.co.uk)

• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  The phenomenon occurs in the late evening for British Summer Time (BST).
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  –…Today: Saturday 23rd May 2026
  –…Start formation: 22:45 / 10.45pm (become visible)
  –…Peak visibility: 00:45 / 12.50am (fully formed as best contrast – Sunday 24th May)
  –…Fade disappearing: 02:45 / 2.45am (Sunday 24th May)
  –…Visible: good (late-night viewing low on the horizon).
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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• Look west to west-northwest about 30 – 60 minutes after sunset.
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• A clear, unobstructed horizon will help because the objects will sit fairly low.
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• Binoculars should give a beautiful view of the crescent Moon with the bright planets nearby.
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• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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• When Venus reaches perihelion, it means the planet has arrived at the point in its elliptical orbit where it is closest to the Sun.
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• Visible in the UK before sunrise.
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• Best viewing time:
  – Around 4am – 5am BST.
  – Direction: low in the eastern sky.
  – The Moon will be a very thin waning crescent.
  – Mars will appear as a small reddish-orange point nearby.
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