Derekscope

• Venus will appear brilliantly bright, while Jupiter should show a steadier golden glow nearby.
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• A pair of 10×50 binoculars is usually enough to fit both planets comfortably in the same field of view, which makes the pairing especially dramatic just after sunset or before sunrise depending on your location and timing.
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• Venus and Jupiter are close tonight
  – Look low in the west after sunset – two bright lights side by side.
  – Venus is the brighter one ~ Jupiter sits below Venus.
  – They meet at their closest tomorrow.
  
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• The Last Quarter Moon occurs on Monday 8th June 2026 at 11.03am BST.
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• At this phase, the Moon appears half illuminated, with the left half lit as it wanes toward the New Moon.
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• 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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