Derekscope

• Antares is famous because it is one of the biggest and brightest stars you can see in the night sky.
  o
• The Moon helps you easily find the Scorpius constellation.
  o
• It’s a nice event for stargazing with the naked eye.
  o

• Spica is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
  o
• It is actually not just one star, but two stars that orbit each other.
  o
• These two stars are very hot and shine with a strong blue-white light.
  o
• Even though it looks like a single star to our eyes, it is about 250 light-years away from Earth.
  o

• 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).
  o
  –…Today: Monday 22nd June 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
  o
• The next one will be on Tuesday 21st July 2026.
  o
• 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.
  o
• 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.
  o

• First Quarter Moon tonight!
  o
• Half-lit and shining bright in the evening sky.
  o
• A perfect time for sky-watching, as craters and lunar details along the shadow line become especially sharp and beautiful through binoculars or a telescope.
  o

• Today marks the Summer Solstice

• The official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
  o
• The longest day of the year in the UK, with around 16 hours and 45 minutes of daylight.
  o
• The Sun rises at approximately 4:42am and sets near 9:27pm, giving us the shortest night of the year.
  o
• How to sign equinox in BSL?
  o

Venus meets the Beehive Cluster (M44) tonight.

• Look toward the western sky after sunset to enjoy this stunning sight.
  o
• Binoculars may help reveal the sparkling stars of the Beehive Cluster (M44) around bright Venus.
  o
• A beautiful close approach in the evening sky ~ perfect for sky watching and astrophotography.
  o

• A very close pairing of the thin Moon and bright Venus, appearing near each other shortly after sunset.
  o
• Low in the western sky.
  o

• Time
  – Appears in the western evening sky about 21:30–22:30 BST.
  o
• Position
  – low west-northwest
  o
• Appearance
  – small but sharp, may look slightly golden ~ you’ll need a clear, flat horizon (no buildings/hills blocking west).
  o

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
  o
• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
  o
  o

• Look toward the eastern sky before sunrise on the mornings of Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June.
  o
• Best viewing window ~ roughly 4am or 4:30am BST.
  o
• Binoculars will improve the view, but both objects should be visible to the naked eye if skies are clear.
  o