Astronomy, Photography and Weather

General Category => Weather & Atmospherics => Topic started by: martinastro on October 19, 2008, 01:31:06 pm



Title: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: martinastro on October 19, 2008, 01:31:06 pm
A nice Moon halo formed last night around the waning gibbous Moon in the NE sky between 00.45 - 01.30 BST. It was a fairly bright 22 degree halo with colour. During the period of observation I was amazed to see a very well defined lunar upper tangent arc also with colour which extended beyond the halo top. It even had curved 'horns'. Running through the entire halo was a rare lunar parhelic circle which I have never seen before. A possible tiny moondog meets it on the E side. I have never seen a complex moon halo like this one before. Images are rushed, taken from my back door while talking on the phone at the same time.

(http://i38.tinypic.com/xbzrso.jpg)

(http://i34.tinypic.com/511u8l.jpg)


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: Roman White on October 19, 2008, 01:41:54 pm
Nice (although a faint) halo, Martin.  :) I can see the UTA.

BTW, I have a clear weather now, and the same forecast until Saturday  :) , so wait for some observations from me...
Any chances of clear weather in Ireland?


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: martinastro on October 19, 2008, 01:57:02 pm
Cheers Roman, although I wouldn't exactly call that faint. It's a decent halo from only a waning gibbous Moon.

Glad to hear you got good weather. I hope you catch McNaught - don't forget the Orionids!!

Storm system over us at the min with wind and rain. Might get a clearance later...fingers crossed.


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: brianb on October 19, 2008, 02:46:24 pm
Nice image Martin. I'd given last night up altogether.

Quote
Might get a clearance later...fingers crossed.
Pigs might fly - in fact they probably will if the wind gets up much more ;)


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: Roman White on October 19, 2008, 03:29:40 pm
Pigs might fly - in fact they probably will if the wind gets up much more ;)
Nice weather  ;)

I hope you catch McNaught - don't forget the Orionids!!
I'll try to catch the A1 McNaught, and of course, Orionids! It seems that Oct.20/21 night will be a busy one...


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: martinastro on October 19, 2008, 03:50:47 pm
Thanks Brian. Yes, Pigs might indeed fly tonight. Quite gusty here at the min but nothing severe. Having said that, I wouldn't like to be up the mountains.

Good luck Roman, I'm after both myself. If I get any clearance later in the night I will be doing an Orionid watch. Then again on the night of maximum. Fingers crossed that we will see something.  :)


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: Big Dipper on October 19, 2008, 04:31:18 pm
Obviously a master craftsman at 'multi-tasking' speaking on the phone and imaging at the same time.  ;D

Don't think he outlook for any o us is looking that good for tonight.  :(


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: John9929 on October 19, 2008, 11:05:08 pm
Here's two of mine from last night, looks like I had thicker haze than you Martin, it was a nice halo though. You can just about pick out the Hyades and Pleiades on the right.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/23u6bdd.jpg)
(http://i38.tinypic.com/4hy2h3.jpg)


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: jgs001 on October 20, 2008, 02:32:45 pm
Good captures gents. Only saw the moon briefly last night in gaps in the very fast moving clouds.


Title: Re: Complex Moon Halo - Oct 19th
Post by: martinastro on October 20, 2008, 09:42:03 pm
Thanks for the feedback guys. John, I don't know about the multi-tasking...I just got lucky  :)

John (McC), two great Moon halo captures. The upper tangent arc is very well defined. It's been a great month for atmospherics.