Pictures of the International Space Station going across the night sky, M57 - The Ring Nebula, and M92

Pictures of the moon at Perigee last night. The closest the moon has been to Earth in it’s orbit in 18 years (since 1993) and will be another 18 or so years that it’s that big again. Not only was it the closest it’s been in years but it was also a full moon, making it an even more rare view.

This week MESSENGER will become the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury, the closest planet to the our sun. Messenger stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENironment, GEochemistry and Ranging…

Last night I went out and did a bit of viewing. I didn’t hop around much as the skies were pretty clear, clearer than I’ve seen since I got the telescope, so I mainly focused on the Double Cluster (NGC 884 and NGC 869), and the Bodes Nebula (M81) which I had also gotten M82 in the shot. Since they’re both very close by in my field of view, it’s not too surprising.

Information on the moon at Perigee tonight and what perigee and apogee are, the effects of the full moon, and why the moon looks larger on the horizon when it rises and sets.