WHY???????

According to the weather forecast we will have clear skies the weekend to come. This is the first time in several weeks. The problem is that we will have a near full moon, and at my latitude the full moon is almost circumpolar in winter.
WHY DO THE CLEAS SKIES ALWAYS COME WHEN THE MOON IS FULL?

The moon itself isn't really interesting to observe when it is full, and seeing conditions for planetary observation are rare during winter. And worst of all - I DONT'T FIND THE FAINT DOUBLE STARS because I can't navigate with the Rigel-finder without the necessary number of visible reference stars.

Inge, I solved that problem by attaching a litle Meade 8X25 rt. angle finder to my small(4") dob. The light pollution is so bad from the apartment where I live that it made just using the Rigel difficult. The 8X25 is extremely light(which I needed) & compliments the Rigel just fine. DR

My wife tells me that it is the light pressure from the full moon that blows the clouds away. I find it hard to argue with her.

Doug Scobel

Oh Inge, how fortunate that you've posted this as I have just recently attained a new "enlighten" state which I would like to share ;-). Please look into the new hot-off-the-press book, The Modern Moon, a Personal View by Charles Wood. In there, you'll find reasons for wanting to observe the full Moon! And because so few watch the full Moon or thin crescent Moon, there may yet be new discoveries to be made!

My new enlighten state also has endowed me with an insight for the DSO lovers (like us ;-). The Moon is *not* one object but is actually a micro-universe full of thousands of objects. They have very similar characteristics as watching the DSOs!

Ron B[ee]