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Stirling Astronomical Society News
July 2008
Summer Observing

With the long evenings, there is less opportunity at this time of year for regular observing, but keep an eye out for noctilucent clouds shortly after dark.

The Moon is very low in the sky over the summer months, and this provides a really good opportunity to experience the Moon Illusion. Look out for the full Moon on or around the 18th of the month. As the Moon hovers just above the horizon, it can seem enormous !

Powerful though it is, this effect is just an optical illusion: the Moon is in fact no larger than when it is high in the sky. Reach out and hold a finger at arm's length: you can cover the entire full Moon with the tip of your little finger - just as you can in midwinter when the full Moon is high above.

Next Meetings

We are now into our summer break. Regular meetings will start again in September, and evening classes from October.

Please contact us for more information.



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