Dear reader. You will ABSORB these words of JESMOND.  The first in a regular slot of episodes*

Thank you.

Hello. I am JESMOND.

Welcome to the first of my monthly witterings on all things to do with PLANETS and STARS and nothing to do with Chickens… Well maybe…

Well we start as years have a habit of doing, with January. The first thing you notice when practicing the humble art of Astronomy is that without a decent pair of gloves (not wool, because that makes me cry), your hands become withered frozen stumps and drop off leaving you unable to hold binoculars and that simply won’t do. Alternatives include a healthy amount of what is commonly known as Gaffa tape, your own head and binoculars. This doth chafe the eye sockets somewhat after a while, but stick with it.

Now, recent events in the night sky have included the visitation of a big ice cube that had been considerably pimped up to be the main event of these winter months. Sadly this ice cube wandered off course and promptly clipped that big firey ball we’re all told not to look at directly. I did find this slightly disappointing, mostly on behalf of the ice cube. Some brave soul [insert appropriate deity depending on historical circumstances], centuries ago, reached into their freezer, took this one special ice cube out and flung it in to the sky. Since then it’s been trundling around space only to end up falling to bits when it reaches our neighbourhood.

Rather typical really. It seems most of the interesting Astronomical occurrences that the sky provides are hampered either by the atmosphere hanging over our soggy little island or by that glowing wotsit at the center of our Solar gubbins. Take for example, the periodic gravel showers that are supposed to entertain us insomniacs. Hands up who has ever seen more than two specks of gravel bouncing off our planet?!?!

Ok, that’s enough from me for this month. I need to have a lie down.