So it's Easter week, which can only mean one thing. No, I don't mean the Easter bunny, chocolate eggs, fluffy chicks or any other dubious fertility symbols, rather it is the
week of the full moon. And what a moon it was, through the odd clear patches on thursday night, there she was, looming large and yellow over the horizon.
Whilst the full moon inspires many to take their first ever "astro-photograph", it also serves to hinder those who relish the skies fainter delights. Even so, we have once again
been delighted this week with quality images across the whole range of targets, both near and far.

Starting with the Sketches and unconventional section, I was astounded at the talent we have in the forum. Both Andrew and Nightjar have produced simply superb sketches of lunar
regions, both use a medium that isn't particularly easy to work with, but they have produced excellent pictures, well done guys.

The Widefield, Special Events & Comets section almost guarantees quality pictures every week, and this week was no exception. SteveL treated us to some widefields taken with a
QHY8 camera piggybacked on the main setup. Perhaps a few more of us could use the kit we have nicely guiding away, to bolt a spare camera on and grab some pics like these.

Deep Sky imagers had the moon to contend with, but even so there have been some lovely pictures posted. The board has been dominated by a simply jaw-dropping image by Les Tilly.
Les has been learning some new techniques for processing his pictures, and by re-visiting his Horsehead image, has produced a most excellent image. If you haven't seen it yet,
you simply MUST take a look, prepare to be astounded. Taken with a DSLR too, Les sets the standard with this pic.

Horsehead HARGB

On the Planetary side of things, we are still getting some nice Venus shots coming in, and some great Saturns too. I especially liked Eminem2pac's pictures all the way from
Rome, all posted with his usual enthusiasm of course.

As expected, the Lunar/Solar board held the lion's share of attention this week, and rightly so. TrevorN treated us to a superb mosaic of the Curillus area, along with an Atlas
& Hercules crater shot. Beyondvision managed to grab an aeroplane appearing to be orbiting the moon, while NeilI captured the moon with a stunning halo. If you are planning to
visit the moon, I suggest you pick a landing site with the aid of JohnH's Aristoteles picture, just look at the detail in the walls!

Crater Aristoteles - 6500mm fl in SPX350.

Starman Pete Lawrence has been getting the very best out of his big C14, simply stunning images there Pete!
As mentioned, the moon helps to draw a lot of people into astronomy in the first place, I find that if I show the un-initiated a deep sky galaxy photo etc, they sometimes glaze
over, perhaps because they dont understand or comprehend the vastness of space, but by showing them one of these lunar pics, they see something they can relate to, in such
detail that they never dreamed of. I haven't met anybody yet who isn't impressed. Likewise with the Solar images, and we had a sprinkling of those too. So a BIG thank you to all
who have posted such great images again this week, keep up the good work.

So, I guess it really HAD to be a Moon pic this week. But which one? The quality of the up close and personal type pics is just so good that it is hard to choose between them.

However, one photo really caught my eye as soon as I saw it. The picture is expertly composed, has a very dramatic foreground, and an awesome sense of an impending event, a foreboding of
something momentous about to happen. Leo's Lion senses it too and appears to be making off at high speed, swiftly followed by Saturn, with Coma Berenices bringing up the rear.
Can you tell I love this picture

Winner of Picture of the Week this time is Saturn5 with this fabulous moon rise, entitled "Moon Rays & Leo". Just brilliant, well done Stewart.

without a doubt, a clear winner this week!

Wow!
That's not just a good astro image, it's a very fine image generally

Well done...great work

Cheers
Rob

It's wonderful atmospheric image.

A worthy winner.

Pure art!

John.

Great choice TJ, well done Saturn5 that's a brilliant image

Nice one S5.

Another worthy recipient....

Well done!!

I've been staring at the screen totally lost for words not like me i know.This is a total surprise and is really quite an honour considering the standard of images that are posted here week in,week out.Glad i forgot to take my lp filter with me or i would have been taking 30 min star trail shots instead.
Thanks TJ and everyone for your kind comments.

Great Choice TJ...

This is a simply unique and stunning image

Peter...

well done stewart.

stirling gives you a salute

paul

Hadn't seen that before - absolutely beautiful - even the missus said 'oh wow' when she saw that (shortly followed by 'where was that taken', so can you link to the original thread for others who get this question TJ, I am off to searchy now )

Great choice, and well deserved - nice to see a variety of images winning PoW as well!

Cheers,

Richie

Missed this one too.
A fantastic image, and a very well deserved POtW.

Mike.

Brilliant . This is not just a photon collection, It's a work of art. and of a very high order. You have the eye of the artist Sat5, you have displayed that fact in a few of you past images.
Damned good choice TJ.
Ron.

Awesome picture, congrats S5!

Richly deserved S5 this is a very striking image. Everything from the castle in the foreground to the Moon beams in the background look magical.

Regards

Kevin

Excellent choice TJ , when i saw this image i was taken back, something new and what a picture , well done S5 ,very well deserved POW image , and one we will remember for sure.
Rog

Yes Richie, my missus too said "WOW" when she saw this one. Stewart didn't state where the pic was taken. The original thread is in the Widefield and Specials board.

The pic is so good I could print it off and sleep with it under my pillow. It reminds me of an album cover or something. There are the technical reasons why it works artistically, rules of thirds and all that, but even if you dont know the theory, it just works to the eye. Stewart, it is the kind of pic that grabs the attention of the APOD choosers, I wouldn't hesitate to send it to them, nothing to lose.

Cheers
Tim

Thanks again,i really am gobsmacked.
TJ,the picture was taken at Thurso.The previous link only works for each individuals own map(smacks forehead with hand)
This one works and theres a map link at the top of the page i hope.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/northern_exposures_2009/

What a stunning image and an excellent choice for POW!

Hi Saturn5 - Unfortunately, that URL will only work for you - it loads my pictures and map when I click it.

Whats your Flickr id sir??

Cheers,

Richie

That is truely stunning.

Amazing image.

Ant

Oooops silly me. hopefully this one will work.


Flickr: Stewart 50's Photostream

A very Stunning image Saturn 5 it takes me back to the days I used to travel up to Helmsdale then up to John OGroats and around the top of Scotland one day I will have to head back up to that part of the world for a few drams

Les

Missed this one, what a beauty !! well deserved POW

A very unusual and well deserved POW

Congrats Saturn5