EDIT: I went back outside and got the focus better, so I've replaced two of the photos in this post

EDIT 2: Astronomy Album. A work in progress!

My attempts at using my Pentax spotting scope (a PF-80 EDa, for the technically minded) as a giant camera lens are continuing. The good: a real Canon lens of well over 1000mm would cost more than a trip to Antarctica. Way more. The downside: stability and focussing are tough.

This scope is a fairly new addition to my kit but has already proven its worth many times over. On my last trip to Canada, I scanned an avalanche slope 4km distant - and found a grizzly bear!

No bears here in the North Downs, but the moon is rising at a convenient hour. It's also at a convenient phase. Full moons are not particularly rewarding to photograph as the lack of shadows tends to hide the details of the surface.

I really need a second tripod for this lark, but...



I was quite pleased with this. Here's a crop showing some lunar mountains (the Montes Caucasus in the north, the Montes Apenninus south) and the Mare of Serenitatis. The big crater at the top right is the Aristoteles Crater, which I believe was mentioned in the epic Herge tale Explorers on the Moon



Then I did a trick that I first saw in the Sky at Night magazine - inverted the image to show more details.



I like the effect. I've also discovered the bulb option on my camera's shutter (heh, you never know, reading the manual might be a good idea ) EDIT, 19:15pm - it's a bit too cloudy to take good star trails at the moment but I did get a seven minute exposure earlier, which nearly killed my poor, long-suffering lithium battery. I suspect its torture is likely to get worse. For a first attempt at proper star trails, I thought this okay. The bright blue star trail was left by Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky.

This afternoon I was standing on the roof terrace looking with mixed feelings at an unhappily dark cloud. To my surprise the Fringe Vixen (silent, for once!) came trotting fast down my neighbour's garden, into mine, and vanished.

No such luck with the thundercloud; it did its worst, and I haven't yet figured out how to photograph lightning.

But once the storm had blown itself out, the Fringe Vixen returned with the Old Dogfox in tow. They were interacting much more than usual - the Old Dogfox touching muzzles with her like a dog (and indeed like the flame-red pair I saw in the horse paddock). I wanted to get a cute photo of them standing side by side, but, no luck.

They went to the far end of the garden. The Old Dogfox approached the Fringe Vixen again, and she lifted a forepaw in his direction in what appeared to be a defensive gesture. Yes, they were far away from me so I had to use flash but I thought this photo was still worth showing. Look at how the Fringe Vixen (left) has her head held high and her mouth open slightly, ears turned back.



She came nearer again, while he stayed at a distance. She sat down, giving him a most evil look.



I think this behaviour is probably typical of vixens in the winter! She's not quite ready to give him her hand in marriage yet

I battled long with the camera during all this to get a good shot of her mange-infected back. It's quite amazing how much a fox can move during a two second exposure and get its head out of focus. This may be the only time I show a photo of half a fox!



She still has some bare patches, not visible from this angle. But she's far better. We may or may not give her some more ivermectin on Tuesday, but she's definitely on the mend.