For astronomers the full moon is normally a nuisance, something to be avoided. So, I thought we would change things up and give the moon its due.
I took the accompanying lunar image the day after Christmas 2023. I was a beta tester for a new Unistellar telescope aimed at entry-level astronomers and people who want to travel on an airline. It should fit in the overhead of commercial aircraft in its box. It’s called an Odyssey Pro and went on sale in early January. It’s not inexpensive but may be all the telescope most people need. It has auto collimation and auto focus, pretty cool tech for such a small scope, and very accurate.
Early calendars were based on the lunar cycle. The Chinese calendar, which is still in use, was designed around the full moon. It starts on the first January full moon and follows a 12-year cycle. Each year is represented by an animal.
