The cats’ whiskers

Muriel Farquharson sent in the photograph on the right ands says: “I read the article about Rag Week with great interest and was prompted to look for photos of my student days in Dundee.

“The article finished with these words: ‘I often think of these students now scattered all over the world’. I chose to remain in Tayside until I retired after almost 40 years as a teacher.

“As a student at Dundee College of Education I used to participate in Rag Week. The photograph, possibly taken by a Courier photographer, is of us dressed as cats parading through Dundee city centre in 1953. We made our own costumes, which was great fun.”

“It will be closest to earth on May 12 but it’s brightness at that time is as yet unknown.

“High altitude ice clouds, known as noctilucent clouds, usually make an appearance towards the end of May. Because these clouds are as high as 85km they are above the earth’s shadow and are lit by the sun which is below the observer’s horizon.

“These clouds have increased in frequency and their appearance in the southern polar sky during the winter was one of the most active seasons recorded. This may mean that we will have an active season from the end of May so keep a lookout towards the north after about 11pm and you may see these pearly white clouds shining as the sky darkens.

“During the last two weeks of May, Mercury will be seen low in the northwest after sunset. Mercury will be close to Venus on May 21/22 and this may help to locate it as it will be less bright than Venus. Venus remains very bright during the month and can be seen in the west north-west by late evening.

“Mars is very low in the south-east before sunrise at around 4.30am. It is gradually brightening and gaining elevation as it becomes closer to Earth.

Jupiter is low in the south south-east before sunrise at about the same time as Mars can be seen. However, Jupiter is considerably brighter than Mars and shines with a yellow light while Mars has an orange hue.

“Saturn sits between Mars and Jupiter but is closer to Jupiter, less bright and about 5º to the east of Jupiter. These last three planets are poorly placed for observation this year as they are so low in the sky and adversely affected by air turbulence if viewed through a telescope. The moon will full on the 7th, at last quarter on the 14th, new on the 22nd and at first quarter on May 30.”