Archive for the ‘Observing’ Category

Observing Calendar for October – November by Steve Woodbridge

Observing Calendar October 13th to November 12th 2009 (all times BST) by Steve WoodbridgeDate  October 15th Ganymede occults Io (2127)October 16th Mercury, Venus, Saturn and the moon all within 15 degrees looking ESE at 0725October 16th Ganymede occults Europa (2210)October 18th New...
October 12th, 2009 | Sky Diary | Read More

Cygnus Area Imaged by John Moore

Cygnus Area imaged in Halpha from Tenerife with a 50mm Pentax camera lens and SBIG ST10XME camera - click to enlarge.Overlay of Cygnus area – click to enlarge
October 1st, 2009 | John Moore | Read More

Andromeda Galaxy Imaged by Peter Campbell-Burns

the Andromeda Galaxy (M31, also designated NGC 224) is the only extra-galactic object that is visible to the naked eye.  The Persian scholar Abdal-Rahman Al Sufi was the first to make note of a “small cloud” in the constellation of Andromeda; it was rediscovered over 600 years later in 1612...
September 26th, 2009 | Peter Campbell-Burns | Read More

Swan Nebula (M17) Imaged by Chris Thayer

M17, the Swan Nebula (also designated NGC 6618) is an emission nebula (HII region) in the constellation of Sagittarius.  The radiation of a cluster of stars embedded in nebula is exciting the gass and causing the emission.  It is roughly 40 light years in diameter and is  over 5,000 ly away.  ...
September 23rd, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) Imaged by Peter Campbell-Burns

 M101, NGC 5457  was discovered by Pierre Méchain in March 27, 1781 was one of the last entries in Charles Messier’s catalog. It was one of the first “spiral nebula” identified as such, in 1851 by William Parsons, the third Earl of Rosse.   Also visible is NGC 5474 (to the...
September 22nd, 2009 | Peter Campbell-Burns | Read More

The Draco Dwarf Galaxy (UGC 10822) Imaged by John Moore

The Draco Dwarf Galaxy - click to enlarge A dwarf elliptical of the Local Group, of low surface brightness. Imaged from Tenerife with a Pentax 105SDHF and SBIG ST10XME camera The galaxy identified
September 22nd, 2009 | John Moore | Read More

The Hercules Cluster (M13) Imaged by John Moore

M13 - click to enlarge M13 imaged from Tenerife with a Pentax 105SDHF and SBIG ST10XME camera M13 with annotations - click to enlarge Some small galaxies and some quasars identified
September 22nd, 2009 | John Moore | Read More

Barnard’s Galaxy (NGC 6822) Imaged by John Moore

Barnard's Galaxy - click to enlarge An irregular galaxy of the Local Group. Imaged from Tenerife with a Pentax 105SDHF 105mm refractor and SBIG ST10XME camera
September 22nd, 2009 | John Moore | Read More

North America Nebula (NGC 7000) by Peter Campbell-Burns

 The North America Nebula (NGC 7000, also Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Cygnus.  It is so called because seen in full its shape resembles the continent of North America).  Its surface brightness is very low and so NGC 7000 cannot normally be seen with the naked eye,...
September 13th, 2009 | Peter Campbell-Burns | Read More

Observing Calendar for September / October – By Steve Woodbridge

Observing Calendar September 8th to October 12th 2009 (all times BST) by Steve Woodbridge FAS is pleased to present the highlights of the August sky prepared by Steve Woodbridge.   There are also several opportunities to see the ISS (click here for details).Date  Sept 8th-9th Io occults (2321)...
September 10th, 2009 | Sky Diary | Read More