Announcements
The Dick Chambers Observatory – Status
The observatory and telescope are ready to use by members for visual observing. The telescope is fitted with an eyepiece. Any questions please direct them to Keith, Steve, Simon and Andy.
Gallery
A selection of images, photos and observations taken by CMHASD members
Other Images
Sun | Comets | Mercury | Venus | Atmospheric Optics | Meteors | Auroa and NLC | Moon | Minor Planets | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Messier | Caldwell | All Deep Sky | Conjunctions | Transits | Solar Eclipse | Lunar Eclipse | Wide Field |ISS & Space Junk | Exo-Planets
Society News
The Moon – 29th November 2025
An absolutely stunning image of the Moon taken by member Neil Webster on the 29th November 2025.
MOON: Waxing Gibbous, 66.8% illuminated and 9.56 days old.
Neil acquired the image using an AA 115 APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI 290MM, and R/IR filter.
8 frames: each 90s x 31fps (best 20% selected)
Processed using AutoStakkert and Photo Shop.
Craters Clavius, Tycho etc.
Check out Neil’s Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/137388222@N05/
Copernicus, Archimedes, Plato, Montes Apenninus, Montes Caucasus and Alpine Valley.
The Moon – 30th November 2025
A super image of the Moon taken by member George Buckberry on the 30th November 2025; using his smart scope Dwarf3. The image was taken at 16:35 UTC, Exp 1/320s, Gain 10, and a VIS filter was used.
Comet C/2025 K1 (Atlas)
Here is member George Buckberry’s latest image of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) taken on his Dwarf3 smart scope on the 26th November 2025. The image is made up of 12 stacked images at 15S exposure, Gain 60 and Astro filter. The first is the full image and the second is a crop of the first to show a zoomed in image of the Comet.
17th/18th November 2025 images by George Buckberry
The latest images from member George Buckberry. Taken using a Dwarf3 smart scope.
Moon
A fantastic image of a waning gibbous Moon taken by member Diane Clarke on the 8th November 2025 using a Seestar s50 smart scope.
Dwarf3 images by Dr. Mike Rushton
Two super images taken by Dr. Mike Rushton using his Dwarf3 smart scope on the 12th November 2025 of the North America Nebula (Caldwell 20) and the Sun.
George Buckberry’s Dwarf3 images from the 8th November 2025
A super collection of images taken by member George Buckberry on the 8th November 2025 using his Dwarf3 smart scope.
The Moon: 16 subs at 1/400th S exposure, Gain=0 and a Vis filter.
Details of how George took the rest of his images with the Dwarf3 are on written the photos.
John Archer’s latest deep sky images
Two fantastic deep sky images by member John Archer taken on the 8th November 2025 using his Dwarf3 smartscope. Details of how John took his images are on the photos.
George Buckberry images taken on the 2nd Nov 2025
Three super images by member George Buckberry taken on the 2nd November 2025 using a Dwarf3 smart scope. All the images were run through Stella Studio.
- The Moon
- 300 stacked images at 15S exp, Gain10 and a Vis filter used.
- The Veil Nebula
- A four panel mosaic of 200 stacked images at 15S exp, Gain60 and a Duo Band filter used.
- NGC281 Pacman Nebula
- 710 stacked images in total at 15S exp, Gain60 and a Duo Band filter used. The image consists of three image data sets Mega Stacked.
NGC 281 PACMAN NEBULA by member Neil Webster
A stunning image of NGC 281 the PACMAN NEBULA by member Neil Webster.
”Shot with an 89% Moon which made processing a challenge!! But, Gradient X Terminator saved the day!!’‘ said Neil
Image taken using – AA115mm APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Optolong L Enhance Filter, Orion 50mm Guide Scope and ZWO ASI290 MM Guide Camera.
Processed using APT, PHD, Nebulosity, PS (Camera Raw), Star X Terminator, and Gradient X Terminator.
45 x 240s Light, 12 x Darks, 30 x Flats/Bias
St Marys Platt, Kent 02/11/2025.
To see a higher resolution image of the nebula taken by Neil click the link below to be taken to Neil’s flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/137388222@N05/54905884718/
Congratulations to Honor
Congratulations to member Honor Wheeler for her image below of the Lunar Eclipse taken on the 7th September 2025 being published in the British Astronomical Association (BAA) Lunar section circular and at the BAA meeting sky notes.
Info: Canon M6II, 18-400mm lens, ISO1000, F6.3 and 1/500sec.
More great comet images by George Buckberry using his Dwarf3 smart scope
- Comet C/2025 R2 SWAN on the 28th October 2025.
- (60 stacked subs, Exp15S, Gain60 and Astro Auto with Watermark)
- The 2 images below are of Comet C/2025 R2 SWAN on the 25th & 28th Oct 2025 by George.
- Comet C/2025 R2 SWAN on the 25th Oct 2025.
- Comet C/2025 R2 SWAN on the 28th Oct 2025.
- This final image is of Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon through clouds on the 28th October 2025.
Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN)
Two super images of Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) taken by members Jim Burchell and George Buckberry using their smart scopes.
”C/2025 R2 (SWAN), initially designated as SWAN25B, is a long period comet discovered on September 10, 2025 by Vladimir Bezugly on images captured by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) camera of the Solar and Heliospheric Observer (SOHO). At the time of discovery the comet was just a few hours away from its perihelion transit, already as bright as magnitude 7.3 and with a well developed tail.” Ref:https://theskylive.com/c2025r2-info
Jim Burchell
George Buckberry
Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS by Jim Burchell
Member Jim Burchell managed to capture the Comet C/2025 K1 Atlas on the 24th October 2025 in Virgo. C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) was discovered in May 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).
Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon – 21st Oct 2025
Comet Lemmon, or C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), was discovered by astronomers at the Mount Lemmon Survey, in Arizona, on the 3rd January 2025. The comet is currently low in the northwestern sky after nightfall in the constellation of Boötes, not far from the bright star...
CMHASD SAGAS trip to the South Downs Planetarium
On Saturday the 19th July several CMHASD members of the society went to The SAGAS Astronomical Convention. This was a one day event for amateur astronomers and enthusiasts held this year at the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre, Chichester. ...
Dwarf3 images by Kevin Smith
Two super deep sky images by member Kevin Smith taken using his Dwarf3 smart scope from Deal in Kent. The first image is of the North American Nebula and the second of the Maia Nebula. The North America Nebula, also known as NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20, is an...
Star Trails by Simon Dawes
A fantastic star trail image by member Simon Dawes taken whilst at Kelling Heath Autumn Star Party on the 20th September 2025. Simon acquired the image by using a Sony A7SII mirrorless SLR camera on a Manfrotto static tripod & Viltrox 20mm f2.8 lens. 240x...
The Lobster Claw Nebula with the Bubble Nebula by Kevin Langford
A superb image of the Lobster Claw Nebula with the Bubble Nebula taken on Monday 22nd September 2025 from Bexley by CMHASD member Kevin Langford. The Lobster Claw Nebula, also known as Sharpless 157 (Sh2-157), is an emission nebula located in the constellation...
The Eastern Veil Nebula by Diane Clarke
A fantastic image of the Eastern Veil Nebula by CMHASD member Diane Clarke over a few nights in September and October from Bexley. Diane acquired the image using a Seestar S50 smart scope in EQ Mode. The image is a mix of 71 x 30 sec and 101 x 60 sec...
Active Sun
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. Two great images of the Sun taken on the 28th and the 30th of August by member Jim Burchell. The images were taken using a Pentax KP attached to a F11 refactor, set at...
NLC Season 2025
A super collection of Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) images and a timelapse video taken by CMHASD members during the months of June & July this year. First we have the 23rd June 2025 where several members managed to capture the clouds. Member Martin Crow using his...
Teapot & Scorpius by Richard Bohner – USA
Two stunning photos taken on 22nd June 2025, 11:30pm local time, at the Grand Canyon Star Party, Arizona, USA by member Richard Bohner. First photo: The area of the Teapot and Scorpius. Taken with Canon 6D with 35mm f2.8 lens at ISO 10K, exposure time 8 seconds,...
Society BBQ – 28th June 2025
With the support of the committee and permission of the Parish Council, a team was set up consisting of members Jo Southgate, Steve Floodgate, John Archer, Mike Rushton, James Savage and Keith Rickard to plan and arrange the Society BBQ for 2025. On the 28th June 2025...
