Announcements
A whistle stop beginners course in Astronomy coming to CMHASD for members soon
Contact Dr. Mike Rushton for more information about the course and becoming a member at secretary@crayfordmanorastro.com.
Please note this course is for members only.
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
Comet C2025 R3 (Panstarrs)
The latest Comet C2025 R3 (Panstarrs) images taken on the morning of the 14th April 2026.
This stunning image of the comet was taken by Jim Burchell from Dartford using a Seestar S50 smart scope.
This super image of the comet was taken by Kevin Smith using a Dwarf3 smart scope from a beach in Deal, Kent.
The Whirlpool Galaxy
M51a – The Whirlpool Galaxy and its companion M51b by Kevin Langford from Bexley.
This super image was taken using an ED102 APO, Pegasus NYX-101 mount, ZWO ASI071, and L-Pro filter.
7.5 hours over 3 nights (19/03/26 & 06-07/04/26).
Link to Kevin’s Flickrpage:
https://flic.kr/p/2s7w79z
Latest deep sky images by Danny Pearce
A fantastic selection of deep sky objects taken by Danny Pearce.
M101 – The Pinwheel Galaxy (also known as NGC 5457) is a face-on, counter clockwise intermediate spiral galaxy located 21 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major.
Danny used a FRA400 and PlayerOne585MC with a UV/IR cut filter to acquire the image. 380 x 60secs subs were captured but many were infected by clouds and so ended up taking the best 180 or so. Stacked and processed using PixInsight.
M51a – The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy and is 31 million light-years away. Its companion is called M51b or NGC5195.
Taken on 12/04/26 from Dartford. Danny used an HEQ5 mount with a Skywatcher150PDS scope and PlayerOne585MC colour camera with a UV/IR cut filter. Exposures were all 60 sec length and Danny took 180. Stacked with Flats and Bias frames and processed in PixInsight.
M3 (also known as NGC 5272) is a globular cluster located 33.9 thousand light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici.
This image was also taken by Danny on 12/04/26 from Dartford, using an HEQ5 mount with a Skywatcher150PDS scope and PlayerOne585MC colour camera with a UV/IR cut filter. Exposures were all 60 sec length and Danny took 72. Stacked with Flats and Bias frames and processed in PixInsight.
Sunspot Galore
A fabulous selection of Sunspot images taken by Simon Dawes this last week.
WARNING: NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Read the page on Solar Safety before attempting any kind of viewing of the Sun!
Jupiter
Two super images of Jupiter taken by Simon Dawes on the 6th & 7th April 2026.
Comet C2025 R3 (Panstarrs) – 12th April 2026
HOT OFF THE PRESS – TAKEN THIS MORNING Comet C2025 R3 (Panstarrs) by Jim Burchell.
This fantastic image was taken using a Seestar S50 smart scope at 4:00 UTC 2026/04/12.
36×10 second stacked images.
The comet is currently in the constellation Pegasus; skimming through the Great Square of Pegasus.
Below is a link to finderchart for the comet based from Bexley.
https://in-the-sky.org/findercharts.php?obj=CK25R030&duration=28
The Jellyfish Nebula
The Jellyfish Nebula IC443, taken on the 17/18th March 2026 by member Kevin Langford.
Kevin acquired this stunning image using an ES102ED, with a focal reducer, L-eNhance filter on a Pegasus NYX-101.
4.8hrs of exposures.
Link to Kevin’s Flickr page.
https://flic.kr/p/2s6r8z8
Deep Sky images by Neil Webster
Two super deep sky images taken by member Neil Webster from St Mary Platt, Kent.
M97 – The Owl Nebula and M108. The Owl Nebula is on the left of the image and M108 on the right.
The Owl Nebula (M97) or NGC 3587 is a faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major, located approximately 2030 light-years away. Discovered in 1781, it is famous for two dark, eye-like spots produced by a hollow, barrel-shaped inner shell, giving it an owl-like appearance through telescopes.
M108 (also known as NGC 3556, nicknamed the Surfboard Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy about 46 million light-years away from Earth.
From the Earth, the galaxy is seen almost edge-on.
Neil acquired the image using an AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI294 MC, Optolong L Pro filter, Orion 50mm Guide Scope, and ZWO ASI290 MM Guide Camera.
Processed in APT, PHD, Nebulosity, and PS.
55 x 120s Subs, 30 x Flats/Bias, 29 x Darks.
06/04/2026
M44 The Beehive Cluster/Praesepe (also known as NGC 2632 or Cr 189)
M44 is an open cluster in the constellation Cancer.
Image taken using an AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, 0.79x Reducer/Flattener, ZWO ASI294MC, Optolong L Pro filter, Orion 50mm Guide Scope, and ZWO ASI290 MM Guide Camera.
APT, PHD, Nebulosity, PS
121 x 60s Lights, 30 x Flats/Bias/Darks.
07/04/2026
Latest Atmospheric Optic images by members
Three stunning images of some Atmospheric Optics taken by members whilst out and about.
This superb image was taken by Honor Wheeler using a phone camera whilst walking in Surrey on the 22nd March 2026. The stunning image shows a Halo, Sundog, and Upper tangent arc.
This super image was taken by Janice McClean also using a phone camera on the 22nd March 2026 (Janice & Honor were on a walk together at the time) showing the Halo, Sundog and Upper tangent arc.
The Sundog is on the left of the photos and the Upper tangent arc is the white line going across the top of the halo (the circle).
A stunning image taken by Andrew Godden whilst on holiday in Malta on the 4th April 2026 using a phone camera of a Circumscribed halo with Parhelic circle.
The Moon – 22nd March 2026
Four great images of the Waxing Crescent Moon taken on the 22nd March 2026. The Moon had an illumination of about 15% – this is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun.
This image was taken by member George Buckberry using a Samsung smart phone set in normal mode. You can clearly see detail of the Moon in the Earthshine.
Earthshine is the faint sunlight reflected from Earth that illuminates the otherwise dark portion of the crescent Moon.
For more info about Earthshine follow the link below.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/earthshine-moon-what-is-how-see-it
The Moon taken again using a Samsung smart phone by George Buckberry but this time set in dark mode cleary showing the waxing crescent.
The Moon by Neil Webster.
Neil acquired the image using an AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI290MM, and R/IR filter.
3 frames: each 90s x 33fps (best 20% selected).
Processed using Firecapture, AutoStakkert, PS, and Microsoft ICE
Mare Crisium on the Waxing Crescent Moon by Neil Webster – It’s lovely to see some detail of the crater.
Sun & Moon by George Buckberry
The Moon & Sun by member George Buckberry; both taken using a Dwarf 3 smart scope.
The Heart Nebula (IC1805) by Honor Wheeler
A stunning image of the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) taken by Honor Wheeler on the 25th February 2026 using a Dwarf3 smartscope.
The Heart Nebula is a vast emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia located approximately 7,500 light-years away in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. It glows with a characteristic red light from ionized hydrogen gas, spans roughly 300 light-years and resembles a human heart in appearance.
Star Trails by Honor Wheeler
A fantastic image of Star Trails by Honor Wheeler taken on the 24th February 2026 using a Dwarf3 smartscope.
Lunar Corona
A great image of a Lunar Corona and Jupiter taken by member Gary Hunt on the 27th February 2026.
Jupiter is the dot on the right hand side of the Moon at the 2 o’clock position.
The Sun
Two images of the Sun taken using smartscopes on the 4th February 2026. Taken by Jim Burchell using a Seestar...
February’s Moon images
A great selection of Moon images taken by members during the month of February. Crescent Moon taken on the 22nd February 2026 by John Archer using a Dwarf3 smart scope. Waxing Gibbous Moon by Neil Webster taken on the 28/02/2026. The Moon was 11.38 days old and 92.1%...
IC443 The Jellyfish Nebula by George Buckberry
A stunning image of IC443 – The Jellyfish Nebula taken by George Buckberry. The Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Gemini. This nebula is approximately 5000 light-years from Earth and is estimated to be roughly 70...
Solar Halo’s by Jim Burchell
Two superb images of the same Solar Halo taken by Jim Burchell on the 17th February...
Orion’s belt by Danny Pearce
A stunning widefield view of Orion’s belt by Danny Pearce taken on the 28th Feb 2026. Danny used an Askar FRA400 on a HEQ5 mount with .7x reducer to give a FL of 280mm. The camera was a PlayerOne Poseidon-M mono (IMX571) and a Ha filter was...
Jupiter by Simon Dawes
Two images of Jupiter taken by Simon Dawes. Seeing was poor on both nights but still great images were achieved. Taken on the 2nd March 2026; using a Celestron Edge 11HD telescope, Mesu e200 mount and QHY colour...
Latest deep sky images taken from the 11th to 15th March 2026
Here are the latest fantastic deep sky images from members taken from the 11th to the 15th March 2026. M81 (and M82) by Jim...
Huge Sunspot AR4366
Hot off the press – 2 images of the Sun showing the enormous Sunspot AR4366; taken on the 4th February 2026. The image on the left was taken by Jim Burchell using a Seestar s50 smart scope and the image on the right was taken by George Buckberry using a Dwarf3...
CMHASD at Wentworth School – 28th January 2026
CMHASD Secretary Dr. Mike Rushton wrote ”On Wednesday 28th January 11 members of the Society were involved in our annual outreach visit to Wentworth School. 73 children from Year 5 were split into four groups who rotated through four preplanned tasks. One...
The Trifid Nebula by Richard Bohner
A fantastic image of the Trifid Nebula taken by Richard Bohner in July 2025 from Cottonwood in Arizona, USA. Richard used a Seestar s50 smart scope to take the image. The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region in the...