Announcements
Come and join CMHASD stargazing at Hall Place, Bexley – Wednesday, 13th Nov 2024 from 7pm.
Stargazing at Hall Place with CMHASD on the 13th November 2024.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.hallplace.org.uk/event/stargazing-november-2024/
We will be there from 7pm to 9pm. (Doors open from 6.45pm)
Outdoor activities are weather dependant.
Advance booking required.
Please note this is a ticket only event organised by Bexley Council.
Below is a selection of CMHASD photos from our Stargazing event at Hall Place held last year.
Face-to-Face Meetings Every Thursday
Face to face meetings every Thursday plus we are live on Zoom*
As a courtesy to others please stay at home and attend via the zoom if you are feeling unwell – coughs, sniffs and sneezes etc.
* zoom will only be available with the lecturer’s consent.
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
Moon with Earthshine – 29th August 2024
A fantastic image of the Moon with Earthshine taken by member Jim Burchell on the 29th August 2024. This is a single shot image which was processed in Snapseed. Details of how Jim acquired his image are on the photo.
The Sun & Moon – 25th August 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
Jim Burchell, Simon Dawes & Dr Mike Rushton imaged the Sun in white light on the 25th August 2024 and below are their splendid results. As you can see the Sun was very active.
Mike used his Dwarf II smart scope to acquire his image below.
Jim used a Pentax KP body attached to 102mm Altair Astro F11 refractor fitted with a Solar filter. The mage of the Sun is a single shot and then processed in Snapseed.
Below is an image of the Sun taken from Spaceweather.com on the same day with the sunspots numbered.
Simon’s images are of the Sunspots and as you will see some of the sunspots are rather stunning. Details of how Simon acquired his images are on the photos.
Later that day Jim captured this super image of a Waning Gibbous Moon. The moon was 20.65 days old and 62.92% illuminated. Details of how Jim acquired his image are on the photo. This is a single shot image and then processed in Snapseed.
CMHASD BBQ – 31st August 2024
On Saturday 31st August 2024 CMHASD held a BBQ for its members. Below are a selection of photos & videos of the BBQ shared by members and an account of the event written by member Gary Hunt.
”In the closing days of the summer of 2024, and after a three-year interregnum, CMHASD were determined to reinstate the annual summer BBQ. After judicious planning and a little dash of hope, it was decided to hold the event in the afternoon/evening of Saturday 31st August.
The suggestion was well received by the membership and with the support of the committee and permission of the Parish Council, a small planning group was set up of Sonia Rubie, Steve Floodgate, John Archer, Mike Rushton, Diane Clarke, and Jo Southgate. Preparation was in good hands, and I can confirm that joyous industry was carried-out by our hardworking heroes!
Sadly the weather forecast from earlier in the week was less than accurate, and we had our BBQ under cloud and just the odd spot of rain. However, CMHASD members are a hardy lot, and this wasn’t going to spoil our fun… no siree!
The team set up from 11:30, after accessing the Pavilion, with assembly of two gazebos (one for food/drink and the other for games), and outdoor games. Steve (F), Jo and John (A) set up their respective barbecues and very soon all was ready!
Most people arrived after 14:00, and the feast was easily a repast for the whole BAA, not just CMHASD, indeed, there was so much food left, it was saved and used on the following Thursday for another successful astronomical quiz created by the redoubtable MC…Sonia!
It is worth noting that several members of the public approached and engaged members, to see why we were having so much fun… I would suggest that at least a few visitors went away with some thought of checking us out?
After a fantastic lunch… it was time for games! Kicking off with several rounds of croquet, there was savage competition amongst members, whatever you think of how members played, it wasn’t cricket😆!
There was also a target sheet put up and compressed air rockets were aimed at the targets… to be honest, most members preferred to play, how high can I stamp the rocket, resulting in some near misses with other members!
One of the more popular games was introduced by Steve Goldson, a Finnish skittle game called ‘Mölkky’ and is pronounced “milkay”… The competition amongst members was fierce, with many finding unique and ‘mystery ball’ ways of tossing the baton and getting the points!
Sonia, then started some old school party games, including ‘Pass the parcel’, but with forfeits as well as prizes. It was a ‘mashup’ (I am known for being hip… man!), of charades, pass-the-parcel, music quiz and (reverse) tag! Sonia had created a monster of a game that had two sessions, and was loved by all!
After ice cream donated by an anonymous, but rather charming and good-looking member, and some lovely fruit-salad and cakes… It was time for, pin the alien on the spaceship! This was real fun, with, I would add some jeopardy, as contestants had to be blindfolded and spun around (to music!) and disoriented… Again this was real kid style fun, that appealed to the most ‘senior’ (think OLD!), of members…
Sadly, the weather was being uncooperative, and members feeling distinctly ‘chilled’ (in both senses!), cleared up and made our way to our respective homes (…maybe?🤣) just as it was dusk…
I think I am safe to say, the day was enjoyed by ALL! I believe I am speaking on behalf of all those present, THANK YOU! To all the wonderful members who worked so hard and creatively to give us an amazingly enjoyable day!!! A HUGE round of applause and slaps on backs all-round! AND, thank you to all those who attended and made the BBQ so much fun… Let’s all hope there is another BBQ in 2025?”
The Society would like to thank those members who shared their photos & videos and to Gary for his written account. Thank you.
Our Sun by Jim Burchell – 23rd August 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A fantastic white light image of the Sun taken by member Jim Burchell on the 23rd August 2024 from Dartford. As you can see the Sun was very active with lots of huge sunspots. Jim took the single shot image using a white light Baader planetarium Astro Solar Filter and a Pentax KP body attached to 102mm F11 Altair Astro refractor at 1/320 sec and iso 100. Then processed in Snapseed.
Below is a spaceweather.com photo of the Sun with the sunspots given their number taken on the same day.
M31 by Kevin Langford – 19th August 2024
Messier 31 The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) taken by member Kevin Langford on the 19th August 2024 from Bexley. Kevin said ”This is just a 30mins of exposure as I was packing up for the night. I know it is very grainy, it needs a lot more time spent on it.” Well we think it is rather superb as it is Kevin!
Kevin acquired his image using an ES102 with focus reducer and L-eNhance filter. Processed using Nina, Siril, and Affinity photo.
Congratulations to Simon Dawes
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
The Society would like to congratulate Simon Dawes for having his sunspot image (see below) published in the British Astronomical Association journal – August 2024 edition. Well done Simon; it is a superb image. Details of how Simon acquired his image is on the photo.
A mosaic of the groups AR3638, AR3643, and AR3645–3647, imaged in white light on 2024 April 18 at
07:31 UT, in Bexleyheath.
Sunspots by Simon Dawes – 11th August 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A collection of stunning sunspot images taken by member Simon Dawes on the 11th August 2024. Details of how Simon acquired his images are on the photos.
The Sun – 12th August 2024 by Dr Mike Rushton
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A lovely white light image of the Sun taken on the 12th August 2024 by member & trustee Dr Mike Rushton; using his Dwarf II smart scope. The image is stacked and is made up of 25 x 1/200 sec exposures at gain 0.
The large sunspot top left is AR3784 and the large sunspot to the bottom right is AR3780.
Latest images by member Terry Miles
Two super images by member Terry Miles taken using his Seestar S50 smart telescope on the 11th August 2024. The images are short exposures for deep-sky objects but you can clearly see the ring nebula in the 1st image and some nebulosity of the Eastern Veil Nebula in the 2nd image.
M57 The Ring Nebula. Also catalogued as NGC 6720 is a planetary nebula in the northern constellation of Lyra.
NGC 6992 The Eastern Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula is a cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus.
Latest ExoClock transit observations by Simon Dawes – July & August 2024
Five more sets of observations for the ExoClock project by member & trustee Simon Dawes.
HAT-P-19 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a K-type star. Its mass is 0.277 Jupiters, it takes 4 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.04599 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2010. Ref:https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/hat-p-19-b/
TOI-4087 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits an F-type star. Its mass is 0.73 Jupiters, it takes 3.2 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.04469 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2023. Ref:https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/toi-4087-b/
KELT-1 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits an F-type star. Its mass is 27.23 Jupiters, it takes 1.2 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.02466 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2012. Ref: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/kelt-1-b/
KELT-16 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits an F-type star. Its mass is 2.75 Jupiters, it takes 1 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.02044 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2017. Ref: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/kelt-16-b/
TOI-1431 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits an A-type star. Its mass is 3.12 Jupiters, it takes 2.7 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.046 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2021. Ref: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/toi-1431-b/
Members trip to the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre – 4th August 2024
On Sunday 4th August 2024 several CMHASD members went on a trip the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre. Below is an account of the day kindly written by member Gary Hunt with photos taken by members.
1st August 2024 – Thunderhead
As Astronomers we observe weather conditions regularly and on the 1st August 2024 a stunning time-lapse video was taken by member Honor Wheeler of a Thunderhead. The video was taken from Dartford. A thunderhead is a cumulonimbus cloud seen during a thunderstorm. Towering cumulonimbus clouds, often called thunderclouds, are the only cloud formation capable of generating hail, thunder, and lightning. These dramatic, multi-layered cloud structures extend high into the sky, taking on an ominous, menacing appearance.
Honor used a Canon M6II on a tripod, Rokinon 12mm lens, at f/8, ISO400. A total of 300 photos with a 5 sec interval.
For more information about thunderstorms see:
Summer Solstice Sun – 20th June 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A fantastic photo of our Sun as it set taken by member Honor Wheeler from Weybourne Beach, Norfolk on the 20th June 2024. Massive sunspots can be seen at the 5 O’Clock position on the Sun. This image will also be found in the July edition of ‘The Astronomer’. Well done Honor; it is indeed a super image.
Earlier in the day on the 20th Dr Mike Rushton took this great image of the Sun using his Dwarf II smartscope.
Below for comparison; is a screenshot of the Sun on the 20th June 2024 with the Sunspots numbered taken from Spaceweather.com
Then on the day after; on the 21st member Jim Burchell took this superb image of the Sun.
The latest ExoClock project transits
Martin Crow and Simon Dawes have been busy taking more measurements of Exoplanet transits for the ExoClock project. Below are some of their latest ones.
”TrES-2b (also known as Kepler-1b or GSC 03549-02811b) is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star GSC 03549-02811 located 750 light years away from the Solar System in Draco. The planet was identified in 2011 as the darkest known exoplanet, reflecting less than 1% of any light that hits it. Reflecting less light than charcoal, on the surface the planet is said to be pitch black. The planet’s mass and radius indicate that it is a gas giant with a bulk composition similar to that of Jupiter. Unlike Jupiter, but similar to many planets detected around other stars, TrES-2b is located very close to its star and belongs to the class of planets known as hot Jupiters. This system was within the field of view of the Kepler spacecraft. It was discovered on August 21, 2006 by the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey (TrES) by detecting the transit of the planet across its parent star using Sleuth (Palomar Observatory, California) and PSST (Lowell Observatory, Arizona), part of the TrES network of 10–cm telescopes. The discovery was confirmed by the W. M. Keck Observatory on September 8, 2006, by measuring the radial velocity of the star that hosts TrES-2b.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrES-2b
HAT–P–37b is an exoplanet in the constellation Draco.
”HAT-P-37 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a G-type star. Its mass is 1.169 Jupiters, it takes 2.8 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.0379 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2011.” Ref:https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/hat-p-37-b/
”Qatar-4b is a super-jupiter orbiting the star Qatar-4 every 1.8 days in Andromeda. It was discovered in 2016 by the Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES).
This planet has a very short orbit, with only 1.8 days for it to complete an orbit around Qatar-4. The period corresponds with a separation of around 0.03 AU, which is almost 20 times closer than Mercury is to the Sun. Despite that, it has a perfectly round orbit. Since the host is an active star, Qatar-4 may be destroyed by tidal waves from the star.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar-4b
”TrES-3b is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star GSC 03089-00929. It has an orbital period of just 31 hours and nearly twice the mass of Jupiter.
The planet TrES-3b is named Umbäässa. The name was selected in the NameExoWorlds campaign by Liechtenstein, during the 100th anniversary of the IAU. In the local dialect of southern Liechtenstein, Umbäässa is a small and barely visible ant.
Crescent Moon & Mercury – 7th July 2024
A super collection of images by members of a Waxing Crescent Moon and Mercury taken on the 7th July 2024. The Moon had an illumination of 3%, which is the percentage of the moon that is illuminated by the Sun and an age of 1.6 days old, which is how many days it has...
Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sightings – July 2024
A lovely selection of NLC images taken by Society members on the 7th & 14th of July 2024. 7th July 2024 Honor Wheeler – Dartford. A panoramic photo by Honor Wheeler comprising 5 individual images. The bright star like object on the right hand side,...
Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sightings – June 2024
It is Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) season and members have been watching the sky to see if these elusive clouds put in an appearance – and I am pleased to report that they have. A few members have spotted them…. First this season was by Honor Wheeler whilst in...
Astronomy class at Crayford Manor House before 1961.
The DIY Planetarium made by the Astronomy class at Crayford Manor House before 1961. Standing (L-R): H P Wilkins & Len Wilcox (Principle of the Manor House Adult Education Centre) Seated (L-R): Unknown, Bert Offord and John Wall (L- R) Unknown, John Wall...
The Sun by Jim Burchell
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. A lovely collection of white light images of the Sun taken by member Jim Burchell in May & June this year; showing several large sunspots. Jim took the images using a Pentax KP...
Aurora – 2024 May 10th/11th
Like many of the stars we see in the night sky, our own Sun is a variable star. Its activity waxes and wanes, peaking every 11 years in a phenomenon known as the Solar Cycle. As it approaches this peak we see more dark sunspots appear on its face, and...
The Moon – 15th May 2024
A super image of the Moon taken by member Diane Clarke on the 15th May 2024. During this day the phase of the Moon is First Quarter. The Moon is 49.91% illuminated; which is the percentage of the moon that is illuminated by the Sun. The Moon was 7.37 days old,...
The Moon – 12th May 2024
A stunning collection of photos of the Moon taken on the 12th May 2024 by Neil Webster. The Moon was 25.1% illuminated and 4.71 days old. AA115mm APO EQ6 R, ZWO ASI290MM, R/IR filter 4 frames stitched in Microsoft ICE: each 90sx33fps. Best 20% stacked in...
Exo-Planet transits of HAT-P-55b and TrES-3b
Here is the Exo-Planet transit of HAT-P-55b taken on the 11th May 2024 by Simon Dawes for the ExoClock project. Simon did the observation on the same night as the ‘Great Aurora’, it finished in twilight so he lost about an hour of data. HAT-P-55b is...
Waxing Crescent Moon by Neil Webster
A Waxing Crescent Moon taken by member Neil Webster on the 11th May 2024. The Moon was 16.3% illuminated and 3.66 days old. Neil used a R/IR filter (642 – 840nm) when taking his image. Check out Neil’s flickr page at...