Month: September 2026

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Two splendid images by member Tina Bishop taken using a Dwarf 3 smart scope. 

Messier 57 which is also known as the Ring Nebula and found in the constellation Lyra.

Meesier 92 which is a Globular Cluster of stars found in the constellation Hercules.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Nebula

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_92

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On the 25th August 2026 a new Nova in the constellation Sagitta was discovered.

A few hours after the announcement member Kevin Smith managed to take an image of it using his Dwarf3 smart scope and posted it on the BAA forum https://britastro.org/forums/topic/likely-bright-nova-in-sagitta

The Nova is highlighted on Kevin's image by the 2 small yellow lines at right angles to each other.  The bright star to the left is delta Sagittae.

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''The object was picked up on August 25, 2026, by the NMW-TexasTech survey, one of several automated sky-patrol programs that scan wide swaths of sky night after night looking for exactly this kind of change. Within the same day, amateur astronomer K. Yoshimoto in Yamaguchi, Japan, logged a magnitude of 7.42 — a striking brightness for an object that, by all indications, wasn't visible at all before the eruption. The discovery was formalized through the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), the Harvard-hosted clearinghouse astronomers have relied on for over a century to rapidly circulate news of transient objects. CBAT assigned it the provisional designation PNV J19450648+1822422, pinning its position at RA 19h45m06.48s, Dec +18°22'42.2"

Provisional designations don't last long once a spectrum comes in. Follow-up spectroscopy revealed the signature astronomers were watching for: clear P Cygni profiles in the hydrogen-alpha and hydrogen-beta lines, with expansion velocities around 1,500 kilometers per second. That combination — a blueshifted absorption trough sitting next to an emission peak, produced by material blasting outward from the star faster than the speed of a jet engine's exhaust by a factor of thousands — is close to a textbook confirmation of a classical nova. The object has since been given its permanent variable-star name: Nova Sagittae 2026, or V488 Sge.'' Ref:https://www.cosmicherald.com/article/nova-sagittae-v488-sge-2026

http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J19450648+1822422.html

https://vsx.aavso.org/index.php?view=detail.top&revid=852445

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Moon and Jupiter taken by Jim Burchel on the morning of the 9th Sept 2026.

Jupiter is at the 1 o'clock position north of the crescent moon.

Images of the Moon & Jupiter were taken using a Pentax KP DSLR on a static tripod.

The image of the crescent Moon was taken using a Pentax KP body attached to 102 mm F11 refractor, 1/15 sec and ISO 200.

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NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.

On the 12th August there was a total Solar Eclipse; details of which can be found on the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_12,_2026

Several CMHASD members travelled abroad to see the total eclipse as it was a partial eclipse in the UK.

Below are a selection of photos from their trips.

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Kevin Smith

Kevin saw the eclipse from the town of Maials in Catalonia, a walled agricultural town, established in the twelfth century, with a  population of just 950.

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John Archer

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Tony Collins & Rose Keen

Tony wrote ''A selection from our experience on the walls of Peniscola castle in Spain on Wednesday. We’re were away in Catalonia, but had booked a few days south of here because we knew Peniscola would have totality.  

It was very “touch and go” with the cloud though, but right on cue it disappeared and our efforts and patience were rewarded. Absolutely spellbinding.

One confession however, a couple of photos were taken by an Irish friend more competent with her iPhone than me (and Rose’s hands were shaking with excitement) and so we swapped a few at the after- event celebrations.''

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Mike Rushton

Two video clips of the total eclipse taken from Mallorca; however the Sun went behind trees at start of totality! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu-4qd1JOQk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ERG44MF-d4

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On the 20th August 2026 member George Buckberry gave a superb talk about the Sun & Solar Observing.  To see a copy of his presentation he gave during his talk click on the link below.

https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/George-Buckberry-The-Sun-and-Solar-Observing-2nd-2.pdf

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NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely

The Sun captured on the 10th Sept 2026 to test ease of capture/tracking of latest App and Firmware versions on the Dwarf 3 smart scope.  All good.

Image is 20 of subs of 1/1600S, Gain 0, VIS filter

By George Buckberry.

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Further process of M42 - The Orion nebula on the latest DwarfLab App and Firmware showing improved clarity after star reduction applied by George Buckberry.

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