Author: WebMistress

On the 5th July 2022 Noctilucent Cloud were spotted again.  They lasted from 2.25am until 3.40am and were in the NE to NNE direction.

Several members took the opportunity to photograph the waxing crescent Moon on the evening of 2nd June 2022 - The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Day and some stunning shots were acquired.

Neil Webster's Jubilee Moon

A composite of three images shot at about 9.20pm before it disappeared behind trees/buildings. It was still very light and the setting Sun was nearby.

Martin Crow's Jubilee Moon & Beacon

Taken from Burnham On Crouch, Essex.

John Archer's Jubilee Moon

Jim Burchell's Jubilee Moon with Earthshine

Diane Clarke's Jubilee Moon with Earthshine

A great capture of a very young Moon at 33.5 hours old on the 31st May 2022. Photo taken by member John Howarth from North Kent.

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

My Skywatcher 190MN telescope has a very wide field of view I can easily fit the full Moon or Sun on the chip, so I thought I'd get myself some Baader solar Safety Film and make myself a solar filter - the video below shows how i made it and shows some early results. Check-out our solar section for more images.

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I recently bought a Mesu e200 (also know as the Mesu MKII) mount. This mount uses friction rather than gears so doesn't have any backlash, it is incredibly accurate and can handle a load of 100Kg (that's 18 stone! or over 200lb!)

Check-out the video for the full unboxing and assembly - the video isn't a review but you will get an idea of the quality from this video. Whilst the mount is expensive, it is far more economical than equivalent mounts, other owners have sold their Paramount's  in order to fund buying more of these - they really are good.

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A superb composite image of 8 frames showing a Waxing Gibbous Moon (79%) taken on the 10th June 2022 by member Neil Webster.  Acquired using a ZWO ASI 290MM + R/IR filter.

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="3468"] A 22 degree solar halo created by tumbling plate ice crystals in the high atmosphere, taken by John Archer on a Samsung Smart Phone[/caption]

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Whilst up early to photograph Venus and the crescent Moon on the 26th June 2022 at Dartford top road, member Jim Burchell also saw some Noctilucent Cloud too around 3am!  The 1st Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sighting for CMHASD NLC season 2022. 

Jim sent out an alert via Whatsapp to members which Diane Clarke picked up and so too managed to photograph the NLC that morning from North Kent.

NLC by Jim Burchell - 26th June 2022

NLC by Diane Clarke - 26th June 2022

Two image's of Venus in the morning sky both taken from Dartford top road by Jim Burchell on the 22nd and 26th June 2022. 

An absolute stunning image taken by Jim Burchell just before he went to bed on the 25th June 2022 of Crepuscular Rays.