Category: Dwarf Smart Scope

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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.

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A fantastic image of Star Trails by Honor Wheeler taken on the 24th February 2026 using a Dwarf3 smartscope.

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A superb selection of deep sky images taken by members during February 2026.

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Part of the Pleiades (M45) taken by Diane Clarke using a Seestar s50 smartscope on the 25th February 2026.

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The Orion Nebula (M42) taken by Diane Clarke using a Seestar s50 smartscope on the 25th February 2026.

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Two images of the Sun taken using smartscopes on the 4th February 2026.

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Taken by Jim Burchell using a Seestar s50.

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A great selection of Moon images taken by members during the month of February.

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Crescent Moon taken on the 22nd February 2026 by John Archer using a Dwarf3 smart scope.

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Waxing Gibbous Moon by Neil Webster taken on the 28/02/2026.

The Moon was 11.38 days old and 92.1% illuminated.  Neil used a AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI290MM and R/IR Filter to acquire the image.

6 frames. Each 90s x 32fps. Stitched in Microsoft ICE Firecapture, AutoStakkert and Photo Shop.

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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 light-years in size. 

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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 smart scope. Both taken from the Dartford area.

AR4366 has unleashed dozens of solar flares including a powerful X8-class flare on the 1st February 2026. Most sunspots never produce even one X-flare but this week, giant sunspot 4366 has fired off six; the latest being an X4.2-class explosion on the 4th February.

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Below is a diagram of the sun with the sunspots labelled and an image of just AR4366. Both these images were taken from the website spaceweather.com.

''The image of the Sunspot AR4366 was taken by amateur astronomer James Kevin Ty on Feb 3rd from his backyard observatory in Manila. "This sunspot started as an inconspicuous pore just a few days ago. Since then it has grown hugely in size!" he says.

SUNSPOT ARCHIPELAGO: Sunspots are magnetic islands on the sun. Sunspot AR4366 is a complete archipelago. Scroll down to scan more than 200,000 miles of island chain.

The island metaphor is apt. Sunspots are buoyant concentrations of magnetism that float on a sea of solar plasma. Archipelago 4366 consists of one big island twice as wide as Earth plus dozens of lesser isles ranging in size from US states to small planets.

AR4366 is currently facing Earth.'' Ref:Spaceweather.com

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Two great images of the Moon taken by George Buckberry using a Dwarf3 smart scope.

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A Waxing Crescent Moon on the 23rd January 2026. 22.8% illuminated. Ref:https://theskylive.com/moon/2026-01-23

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A Waxing Gibbous Moon on the 27th January 2026. 65% illuminated. Ref:https://theskylive.com/moon/2026-01-27

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Member George Buckberry has written another presentation about his recent experiences with the Dwarf3 smart scope.  To see a copy of his presentation click on the link on the right.

To see George's previous presentation about the Dwarf3 go to the 'New to Astronomy & Resources' page where you will find the link.

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George Buckberry Further Adventures with a Dwarf 3

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Below are 2 images of the Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula taken by member George Buckberry. The 1st on the 31st Dec 2025 having only 17mins and 45 seconds of total exposure and the 2nd on the 1st Jan 2026 having 1 hour and 15mins total exposure; both taken using a Dwarf3 smart scope.  The Horsehead Nebula is located in the centre of the images and the Flame nebula is located at the top middle of the images.

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The Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, and its companion, the  Flame Nebula, sit near the star Alnitak in Orion's Belt. 

The Horsehead Nebula is a small dark nebula located about 1,375 light-years from Earth and is located just south of Alnitak,  the easternmost star of Orion's Belt and is part of the much larger Orion molecular cloud complex within the Orion B cloud. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of its resemblance to a horse's head.

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The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, is an emission nebula also in the constellation Orion.  It is about 1350 light-years away.  The Flame Nebula also lies within the Orion B cloud of the larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.

The bright star Alnitak the easternmost star in Orion's Belt, appears very close to the Flame Nebula in the sky. But the star and nebula are not physically associated with one another. Alnitak lies 1260 light-years from Earth.

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