Announcements
Come and join CMHASD stargazing at Hall Place, Bexley – Wednesday, 13th Nov 2024 from 7pm.
Note: This event is now sold out BUT a second Stargazing at Hall Place with CMHASD will be held in February 2025.
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
Perseid Meteor Watch – 10th/11thAugust 2024
When you sit back to watch the Perseid meteor shower, you’re actually seeing pieces of comet debris heat up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up in a bright burst of light, streaking a vivid path across the sky as they travel at 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second, according to NASA. The Perseids result from Earth passing through debris (bits of ice and rock) left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle.
Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered independently by two astronomers, Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle, in 1862. Comet Swift-Tuttle is the largest object known to repeatedly pass by Earth; its nucleus is about 16 miles (26 kilometers) wide. It last passed near Earth during its orbit around the sun in 1992, and the next time will be in 2126.
In 2024 the Perseid meteor shower was active between 17 July and 24 August, with the number of meteors (also known as shooting stars) increasing every night until it reached its peak, after which it then tailed off. This year the peak was on the night of the 12th and before dawn on 13 August when Earth travelled through the densest and dustiest part of this debris.
So not wanting to miss this annual meteor shower several CMHASD members met at the Pavilion on the night of the 10th/11th August to watch the Perseid meteor shower (The night of the 12th/13th was not chosen simply because of members work commitments on the morning of the 13th). Members stayed at the pavilion for around 3 1/2 hours (9.30pm to 1am) and during that time around 17 visual sightings were spotted by members.
Below are some photos taken by member Honor Wheeler of the meteors she caught on camera that night, with another member helping her out by pointing to the 1st meteor that was spotted!
It was a very good night, not too cold, great company and lots of banter & chit chat amongst members. Some members even took the opportunity to do some deep sky imaging too.
There’s one……..
Camera settings: Canon M6II, Rokinon 14mm lens, ISO1000, f/2.8, exposure between 4sec and 10sec.
Plus; while we were busy watching the meteors at the pavilion the meteor camera was busy too and below is a summary of the meteors the camera picked up on the night of the 10th/11th Aug 2024 which you can download.
Perseids Night of 10-11 August 2024 (1)
For more information about the Perseid Meteor Shower check out https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see
Shears Green Junior School Cosmic Camp – 27th Sept 2024
On Friday 27th September 2024 several CMHASD members helped out at Shears Green Junior School Cosmic Camp.
Chairman John Archer wrote ”First of all I really want to thank all of the team who supported our evening of outreach last Friday 27th. Once again we attended Cosmic Camp at Shears Green Junior School and were greeted by an enthusiastic audience, most of whom managed to observe Saturn, as well as a number of deep sky objects. There were indoor activities run by Rita and Debra, and the pupils were treated to our slideshow of members’ aurora images. Outside there were a range of scopes – Dob’s, a refractor and also Smartscopes, ably demonstrated by our hardy team including Steve, Dave, Andy, Diane, Mike, Jim & co – thank you all so much for giving up your time and getting involved – it was a wonderful and eventually clear night”.
Below are 2 of the images taken by members whilst at the school that the children saw.
M31 by Dr Mike Rushton using a Dwarf II smartscope with no processing. Stacked image of 200 x 10s exposures at gain 80.
M31 is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It is also known as The Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31 and NGC 224. The galaxy is approximately 765 kpc (2.5 million light-years) from Earth. The galaxy’s name stems from the area of Earth’s sky in which it appears, the constellation of Andromeda. Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy.
M27 by Diane Clarke (with the help of Jim Burchell) taken using a Seestar S50. Stacked image of 224 x 10s exposures. Processed using Affinity Photo.
M27 (also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, and NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1360 light-years. It was the first such nebula to be discovered, by Charles Messier in 1764. Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbbell_Nebula.
Super Harvest Moon – 17th September 2024
A superb selection of images taken by members Jim Burchell and Honor Wheeler on the 17th September 2024 of the Super Harvest Moon.
Why is this Full Moon called a Super Harvest Moon?
”Supermoons occur at perigee: the point in the Moon’s orbit where it’s closest to Earth. A perigee full Moon appears a little brighter and larger than an average full Moon, and is known by some as a ‘supermoon’. The technical name for a ‘supermoon’ is a perigee syzygy Moon.” Ref:https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/supermoon-what-when-next
Plus Full Moon names reflect the time of year they happen and the Harvest Moon graces the skies in the harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere. The Harvest Moon is also the Full Moon nearest the autumn equinox, which happens around September 22, depending on the year and time zone.
Fly me to the Moon by Honor Wheeler
Image taken using a Canon M6II camera, 400mm lens, ISO800, F7.1 and EXP1/800s.
Moon with Saturn (Composite image) by Honor Wheeler
Images taken using a Canon M6II camera, 177mm lens, ISO800, F7.1 and EXP1/3s.
Super Harvest Moon by Honor Wheeler
Image taken using Canon M6II camera, 400mm lens, ISO800, F7.1 and EXP1/8s.
Super Harvest Moon taken by Jim Burchell
This image was taken using a Pentax KP body attached to a 102 mm refactor, F11, 1/80 sec and iso 100.
Moon & Cloud by Jim Burchell
This is a cropped image. taken using a Pentax KP, F11, 1/125 sec, 300 mm and ISO 100
For more information check out https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/supermoon-what-when-next and https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/harvest.html
The next Supermoon is on Thursday 17th October.
Crescent Moon & Venus by Richard Bohner
A lovely photo of the crescent Moon and Venus captured by member Richard Bohner from the USA. The single shot photo was taken on 4th September 2024 with a Canon 6D camera and 135mm lens f2.8. ISO 1600 @ 1/30 second exposure from Cottonwood, Arizona, USA.
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) & the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) by Neil Webster
Neil’s first Deep Sky image for 18 months…….The North America Nebula & the Pelican Nebula and what a super image it is!
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) is at the top and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) is at the bottom.
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to the star Deneb. It is named the North America Nebula because its shape resembles North America.
”The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC 5070) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name. The Pelican Nebula is located nearby first magnitude star Deneb, and is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a foreground molecular cloud filled with dark dust.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_Nebula
Neil acquired his image on the 27th Sept 2024 using a WO GT71 apo, EQ6-R, ZWO ASI 294MC Pro, Optolong L-Enhance filter, Astro Essentials 50mm guide scope & ZWO ASI 290MM guide camera.
Processed in APT, PHD, Nebulosity, Photoshop and Star Xterminator
38 x 240s Subs, 12 x darks, 45 x flats/bias
For a more detailed view of Neil’s image check out his flicker page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/137388222@N05/54032311437/
NGC 6992 & NGC 891 by Jim Burchell
Two excellent deep sky images taken by Jim Burchell on the 14th Sept 2024 of NGC 6992 and NGC 891 using his Seestar S50 smartcope.
The Veil Nebula is a cloud of heated, ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus. It constitutes the visible portions of the Cygnus Loop a supernova remnant. Sections of the Veil Nebula have their own individual names and catalogue identifiers and NGC6992 is a bright area in the Eastern Veil (also known as Caldwell 33) of the Veil Nebula.
The image is made up of 138 x 10 second stacked images. Then processed in Snapseed.
”NGC 891 (also known as Caldwell 23, the Silver Sliver Galaxy, and the Outer Limits Galaxy) is an edge-on unbarred spiral galaxy about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It was discovered by William Herschel on October 6, 1784.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_891
This image is made up of 48 x 10 sec stacked images. Then processed in Snapseed. Ref:
The Fireworks Galaxy by Terry Miles
A superb image of the Fireworks Galaxy also known as NGC6946 taken by member Terry Miles on the 10th Sept 2024 using his Seestar S50 smartscope despite some very annoying high thin clouds that would not just go away.
”The Fireworks Galaxy, is a face-on intermediate spiral galaxy with a small bright nucleus, whose location in the sky straddles the boundary between the northern constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus. Its distance from Earth is about 25.2 million light-years.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6946
Stunning Sun dogs by Kevin Smith
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A stunning example of 2 Sun dogs captured by member Kevin Smith whilst on an early morning walk on the 10th Sept 2024.
A sun dog is also called a parhelion (plural parhelia) and is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both sides of the Sun. The sun dog is a member of the family of halos caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere.
The Veil Nebula by Kevin Langford
An absolutely stunning mosaic image of the Veil Nebula taken by member Kevin Langford from Bexley on the nights of the 11th & 12th August 2024.
The Veil Nebula is a cloud of heated, ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus. It constitutes the visible portions of the Cygnus Loop a supernova remnant.
This is a 4 panel mosaic; with just 40 mins of data per panel. Kevin says it needs a lot more data to be added but we think it is fantastic already.
Equipment used: ES102 with focus reducer, L-eNhance filter.
Software used Nina, Sirilic, Ice, Siril, and Affinity photo.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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....
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. ”With the decision by the membership to...
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...
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...
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...
Astro-images from the 28th and a little bit of the 29th June 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. A lovely selection of images from Society members. First two superb images are of the Sun and Moon taken by Jim Burchell on the 28th. Next are a selection of fantastic...
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...