Astronomy every Thursday
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
On the 29th March 2025 there was a partial eclipse of the Sun and many CMHASD members observed the event all over the UK. Below are a selection of photos and a timelapse video of the partial solar eclipse.
It was also the 1st outing of the new Society Solar Lunt telescope called Cecilia and mighty good views of the Sun were seen including a sunspot, prominences and surface detail of the Sun.
First light with Cecilia
The image below was taken pointing a phone down the eyepiece. You can see lots of prominences.
The 2 Sun images below were taken using a phone attached to a phone holder put on Cecilia and it set to the PRO setting. The lower of the 2 images was then processed in Snapseed to crop, flip, colour and processed to bring out the details. Taken at 10.37UT
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The image below was taken using Cecilia after the partial eclipse had finished using an old ZWO colour camera. The image shows a lot of surface detail of the Sun and shows the possibilities for better imaging using a dedicated camera.
The Partial Solar Eclipse by Honor Wheeler
Partial Solar Eclipse by Jim Burchell
Member John Archer's set up and image
Member Guy Roberts' partial solar eclipse image
Member Janice McClean's setup
Member Keith Rickard safely observing the eclipse with dedicated solar filter glasses
Members Diane Clarke and Roger Moore observing the partial eclipse
Diane Clarke's images
Member Martin Crow safely observing the eclipse using the projection method
Timelapse video of the partial Solar Eclipse by Jim Burchell
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17432686100312.mp4"][/video]
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A great selection of Sun images taken by members on the 10th & 13th June 2025
Friday 13th June
The Sun by John Archer using a Dwarf 2 smartscope.
An Active Sun by Simon Dawes - details of how Simon acquired his images are on most photos.
Tuesday 10th June
The sun by Dr Mike Rushton taken using a Dwarf 3 smartscope
The Sun by George Buckberry taken using a Dwarf 3 smartscope.
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A superb collage of images showing our active Sun over a 4 day period (31st March to 3rd April) taken by CMHASD member Jim Burchell.
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A splendid selection of Sunspot images taken by CMHASD trustee Simon Dawes on the 16th March 2025. Details of how Simon took his images are on the photos.
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
Two superb images of the Sun today taken by member Jim Burchell. As you can see the Sun is very active with lots of sunspots.
Jim's 1st image below, a single shot; was taken using a 102 MM refactor with a Pentax KP body attached set at F11, 320 sec and iso 100 plus a solar filter.
Jim's 2nd image, which is just a single shot; was taken using a SeeStar S50 smartscope.
Below is an image taken from Spaceweather.com showing all the sunspots with their labels. As you can see there are lots!!!!!
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A superb selection of astro images taken by member Honor Wheeler on the 1st March 2025 of the Sun, Moon and the planetary parade.
Details of how Honor took her images are written above each image.
Venus phase - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens, ISO400, f6.3, 1/16000sec.
Even when Venus is a fine crescent, the albedo of Venus is still high.
Sunset Sunspots - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens. ISO100, f29, 1/16000sec.
Sunset - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens. ISO200, f10, 1/800sec
Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Moon and Mercury - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens. ISO500, 1/2sec taken using Samyang 8mm fish-eye lens.
Venus, Earthshine and Mercury - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens. ISO640, f5.0, 1/3sec.
Earthshine - Canon M6II with Tamron 18-400mm lens. ISO640, f6.3, 1"1/3sec
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A selection of fantastic images of our Sun taken on the 4th March 2025 by CMHASD trustee Simon Dawes from Bexley. Details of how Simon took his images are on the photos.
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A superb selection of member images taken on Friday 3rd January 2025.
The Sun at midday taken by Dr Mike Rushton taken using a Dwarf II smart scope. 20 x 1/250 sec at Gain 0 with a ND6 solar filter.
The Sun taken by Honor Wheeler
The Sun taken by Jim Burchell
The Pleiades by Dr Mike Rushton using a Dwarf II smart scope. 200 x 10sec exposures at Gain 60.
Crescent Moon and Venus taken by Honor Wheeler. Venus is top right of the Moon.
Saturn, Venus and the Moon taken by Honor Wheeler. Venus is top right of the Moon and Saturn is near the top left corner of the image.
