GradientXterminator

 

Messier 31 . Data  rework - Credit Pip Stakkert.

" Our generous 'Observatory Sponsor' Anita Roberts has kindly donated new data processing software and  consequently I decided to ask our imaging expert Pip Stakkert to reprocess the image of the Andromeda Galaxy M31. The data was collected earlier in the year using the Observatory's Altair Astro 66mm Doublet Refractor and the Canon 600 DSLR camera. With Christmas on the way we have good reason to believe Santa may stop by to present us with a narrow Tri-band filter which will enable us to reduce the affects of light pollution and sky glow". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The last of the Summer Sky - a widefield image of the autumn sky over the roof to the Observatory Visitors Centre. The Pleiades star cluster is clearly visible in the top left, the Summer Milky Way may be seen top right and The Andromeda Galaxy is a small smudge of light towards the top centre of this image.

Nearly Full on the 17th of November 2021

 

Easy to forget how exquisitely beautiful our Moon is!

Look what's up!

 

Orion the Hunter peeking over our hedge, a really pretty constellation.

Every year after 'the clocks go back' and as the evening temperature becomes quite chilly. our old friend Orion levers himself above our hedge at the bottom of our backyard. Orion heralds the onset of winter but never the less, we always look forward to his annual appearance. Can you spot the constellations Auriga the Charioteer and Taurus the Bull and also the Hyades and Pleiades asterisms?

Winter, Barry the Snowman and Christmas are definitely on the way!

This evening low in the west, the planet Venus is a bright star amongst the branches of our neighbour's apple tree. You can just make out that its current phase is gibbous.