Supernova in spiral galaxy NGC2525

Supernova 2018gv in NGC2525 constellation Puppis - taken on the 28th January 2018 -
Credit : COAST automatic autonomous telescope - telescope.org - Open University - image by Pip Stakkert

Supernova 2018gv in NGC2525 constellation Puppis - taken on the 28th January 2018 - Heat map Credit : COAST automatic autonomous telescope - telescope.org - Open University - image by Pip Stakkert.

"This Type 1a supernova was discovered by Koichi Itagaki on the 15th. of January 2018.  Pip Stakkert pointed the COAST autonomous telescope at the spiral galaxy NGC2525 and the above images were taken seven days later on the 28th of January. Type 1a supernova occur in binary star systems in which at least one star is a white dwarf. These enormous explosions are so large they can be seen in distant galaxies across the universe." - Kurt Thrust - acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Spiral Galaxy IC342

IC342 or Caldwell 5 in the constellation Camelopardalis -  Credit : COAST automatic autonomous telescope - telescope.org - Open University - image by Pip Stakkert - 28 January2018 - 3 minute exposure using BVR filters (and heat image also incorporated in luminosity layer.)

"IC342 is an 'intermediate spiral galaxy' that is a galaxy which sits between the classifications of a barred and unbarred spiral. It is not an easy galaxy to observe as it is hidden behind dust and stars that reside in the disc of the Milky Way. The galaxy is approximately 10 million light years distant and is not part of our 'Local Group' but is instead part of the nearby Maffei Group". - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Saturn at Opposition

Saturn at Opposition June 2018 in amongst the stars of Sagittarius - Meade ETX 90Ra with QHY5-11 planetary camera on Star-Adventurer mount. 

"This year and because Saturn is so low in the sky, we have been unable to use the big Meade refractor here at the Jodrell Plank Observatory to capture images of Saturn. 'The Boss - Kurt' therefore asked me to undertake minor alterations to stabilise the tripod we use for 'widefield imaging' away from the Observatory. Clearly a  planet, even a 'gas giant', requires imaging at a relatively high F ratio and this asks significant questions of the mount and equatorial mount. Kurt decided to utilise the old ETX 90Ra Mak telescope at F12.5 mounted on the 'Star Adventurer. I was pleased to brace the tripod's thin aluminium hollow legs with a piece of plywood and a number of steel bolts"  - Jolene McSquint - Instrumentation Engineer.

The Meade ETX 90Ra Mak mounted on the Star Adventurer Equatorial Mount on the recently braced tripod

" Although the weather in the UK has been exceptionally warm and stable, here on the East Coast the nights have been mixed to say the least. We managed to image Saturn over two nights around the time of opposition. The first night was difficult because of intermittent cloud, the second however, was clear. Strange enough the best image captured on the first night is much better than those obtained on the second. Presumably the atmosphere was more stable on the first evening." - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Image obtained with the Meade ETX 90Ra and QHY5-11 planetary camera on Star-Adventurer mount on the first night - 29-06-2018

Image obtained with the Meade ETX 90Ra and QHY5-11 planetary camera on Star-Adventurer mount on - 30-06-2018

Image obtained on with the Meade ETX 90Ra and QHY5-11 planetary camera on Star-Adventurer mount on - 30-06-2018