Conjunctions

Conjunction - The waxing Moon showing earthshine, The Hyades and Pleiades open star clusters and the planet Venus all in the same part of the sky. Canon 600d DSLR and an EFS 18-55 mm lens at f=18mm. Handheld by Kurt Thrust.

"Mrs Thrust and I went for a walk last night and were rewarded with some stunning celestial views through intermittent cloud. First we observed the International Space Station as it sailed serenely across the black velvet night sky accompanied by a retinue of Elon Musk's 'Starlink' communication satellites. Then as the clouds parted to the west, we were able to glimpse the beautiful sight of the waxing crescent Moon in conjunction with the Hyades, Pleiades and Venus" - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Mellotte 111 or Queen Berenices Hair

Central area of Mellotte 111 - Altair Astro 66 mm refractor with 0.6x focal reducer and field flattener on a Star Adventurer equatorial mount. Canon 600d DSLR at f=240mm. 60x60sec lights at ISO1600. Credit Pip Stakkert.

Plate solver Credit: Astrometry net

" Because the East Coast benefits from clear dark skies we were able to see the large but faint open star cluster Melotte 111 in the constellation Coma Berenices. Coma Berenices is a very nondescript constellation that is located next to the much more recognisable Leo Major. In mythology the open star cluster Mellotte 111 represents the curly locks of hair of Queen Berenice who cut them off to celebrate the gods and the safe return of her husband from the heat of battle. The cluster has been known since ancient times when Ptolemy catalogued it in his Almagest. The cluster covers an area of sky roughly equal to 7.5 degrees and is therefore much larger than the limits of the above widefield telescopic image. As a very large celestial object,it is absolutely stunning when viewed with binoculars. The north galactic pole (the direction of the axis of rotation of our galaxy) lies in this constellation so the above view is straight out into deepest space and away from obscuring dust. If you look closely at the above image you might be able to detect some of the many galaxies that are located in Coma Berenices. Mellotte 111 is approximately 280 light years distant and is 450 million years old". - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The area tinted green on the inverted (right hand side) binocular view of Mellotte 111 represents the area covered by the above telescopic image

Comet 2019 Y4 (ATLAS) in Ursa Major

Comet 2019 Y4 (ATLAS) - Altair Astro 66mm Doublet Refractor with 0.6x focal reducer and field flattener. Canon 600D DSLR . 45x60sec exposures at ISO1600- Credit Pip Stakkert

Annotated  key to above image - Credit; Plate solving by Astrometry Net.

" We have had three wonderful cloud and Moon free nights here on the East Coast and have done our best to capture as many photons as possible. The Covid 19 virus has had an impact on staffing at the Jodrell Plank Observatory. We have managed to keep our professional team safe by ensuring each member maintains a safe 2 metre distance between themselves and others. The visitor centre has had to be closed in accordance with Government guidelines and after the last sheet of toilet tissue was used by a rather extravagant member of the public". - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

" The comet 2019 Y4 (ATLAS) is brightening and is currently about mag 8 and only visible in good binoculars or a telescope from a dark site. The comet will be closest to the Earth in May when it may well be quite bright and visible to the naked eye. It can be seen at the moment in the constellation Ursa Major and not very far from the Great Bear's nose. It shows a blue green coma and a hint of a tail. The comet is following a near parabolic course through the Solar System and therefore will not be returning any time soon." - Pip Stakkert Imaging Team Leader at the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

In this crop from the widefield image the hint of a tail can be seen. Kurt Thrust

For more information follow the link:
https://britastro.org/node/20911

"Just looks like a lot of white dots on a black background to me Georgie Boy" - RIP Phil Barker

'Perseus and chums' taken in Les Gets France in 2002 - Old style pre digital astro photo - Anita Roberts 

"A great holiday with friends and family, happy times with Phil and Jean, seems like yesterday!" 

In memory of a lifelong, kind and intelligent friend 'Big Phil' Barker Bsc Metallurgy, Msc Metallurgy, Bsc Maths, DipBM (1949-2020)