New Kit at the Jodrell Plank Observatory for 2025

 

M45 First Light for the SeeStar S30 credit: Joel Cairo

" The SeeStar S30 is a transportable mini observatory comprising a 30mm aperture ED telescope, filters, dew heater, camera and alt-az mount, all in one light weight package. As M45 was high in the sky and relatively bright, we programmed the SeeStar to capture three hours of 10 second exposures. The SeeStar's on board processor, live stacked the exposures and then we processed and cropped the stacked image, to create the above view of the 'Seven Sisters'. We believe, by changing our working method, even better images will be delivered by this small but mighty bit of kit, Watch this space!" -  Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The SeeStar S30 on its mini tripod, in the Jodrell Plank Observatory hospitality lounge. The bottle of wine was placed next to it to give an idea of scale of the mini-observatory. The SeeStar S30 weighs approximately 1.5 kg.

" On behalf of all the staff at the Jodrell Plank Observatory, I should like to thank our joint sponsor, Anita Roberts, for gifting the SeeStar S30 to the Observatory" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

A Night of Planets

 

Venus showing a crescent phase imaged at F22.5 early evening 25_01_2025 image Credit: Kurt Thrust

Mars at F22.5 just passed opposition in the early hours 26_01_2025 image
Credit: Pip Stakkert

Mars at F56 just passed opposition in the early hours 26_01_2025 image
Credit: Pip Stackkert

Jupiter at F22.5 early evening 25_01_2025 image
credit: Karl Segin

A compilation of Solar System highlights from the last 12months
 credit: Kurt Thrust.

" We finally had the opportunity and clear night in January 2025 to point our 127mm Apo refractor and QHY5iii462c camera at the planets;  Mars and Venus" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The Sun 25_01_2025

 

The full Solar Disc in the morning  of 25_01_2025 imaged in white light (added false colour). Captured with a QHY5iii462c planetary video camera with double stacked pass and red light filters. Telescope used and Altair Astro 66mm ED refractor on a Star Adventurer EQ mount. Image Credit: Kurt Thrust

" Our nearest star is a rotating ball of gas, which  beautifully demonstrates the principle of  'conservation of angular momentum'. Unfortunately for us the rotation has temporarily taken the larger sunspots away from us. The image however does show some spots and obvious faculae associated with sunspot groups towards the left hand limb. We processed the image to emphasise the many solar convection cells which show as changes in albedo in  the solar photosphere and give, the Sun as imaged, an 'orange peel ' texture'. Many of these cells are as big as the whole Earth!" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The Constellation Orion at 50mm

 

Orion imaged with an astro-modded Canon 200d DSLR, a triband filter and a Canon F1.6 f=50mm fixed lens. Image Credit: Kurt Thrust.

"The constellation Orion is truly magnificent at this time of year, when viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. As Orion sits within the field of view of a 50mm lens attached to the Observatory's DSLR cameras, I decided to see if I could capture Orion whole in a series of one frame shots. There is an obvious trade off in the quality of the star images, in particular a number of aberrations affect the stars toward  the edges of the field of view. However, we all agreed that the overall visual impact of the cropped image out weighed  the downside in star quality. The image was created from a stack of 45 x 1minute exposures (or subs) taken at ISO1600. The Moon, now just past 'First Quarter', was an issue, which was largely resolved by the use of a 'Triband Filter', which selectively limits the passage of light from the sky to the camera sensor, allowing only photons to pass within 3 designated wavelength bands". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

First Quarter Moon in the New Year 2025

 

A video clip captured at F6 using a QHY5iii462c planetary camera and stacked and processed using Affinity Photo 2.5, AS!4  and AstroClean - Image credit: Pip Stakkert.

Crescent Moon and Venus Conjunction from 03-01-2025. Composite image compiled from images captured with a Canon 600d DSLR and a 135 mm. Samyang lens. Credit: Kurt Thrust.

"Nice way to start the new year with our nearest celestial neighbour the beautiful new Moon" - Joel Cairo.