Andromeda and Perseus rising in Northern Hemisphere autumnal skies.

 

The M31 group of Galaxies in Andromeda : Canon 600D DSLR and Samyang 135mm F2 lens reduced with filter rings. Stack of 60x1min exp at ISO1600.

" The early morning hours of the 29-09-2024 were both clear and steady, so excellent conditions for astro-imaging. Now the M31 group of galaxies is a bit of a astro-imaging cliche but however many times the Astro-team at the Jodrell Plank Observatory photograph it, each year in autumn when the constellation Andromeda rides high, someone just has to point a camera in its direction. This year Kurt could not help using the Samyang 135mm lens to provide a wider field of view of  M31, M110 and M32. There are just so many stars in this part of the sky that we decided to use software to reduce the brightness and number of stars. We also captured some photons from 'in and around' Andromeda's mum (aka the constellation Cassiopeia) which await processing by Pip Stakkert - but more of that later." -Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

On the Beach

Last night the Aurora Borealis over Corton Beach near Lowestoft - a green glow under the tail of the Great Bear - image by Ronald Clump - CEO - Jodrell Plank Observatory.

"Mr. Clump has been enjoying quite a lot of his 'me time' on Corton Beach .  In late autumn and winter and after about 19:00 UT, the beach car park is a readily accessible 'Dark Site' . No wonder our new CEO has been spending a lot of time there!  Last night the Aurora Amber Alert was actioned and fortuitously Ronald found himself on the carpark with a camera to hand. The above super image taken with a tripod mounted Canon 600D DSLR -1x 20 second at ISO1600 - F3.5 and f=18 - shows the tell-tale colours of excited nitrogen atoms - the auroral glow of -'green and magenta'.

Whilst he was there, he also captured some wonderful images of the Milky Way running through the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia. The tiny meteor and the Andromeda Galaxy are bonus features." - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

The Milky Way in October - looking east out across the North Sea - 600D DSLR 6x20sec exposures at ISO3200 F3.5 and f=18. - Photography Ronald Clump. Image processing by Pip Stakkert