Cotswold Astronomical Society

At the AGM we were treated to a fantastic selection of member’s astronomical photographs, with 26 entries being submitted. This year we had three categories rather than just the previous two, the addition of the Smart Scope category reflecting the changing nature of amateur astronomy. 

The members present at the AGM voted during the meeting, resulting in clear winners for each category. There were 6 entries in the Smart Scope category and the winner of this section was James Weightman, with his image of the Procession of Sunspots.

 

The technical category had 10 entries, the winner being Bryn Evans, with his image of the Andromeda Galaxy, M31.

There were also 10 entries in the Artistic category and the winner was Alistair Frith, with his image of the Leo Triplet, M65, M66 & NGC3628.

Since Alistair also received the most votes this makes him the overall winner and the recipient of this year’s award of the Dan Turton Trophy.

Congratulations to the winners, but without forgetting the contributions from everyone who submitted an entry. The 26 entries were from 12 members, so hopefully this competition will encourage many more to produce some photos over the coming months in readiness for the competition next year.

All the entries can be viewed via this link HERE.

 

 

 

Members will have received an email recently about the appointment of Andrew Derham as the new Coordinator of the society.

The committee is very grateful to Andrew for stepping up as a result of the need for the previous Coordinator, Neil Havard, to take a step back from the role. 

That still leaves the Events manager and Articles editor positions to fill, plus there are a number of tasks that could be taken on by co-opted members. As a club run by members for the members, the more people doing small tasks the better. Please see any committee member at the next meeting if you can offer to help in any way.

Planets

Mercury

Mercury moves into the evening sky, having passed through superior conjunction on May 30^th.  By the end of the month it reaches an elongation of +25^o, with a phase of 57% and a diameter of 7 arc sec.  It is moderately well placed for observation after sunset, but a clear western horizon is necessary.

Venus

Venus remains a prominent morning object, with an elongation of around 44^o from the Sun and well placed for observation.  The magnitude remains around -4.2, while the phase increases from 50% to 63% by the end of the month.

Mars

Mars is becoming a very difficult object this month as it gets lost in the twilight. It has a magnitude around +1.4. Its diameter drops below 5” by the end of the month.

Jupiter

Jupiter is no longer observable as it reaches conjunction with the Sun on the 24^th June.

Saturn

Saturn is a morning object with a magnitude of only 1.0, mainly because the rings are still almost edge on, although they will have ‘opened’ to about 3^o by the end of the month.  It is still low in the eastern sky before sunrise, but now rises by about 1 am BST.

Uranus

Uranus is not observable this month.

Neptune

Neptune is observable in the morning sky this month, but is difficult with the light mornings.  Its coordinates are:  RA 00h 08m Dec. -0.5^o 

Moon

Phases:

3^rd June:  Moon is at First Quarter                 11^th June:  Full Moon   

18^th June:  Moon is at last quarter                 25^th June:  New Moon

Sun

The Sun is currently less active, but do watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

Aurora may be very hard to see this month as astronomical twilight lasts all night and the northern skies do not get fully dark.  Watch out for any exceptional activity though, using one of the many aurora alert apps.

Meteors

The June Bootids are well placed from June 22^nd and reaching a maximum on the 27^th.  The Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR) is variable, and the radiant is around RA 15hr, Dec +48^o. In 1998 an unexpected outburst produced a ZHR of 100.  They may therefore be worth looking for.

Dark Sky Objects

The lighter evenings will be more limiting on deep sky objects, but galaxies in Leo are well placed.  Also M51 (Whirlpool) and M101 (Pinwheel) near Ursa Major are particularly well placed for observation and photography.

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Planets

Mercury

Mercury remains a morning object, but its elongation decreases throughout the month.  It is not particularly well placed for northern hemisphere viewers.

Venus

Venus is now a prominent morning object, reaching greatest western elongation on the 31^st, when it will be 46^o from the Sun and well placed for observation.

Mars

Mars is still visible in the west after dark, throughout the earlier part of the night. It is a prominent reddish object below the stars Castor and Pollux and has a magnitude around +1. Its diameter drops below 6” by the end of the month.

Jupiter

Jupiter is still visible low in western sky as soon as it gets dark enough at the start of the month.  However, we will be losing it in the twilight by the end of the month.  It reaches conjunction later in June.

Saturn

Saturn is a morning object with a magnitude of only 1.1, mainly because the rings are almost edge on.  It is not well placed for observation this month as it is low in the eastern sky before sunrise.  Perhaps it’s a challenge you would like to take on.

Uranus

Uranus is no longer visible this month, being lost in the twilight.

Neptune

Neptune is not observable this month.

Moon

Phases:

4^th May:  Moon is at First Quarter                 12^th May:  Full Moon   

20^th May:  Moon is at last quarter                 27^th May:  New Moon

  

Sun

The Sun is remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

The Sun is still around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  Astronomical twilight will soon last all night and the northern skies may be too bright, but do be ready for major displays which may still be seen. I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro. 

Meteors

The Eta-Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak around the 5th, but this is mainly visible in the southern hemisphere.

Dark Sky Objects

The lighter evenings will be more limiting on deep sky objects, but galaxies in Leo are well placed.  Also M51 (Whirlpool) and M101 (Pinwheel) near Ursa Major are particularly well placed for observation and photography.

To view this post in PDF format please Click Here

The annual reports from our Coordinator and Treasurer are now available to members and can be viewed on the members-only accessible page called Coordinator and Treasurer annual reports under the Members Area menu option.

If any member has any questions about the balance sheet these should be submitted by email to the treasurer by the 10th April and they will be answered at the AGM on the 12th.

Planets
Mercury
Mercury is a morning object and reaches greatest western elongation on the 21st April when it will be 27.4º from the Sun, and reasonably placed.

Venus
Venus passed through Inferior Conjunction on the 23rd March and moved into the morning sky.  By the middle of the month it will be 35º from the Sun and well placed for observation.

Mars
Mars is well past opposition now but remains fairly well placed for observing throughout the earlier part of the night. It is a prominent reddish object just below the stars Castor and Pollux and has a magnitude around +0.6. Its diameter drops to 7.5” by mid April.

Jupiter
Jupiter is well past opposition but remains a prominent object high in the south-western sky as soon as it is dark. It is still well placed for observing in the early part of the night. It is unmistakable, with a magnitude of -2.1, making it a great telescope object, so do get observing while it is still around!

Saturn
Saturn is lost to observation this month as it passed through conjunction in March.

Uranus
Uranus sets mid evening and is therefore becoming a difficult object now (RA: 3h 32m, Dec +18.5º).  It reached opposition in November. Its magnitude is +5.6 and diameter 3.8”.

Neptune
Neptune is not observable this month

Moon
Phases:

5th April:  Moon is at First Quarter                13th April:  Full Moon   

21st April:  Moon is at last quarter                 27th  April:  New Moon

Sun
The Sun is remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora
The Sun is still around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro. 

Meteors
The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak on the 22nd April, but some may be seen for a week either side of that.  As the Moon is past last quarter, it will cause less interference, so keep an eye out for these.

Dark Sky Objects
The lighter evenings will be more limiting on deep sky objects, but galaxies in Leo are well placed.  Also M51 (Whirlpool) and M101 (Pinwheel) near Ursa Major are particularly well placed for observation and photography.

To view this post in PDF format please CLICK HERE

Planets

Mercury

Mercury is an evening object and is just 0.4^o South of the Moon on the 1^st March.  It is occulted by the Moon in Australia if you fancy a trip! It reaches greatest eastern elongation on the 8^th March and will be 18.2^o from the Sun, and favourably placed.

Venus

Venus is still visible, but rapidly moving back towards the Sun.  It reaches Inferior Conjunction on the 23^rd March.  Its phase drops from 13% near the start of the month, to zero through conjunction.  It then becomes a morning object and will be visible by the start of April. 

Mars

Mars is well past opposition now but remains well placed for observing throughout most of the night. It is a prominent reddish object of near the stars Castor and Pollux and has a magnitude around 0. Its diameter drops to 10”.

Jupiter

Jupiter is well past opposition but remains a prominent object high in the south-western  sky as soon as it is dark. It is well placed for observing throughout the night. It is unmistakable, with a magnitude of -2.2, making it a great telescope object, so do get observing!

Saturn

Saturn is lost to observation this month as it passes through conjunction on the 12^th March

Uranus

Uranus is still observable throughout most of the night (RA: 3h 22m, Dec +18.3^o).  It reached opposition in November. Its magnitude is +5.6 and diameter 3.8”.

Neptune

Neptune is now lost in the twilight.

Anyone wishing to observe Uranus, and who would like more details, should contact me at coord@cotswoldas.org.uk

Moon

There will be a total eclipse of the Moon on the 14^th March..

The early stages are visible.  It will reach totality just around Moonset at about 06:26 UT.

 Phases:

6^th March:  Moon is at First Quarter                         14^th March:  Full Moon   

22^nd March:  Moon is at last quarter                        29^th  March:  New Moon

  

Sun

There will be a Partial eclipse of the Sun on the 29^th March.

First Contact is at 08:50:35 UT.  Maximum coverage is nearly 50% at 10.47.18 UT

The eclipse ends at 12.43.36 UT

The Sun remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

The Sun is still around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro. 

Meteors

There are no significant meteor showers this month.

Dark Sky Objects

The Milky Way is well placed for photography and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is still high in the sky, making it a good target for photography.  The Perseus Double Cluster is also high in the sky.  The Pleiades and Taurus are getting well-placed for observing and photography, and Orion is now visible in the evening skies, so the M42 nebula is a target again.

To view this post in PDF format please CLICK HERE

We hope you have all been taking photos over the past year and are getting ready to enter some into the annual photographic competition.

This year we are going to ask you to submit photos in one or more of the three categories we are offering.  

These are: 

1. Technical  (where individual processing or stacking of photos is required)

2. Aesthetic (which could include landscape or asterisms for example)

3. Smart Telescope (a new category for those using a smart telescope for imaging)

When submitting your photo, please also include as much information as possible about the photo, the camera and telescope settings and location.

Also, to ensure correct judging, it is essential that you please state the category in which you are submitting the photo for consideration. Omission of the category will result in an invalid entry.

Photos can be sent to the Coordinator; (email address given in the last newsletter or please message first using this form – click here)

The deadline for entries is 30^th March.  

Entries will be judged by all who attend  the AGM on the 12^th April.

 

 

Planets

Mercury

Mercury becomes an evening object, having passed through superior conjunction on the 9th. On the 25^th it will be 1.7^o N of Saturn in the twilight.  The elongation is then only 13^o and may be tricky, unless you have a clear western horizon.

Venus

Venus is high in the west after sunset.  Its phase of 33% near the start of the month decreases to 23% by the end, and its magnitude increases to -4.9.  lts diameter increases to around 45” by the end of the month.  Being high in the sky makes it easy to observe and it will suffer less atmospheric turbulence.

Mars

Mars remains well placed for observing throughout the night. It is a prominent reddish object of near the stars Castor and Pollux and has a magnitude around -1. Its diameter drops to 12”. It is now very well placed for observation.  On the 9^th, there is a grazing occultation by the Moon at 18h 56m UT.  A complete occultation is only visible in the north of Scotland and higher latitudes, but it will be a close approach in the south.  Some photo opportunities!

Jupiter

Jupiter is well past opposition but remains a prominent object high in the sky as soon as it is dark. It is well placed for observing throughout the night. It is unmistakable, with a magnitude of -2.4, making it a great telescope object, so do get observing!

Saturn

Saturn is becoming a difficult object during this month as it heads towards conjunction with the Sun in mid March. On the 1^st of February the Moon is 1.0^o N of Saturn.  The rings are almost edge on and this makes it dimmer.

Uranus

Uranus is still observable throughout most of the night (RA: 3h 22m, Dec +18.3^o).  It reached opposition in November. Its magnitude is +5.6 and diameter 3.8”.

Neptune

Neptune is now a difficult object as it is lost in the twilight.

Anyone wishing to observe Uranus, and who would like more details, should contact me at coord@cotswoldas.org.uk

Moon

Phases:

5^th February:  Moon is at First Quarter 12^th February:  Full Moon   

20^th February:  Moon is at last quarter 28^th  February:  New Moon  

Sun

The Sun remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

The Sun is still around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro. 

Meteors

There are no significant meteor showers this month.

Dark Sky Objects

The Milky Way is well placed for photography and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is still high in the sky, making it a good target for photography.  The Perseus Double Cluster is also high in the sky.  The Pleiades and Taurus are getting well-placed for observing and photography, and Orion is now visible in the evening skies, so the M42 nebula is a target again. 

To view this post in PDF format please CLICK HERE

Happy New Year to all Members

Planets

Mercury

Mercury is a morning object. However, its southerly declination of -21^o will make it hard to see in the northern hemisphere.

Venus

Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of +47^o on the 10^th and its increasing northerly declination may make it a little easier to see after sunset.  Its phase will then be 50% and its magnitude increases to -4.6.  lts diameter increases to around 30”. 

Mars

Mars reaches opposition on the 16^th January and is  observable for most of the night. It is a prominent reddish object of magnitude -1.4 and diameter of 14.6”. It is now very well placed for observation.  On the 14^th, the Moon will be just 0.2^o North of Mars.  Some photo opportunities for sure!

Jupiter

Jupiter reached opposition in December and is therefore still well placed for observing throughout the night. It is unmistakable, with a magnitude of -2.7, making it a great telescope object, so do get observing!

Saturn

Saturn is well past opposition but still visible during the early evening in the south west. 

On the 4^th January the Moon occults Saturn.

It disappears at the dark limb at 17.21UT and reappears at the bright limb at 18.30UT.  The times are for Greenwich and may be a few minutes different in Cheltenham.

The rings have a tilt of about 3^o.   On 18^th Venus is 2.2^o north of Saturn.

Uranus

Uranus is observable throughout the night (RA: 3h 24m, Dec +18.5^o).  It reached opposition in November. Its magnitude is +5.6 and diameter 3.8”.

Neptune

Neptune is well past opposition and observable only in early evening.  It has a diameter of 2.4” and mag. +7.8.

Its approximate position is RA 23h 50m, Dec -2.4^o.

Anyone wishing to observe Uranus and Neptune, and who would like more details, should contact me at coord@cotswoldas.org.uk

Moon

The winter Moon is well placed for observation and photography.

Phases:

6^th January:  First Quarter     21^st  January:  Last quarter

13^th January:  Full Moon         29^th  January:  New Moon     

 Sun

The Sun is remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

The Sun is around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro.  The darker nights mean that there is a much better chance of seeing them.

Meteors

The Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak on the 3^rd January, though may be visible a few days either side of this.

Dark Sky Objects

The long dark nights make deep sky objects much more accessible – if only the clouds get out of the way!

The Milky Way is well placed for photography and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is high in the sky, making it a good target for photography.  A wide angle shot could take in the Milky Way as well. The Perseus Double Cluster is also high in the sky.  The Pleiades and Taurus are getting well-placed for observing and photography, and Orion is now visible in the evening skies. 

To view this post in PDF format please CLICK HERE