THIS EVENT IS CONFIRMED ON
Our next scheduled observing event will take place this Friday (17 November).
As the nights are drawing in the start time for the observing event will be 7.30pm.
Friday will be a moonless night and still relatively high in the sky is the Summer Triangle which will afford us easy views of M57, The Ring Nebula, Albireo, the attractive Blue and Gold Double, M27, The Dumbbell Nebula and Epsilon Lyrae 1 and 2, The ‘Double Double’. This area of sky contains many other targets but more for imaging such as The Veil Complex, North American and Gamma Cygni Nebulas. Also still visible are Uranus and Neptune for those seeking a visual challenge!
As the night moves on we should get our first real view of the Winter Constellation of Orion, defined by its four major stars of Saiph, Rigel, Bellatrix and the red giant Betelgeuse together with the its central belt comprising Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Around Orion we have many fantastic sites, many of which are easily visible and not reliant on a camera to view! The first and most obvious is M42, the Orion Nebula. Next up, and a little harder to see but still possible is the Horsehead and Flame Nebula. With a widefield eyepiece, these objects form a great spectacle together with the Sigma Orionis double. For imagers the Constellation also features NGC2022, a planetary nebula, M78 and NGC1999 reflection nebulas and the interacting galaxies of IC412 and IC413.
As the night moves on, other targets will become visible so please feel free to come along and have a look. Observing equipment will be on hand, but please feel free to bring your telescope or other observing equipment. The more the merrier!
Though the nights are getting warmer, Blackheath is quite exposed, so please wrap up warm!
We will meet at our usual spot just north of Talbot Place at 8.00pm. Talbot Place is the first left off Goffers Road after the Tea Hut. Parking is free after 6.30pm. A map of the site can be found here – http://www.flamsteed.org.uk/observing/stargazing-events/blackheath-stargazing/ .
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