Astronomy

Observing Log for

Session Details


Observatory Field, Durham

54.7679, -1.58724

100m

Notes

Excellent viewing conditions. 100% clear sky from 8-10pm at which points faint clouds started building. In general we had a great obs night. This was our first clear Saturday since the start of term and there was a great turn-out from Freshers and Oldbies alike. Hopefully everyone had a good time and will be back for more next week.

Equipment

Tags

Observations

M45 - The Pleiades

Brilliant naked eye cluster involving NGC 1432 and 1435

M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

At 2.9 million light years away (estimate) our biggest neighbour could be seen as some nice fuzz.

Cygnus 30 and 31

Cygnus 30 (blue/white) and 31 (red/gold) - mag 4.83 and 3.79 binary star system

Ursa Major Star System

Mizar A, Mizar B, Alcor and Sidus Ludoviciana - interesting star system

Vega

Vega - mag 0.03 - Lyra

Capella

Capella - mag 0.08 - Auriga

Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse - mag 0.5 - Orion

Almaak

Almaak - mag 2.26 and 4.84 binary star (gamma 1 and 2) - Andromeda

M42 and M43 - The Orion Nebula

M42 and M43 - The Orion Nebula - mag 4.00 and 9.00

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

M57 - Ring nebula

Higher magnification on this brought out the darker centre of the nebula where the hole is.

Taurid meteor shower

Taurid meteor shower

Images