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In reply to: Photometry with a Seestar
I have been a visual variable star observer and added my observations to the BAA database over a period of several years. I have now unfortunately have failing eyesight and this is only going to get worse, not better. So I thought it would be a great idea if I turned my attention to photometry instead. So over the past two years l have been trying to get to grips with the whole process. I have even attended a workshop on the subject but I left in a very confused state of mind and I have still not recovered from the experience. I have persevered since to no avail and have not added one observation to date to anything. So perhaps photometry is not for me. I admire the members who contribute their photometry observations to the BAA data list who have the skills to do so. Unfortunately the variable star membership is in decline so if there is a way of encouraging new membership to the section that must be great news. Now a telescope that not only finds an object but processes all the information and allows me to post my results to a database at the push a button is just fantastic news for me. Now should I get one or not that is the big question
In reply to: Astronomy communities
There is a perception problem with “amateur” as it is casually used to describe someone who is not very good at a task. Whereas the distinction between amateur and professional astronomers is about whether or not you are paid. Each can be a skilled observer or theorist.
I straddle both camps as I am currently a professional astronomer, though I have been an ‘amateur’ for 40 years and I still do ‘amateur’ astronomy (things for fun that I am not paid to do). While not all professional astronomers are aware of the BAA, I know of professional astronomers who are or were members and the Association has an excellent reputation.
I would add that most professional astronomers do it because they are interested in the subject and enjoy it. You can usually earn more by going into industry rather than staying in astronomy and the work tends to be more reliable.
I agree it is rare for a professional astronomer to look through a telescope. However, to get time on a telescope detailed proposals have to be written which may be approved or rejected. Writing these proposals involves detailed knowledge of the object being studied along with the physics of how the observation will be made. While there is a real buzz when observations you have requested arrive, and occasionally you may visit the observatory, it is not quite the same as looking through an eyepiece or casually deciding what to image that night.
In reply to: Astronomy communities
I think the issue may be that many astronomers (and I count myself amongst them) do not like the term “amateur”.
If you look in the dictionary, one definition of an astronomer is “A person who is skilled in astronomy or who makes observations of celestial phenomena”.
This would include all of us.Since many “professional astronomers” carry out reseach on data, and never look through a telescope, the distinction between “amateur” and “professional” seems somewhat arbitrary – apart from the fact the “professional astronomers” are presumably being paid!
In reply to: Paramount ME – help needed to set up and align
Hello Sheridan,
Can the scope have an imaging camera attached? One way of checking rough polar alignment with an ME is to note the precise time (to, say, a few seconds GMT) when homing completes and the sidereal tracking starts. Then, immediately take an exposure of, say, 60 seconds. If there are plenty of stars on the image upload it to Astrometry.net and it will calculate the precise field centre. For an ME it should home at 0 dec and 2 hours past the meridian at the time you homed it. Of course this is somewhat dependent on nothing going wrong with the homing process (you get the bongs, so that is encouraging) and also the telescope being mounted parallel to the Versaplate…… It also assumes there are no trees or buildings from your site that are over 30 degrees high at an azimuth to the SSW…. Astrometry.net will instantly tell you if the field centre is far from zero degrees Dec. The sidereal time from the observatory at the time tracking started, minus two hours, should tie up with the R.A. calculated by Astrometry.net.
It’s a simple test that should give you a rough idea how far off the polar alignment of the mount might be.
Martin
Despite trying for over a year we have been unable to get our telescope’s Paramount ME set up accurately.
If anyone is willing to come and assist we would be eternally grateful. We are based in Milton Keynes.
Sheridan WilliamsSheridan Williams
In reply to: Supernova
Hi Connor,
Supernova are too distant for any change in their distance or location to be measured. Though monitoring the changing brightness and spectra of brighter supernova is frequently done by members of the BAA Variable Star Section.
I attach a plot from the BAA Photometry Database of SN 2026kid, photometry again by Ian Sharp.
Robin Leadbeater is an expert at obtaining spectra of supernova. This is tough for amateurs as supernova are faint and typically require large telescope to obtain usable spectra. Here are a couple of spectra from the BAA Spectroscopy Database of SN 2026kid by Robin.
https://britastro.org/specdb/data_graph.php?obs_id=20917%2C20670&multi=yes&mix_flux=no&plot=Plot+up+to+20+SpectraCheers,
AndyAttachments:
In reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
The Espin Telescope Community Interest Company has been registered with Companies House here in the UK.
We’re legitimate! 🙂
D.
In reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
Hi Dave,
I’m 71 now but in good nick (comparatively!). Able and willing….
Biggest issue impediment is that I live in Cambridgeshire…
I would be happy to come up to Newcastle for, say, a couple of days and do what I can. Just need to sort out some dates, I guess.
As I say, I’m in contact with a couple of ex-Newcastle guys – at least one of them may have been a user of the telescope (we shared Hugh Battey as a PhD supervisor) and another was a frequent visitor to Ken (Keith?) Runcorn’s so-called ‘field-free building’ (for geomagnetic measurements) which I believe was on-site with the observatory.- I’ll send this link around and see what happens.
I would absolutely love to see that visitor’s book!
Best Wishes and thank you so much for your efforts to save this telescope.
Trevor
In reply to: Nova Sagittae 2026
Two images of the spectrum of the nova tonight in very difficult conditions. Just a handful of images possible through gaps in the cloud so not great.
But wow!…what a change in just a few days. A very boring continuum on 26th and now really wide and bright emission lines. [They get wider towards the blue end (H gamma) due to the non-linear dispersion of the prism].
Mike.
(20cm diameter, 9 degree prism on the 12 inch F/3.6 telescope. 15 x 10 second exposures).In reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
Hi Trevor,
How can you help? Firstly, we’re always after bodies to help us move the heavier items. If you’re fit and able-bodied (The terrain is not kind on the ankles) then get in touch and we can discuss.
I am really keen to hear from former Newcastle students who used the telescope in its prime. They may be able to assist with project documentation, historical context and, in particular, observing logs. We have the Observatory Visitor’s book although this wasn’t filled in regularly. We’d love to know who used the telescope, when and what they observed.
In reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
Another update:
We launched our crowdfunding project on 28th August 2026. Two days later, we reached 75% of our initial goal of one thousand pounds. That’s tremendous. We now have enough money in the kitty to get the mirror re-coated.
More updates, photographs and news here: https://www.great-geordie-space-race.org.uk
“NASA and SpaceX are targeting a 7:26 a.m. liftoff on Sunday, Aug. 30 from Launch Complex 39A.” – This should be 12:26 UK time.
Coverage looks to be from 11:20 am UK time.
https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-launch/
I am pleased to say that out group is making good progress in saving this historically important telescope.
To find out more and give financial help please visit this link…https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/espintelescopeproject
Many thanks,
John Nichol
In reply to: CBET 5730 – Asteroid (8007) satellite discovery
On 27 July, as part of my asteroid occultation work with my remote telescope in Galicia, Spain, I noted an interesting feature in the lightcurve of an occultation by asteroid (8007) of the star UCAC4 354-170588.
Following subsequent analysis and peer review, CBET 5730 has now been published, reporting the discovery of a satellite of the asteroid.
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iau/cbet/005700/CBET005730.txt
I’ve attached figures illustrating the event.
Regards,
Michael O’ConnellExcellent work, Michael!
In reply to: Jodrell Bank NOT set to close!
Jim Wild, RAS President, writes:
“The Royal Astronomical Society welcomes an upcoming debate at the Houses of Parliament about cuts impacting astronomy and encourages all Fellows to contact their MPs to urge them to attend.
It will take place on Tuesday 1 September from 1-1.30pm in Westminster Hall.
Last month it emerged that measures to address a devastating funding crisis will put a wide range of UK astronomy projects, facilities and international partnerships under severe pressure.
The recent warning that astronomy at Jodrell Bank Observatory could end has attracted significant public attention, but it is only one part of a much broader picture. Other internationally important programmes are also threatened, such as UK involvement in the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaiʻi, prompting serious concern from the RAS about the future strength and breadth of UK astronomy.
The consequences of the cuts are only just starting to emerge, and their impact will also extend well beyond astronomy, affecting other strategically important areas of UK science, including particle physics and nuclear research.
Intense lobbying from the RAS and leading scientists has undoubtedly helped soften the blow for UK astronomy, but the future is still bleak and the cuts so deep that more needs to be done to campaign for a re-think.
The latest analysis of the impact of the cuts across STFC-funded fundamental astronomy projects is 35 per cent, which sits uncomfortably against the headline figure of the 10 per cent budget reduction to projects quoted by UKRI and is much closer to the impacts originally feared at the beginning of the year.
RAS President Professor Jim Wild said: “The Westminster debate is a chance for us to continue to make our case.”
I have written to several of the Cheshire MPs, including the MP for Congleton where Jodrell Bank sits, about Jodrell and the cuts more broadly and have been assured of their support.
I urge others to write to their MPs.
On 27 July, as part of my asteroid occultation work with my remote telescope in Galicia, Spain, I noted an interesting feature in the lightcurve of an occultation by asteroid (8007) of the star UCAC4 354-170588.
Following subsequent analysis and peer review, CBET 5730 has now been published, reporting the discovery of a satellite of the asteroid.
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iau/cbet/005700/CBET005730.txt
I’ve attached figures illustrating the event.
Regards,
Michael O’ConnellIn reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
Hi David,
Thanks for the update. I’m glad that some positive progress has been made with saving the telescope and, possibly, part of its dome as well.
How can I be more actively involved? I am in contact with several contemporary Newcastle students. I’ll see if they can help.
best Wishes,
Trevor
In reply to: Color of the Solar Corona
My site was at AlbarracĂn. To the naked eye the corona looked golden, which I ascribed to the low altitude.
Through a 100mm spotting scope at 60x, the corona was a very pale yellow. An enormous prominence on the left (east) limb was a brilliant red. The line on the other limb didn’t extend as far out but was much longer; it was the same colour. As soon as the first Bailley’s beads appeared I stopped watching through the telescope.
We were incredibly lucky at that site. As the sun set it went behind a bank of clouds at about 40% phase. It reappeared a minute or so before totality and remained in clear sky until sunset. A few kilometres away in Teruel they had the opposite experience: clear for the majority of the partial phase and totality completely obscured.
In reply to: Rev T.E.Espin’s Calver telescope :action needed
An update is overdue. Major sections of the Espin telescope have been removed to a safe place away from the vandals and the Urban Explorers. We were able to recovery both the primary and secondary intact. The primary has suffered following twenty years exposed to the elements. The secondary, still in its protective cover, was as good as new.
We aim to recover the remaining Ash dome because it’s in good condition and will help with our fund-raising efforts, which are needed to cover the cost of the demolition of the domes and site clearance.
We will establish a CIC to help manage any costs and, of course, any donations.
So far, so good. I’ll post another update shortly.
Best regards
David Hughes
Espin Telescope GroupAttachments:
Topic: Greenland eclipse video
The view through my telescope of the eclipse. Best viewed with audio on.
You can see the challenge of doing it on a windy day bobbing around on a rough Greenland sea.
My apologies for poor manual tracking, I was also viewing it through binoculars.
Canon 90D + Askar SQA55.
British Astronomical Association
Supporting amateur astronomers since 1890
