Archives
Amateur detection of Uranus’ rings
2016 December saw a flurry of interest in amateur imaging of the rings of Uranus. This feat was actually first
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Charles Messier’s deep sky challenge
2017 is the 200th anniversary of the death of Charles Messier, whose catalogue of nebulous patches which are not comets
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The first UK workshop on amateur support for the Twinkle/ARIEL space missions
Despite the difficulties of an Underground tube strike in London that happened to coincide with the day, 27 keen participants
Read moreObservation and analysis of the new W -type W UMa eclipsing binary star VSX J053024.8+842243
Using multicolour photometry we have confirmed the binary nature of the new W-type W UMa eclipsing binary star VSX J053024.8+842243 and established its primary eclipse ephemeris. A low resolution spectrum corrected for interstellar reddening confirmed its spectral type as G2V.
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The brighter comets of 2009
This report describes and analyses the observations of the brighter or more interesting comets discovered or at perihelion during 2009, concentrating on those with visual observations. Magnitude parameters are given for all comets with observations. Additional information on the comets reported here and other comets discovered or at perihelion during the year may be found on the Section visual observations web pages.
Read moreA. A. C. Eliot Merlin: a brief biography
A. A. C. Eliot Merlin (1860−1946) was a prolific observer and writer who enjoyed a long professional career in the British Diplomatic Service. No proper account of his life has ever been given, and the recent gift of one of his notebooks to the BAA archive prompted this short account of his career and astronomical achievements. Observing under the clear skies of Volo, Thessaly in Greece he was able to make long continuous series of observations of several bright novae, and his records of Nova Persei (1901), Nova Geminorum (1912) and Nova Aquilae (1918) were particularly complete. Merlin’s generosity to the BAA is remembered through the annual award of the Merlin Medal and Gift.
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