Flamsteed Astronomy Society

THIS EVENT IS CONFIRMED ON

Our next scheduled observing event will take place on Friday 23 September.

The event is planned to begin at 8.30pm although from next month we will be starting an hour earlier.

Our first observing session of the new season will allow us to see a wide range of old favorites as the Summer Asterisms in the Milky Way are now more visible in the darker sky. The most notable of these is the Summer Triangle comprising the bright stars of Vega, Deneb and Altair. Amidst these three stars in the centre we will be able to see the colourful double star

Our first observing session of the new season will allow us to see a wide range of old favorites as the Summer Asterisms in the Milky Way are now more visible in the darker sky. The most notable of these is the Summer Triangle comprising the bright stars of Vega, Deneb and Altair. Amidst these three stars in the centre we will be able to see the colourful double star Albireo. To the right of this between the stars Sulafat and Sheliak is M57 the famous Ring Nebula. Heading up above Vega we can see the binary system known as the ‘Double-Double‘ or more technically Epsilon 1 Lyrae and Epsilon 2 Lyrae. Moving left of this system between Deneb and Vega we can see Delta Cygni, a triple star system consisting of green-blue and yellow-white stars. In this area of the triangle are also a number of nebula (the North American NGC7000, Pelican IC5070 and Gamma Cygni IC1318), however these are more imaging targets and not really visible unless at a dark sky location.

While the triangle is high overhead there will be several planets potentially in view allowing for the tree line. Stretching across the horizon from East to West will be Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn. However I think at least one of then will be a quite hard to see!

The night will be moonless during our observing session and weather permitting, looks set to offer a great opportunity to see many different objects.

We look forward to seeing of many of you there as possible. Please bring a telescope if you can, the more the merrier! If not there should be at least three scopes available to take you on a tour of the sky.

Blackheath is quite exposed and although the forecast is for a pleasant 10 degrees, please bring a coat!

We will meet at our usual spot just north of Talbot Place at 8.30pm. 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/ .