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Paramount Observatory

@paramountobs.bsky.social
972 followers 293 following 464 posts

Welcome to the Paramount Observatory. This is a private project of Les Girvan to show the active #Astronomy, #Astrophotography, I am doing from #Liverpool #UK.

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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 12h
Seeing looks better tonight, hopefully the stacking will bring out the details, going to capture as much data as possible #Saturn #Astronomy #Astrophotography 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 13h
The last object in my sky hoping is #M27 the Dumbbell Nebula. Found by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764, it was the first planetary nebula ever discovered, its located about 1,200 to 1,360 light-years away.🔭 Hope you enjoyed that little sky hope? Now off to #Saturn
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 13h
Estimated to be roughly 13.7 billion years old with very few heavy elements, meaning its stars formed early in the universe's history, M56 roughly 32,900 light-years away in the constellation Lyra and Measures approximately 84 light-years across. 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 13h
Less dramatic in BW rather than colour our next target id #M57 The Ring Nebula. a glowing shell of ionized gas, created when a sun-like star expelled its outer layers near the end of its life.🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 13h
Moving on to #M39 an open star cluster roughly 800 to 1,010 light-years away from Earth, making it one of the closer star clusters to our solar system. 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 14h
Although, could do without the satellites 😞
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 14h
This is M29 the cooling tower cluster, a weird name I know, but look at that star field! #EAA gives us a view we could never see with our eyes alone 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 14h
Next target is M13 the Hercules Cluster, using the #EAA (Electriconically Assisted Astronomy) technique to view these objects, short exposures (15s), and stacked to bring out detail. 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 14h
While I'm waiting for #Saturn to be visible, using the guide scope to look around tonights sky. This is a live stack of #Andromeda 🔭
Fuzzy spiral galaxy on star filled sky
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 15h
So as we approach #Saturn opposition the sky and forecast is looking good for tonight, so about to open the observatory 🔭, will post more later
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Just heading off to meet P6 of Hillside Primary in Aberdeen this morning. I'll be helping them get ready for tonight's 100hours stargazing challenge. Amazingly the weather Gods appear to be on our side with clear skies forecast up North tonight!🤞🔭 👇Join in with stargazers across the entire globe!
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The concern is how deep these cuts are going to go and what amazing discoveries will never happen or are seriously delayed!
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Chill ... It's not a science paper!
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It's a Sunday evening thought, details in Alt
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A black hole in the Milky Way aims its jet at us - South African Radio #Astronomy #Observatory - NRF-SARAO share.google/NiEjtHHCi8fk... 🔭
share.google
A black hole in the Milky Way aims its jet at us - South African Radio Astronomy Observatory - NRF-SARAO
0:00 Astronomers have found the first convincing “microblazar” in our Galaxy — a star with a black hole orbiting around it, firing a beam of near-light-speed matter almost straight towards Earth. Its opposite, invisible beam slams into a cloud of gas and may be the source of some of the most energetic particles ever detected. […]
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billingboroughobservatory.bsky.social @billingboroughobservatory.space · 22/09/2026
🌌 Want to try stargazing? From 1–4 October, join **100 Hours Under One Sky**! Four simple challenges, badges to earn and a shared UK & Ireland map. No telescope needed, just go outside and look up! 🔭🧪 100hours.online #Astronomy #Stargazing #NightSky
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Saturn is on my list of targets I want to image, my issue currently is lack of clear skies 🙈 😂! Hope to post here soon 🤞
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater - NASA Science share.google/Uv4abvaBDOvr... #astronomy 🔭
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NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater - NASA Science
It started as a routine data-quality check. But as Robert Wagner, a scientist with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scanned a giant Moon map on his
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I love the fact we have so much & immediate access to this data; looking forward to what we'll soon discover!
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Dummy Mage @twoint.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I photographed the Elephant's Trunk nebula over the last 3 nights. The dark nebulosity and sharp structures were very fun to process. #astrophotography #photography #space #astronomy
The Elephant Trunk Nebula shot from a wider view. 5 hours each of Sulfur, Hydrogen and Oxygen data on a 2600 mm camera using astronomik filters.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Great image @hasungazer.bsky.social the dark skies make a difference 👏
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Good starting point for all 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I'd of loved this opportunity ...good luck to those that go for it 👏👏👏
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
This should be interesting...keep looking up 🔭
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Kelly Kizer Whitt @astronomommy.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
HEADS UP! ☄️ A small asteroid will impact Earth near Australia today earthsky.org/space/small-...
earthsky.org
Small asteroid impact likely today near Australia
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Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Any astrophotographers out there? I'm looking for images of people looking at the sky without telescopes. If you can share shots of meteor watching in deckchairs, or anything of you hanging out under the stars that would be fab. 🔭
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
It's going to be a busy journey for this 🔭 science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/...
science.nasa.gov
NASA Roman's Planet Imager Has Powered On - NASA Science
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team has successfully activated the mission’s Coronagraph Instrument, which will block starlight to view planets and
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
🪐 Did you know Saturn's main rings stretch ~280,000 km across, yet they are only about 10 meters thick? This image was captured when Saturn was near opposition in August 2022! The dark gap visible in the rings is the 4,700 km-wide Cassini Division.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Discovered more older data, this time of the plant #Saturn from 10/08/22 Taken via Celestron C11 🔭 with 2x Barlow. I'm hoping to get more planetary imaging done again as Saturn will become a good target again. #Astronomy #Astrophotography @liverpoolas.org
Telescopic photograph of Saturn isolated against a deep black sky. The planet is displayed with its wide ring system tilted forward, clearly showing subtle atmospheric cloud banding across its beige and light-golden globe, as well as the dark Cassini Division line within the rings. A small watermark reading "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" with a telescope icon appears in the bottom-right corner.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Facts about NGC6888 Located ~5,000 light-years away in Cygnus. Sculpted by Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 blowing gas at 2,000 km/s. Formed when fast stellar wind hit slower gas shed during its earlier red giant phase. WR 136 is expected to explode as a supernova within 100,000 years.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
So have now added the new 🔭 data to the earlier data, now totalling 8.5 hours, naturally the processing outputs a different end image, so comparisons for you, do you feel you can see the extra detail or cleaner image? #astronomy #astrophotograhy #space @liverpoolas.org
Deep sky astrophotography of NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula. Centered in the frame is a delicate, shell-like cosmic structure with an intricate web of glowing pinkish-red Hydrogen-alpha filaments and faint cyan Oxygen-III interior gas. The nebula floats against a dark field of sharp background stars with faint red dust sweeping across the frame. White text in the lower right reads "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" alongside a telescope icon. Acquisition details: Captured with a William Optics Z73 telescope and an Optolong L-eNhance dual-band filter, totaling 8.5 hours of integration (103 x 5-minute exposures), stacked and processed in Siril.Earlier Astrophotography of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). Features glowing pink-red and teal gas filaments centered in a dense star field with faint cosmic dust. Watermarked "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" in the bottom right. Shot on a William Optics Z73 using an L-eNhance filter
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🤞 for you
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JBGarrity Photography @joegarrity.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I captured the Andromeda Galaxy with an 8-hour integration time using my Askar FRA500 telescope, ASI2600MC Duo camera, and ZWO AM5N mount. High-resolution: app.astrobin.com/i/xz1nem #astrophotography #astronomy #naturephotography #nature #longexposure #andromeda #galaxy #eastcoastkin #photography
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Starship Celtica ☀️ @starshipceltica.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Comet 220P in Outburst apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26082... Normally, periodic Comet 220P/McNaught is so dim that to see it requires a telescope. Two surprising outbursts this year, however, have made it about 20,000 times brighter than usual.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The 🔭 observatory is open again tonight, getting more data on #NGC6888 the Cresent Nebula. #Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space
Screenshot of asiair app showing capture of NGC6888 the Cresent nebula
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Well done, love live #astronomy, particularly at outreach events, so good when people see the details that they can't see through an eyepiece. 👏
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The Rosette Nebula is a giant stellar nursery 5,000 light-years away, spanning 130 light-years across. The central hole isn't empty—it was carved out by violent stellar winds and radiation from hot young stars born inside it, which will eventually destroy the surrounding flower-shaped cloud.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I have been experimenting more with the #Siril tools and revisiting some older data to see how I can extract more detail or just make it more interesting, which is subjective I know! This is my 🔭 image of Rosette Nebula, Let me know which you prefer? #Astro #Astronomy #Astrophotography
Astrophotograph of the Rosette Nebula featuring a rose-like circular structure. The center displays bright blue ionized gas surrounding a dark central void and stellar cluster, fading outward into magenta and deep reddish-pink gaseous filaments framed by a black background scattered with small stars. A white text watermark reading "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" appears at the bottom right.Original image of the Rosette Nebula rendered in a single pink color channel, Hydrogen-alpha wavelength. The rose-shaped structure is formed by swirling, luminous clouds of pink dust with darker, thread-like filaments, surrounding a open star cluster at the center set against a dense field of small background stars.
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Habu @flyinghabu.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Still playing around with the photos from August 12, while finally unpacking the equipment bags, cleaning off the dust, sand and soil from that field in Piñel de Abajo that got into everything, tidying up cables, batteries, and tripods... #Astrophotography
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Some facts about NGC6888 The glowing red shell is created by supersonic stellar winds traveling at thousands of km/s, slamming into gas ejected 100,000 years ago when the central star was a red giant! 💫 #Space #Astrophotography
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Took the opportunity to get some 🔭 time on #NGC6888 the crescent #nebula The forecast for the night was clear all night, but clouds drifted in meaning I had to exclude 47 of 75 subs, so nearly 4 hours, leaving just 28 subs! Will try to build more on this over the next few weeks 🤞 #astronomy #astro
Astrophotography image of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). At the center is a bright, textured, glowing red cloud of gas shaped somewhat like a brain or a thick crescent. It sits against a dark cosmic background filled with scattered white stars and faint wisps of deep red nebulosity. In the bottom right corner, a watermark reads "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" alongside a small telescope icon.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
These meteors are cosmic debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle hitting our atmosphere at 37 miles per second! ☄️ Even a grain of sand glows brilliantly at that speed. Here is my timelapse from Treheli Farm, North Wales: youtu.be/qLn91IP3r7k #Perseids #Astronomy
youtu.be
The Perseids Meteor Shower 2026
YouTube video by Paramount Observatory
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I captured the 2026 Perseids Meteor Shower during my trip to Treheli Farm in Llyn, North Wales! 🌌 Here's the all-sky 🔭timelapse of meteors over the coast👇 youtu.be/qLn91IP3r7k #Astrophotography #Perseids @liverpoolas.org
A wide landscape photograph of a coastal bay at night under a starry sky filled with the bright band of the Milky Way and multiple bright meteor streaks radiating across the atmosphere. In the foreground, grassy dunes sweep down toward a curved sandy beach and calm sea. Centred across the upper portion of the image is white overlay text that reads "PARAMOUNT OBSERVATORY" with a small telescope icon, above the subtitle "The Perseids Meteor Shower 2026".
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
One of the nice things about 🔭 #astrophotography is the accumulation of data over periods of time, allowing you to revisit and improve your processing skills. In this video, you can 5 years learning & advanced techniques. @liverpoolas.org See video here 👇 youtu.be/Tl4f_KD5X3M?...
youtu.be
M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy 5 Years of Progress in Astrophotography & Processing 🌌
YouTube video by Paramount Observatory
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The StarXiv ✨ podcast @starxiv.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Nicole's second paper finds a star orbiting in the thin disc that is chemically ancient: metal-poor, alpha-rich, with the abundances of a halo star. It may be a relic of the moment the Milky Way's disc first spun up. arxiv.org/abs/2608.07347 ☄️🔭
Fig 2 (left) and 5 (right) : Fig. 2 : Toomre diagram for the MSTO sample colour-coded by metallicity. The candidate star is highlighted with a star symbol. The dashed curves indicate the kinematic loci commonly used to distinguish thin-disc, thick-disc, and halo populations based on total velocity with respect to the LSR. Fig. 5: Distribution of the MSTO sample in the [Al/Fe]-[Mg/Mn] plane, colour-coded by metallicity. The black solid lines indicate the empirical separation between Galactic components proposed by Alinder et al. (2026). The candidate is marked with a star symbol.
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IAU Office of Astronomy for Education @astro4edu.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
We are launching a new monthly Astronomy Education Research (AER) seminar series in September 2026 as part of our International Capacity-building in Astronomy Education Research (ICAER) project 1/4 🔭 #astroedu astro4edu.org/seminars/ser...
astro4edu.org
Seminars from the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education is the IAU's office focussed on primary and secondary education.
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Paramount Observatory @paramountobs.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Experience the Solar Eclipse 2026 captured live from Treheli Farm on the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales! 🌘✨ Watch as the moon passes over the sun before setting behind the hills. 🔭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Watch the full video here 👇 youtu.be/RTJE2f4MgMs #SolarEclipse2026 #Astrophotography #NorthWales
youtu.be
Solar Eclipse 2026 Captured from Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales | Paramount Observatory
YouTube video by Paramount Observatory
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Brendan @hasungazer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
After the Eclipse I had a nice clear Bortle2 sky to do some astroimaging whilst camping at Treheli farm, here is M17 (swan nebula) and NGC6960 (western veil nebula or sometimes called the witches broom).
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Brendan @hasungazer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
A couple more images from the eclipse
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Brendan @hasungazer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
My effort of the eclipse taken from Trehili farm camp site on the Llyn Peninsula. taken with a Lunt THa50.
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