iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Productive and fantastic visit to NEMO on St Vincent comes to a close! Hopefully we'll be back very soon!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Here it is from St Vincent too (Seestar S30pro). Scattered clouds but okay.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Lunar eclipse underway! taken from St Vincent. Seestar S30pro. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The "Veil" Nebula: a supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. 2h30m exposure taken from central Essex.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Someone's playing with the toys I see! Guess this is the outcome of the cobra meeting....

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Here we go... all set for the eclipse from central london...

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Two galaxies: M91 (left) and M88 (right), part of the Virgo Cluster. Total exposure just 1h17m (8 Apr 2026); 540mm/F6 SM90 telescope, Atik Ex460 CCD camera, LRGB filters; Bortle 4/5 skies. Processed using the new free software tool “AstroWizard” from Lucomatico.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

3 Globular clusters and funeral... nope... wrong movie. Actually an open cluster and very much alive! Messier catalogue objects M2, M11, M12 and the open cluster M35. Taken 1/Jun, 20/Jul, 26/Jun, and 29 March respectively. My aim being to photograph the entire catalogue myself with my own kit...

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Here's mine from 20th July (2h27m total integration, Seestar S30Pro, processing via PixInsight). From central London.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

#StarsOnSunday 😎 The Dumbell Nebula, The Veil Nebula, and two versions of the Elephant's Trunk nebula - the wide angle version using a SeestarS30Pro smart 'scope that I recently bought and am playing with. All taken from my rooftop in Central London, around 2hours exposure each.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Messier M42/43 “three ways” the classic standard Colour (RGB) palette, the “Hubble” palette (RGB=SHO) and the HOO palette. Total exposure 1h28m (1, 15, 21 March 2026); 540mm/F6 SM90 telescope, Atik Ex460 CCD camera, LRGB filters, PixInsight. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

4 More globular clusters! Slowly getting through the backlog of processing for my "Messier Marathon". Here are M3, M5, M53 and M56. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Globular cluster tastic! The nights being far too light for anything faint, these mighty objects (relatively close to us) are an easy spot. M92, M12, M14 and M13 (the great Hercules Cluster). Slowly getting through the backlog!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Shit! Does this mean I have to resign too? Would love to see the @quietriotpod.bsky.social peeps try this one out... heheeh britmonkey.com/2020s-politi...

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Two versions of the "North American Nebula" taken Saturday night over central London. Around 1h15m of data, standard RGB (left) and HSO (right). Not sure which I prefer!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Messier M86, a giant elliptical galaxy between the constellations Leo and Virgo, 52m light years away. In this view, surrounded by a number of other galaxies - the head’ of the “Markarian’s Chain” including the “Eyes Galaxy” which has a twisted or disrupted appearance (left). Total exposure 6h31m.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

....but which one is Merope ;-) [Pleiades photo taken from central London Jan 2024, around 2 hours exposure].

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Massive congrats to Peter who, after every delay possible from Covid to water leaks to broken University IT systems, finally completes his PhD! Dr Ibemesi in the house!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The “bubble Nebula” NGC 7635, an area of ionized Hydrogen gas surrounding a central star 7000 light years away near Cassiopeia. Rather a tricky target, very low on the Northern horizon looking towards central London. Worked out okay, but will need to revisit this another time. Total exposure 6h3m.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Finally my backlog of astro pics is being processed, although this is from Tues-Thursday this week! M101, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, around 21m Light years distant. 6h30m exposure, LRHaGB filters using Atik 460 cooled CCD from Bortle 4/5. PixInsight. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

M109. A barred spiral galaxy, around 67m light years away in the constellation of the Great Bear. Total exposure time 2h51m (evening of 19 March 26) from central London, zone-1; 600mm/F7 telescope, QHY miniCAM8 camera, LRGB filters with extra H-Alpha (red ionized gas). PixInsight.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

The "Leo Triplet" of Galaxies (M66 top left, M65 bottom left, NGC3628 on the right), around 35m light years away. Total exposure time 12h25m across 7 nights (12-19 March 26) from central Essex; 540mm/F7 telescope, LRGB filters with extra H-Alpha (red ionized gas). PixInsight.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

The Orion Nebula "three ways" (different colour Palettes). What's your favourite? 540mm/F6 refractor taken from central essex over 3 weeks (March 26). #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

...and here it is. First pass, need a bit of tweaking.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Bagged myself a decent seat 😎 @thenerve.news No Netflix sponsored canapés and drinks this time methinks! www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/the...

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

In the midst of all the craziness in the world, here is a picture of M106, a galaxy ~22m light years away with a supermassive black hole at its centre. Picture taken 22-25.02.26 from central Essex (5hr 53m total exposure; F6/540mm telescope; Atik 460ex mono CCD +RGB filters; PixInsight).

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

The pinwheel galaxy M101, near URSA Major, 21m light years away. Picture taken 26.02.26 from Central London. 5h17m integration (and probably needs more work!). F7/600mm triplet telescope; QHY MiniCAM8 mono CCD + HaLRGB palette; PixInsight. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Finally caught up with my backlog of 2025 astrophoto processing! M34, M37, M39, M67. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The Owl nebula. A faint planetary nebula near the Great Bear some 2030 light years away. Picture taken 25.02.26 from Central London. Not much exposure time (just 2h45m thanks to the weather!). F7/600mm triplet telescope; QHY MiniCAM8 mono CCD + HOO palette; PixInsight.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Literal laugh out loud moment when this popped into my podcast feed from @sturdyalex.bsky.social Perfect length for my train journey later as well!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

M95: A barred spiral galaxy 33m light years distant taken 27.12.25. Only 1Hr of data this time. RGB filters, processed in PixInsight. Atik460ex camera, SM90 telescope (F6, FL=540mm). #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

"My God.. it's full of Stars..." 2010 references apart, the M71 Globular cluster is 13,000 light years away - Picture taken from central Essex 15.12.25. My Messier back catalogue of astro photo processing continues! #astrophotography (3hr total exposure; F6/540mm telescope; Mono-RGB; PixInsight).

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

M81 (Left: Bode's Galaxy) and M82 (Right: the Cigar Galaxy), near Ursa Major (96,000 and 41,000 light years distant respectively). Taken 16-17th Feb 26 - 5h45m total exposure across LRGB filters (two nights) processed in PixInsight. Atik460ex camera, SM90 telescope (F6, FL=540mm). #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Fastastic evening with the mighty @thenerve.news at soho house for the screening of Cover-Up. Amazing film. Excellent canapes too! Wishing director Laura Poitras good luck for the @bafta.org awards!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Sums up why I deleted my LinkedIn account rather nicely I think!!!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Conference field-trip... this I could get used to!! great to spend a few hours hiking with colleagues and getting some fresh mountain air. We even discussed some research!!!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Amazing Venue for a conference! euroconf26.epfl.ch

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Lovely to be at the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social for todays meeting on Machine Learning advances for Rare Events in Solid Earth Science. Hopefully I learn something!

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Veil nebula (Cygnus, the Swan). Shot using narrowband SHO filters (Cooled IMX585 astro camera) to give the so-called 'Hubble Palette'. Central london 19.12.25 1h26m total exposure.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

The Crab Nebula (M1): Taken across 4 nights in October/November 2025, totaling 12h 8m exposure. The remains of an exploded star that went supernova in 1054.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Misty and drizzly day in South London...

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Andromeda galaxy. Amazing what you can image, even from central London... #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

This is from a few days ago SE UK. If the skies clear I'll try again! (weather hasn't been great alas!)

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Comet C/2025 Lemmon. Not the best shot... moving target and all that. Still, not a bad effort... #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

The Eagle Nebula, featuring the "pillars of creation". Taken last week from Malaga using an 80mm telescope, around 3.5 hours total exposure time. #astrophotography

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

The M33 galaxy in the constellation Triangulum. Taken last week from outside Malaga, Spain. 3.5 hours total exposure time.

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

The Dumbell Nebula (M27), taken across several nights 2-6th August from the back garden. Slowly getting round to processing a backlog of images now the new observatory is up and running (eeek!).

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Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

"Here's Blinkin' At You, Kid"... Algol taken last night, around 45 minutes total exposure. Not sure if it comes across with the bluesky "compression" but if you look reeeeallly carefully you can make out a couple of tiny galaxies, left of the red-ish star underneath Algol. And to the right too.

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