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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

@sjbastro.bsky.social
3.6K followers 921 following 3K posts

Amateur astronomer and astrophotographer, including Sirius, meteors, noctilucent clouds and aurora. Articles and pictures published in books and magazines. Been on TV and radio talking about astronomy. Always need more sleep.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 9h
October 4-10 is World Space Week - an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. #Space #Astronomy #Science www.worldspaceweek.org
worldspaceweek.org
World Space Week | Celebrate UN-declared World Space Week, 4-10 October annually, the largest space event in the world
Celebrate UN-declared World Space Week, 4-10 October annually, the largest space event in the world
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Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 12h
Another Blue Sky Moon! This morning it is down to 64% lit and just 220k miles away. #astronomy #astrophotography
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European Space Agency @esa.int · 01/10/2026
A busy few months for ESA! Catch up with the latest ESA Impact visual report, featuring the launch of FLEX and Sentinel-3C, three spacewalks in 15 days, new milestones on BepiColombo's journey to Mercury and more. 🔗 esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/p...
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tiny image sparks big backlash in Nikon photo contest www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Tiny image sparks big backlash in Nikon photo contest
Dr Ning Xu denies he broke the rules of Nikon's annual Small World In Motion contest.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Nasa heads to Scottish Highlands in its search for life on Mars #Astronomy #Space #Mars www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Nasa heads to Scottish Highlands in its search for life on Mars
The US space agency says ancient rocks at Clachtoll have similarities to those on the Red Planet.
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Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Good Mooning Bluesky and welcome to October! 74.2% waning gibbous Moon! #astronomy #astrophotography
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The astronomy highlights for October 2026: The highlight of this month sees Mars crossing M44, the Beehive Cluster. There are also several meteor showers active in October and Saturn reaches opposition. #Astrophotography #Stargazing #Astronomy
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I'll be taking part in the 100-Hour global stargazing marathon over the next few days and taking pictures if the weather is favourable. #Astronomy 100hours.online
100hours.online
100 Hours Under One Sky
Try four simple stargazing challenges to win badges in our 100 Hours event
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Orionid meteor shower to streak across night sky this week #Orionids #Astronomy #Space www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
bbc.co.uk
Orionid meteor shower 2026: How and when to see it this week
The Orionid meteor shower peaks in October as Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The 79% lit Moon is near the Pleaides open cluster this evening, 30 September, into tomorrow morning.
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 29/09/2026
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer xkcd.com/3304/
4-panel comic. (1) April 2023: [JUICE space probe flying away from Earth] FROM EARTH: *JUICE* is en route to explore the icy moons of Jupiter! JUICE: *Wheee!* (2) August 2024: [JUICE flying past Earth] JUICE: ...So which planet was I visiting again? I got distracted. FROM EARTH: Jupiter! JUICE: Right, OK. (3) September 2026: [JUICE flies past Earth again] JUICE: Is Jupiter the one with all the rings? Or... FROM EARTH: No, the big one near it. JUICE: Got it! (4) January 2029: [JUICE returning to fly past Earth again] JUICE: And *which* moons am I looking at? FROM EARTH: Oh my *god*. FROM EARTH: Now I get why we budgeted for so many Earth flybys.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Fossil found on Welsh beach ends 'confusion' over 200-million-year-old fish teeth #Palaeontology www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Saurichthys fish fossil found in Wales resolves teeth confusion
Fossilised teeth across Europe had been wrongly identified until the latest find in south Wales.
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Paul Voosen @voosen.me · 28/09/2026
New Horizons is now *three days away* from shutting off its two heliophysics instruments, simply because NASA has not provided the $2M in funding it had promised to the mission last year or this year. There is no science basis for shutting these off. Our earlier coverage:
science.org
NASA’s New Horizons mission may shut down two instruments over lack of funding
Decision risks “incalculable loss” of data from the edge of the Sun’s influence, scientists say
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Waning Gibbous Moon. 2021UT 28 September 2026. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour #Moon #Lunar
The Moon at waning gibbous phase on a dark background.
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Paul White @paulwhitephoto.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Full Moon over Clifford Tower in York, North Yorkshire #york #yorkshire #historic #castles #photography
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Stuart Atkinson @stuartatkinson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Last night's gorgeous #HarvestMoon, photographed from Kendal using my Seestar S50 (mosaic of two images, cropped and processed)...
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MetJam @metjam.co.uk · 26/09/2026
Altocumulus - the cloud that loves to light up
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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 26/09/2026
Whatever you do, don't smoke an entire brisket at a job interview, it's a lot of equipment to bring in, it takes a really long time to do it right and those conference rooms have notoriously poor ventilation
Someone smoking a brisket and poking it with a meat thermometer to see what the internal temperature is
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Nearly Full Moon. 0117UT 26 September 2026. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour #Moon #Lunar #FullMoon
The Moon at nearly full on a dark background.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Neptune reaches opposition today. It currently sits in Pisces.
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I absolutely love the idea of everyone across the world, looking up at the cosmos, together. Join in the international fun for 100 hours of stargazing! The challenges start this Thursday! 🔭🎢🧪⚛️ ℹ️: 100hours.online
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The treasured 'eternal snow' on this tropical island is about to disappear forever #Climate #ClimateChange www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Indonesia Carstensz Pyramid: Papua's 'eternal snow' on Puncak Jaya is about to disappear forever
Climate change is transforming Papua's snowy peaks, which hold scientific value and spiritual significance.
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 25/09/2026
Voyager Instruments xkcd.com/3302/
 3-panel comic. (1) [Person with shoulder-length hair gestures at diagrams on wall in front of table with three people.] PERSON 1: As the radioactive power source on *Voyager 1* weakens, we’ve been turning instruments off to conserve power. (2) PERSON 1: Only two instruments remain. Do we want to lose the plasma wave subsystem or the magnetometer? (3) PERSON 2 with ponytail: You know, if we just turned off Greg’s LED underlighting– PERSON 4 with short hair: Absolutely not. PERSON 3: Dammit, Greg. PERSON 4: I will *not* allow us to look uncool in front of aliens.
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Space museum launched by Britain's first astronaut (Helen Sharman). 🔭 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Lake District space museum launched by Britain's first astronaut
Helen Sharman officially opened the John Dulcamara Space Flight Museum at Grizedale Observatory.
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Chris Lee @cpl43uk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Sometimes I am caught by surprise with #astrophotography. I took an image last year of #vdB1 - a reflection nebula. When processing it yesterday I noticed an area to the rhs. On closer inspection I find this to be 2 young #protostars that have not yet started their nuclear journey. Remarkable! 🔭
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CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 24/09/2026
HEO have a fresh new pic of the Chinese Space Station (TIANHE-1) captured from above! This resolution here is 12cm / pixel 🤯🤯🤯
Satellite image of a space station taken from above showing solar panels and modules of station
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Dr Libby Jones @anywaythewind.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Absolutely over the moon that PRIMA has been selected for NASAs next mission. So happy for the team and the science that is going to be done. 🎉🎉🎉 🔭🍾🧪 www.nasa.gov/news-release...
nasa.gov
NASA Selects Far-Infrared Telescope as First in New Mission Class - NASA
NASA announced Wednesday a mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is advancing to
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
When and how to see the Harvest Moon in 2026. My advice is to look at the sky. 🔭 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
bbc.co.uk
September full Moon 2026: When to see the Harvest Moon
September's full Moon will rise across on Saturday 26 September. The best viewing conditions currently look to be across southern and eastern parts of the UK.
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Waxing Gibbous Moon. 1941UT 23 September 2026. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour #Moon #Lunar
The Moon at waxing gibbous phase on a dark background.
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David Dickinson @astrodave.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Never seen Neptune for yourself? Late September 2026 presents an ideal opportunity to cross the outermost ice giant off of your ‘life list,’ as the planet reaches opposition for 2026 this coming weekend, rising opposite to the setting Sun, riding high to the south towards local midnight.
Neptune.
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Autumn equinox 2026: When was it and what happens now? Cataclysmic it isn't. 🔭 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
bbc.co.uk
When is the 2026 autumn equinox and what is it?
In the northern hemisphere, the September equinox occurred in the early hours of Wednesday marking the start of astronomical autumn.
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Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Fantastic Moon this evening. 84.9% waxing gibbous! #astronomy #astrophotography
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Astronomers Detect Radio Signals Coming Directly From an Exoplanet For The First Time. 🔭 🧪 www.sciencealert.com/astronomers-...
sciencealert.com
Astronomers Detect Radio Signals Coming Directly From an Exoplanet For The First Time
There's no proof of other life beyond Earth yet, but scientists are constantly looking out and listening for signs that we're not actually alone in the Universe.
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Waxing Gibbous Moon. 1931UT 22 September 2026. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour #Moon #Lunar
The Moon at waxing gibbous phase on a dark background.
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
NASA picture of the day today is a real 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿beauty! This is a composite image of the ~5000yo Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis. The amazing Giuseppe Petricca has only gone and photographed the Sun at noon there, every few days, for a whole year. #Dedication 🔭🧪👌 ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/image-articl...
The imposing Callanish Stones stand talk with their shadows spanning out across the glass.  It's a super clear sky, but looks cold. Above the central stone is a strange figure-of-8 shape of dots.  This is the location of the Sun, at noon, on various different days across the year.
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CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 19/09/2026
It's International Observe the Moon Night! First-quarter moon this evening, so if you have clear skies, go appreciate our celestial companion. Can use your eyes and phone cameras. But if you have a pair of binocs or a telescope, quarter moon is always awesome to look at cause the shadows!
science.nasa.gov
International Observe the Moon Night - NASA Science
You're invited! Each International Observe the Moon Night, people around the world celebrate lunar observation, science, exploration, arts, and culture.
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Michael Frasca @frasca.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Backyard #Astrophotography Here is a difficult object to photograph from the light-polluted skies of Peoria. IC1396--a.k.a. the Elephant's Trunk Nebula--is a sinuous dark nebula in Cepheus. A massive nearby star causes the surrounding gas to glow, but cannot penetrate the dense dark dust and gas.
A dim red nebula with a snaking dark nebula.
60 minute exposure with a 50mm f5 250mm focal length triplet refractor using a Sony IMX462, 2.1 megapixel sensor and a broadband filter.
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John @krantzj.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The #moon and #Venus getting ready to set. #scape #EastCoastKin #astrophotography #crescentmoon #nightskyphotography
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Milky Way looked good last night, until the cloud came over at least. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
Image of the autumn night sky with the Milky Way in the frame, going from bottom right to top left. Shot on 15 September 2026 from North Yorkshire, UK. Taken with a Canon 250D DSLR with 7.5mm fisheye lens at 25s exp, 7.5mm fl, f/3.5, ISO-1600.
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Brian O'Halloran @playingwithdust.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
If I ever owned a cat, you can be certain that it would be called Gul Du Cat
Attention Bajoran Workers - my food bowl is empty
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
If you have a very good southwest horizon early this evening, 14 September, you might be able to spot the 14% lit crescent #Moon just to the left of bright planet Venus. The viewing window is very short though as the pair are rapidly setting. View around 19:30 BST (18:30 UT). #Astronomy
Stellarium graphic showing the 14% lit crescent Moon to the left of Venus at 19:30 BST (18:30 UT) on 14 September 2026.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The #AstronomyWeather for my local patch, for August 2026: Clear sky: 9 nights Partly cloudy sky: 11 nights Overcast sky: 11 nights This month was mostly about the #Perseids but I also caught the nova in Sagitta. I missed the lunar eclipse due to cloud. #AstroWeather #Astronomy #Astrophotography
A green and orange Perseid meteor passing through the Summer Triangle asterism on the night of 7-8 August 2026. The meteor passed close to the bright star Altair in the constellation of Aquila. The Perseid was captured at 00:34 UT with a Canon 250D DSLR with 7.5mm fisheye lens at 20s exp, 7.5mm fl, f/3.5, ISO-1600.A green and orange Perseid meteor passing through the Square of Pegasus on 8 August 2026. The Perseid was captured at 00:36 UT with a Canon 250D DSLR with 7.5mm fisheye lens at 20s exp, 7.5mm fl, f/3.5, ISO-1600.A bright Perseid meteor captured just above the treetops on the night of the peak. Shot taken on 13 August 2026 at 02:43 UT. The Perseid meteor is in Cetus. Settings: 15s exp, 18mm fl, f/3.5, ISO-1600.Image of stars in the constellation of Sagitta with the nova Sge 2026 / V488 Sge marked with lines. The bright star to the upper left of the image is Delta Sagittae. Captured with a Canon 250D through an Evostar 72ED telescope on a Star Adventurer mount. Settings: 44x 6s exp, 420mm fl, f/5.8, ISO-1600.
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Whit EM @whittyrem.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
View from our front door tonight
It’s twilight. Clear sky. You can see a sliver of the moon and Venus
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Eos @eos.org · 13/09/2026
As Pluto’s fall turns to winter, its atmosphere will thin out, and nitrogen will fall down like snow. A new analysis suggests the process may have started already. 🧪🪐 eos.org/articles/plu...
eos.org
Pluto’s Atmosphere May Be Collapsing - Eos
Don’t worry, it’s supposed to do that.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Five night sky events to look out for this autumn #Astronomy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Five night sky events to look forward to this autumn
From meteor showers to a November supermoon, there are a number of impressive sights to behold in the autumn night sky.
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Chris Lee @cpl43uk.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Well, since I had already imaged NGC 7331 to check out the recent supernova (posted yesterday), I decided to nudge the scope just a little further to capture Stephan's Quintet #HCG92 which was just out of shot. A fabulous (tiny!) area of our night sky #astrophotography #space #eaa #astronomy
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Chris Lee @cpl43uk.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Finally had a chance to seek out #supernova #SN2026aaiv in #Caldwell30 #NGC7331 (a galaxy that had another one of these last year!) and the #Nova in Sagitta, #V488 - now fading back to its original 20th mag - around 10th at the moment from a high of 7. #astrophotography 🔭 #eaa #space
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
An orange-coloured #Perseid meteor passing through the constellation of Aquarius on the night of 12-13 August 2026. #PerseidMeteorShower #Astronomy #Perseids #Astrophotography
An orange-coloured Perseid meteor passing through the constellation of Aquarius on 13 August 2026 at 01:38 UT. Settings: 15s exp, 18mm fl, f/3.5, ISO-1600.
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David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Orion. 0310UT 11 September 2026. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
Brightest star of Orion constellation with Betelgeuse upper left corner rigel lower right corner and the great nebula above middle of bottom.
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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
One of the best #Perseids I captured on video this season - passing through the Great Square of Pegasus on 13 August 2026 at 02:28 UT. Cygnus is to the lower right. #Perseid #Astronomy #PerseidsMeteorShower #Astrophotography
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