Dark sky images

On our recent holiday to dark skies in Devon, we were fortunate enough to be blessed with 6 beautiful, clear nights out of our 7-night break. The following images are the results of our work and were taken in the on-site observatory where we stayed.

Whirlpool Galaxy

Sunflower Galaxy

Spindle Galaxy

Sombrero Galaxy

Ring Nebula

M92 Globular Cluster

M53 Globular Cluster

M13 Globular Cluster

M3 Globular Cluster

Dumbell Nebula

Bubble Nebula

Bode's Nebula

Black-Eye Galaxy

Images Taken From the Home Observatory

The Hercules Globular Cluster

A large, dense cluster of stars in the constellation of Hercules. Taken from the home observatory.

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulae

Two faint nebulae in the constellation of Orion. Taken from the home observatory.

The Moon

Close-up shot of the Moon, taken from the home observatory.

The Andromeda Galaxy

A large, bright galaxy in the constellation of Andromeda. Taken from home observatory.

The Orion and Running Man Nebulae

Two large nebulae, located in the constellation of Orion. Taken from home observatory.

Jupiter

The planet Jupiter. Note the Great Red Spot on the lower half of the disk. Image taken from home observatory.

The Pleiades

Image taken from home observatory. The Pleiades is an open star cluster, also known as the seven sisters.

First-quarter Moon

Image taken from home observatory. Note the shadows in the craters along the terminator (the line between day and night on the Moon).

Zodiac Astronomy

We are two amateur astronomers who have been studying and imaging the night sky for about five years. In our presentation, we have put together a basic introduction to astronomy. We have concentrated on some well-known constellations and the planets, as we feel that this is enough to take in at the moment. Our reason for doing this is that we have found there is very little help available for the novice stargazer. We hope that this presentation will give you some idea of what to look for in the night sky. Also, although we do recommend that you join an astronomical society to further your knowledge, we have found that a beginner can often find it quite frustrating to understand and navigate the night sky with no assistance to help them get started.

If you would like further information about our course or are interested in booking with us, please contact Dave on 01908 379961 or Zoe on 01908 372595. You can also email us at d.jward@btinternet.com or zoe311969@hotmail.co.uk