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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

@sjbastro.bsky.social

3K followers 860 following 1.6K 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 · 11d

The #Astronomy highlights thread for October 2025:

There is a good meteor shower visible this month in Moonless skies in the shape of the Orionids. Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) may also be a nice astrophotography target in the evening sky.

#Astrophotography #Stargazing

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 4h

And here's part 2 of the epic aurora storm one year ago this evening - Aurora Storm over North Yorkshire - 10 to 11 October 2024 (Part 2). Definitely worth a watch full screen on YouTube. Enjoy! 😀 #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Astronomy #Astrophotography youtu.be/pbN3Fmmm2a8

Aurora Storm over North Yorkshire - 10 to 11 October 2024 (Part 2)

YouTube video by North Yorkshire astronomy and astrophotography

youtu.be

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 4h

One year ago this evening - the epic Aurora Storm over North Yorkshire - 10 to 11 October 2024 (Part 1). Watch on YouTube for maximum awesomeness 😀 #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Astronomy #Astrophotography youtu.be/NmXS1bakDSE

Aurora Storm over North Yorkshire - 10 to 11 October 2024 (Part 1)

YouTube video by North Yorkshire astronomy and astrophotography

youtu.be

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 13h

One year ago this evening - an epic auroral display visible from the UK and a lot of Europe and the US. One of the best displays I've ever seen. #Aurora #Astronomy #Astrophotography

Picture of the aurora borealis taken on 10 October 2024 at 20:55 UT, looking east-northeast from North Yorkshire, UK. The aurora is green and red and shown above a rooftop. There is a prominent red streak through the centre of the display. Shot taken with a Canon 250D with 16mm lens at 2.0s exp, 16mm fl, f/2.0, ISO-1600.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 13h

Now you've given me a craving for walnuts 😀

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 13h

Just wait until a Farage government rejoins the EU.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 13h

Nice shot - always good to see the Orion Nebula in the context of the wider constellation.

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 14h

The Belt of Orion and the Great Orion Nebula. 10 October 2025. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour

Three bright stars of the belt of Orion at upper left. Orion nebula below centre. Many other star dots.

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Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

ange garrod @angegarrod.bsky.social · 17h

Moon moods.

89.4% Waning Gibbous gibbous moon 9th in to 10th October 2025

#moonwatch #wonders #astronomy
@virtualastro.bsky.social

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 18h

A near-complete skeleton found on Dorset's Jurassic coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the oceans. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fossil found on UK coast is unique 'sword dragon' species

Scientists say the newly discovered species of marine reptile probably met a grisly end.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

Clearish for me at the moment but due to cloud over later, so probably not going to catch this one.

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

The #Moon occults some of the stars in the Pleiades open cluster from around 05:15 UT (06:15 BST) tomorrow morning. The brightening dawn sky reduces the visibility of the event as the occultation progresses. #Astronomy

Stellarium graphic showing the Moon close to the Pleiades open cluster on the morning of 10 October 2025.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

The faint comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) is close to the star Gamma Herculis (Nasak Shamiya III) this evening. Look to the west as soon as it gets dark. The comets sets around midnight. One for #astrophotography. #Astronomy

Stellarium graphic showing the location of comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) in the constellation of Hercules on 9 October 2025.

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

I use something similar for my widefield astro work. I've found budget tripods like this are just as stable as more expensive models.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

Nice one. Glad you've managed to capture it. You've got the colour and bit of the tail nicely. Good to capture an early image of it to compare to what it will look like in a couple of weeks.

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Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 1d

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon). 9 October 2025. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour

A green comet at centre. Numerous star dots.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

The Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their work on metal-organic frameworks, which could tackle some of the biggest problems on Earth, including capturing carbon dioxide to help tackle climate change. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Chemistry Nobel awarded to three scientists for their work on metal organic frameworks

The winners of the prestigious science prize were announced by the Nobel committee in Sweden.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

Nice capture. The tail seems to be developing well.

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Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 1d

This morning's capture of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)
The comet will make its closest pass to Earth on October 21, 2025, at a distance of about 55 million miles (89 million kilometres).
#astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

So you have nothing to say about the alien spaceship flying fast Mars and delivering organic compounds to seed the planet before activating its nickel-based warp drive to travel to the next solar system? Curious... 😉😄

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 1d

Huh, typical Gen-Z take! 😉

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 2d

I have cloudy skies but take a look if it is clear for you this evening: The annual #Draconid meteor shower is visible this year until 10 October in the northern hemisphere and will peak on the evening of 8 October. #Astronomy #Draconids www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

Draconid meteor shower: Where to watch as cosmic display peaks

The Draconid meteor shower is visible this year until 10 October in the northern hemisphere. Elizabeth Rizzini explains how to watch it.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 2d

The minor #Draconids meteor shower peaks this evening. Unusually for a meteor shower, the best rates occur in the early evening as that is when the radiant is highest. With the bright Moon in the sky, you might only see 1 per hour. #Astronomy

Stellarium graphic showing the location of the Draconids meteor shower radiant point on 8 October 2025.

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 2d

Haven't seen many myself: An unusual number of ladybirds, swarming and clustering together in homes is being reported on social media this week. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

Why so many ladybirds are swarming UK houses

With social media reports of harlequin ladybirds invading UK homes this week, Elizabeth Rizzini explains why the weather means some ladybirds are on the move.

www.bbc.co.uk

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 2d

Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity in the first half of this year - a historic first, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 2d

"Whatever happened to Putin's Communists?"
"He's over there..."
"Splitter!"