Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 9d

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

1 2 7

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 27m

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

1 5

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

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

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 8h

Dazzling supermoon illuminates skylines around the world: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Dazzling supermoon illuminates skylines around the world

From Paris to Taipei, this week's supermoon, also known as the Harvest and Hunter's moons, was captured in photos.

www.bbc.co.uk

2 7

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 17h

Can't wait! 😄

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 19h

Captured something interesting a couple of days ago - colourful satellites. I've seen blue Starlinks before but not green and blue ones together. What's with the different colours? Apparently it's all to do with different coatings they have. More info in the ALT. #Astronomy #Space #Astrophotography

Two Starlink satellite trails, one green and one blue. They are passing through Gemini on 5 October 2025 at 04:35 UT. The bright stars above the green trail are Castor and Pollux. The bright object at the end of the blue trail is Jupiter. Taken with a Canon 600D and 50mm lens at 10s exp, 50mm fl, f/1.8, ISO-800.

I know that the blue ones are due to a coating on the newer 'Direct to Cell' satellites that is supposed to make them less visible in the night sky. Apparently the latest coatings have a green hue, meant to make them even less visible (I assume). Satellite mega constellations are the vermin of the sky but in some circumstances make for an interesting picture.

1 3 41

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 20h

'Supermoon' - The Harvest/Hunter Moon part 2! Now waning at 99.3% and fighting the clouds and aeroplane exhaust. #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social

9 78

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

If you want to spot comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) over the next two days, use the stars Dubhe and Merak in Ursa Major. Follow the line formed by the stars for about three times its length to locate the comet. From the UK, best viewed in the early hours using binoculars or a scope. #Astronomy #A6Lemmon

Stellarium graphic showing the location of comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) at 03:00 UT on 8 October 2025. The stars of the Plough asterism in the constellation of Ursa Major are labelled. A green arrow points from the stars Dubhe and Merak down and right towards the comet's location, which is marked and labelled. The comet will be in a similar position on the morning of 9 October.

3 9

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

That is apparently how the world works 😁

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 1d

'Supermoon' - the first of 3 this year. This evening's fantastic rising full Harvest Moon! Actually 100% about 04.45 tomorrow morning. Also rising into the 'Belt of Venus' #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social

The Harvest or Hunter Supermoon. Currently just 362k miles from Earth. It is properly called a Perigee Moon.

Moon rising over the east of south London

The full Moon rising through the Belt of Venus which is an atmospheric phenomenon that appears as a pinkish or brownish glow in the sky right after sunset or just before sunrise. The glow is visible above the dark blue band of Earth's shadow, which rises on the horizon opposite the sun. The phenomenon is also known as the anti-twilight arch.

8 21 140

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

Activity for the minor #Draconids meteor shower begins today. The peak of this shower is on 8 October. The bright Moon will interfere with observing this year. Rates are usually around 1-5 per hour, although outbursts occasionally occur. #Astronomy

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

ESA Operations @operations.esa.int · 2d

Asteroid 2025 TF flew over Antarctica at 00:47:26 UTC ± 18 s on 1 October, coming as close as 428 ± 7 km to Earth’s surface.

This is a similar altitude to the orbit of the International Space Station, and one of the closest approaches ever recorded.

www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

ESA spots asteroid that made very close approach to Earth

www.esa.int

2 48 140

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Peter Lewis @peterlewis55.bsky.social · 2d

Proof that comets move! Here's C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) from successive early morning captures (look at the position of 'neighbouring' stars). I've been able to capture a faint tail at last! #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is
a non-periodic comet that has brightened unexpectedly and may become visible to the naked eye for us Northern Hemisphere observers in late October 2025. Its peak visibility is expected around its closest approach to Earth on October 21st and its closest approach to the sun on November 8th.

Expected peak brightness around late October or early November, potentially reaching naked-eye visibility (magnitude +2 to +4) under ideal dark-sky conditions.

5 13 120

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

Another week and another wave of grifters saying that comet 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft or something. Obviously it isn't and no amount of image cropping and over-processing is going to convince anyone* otherwise. #Astronomy #3IATLAS

*except their fellow grifters.

3 14

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

Titan crosses Saturn's disc from 01:18 to 04:51 UT (02:18 to 05:51 BST) tomorrow morning. The event finishes as Saturn is setting from the UK. #Astronomy

1 4

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

The minor October-Camelopardalids meteor shower peaks this evening into the morning of the 6th. Information is uncertain about this shower and activity is variable. If anything is visible it will likely be around 1 meteor per hour. The Moon also interferes this year. #Astronomy

Stellarium graphic showing the location of the October-Camelopardalids meteor shower radiant point on 5 October 2025.

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

Yea, if predictions hold true it could be around mag 3 on the 21st. Nicely coinciding with the new Moon and visible in the evening sky. Just have to hope for clear skies.

1 1

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

I managed to capture comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) this morning, despite the passing cloud and gusts of wind. Visible in 8x40 binoculars as a diffuse white blob Imaging captured it much better and revealed the green colour. There is a hint of a tail too. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space

Image of comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) taken on 5 October 2025 at 03:45 UT. The comet is a green diffuse object in the centre of the image. Stars are around it and seen as trails due to the stacking process. Equipment and settings: Canon 250D DSLR through Evostar 72ED telescope on a Star Adventurer mount. 31 stacked images at 5s exp, 420mm fl, f/5.8, ISO-3200.

1 2 31

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

The 97% lit #Moon is close to #Saturn this evening. #Astronomy

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Panagiotis Xipteras @xipteras.org · 3d

🌌 The Hidden Galaxy IC 342, is a spiral galaxy about 10 million light years away from us in the constellation of Camelopardalis.

3 35

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 4d

Rare October Harvest Moon to be first 'supermoon' of 2025. 🔭 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

October Harvest Moon: When to see the first supermoon of 2025

It will be visible on 7 October and Sarah Keith-Lucas explains why it will be the biggest and brightest full Moon so far this year.

www.bbc.co.uk

2 24 85

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

In the fine city of Edinburgh for a BAA comet and meteor section meeting. Should be a good day 😀

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 5d

"Give me CHOCOLATE!" 😉😂

1 4

Reposted by Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography

Aurora Forecast Bot from NOAA (UNOFFICIAL) @aurora.nws-bot.us · 5d

Aurora Forecast Update for 2025-10-03T13:04:01Z
Additional Details Here.

:Product: 3-Day Forecast
:Issued: 2025 Oct 03 1230 UTC
# Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
#
A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast

The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 5 (NOAA Scale
G1).
The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Oct 03-Oct 05 2025 is 5.00 (NOAA Scale
G1).

NOAA Kp index breakdown Oct 03-Oct 05 2025

Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05
00-03UT 4.33 4.33 3.67
03-06UT 5.00 (G1) 4.00 3.67
06-09UT 5.00 (G1) 3.33 3.33
09-12UT 4.33 3.00 3.00
12-15UT 4.67 (G1) 3.00 3.00
15-18UT 3.67 3.00 3.00
18-21UT 3.33 2.67 3.33
21-00UT 3.33 2.67 3.00

Rationale: G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected 03 Oct
due to sustained CH HSS effects.

B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast

Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was
below S-scale storm level thresholds.

Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Oct 03-Oct 05 2025

Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05
S1 or greater 5% 5% 5%

Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected.
No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm
production is forecast.

C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast

Radio blackouts reaching the R1 levels were observed over the past 24
hours. The largest was at Oct 03 2025 0523 UTC.

Radio Blackout Forecast for Oct 03-Oct 05 2025

Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05
R1-R2 55% 50% 50%
R3 or greater 10% 10% 10%

Rationale: R1 (Minor) or greater radio blackouts are likely on 03 Oct
and decreasing slightly thereafter.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

2 3

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 5d

One from my archive - bright planet #Mars in the constellation of Taurus on 2 October 2022, from the North York Moors, UK. It was a pretty good night for #Astrophotography but a bit windy up top. #Astronomy #Space

Bright orange planet Mars in the centre of a field of stars on the night of 2 October 2022. Mars is within the constellation of Taurus, between the stars of the 'horns of the bull', Elnath and Tianguan. The Hyades open cluster can be seen to the right of Mars, with the bright orange star Aldebaran prominent. Equipment and settings: Canon 600D with 24mm lens on Star Adventurer mount. Stacked shot of 13x 30s exposures at 24mm fl, f/2.8, ISO 1600.

Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography @sjbastro.bsky.social · 5d

Can a satellite unlock the secrets of the universe? A space professor who helped design a groundbreaking satellite has said it will "profoundly change our understanding of the universe". #Astronomy #Cosmology #Space www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Euclid: Space professor reflects on success of satellite

The Euclid satellite, launched by Space X, was developed by a team including Professor Adam Amara.