After what felt like an eternity without a public observing session – our last successful Blackheath event was all the way back on 12th October – it was a relief to finally get back under the stars. The November, December, and January events were all cancelled due to poor weather, making this one of the longest breaks we’ve had in years (Covid-era aside!).
So, when the February event rolled around, I was understandably cautious about checking the forecast. At first, things looked promising, but as the week progressed, the outlook for Saturday night deteriorated, and a Sunday postponement seemed likely. That would have been a shame, as Saturday evenings always draw the biggest crowds. But then, a high-pressure system crept in from the south-east, hinting at the possibility of clear skies. Not all forecasts agreed, but we decided to take the risk… and it paid off!
The Evening Begins
Arriving on-site just after 6pm, I found Alec and Tony already set up, catching early glimpses of a beautiful 37%-lit Venus. The sky was looking spectacular, with Saturn sinking towards the western horizon, a 13%-lit crescent Moon glowing with Earthshine, and Venus shining brilliantly just above it. Somewhere in between was Neptune, but we weren’t chasing it this time!
Further south, Jupiter dominated the sky, sitting above the Hyades and Aldebaran, while in the east, Mars glowed in Gemini, near Castor and Pollux. Uranus, due south, completed the “parade of planets”, but we focused on the more crowd-pleasing targets.
Deep-Sky Highlights
With the winter constellations in full display, there was plenty to see. Orion held its usual treasures – the Orion Nebula, Flame Nebula, and Horsehead Nebula – keeping the Smart telescopes busy throughout the night. The Pleiades in Taurus was another favourite, while others turned their attention to M81 Bode’s Galaxy and the ever-popular Double Cluster in Perseus.
One telescope in particular was turning heads – Mark’s 6-inch f/10 refractor, a proper “planet-killer” that took two people to set up! It provided incredible views of Venus and Jupiter, with the Great Red Spot clearly visible before Mark started hunting down double stars.
The Crowd Gathers
By 7pm, the official start time, the crowd had built up significantly. Tej and Les were kept busy with their scopes, and Yvonne’s Seestar S50 made an appearance – though I was so busy with visitors and helping a few people with their scopes (with mixed success!) that I didn’t realise she was there until much later.
As the evening progressed, the temperature dropped sharply, but what amazed me was how many people stayed. Normally, numbers dwindle after a couple of hours, but not this time – the lack of wind made the cold just about bearable.
The Ice Takes Over
That said, the calm air had an unwanted side effect: heavy dew buildup, which quickly froze solid on our optics. Tej was cursing as he realised he’d forgotten his dew shield and backup hairdryer, leaving his SCT’s corrector plate completely iced over by 10pm.
Luckily, my new Seestar S30 had a built-in dew heater, so I was able to keep imaging. The increasing high haze meant my images weren’t spectacular, but they sparked some great discussions with visitors.
By 11pm, Mark was the last man standing, with a crowd still gathered around his refractor. But as he turned to Almach, something was off – its blue companion star looked unusually pale. A quick check revealed the problem: his objective lens was completely dewed over. Game over for the night!
Final Thoughts
Despite the freezing temperatures and icy optics, it was a brilliant evening. We estimated around 70 visitors, with 10 volunteers supporting the event – and many stayed right to the bitter end!
A huge thank you to everyone who came along, especially our volunteers who brought their equipment, shared their knowledge, and made the night so welcoming for all.
Our next Blackheath Observing Event is scheduled for Saturday 1st March, with backup dates on 2nd, 8th, and 9th March. Let’s hope for clear skies again!
📅 Event details & sign-up for updates:🔗 https://www.flamsteed.info/event-details/blackheath-observing-event-1-or-2-8-9-march-2025-2025-03-01-19-00
See you there! 🌌🔭
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