Steve Brown - astronomy and astrophotography
@sjbastro.bsky.social
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.
Cloudy Orion timelapse from just after midnight on 9 November. The bright #Moon is at the top of the scene, lighting up the clouds and landscape. #Astronomy
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Cloudy Orion timelapse from just after midnight on 9 November. The bright #Moon is at the top of the scene, lighting up the clouds and landscape. #Astronomy
Just over two hours of star trails from last night, under bright moonlight. Looking towards Aquila. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Just over two hours of star trails from last night, under bright moonlight. Looking towards Aquila. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
The 73% lit #Moon sits above #Jupiter this evening into tomorrow morning. Look to the east from around 20:00 UT to see the pair rising. The stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini are also close to the Moon. #Astronomy
November 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The 73% lit #Moon sits above #Jupiter this evening into tomorrow morning. Look to the east from around 20:00 UT to see the pair rising. The stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini are also close to the Moon. #Astronomy
Peak activity of the Southern #Taurids meteor shower is this evening. You could see around 5 per hour from a dark location, although the Moon interferes this year. This shower is worth observing as it displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Peak activity of the Southern #Taurids meteor shower is this evening. You could see around 5 per hour from a dark location, although the Moon interferes this year. This shower is worth observing as it displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
Saturn is near the 81% lit #Moon this evening. Look to the south around 21:00 UT. It will also be close on the 2nd. #Saturn #Astronomy
November 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Saturn is near the 81% lit #Moon this evening. Look to the south around 21:00 UT. It will also be close on the 2nd. #Saturn #Astronomy
25th: Ganymede's shadow crosses Jupiter's disc from 02:10 to 05:30 UT this morning.
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
25th: Ganymede's shadow crosses Jupiter's disc from 02:10 to 05:30 UT this morning.
21st: The shadows of Io and Callisto cross Jupiter's disc together from 01:30 to 03:50 UT this morning. Io itself also crosses Jupiter from 02:35 to 04:50 UT.
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
21st: The shadows of Io and Callisto cross Jupiter's disc together from 01:30 to 03:50 UT this morning. Io itself also crosses Jupiter from 02:35 to 04:50 UT.
17th to 18th: The peak of the #Leonids meteor shower is on the night of the 17th into the morning of the 18th. With the Moon out of the way, this year should be a good one to see them. #Leonid meteors are swift and often bright. You could see around 5-10 per hour from a dark location. #Astronomy
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
17th to 18th: The peak of the #Leonids meteor shower is on the night of the 17th into the morning of the 18th. With the Moon out of the way, this year should be a good one to see them. #Leonid meteors are swift and often bright. You could see around 5-10 per hour from a dark location. #Astronomy
12th to 13th: Peak of the Northern #Taurids meteor shower. Although rates are usually fairly low at around 5 meteors per hour from a dark location, the shower displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
12th to 13th: Peak of the Northern #Taurids meteor shower. Although rates are usually fairly low at around 5 meteors per hour from a dark location, the shower displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
5th: Peak activity of the Southern #Taurids meteor shower. You could see around 5 per hour from a dark location, although the Moon interferes this year. This shower is worth observing as it displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
5th: Peak activity of the Southern #Taurids meteor shower. You could see around 5 per hour from a dark location, although the Moon interferes this year. This shower is worth observing as it displays a higher proportion of brighter meteors and occasional fireballs. #Astronomy
1st: Saturn is near the 81% lit #Moon this evening. Look to the south around 21:00 UT. It will also be close on the 2nd. #Saturn #Astronomy
5th: Full Moon.
5th: Full Moon.
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
1st: Saturn is near the 81% lit #Moon this evening. Look to the south around 21:00 UT. It will also be close on the 2nd. #Saturn #Astronomy
5th: Full Moon.
5th: Full Moon.
First two weeks of the month: Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is passing through Ophiuchus. It is visible in the early evening, getting lower and gradually fainter each day. It will still be a nice #astrophotography target, if you have a good southwest horizon. #A6Lemmon
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
First two weeks of the month: Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is passing through Ophiuchus. It is visible in the early evening, getting lower and gradually fainter each day. It will still be a nice #astrophotography target, if you have a good southwest horizon. #A6Lemmon
First half of the month: This year is a 'swarm' year for the #Taurids meteor shower, where a higher proportion of brighter meteors are seen, as well as occasional fireballs. Keep an eye out on any clear night and you might just spot a very bright, slow-moving meteor.
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
First half of the month: This year is a 'swarm' year for the #Taurids meteor shower, where a higher proportion of brighter meteors are seen, as well as occasional fireballs. Keep an eye out on any clear night and you might just spot a very bright, slow-moving meteor.
Caught this small sporadic meteor last night - close to the star Ukdah in Hydra. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Meteor
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Caught this small sporadic meteor last night - close to the star Ukdah in Hydra. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Meteor
The 62% lit #Moon occults the star Gamma Capricorni (Nashira) around 22:30 UT this evening. The star reappears around 23:15 UT, by which point the Moon is close to setting. An interesting sight through a telescope. #Astronomy
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The 62% lit #Moon occults the star Gamma Capricorni (Nashira) around 22:30 UT this evening. The star reappears around 23:15 UT, by which point the Moon is close to setting. An interesting sight through a telescope. #Astronomy
Four hours of star trails from last night 😀 #Astronomy #Astrophotography
October 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Four hours of star trails from last night 😀 #Astronomy #Astrophotography
Quick timelapse of comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) this evening, before the clouds came in and covered the scene. So many sky vermin, I mean satellites, too! #Astronomy #Astrophotography #A6Lemmon
October 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Quick timelapse of comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) this evening, before the clouds came in and covered the scene. So many sky vermin, I mean satellites, too! #Astronomy #Astrophotography #A6Lemmon
Spaceweather harming the integrity of the site again today. Sure, some posts about comet 3I/ATLAS are light-hearted and they don't believe it's a spaceship, but they shouldn't be giving any credence whatsoever to the 'alternative' view that it could be an alien craft. Ridiculous and disappointing.
October 29, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Spaceweather harming the integrity of the site again today. Sure, some posts about comet 3I/ATLAS are light-hearted and they don't believe it's a spaceship, but they shouldn't be giving any credence whatsoever to the 'alternative' view that it could be an alien craft. Ridiculous and disappointing.
Shot of comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) on 25 October 2025 at 21:05 UT from North Yorkshire, UK. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
October 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Shot of comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) on 25 October 2025 at 21:05 UT from North Yorkshire, UK. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
My first capture of the Pleiades this season - taken on 25 October 2025. I got a few shots in before the clouds came over, enough to reveal a bit of nebulosity. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space
October 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
My first capture of the Pleiades this season - taken on 25 October 2025. I got a few shots in before the clouds came over, enough to reveal a bit of nebulosity. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) on the evening of 25 October. The sky was a bit clearer this evening so I got a better view of the comet and especially the tail. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #A6Lemmon
October 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) on the evening of 25 October. The sky was a bit clearer this evening so I got a better view of the comet and especially the tail. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #A6Lemmon
Messier 27, the Dumbbell Nebula from last night. Framed in the context of the wider star field in the constellation of Vulpecula. Taken with a Canon 250D DSLR through Evostar 72ED telescope on a Star Adventurer mount. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space
October 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Messier 27, the Dumbbell Nebula from last night. Framed in the context of the wider star field in the constellation of Vulpecula. Taken with a Canon 250D DSLR through Evostar 72ED telescope on a Star Adventurer mount. #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space