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- Create Date 1 May 2024
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BASIL May 2024
The front cover of BASIL shows a solar image taken by David Bennett using the Society's new SeeStar S50 telescope, showing sunspots on the solar surface. We intend to use the S50 for public outreach, both solar and DSO observing, so this was a very good demonstration of the telescope's capabilities.
Observing highlights of the month include:
- 6 May: Eta Aquariid meteor shower (am)
- 8 May: Ultra-thin waxing crescent Moon lies near the Pleiades (pm)
- 14 May: Waxing crescent Moon lies near M44 the Beehive Cluster at 01:00 BST
- 17 May: Asteroid 2 Pallas reaches opposition
- 24 May: Full Moon occults M4 and is near Antares (am)
Members' recent astrophotography images are shown on p18 (Andrew Grasemann - First Quarter Moon) and the front cover (see above).
21 well placed observing targets for the month are listed on p24-25.
The Sunflower Galaxy (Messier 63) is well placed for observing during the month (see p26-7), as is Makarians Chain in Coma Berenices and Virgo (see p28-9).
Society News includes meetings and events for 2024, a brief report from the recent BAS Committee meeting and news about the Failand Observatory.