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BASIL September 2026

BASIL for September includes many photographs from the 12 August solar eclipse (UK and Spain) and so is longer than usual (82 pages).

The front cover shows a great image of the Milky Way over Castlerigg Stone Circle, taken by BAS member David Bennett.

Monthly observing opportunities:

• 8 September: The Moon occults the Beehive Cluster from 04:00 BST until dawn.
• 14  September: See a tricky lunar occultation reappearance of Venus (11:30 BST).
• 26 September: Neptune reaches opposition.
• 26 September: 2026's Harvest Moon is tonight.
• Observe the 'Harvest Moon' (aka the 'Full Corn Moon') and Mare Crisium, one of the most distinctive lunar features.
• Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all well placed for observing this month.
• 19 DSO observing targets are listed for the month.
• Constellation of the month is Cygnus.

Members' images this month:

• Jane Clark: Nova in Sagitta, NGC 253 and the solar eclipse at totality.
• David Bennett: the Milky Way over Castlerigg Stone Circle (front cover), the Pleiades and the Perseid Meteor Shower (NLO image).
• Malcom Worster: Asteroid Juno at opposition.
• Andrew Grasemann: lunar eclipse (blood red Moon), the image used on ITV News and BAS members in Spain for the total solar eclipse.
• Chris Lee: M20 (the Trifid Nebula) and Caldwell 12 (NGC 6946, the Fireworks Galaxy).
• Michael Dean: images of the partial solar eclipse.
• Mark Feltham & Neil Robson: images of the solar eclipse at totality.

Photos from the partial solar eclipse outreach event held on the Clifton Downs on 12 August 2026 are shown on pages 42 - 75.

Observing and imaging projects for members in September:

• The Moon occults the Beehive Cluster from 04:00 BST until dawn (8 September) - for early risers!
• Observe Mare Crisium (3-4 days after New Moon or just after Full Moon) - shows fantastic shadows as the terminator approaches and crosses the sea.
• Observe Neptune at opposition (~ mag. 7.8). Can you spot Neptune's largest moon, Triton, at high magnification on a dark night (visible as a faint dot near the planet)?
• DSOs in Cygnus (well placed), including NGC 6910, the Rocking Horse Cluster.

Society News includes the programme of meetings for 2026, information from the recent Committee meeting in August and the donation of a telescope to the Society, for loan to members.