v.225 uploaded: 7th September 2026
Sharnbrook Observatory

Welcome to my web site!

This version includes numerous new solar, lunar and Saturnian images plus images of the solar eclipse. All images were obtained using amateur telescopes.

As ever, I hope my web site encourages you to get out there and enjoy the treasures of our universe at first hand.

Best Wishes,  

Peter Garbett



Galleries...


African Skies     Mars                Venus            Equipment          Comets          Sun



The Aurora          Deep Sky       Moon          Jupiter             Saturn            NLC


Saturn

      
2026-08-24 and 25 C14 @ F13 turbulent seeing                                                                  R filter with UV/IR cut
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.



              
2026-08-08 03:52.6 UTC  C14 @ F13 mediocre seeing.                             2026-08-08 03:47.6 UTC  R filter with UV/IR cut                                       2026-08-08 03:53.1 UTC  G filter with UV/IR cut                              2026-08-08 04:00.1 UTC  B filter with UV/IR cut         
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.



The solar eclipse of 12th August 2026



     
Canon EOS 450D, mostly 300mm lens @ F22 with 1/250s exposures



Earth at perihelion compared with aphelion

The left hand image of the Sun was taken on 4th January 2026 when Earth was at perihelion, and 3.3% closer to the Sun than the 4th July 2026 on the right.


Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter

The planets were less than 2 degrees apart, just above the tree line.

08.06.26
Canon EOS 450D 50mm lens 800AS at F4.





09.06.26
Canon EOS 450D 50mm lens 800ASA at F4.





10.06.26
Canon EOS 450D 50mm lens 800ASA at F4.



Jupiter

              
Great Red Spot approaching p. limb at measured system II
longitude of 87.5 deg. and latitude -23.0 deg. Shadow of
Ganymede near the GRS, and the body of Europa on the left
of the image near the upper edge of the South Equatorial belt.
2026-05-01 20:20.8 UTC  C14 @ F12 quite poor seeing.
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.

                   



The separate R, G and B filtered images.




Great Red Spot at measured system II longitude
of 87+/- 0.5 deg. and latitude -22 +/- 0.5 deg.
Shadow of Ganymede right of the GRS.
2026-05-08 20:16.0 UTC  C14 @ F12 poor seeing with tree
interference, especially with the B filtered image.
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.


         

The separate R and G filtered images.





2026-05-10 19:49.1 UTC  C14 @ F12 very poor seeing indeed.
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.






                  
Io in shadow transit
2026-05-11 R=19:42.9 UTC   G=19:48.8 UTC  B=19:46.5 UTC  C14 @ F12 dire seeing.
Trutek R, G, B filters with UV/IR cut filter. Saturn-M SQR camera.





Solar cycles 23, 24 and 25 graphed from my observational data



Microsoft Excel Worksheet


The Sun

28.08.26  09:11.2 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




23.08.26  09:56.0 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



23.08.26  09:42.6 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


12.08.26  08:38.1 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





01.08.26  08:34.8 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


01.08.26  08:25.4 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





AR4493 has developed considerably over just 2 days (just right of centre)
22.07.26  08:21.4 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera



22.07.26  08:39.4 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Unusual elliptical arrangement of sunspots in AR4493
20.07.26  10:47.2 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


Very bright plage within AR4493
20.07.26  10:39.8 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



04.07.26  08:07.7 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


M1.8 solar flare in AR4479
04.07.26  07:59.5 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.

03.07.26  08:09.7 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera








03.07.26  07:59.8 UTC, ND 3.8 white light filter, 20cm Meade LX200 SCT, f=2000mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera



03.07.26  08:17.5 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


02.07.26  08:58.5 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera





02.07.26  08:47.3 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







AR4478, AR4479
01.07.26  08:31.2  UTC, ND 3.8 white light filter, 20cm Meade SCT, f=2000mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera






AR4478, AR4479 and granulation
29.06.26  07:57.1 UTC, ND 3.8 white light filter, 20cm Meade SCT, f=2000mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera






29.06.26  08:27.4 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera




29.06.26  09:02.1 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.









AR4478 and granulation
26.06.26  08:39.2 UTC, ND 3.8 white light filter, 20cm Meade SCT, f=2000mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera




25.06.26  09:02.7 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera



25.06.26  09:16.6 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.

05.06.26  09:27.4 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera





05.06.26  09:21.7 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






05.06.26  09:21.7 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



30.05.26  09:21.3 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera






30.05.26  09:54.2 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





30.05.26  09:54.2 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


26.05.26  09:48.6 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


25.05.26  09:21.0 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.

25.05.26  09:21.0 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.
25.05.26  Processed to bring out the prominences. 09:21.0 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


24.05.26  09:18.9 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera


24.05.26  09:32.3 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





24.05.26  09:45.4 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



Lunar images

The waning gibbous Moon


01.09.26  03:10.9 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







01.09.26  03:17.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







01.09.26  03:22.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



The waning crescent Moon

Aristarchus in the centre of this image
08.08.26  04:08.8 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



08.08.26  04:14.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



08.08.26  04:23.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






08.08.26  04:32.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






08.08.26  04:38.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






The waning gibbous Moon


04.08.26  02:53.2 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




04.08.26  03:02.9 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







04.08.26  03:17.8 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





50% size


Theoplilus, Cyrillus and Catharina (upper centre); Rupes Altai (lower centre)
Lunar altitude only 22 degrees, so poor seeing
21.06.26  21:07.8 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



25% size

Lunar altitude only 23 degrees
19.06.26  20:41.3 to 20:50.6 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





62% size



19.06.26  20:41.3 to 20:50.6 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size

19.06.26  20:45.3 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





Full size

19.06.26  20:50.6 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size

19.06.26  20:50.6 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



25% size



Lunar altitude only 21 degrees
18.06.26  20:38.3 to 20:41.0 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




61% size






18.06.26  20:38.3 to 20:41.0 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size



18.06.26  20:41.0 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


Full size



18.06.26  20:41.0 UTC  20cm Meade SCT @ F10, UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





33% size


25.05.26  21:08.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F12, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size



25.05.26  21:08.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F12, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


33% size


25.05.26  20:58.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


Full size


25.05.26  20:58.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





33% size


25.05.26  20:50.7 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size


25.05.26  20:50.7 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






50% size


25.05.26  20:45.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size



25.05.26  20:45.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F12, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





50% size


25.05.26  20:41.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





Full size




25.05.26  20:41.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





33% size


24.05.26  21:16.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size




24.05.26  21:16.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





33% size


24.05.26  21:00.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



Full size



24.05.26  21:00.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






33% size


24.05.26  20:39.2 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size



24.05.26  20:39.2 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.


33% size



23.05.26  21:25.1 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size




23.05.26  21:25.1 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






33% size

23.05.26  21:17.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.




Full size



23.05.26  21:17.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






50% size




23.05.26  20:39.3 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





Full size



23.05.26  20:39.3 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






33% size


23.05.26  20:33.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size




23.05.26  20:33.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







33% size


22.05.26  20:40.9 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.



Full size




22.05.26  20:40.9 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







33% size


22.05.26  20:32.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size






22.05.26  20:32.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






33% size


21.05.26  20:24.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





Full size





21.05.26  20:24.6 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







33% size


21.05.26  20:16.4 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size








21.05.26  20:16.4 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







33% size





21.05.26  19:58.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






Full size





21.05.26  19:58.0 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





25.04.26  20:02.3 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.






25.04.26  20:07.7 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





25.04.26  20:13.7 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.







25.04.26  20:21.5 UTC  C14 SCT @ F13, Trutek R filter and UV/IR cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.





Other sites of personal interest...


Amateurs                                                                          Commercial

Damian Peach's site                                                                Telescope House

Rob Gendler's site                                                                   Starlight Xpress Ltd

Stefan Seip's site                                                                     True Technology Ltd

Brierley Hill Solar                                                                    Ian King Imaging

                                                                                              Modern Astronomy


Organisations/resources                                              Software

Astro buy/sell                                                                        Firecapture software for Flea 3 etc

American Meteor Society                                                        WinJUPOS        

Big Bear Solar Observatory latest images of the Sun                Auto Stakkert!         

British Astronomical Association                                             Deep Sky Stacker                                   

Cloudy Nights reviews                                                            GradientXTerminator                              

Horace Dall, 1982  (video by Robin Scagell)                            Stellarium planetarium software   
Luton Astronomical Society                                                    Starry Dave software e.g. solar animations                  

Observing Planets around other Stars via Transits!                  Noel Carboni's software     

Periodic error test results for mounts                                 
(Google translator from French)               

Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (International sunspot numbers)

SpaceWeather.com for solar activity and far more!

Jet Stream Forecast

Mount Wilson Observatory including archived sunspot drawings from the solar tower

IAU naming of planetary features

Metcheck   


Established October 2000.           Copyright: P.J.Garbett