Blackett Observatory - Marlborough College Blackett Observatory

Double Star observing (Friends): Tonight from 8pm (weather permitting)

Astronomy Picture of the Day

A Sun Halo Over Cambodia

Have you ever seen a halo around the Sun?

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What's Up - Week of 8th February

Astronomical twilight ends at 19.03UT at the start of the week and 19.12UT at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New next Sunday and visible as a slender cresecent mid-next week
The Sun is increasing rapidly in activity and already we have seen an M2 class X-ray flare. A large sunspot group 1044 appeared this week-end and promises more flare actvity. Watch the front of the website and for data click on the Solar status box. There is no doubt that Cycle 24 is well underway
There are no evening ISS passes this week
There is one superbright Iridium flare on Monday at 19.13.28 at 40 degrees altitude in NNE

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News - 4th February

House visit: 11 Shell pupils from C1 came up to the Dome. Sadly it was cloudy

Next House visit: Thursday 25th February (SU)

1st February

French Exchange visit: 15 students from Lysee Jaques Monod and 3 teachers visited the Dome in the afternoon. The Sun was visible in solar goggles and behind cloud in the 10 inch. In the clear gaps the new Cycle 24 sunspot group 1043 was seen

Public lecture: CEB gave the lecture 'Impact Earth - The threat of asteroid collisions' at Green Templeton College in Oxford to a full house of visitors and academics as part of the annual lecture series 'Astronomy for All'

21st January

House visit: For the first time this year minibus access was possible and allowed 10 pupils (depleted by illness) from MM Shell to attend the Dome. The sky was clouded over, but the Dome was free from ice

Next House visit: Thursday 4th February (C1)

More news...

Featured Blackett Image

First Quarter Moon taken through 10 inch 12/04 orientation as seen by eye