As the April skies cleared on the evening of Saturday 13th April, our stalwart Blackheath observing volunteers gathered on Blackheath for what promised to be a spirited end to our observing season. Though the conditions, at times, made it feel a bit like we were caught in a whirlwind, our dedicated astronomers weren’t deterred.
The evening kicked off at 8pm with early arrivals Alec, Les, and Todd. Les deserves a special mention for his commitment, taking a detour through Rotherhithe due to the closure of the Blackwall Tunnel southbound.
Our primary observation target for the night was the Moon. As the skies cleared, the wind picked up, making conditions less than ideal. Nonetheless, Phil, Richard, and Paul joined us later with their telescopes, enhancing our viewing opportunities.
We had a regular stream of visitors throughout the evening; some members of the Flamsteed, others who were non-members but had seen our event advertised on social media. Surprisingly, unlike previous sessions when the Blackheath Fair was in proximity, we didn’t have many passers-by from the aforementioned fair, nor the circus. No matter, we had plenty of people to chat to, and we gave everyone a good chance to either look through a telescope, or look at the screens connected to a selection of the “smart” telescopes which we had available.
Key observations included:
A last glimpse of Jupiter and the constellation of Orion for the season, as they won't be visible again until next winter.
The M3 Globular Cluster and the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, both viewed using imaging scopes.
The M44 Beehive Cluster.
Notable details on the Moon, including the prominent peak in Theophilus crater, which really stood out along the Moon’s terminator. The view through Todd’s refractor was especially good.
The windy conditions did pose some limitations on our ability to view finer details, leading us to pack up at around 10pm.
We extend our thanks to all volunteers who have participated this season. With only one cancellation in January and multiple successful events in both September and October, we've maintained a 9 out of 10 hit rate this season despite often unpredictable weather.
We are now shifting our focus to solar viewing at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, with the first event scheduled for 10th May.
Thanks to everyone who joined and supported our observing sessions. We look forward to delving into solar astronomy together in the coming months.
