1 April 2024: A new Cluster, Galaxy, Double Stars and Picture of the Month. Scroll down to take a look.

30 January 2024: Observation of IC 2574 by David Davies.

12 December 2023: Issue 192 of The Deep-Sky Observer (DSO) is now available for subscribers to download

5 August 2023: DSSC 31 is available to download.

Our Annual Meeting

We finally have a date confirmed for our Annual Meeting for 2024. It will take place on Saturday the 15th of June 2024 at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge.

We have some more details about the meeting for you, including our speakers and vendors. We'll be updating the catering arrangements and price of entry soon.

Our Publications

The Webb Deep-Sky Society has a wide range of publications on offer.

You can grab a free PDF copies of Faith Jordan's 'An Introduction to Deep-Sky Observing' and Miles Paul's Atlas of Galaxy Trios from amongst our free publications.

With kind permission of Kent Wallace, we can now offer our own reprint of his titanic work Visual Observations of Planetary Nebulae. Kent sold out of his own print run some time ago, so don't wait too long.

Mike Swan's excellent Atlas of Open Star Clusters is now available as a single spiral-bound volume. This has a few additions over his earlier volumes 1 and 2, which as still available.

Owen has a new book out based on his long running Galaxy of the Month column. He's added new information and updated his older work. It also contains detailed finder charts.

Issue 192 of The Deep-Sky Observer (DSO) is now available.

Why not join us?

You can now join the Webb Deep-Sky Society online using PayPal. Options include Paper and PDF versions of the Deep-Sky Observer journal, or PDF alone for a reduced price.

Perhaps you'd like to join our groups.io mailing group? Access is limited to members, but you're all welcome.

Picture of the Month: Messier 85 and NGC 4394 in Coma Berenices

An image of Messier 85 and NGC 4394 in Coma Berenices courtesy of David Davies
Image credit: David Davies

An easily observable pair of galaxies this month, even with a small telescope. But there are more than two galaxies in this field, and some fascinating detail for those using a camera.

Galaxy of the Month: NGC 5903 in Libra

This image of NGC 5903 was provided by the Pan-STARRS1 Surveys
Image credit: Pan-STARRS1 Surveys

With a change to Daylight Saving Time the short nights are against the galaxy observer. Owen's found a trio where high-power might help beat the glow, even from the northern latitudes of the UK.

Nebula or Cluster of the Month: Melotte 111 in Coma Berenices

An image of Melotte 111 in Coma Berenices provided by Nicolas Rolland
Image credit: Nicolas Rolland

This month Patrick asks the question ‘what does an open cluster look like close-up?’ One of the best examples for northern observers is visible to the naked eye, but far better in binoculars.

Double Stars of the Month: STF 1645 and SHJ 195

Thumbnail image of a finder chart for the double star SHJ 195 in Libra
Image credit: created with Cartes du Ciel

Bob has two likely physical doubles for you this month, both observable from higher northern latitudes, and both wide and bright enough for smaller telescopes with some colour to see as well.

Object of the Season: Reflection Nebula NGC 1788 in Orion

Reflection Nebula 17888 in Orion - Credit: ESO
Image credit: ESO

Wolfgang Steinicke would appreciate your observations of NGC 1788 in Orion for his Object of the Season column in the Deep-Sky Observer.

The Deep-Sky Observer

The cover of The Deep-Sky Observer 192

Profusely illustrated, The Deep-Sky Observer is printed on art paper. Its magazine format encourages all amateurs to make a contribution to the Society's work.

Double Star Section Circulars

The contents page of Double Star Section Circular 28

Double Star Section Circulars (DSSC) feature the latest techniques and measurements from double star observers around the World. They are available as PDFs for free download.

Observations

M61 in Virgo by David Davies
M61 in Virgo by David Davies

Some observations and images provided by amateur astronomers around the globe. We're happy to receive your images, sketches and observations of the deep-sky made in pursuit of your projects.