1 February 2025: A new Galaxy, Double Stars and Picture of the Month. Scroll down to take a look.

27 December 2024: Double Star Section Circular (DSSC) 32 is available to download as a PDF.

14 November 2024: Issue 194 of The Deep-Sky Observer (DSO) is now available for subscribers to download

14 November 2024: We have a new Object of the Season for Winter 2024.

Our Annual Meeting

A slight change to the date of our Annual Meeting for 2025 which we hope to hold on Saturday the 28th of June 2025 at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge.

Please note that this date is still provisional and subject to approval by the Institute of Astronomy. We'll add more details here as they become available.

Where to Meet Us

It's going to be a while before the next shows, but we intend to be at Practical Astronomy Show 2025 on Saturday 15th March 2025 and possibly at Kelling Heath Spring Star Party with our stand on Saturday 29th March 2025.

Our Publications

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

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.

Owen has a book out based on his Galaxy of the Month column which adds new information and detailed finder charts.

Issue 194 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.

You can subscribe to our mailing list to receive emailed updates when a new issue is released.

Picture of the Month: NGC 2207 and IC 2163 in Canis Major

Interacting galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163 in Canis Major courtesy of NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Not my planned feature for February, but I think this is a good substitute. The detail is wonderful and, of course, more star formation. There's also a combined JWST/HST version for you to enjoy.

Galaxy of the Month: NGC 2648 in Cancer

Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)

An interacting system that's one of the brightest amongst the faint galaxies of Cancer. The challenge from Owen this February is the spot that faint companion galaxy. A good sky will be needed.

Nebula or Cluster of the Month: NGC 2419 in Lynx

Globular cluster NGC 2419 in Lynx provided by Adam Block
Image credit: Adam Block

Patrick's on a break this month, but there's still time to observe NGC 2419. A relative easy target for modest telescopes, but resolving this globular will need a big scope, or a camera, as you can see.

Double Stars of the Month: Castor and DUN 38

Tiny finder chart for the double star DUN 38 in Puppis
Image credit: created with Cartes du Ciel

A well known double about which much has been learnt in the 18 years since Bob first covered it, and to the south a colourful system which is also a great sight in small telescopes.

Object of the Season: NGC 4038 and NGC 4039

Galaxy Pair NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 in Corvus - Credit: W4sm astro via Wikimedia Commons
Image credit: W4sm astro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wolfgang Steinicke would appreciate your observations of the NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 galaxy pair in Corvus for his Object of the Season column in the Deep-Sky Observer.

The Deep-Sky Observer

The cover of The Deep-Sky Observer 194

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.