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

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.

11 Aug 2024: Observation: objects around the Coathanger in Vulpecula by David Davies.

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 1491 and Outters 1 in Perseus

NGC 1491 and Outters 1 in Perseus courtesy of Adam Block /Steward Observatory/University of Arizona
Image credit: Adam Block /Steward Observatory/University of Arizona

A wide field of more star formation and a favourite imaging target that's yielded an amateur discovery. Lots of detail and an object that can be visually observed too from me this month.

Galaxy of the Month: NGC 1129 in Perseus

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

Owen is still exploring Perseus with this challenging group of galaxies. Unsurprisingly, the faintness of most of its members seems to have caused some cataloguing confusion.

Nebula or Cluster of the Month: Stock 8 and IC 417 in Auriga

IC 417 in Auriga provided by Robert Gendler
Image credit: Robert Gendler

Patrick brings you an young open cluster from one of the "minor" catalogues which comes with its own emission nebula. He has some tips for observing this tricky group of stars, and just maybe the nebula too.

Double Stars of the Month: STF 430 and 41 Eri

Tiny finder chart for the double star STF 430 in Taurus
Image credit: created with Cartes du Ciel

A colourful and wide triplet in Taurus from Bob to go with a mission impossible in Eridanus, although he's provided some alternatives more amenable to modest scopes too.

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.