February 2026

February 6^th 2000 GMT Jupiter, Asteroids and Double Stars

 

Fortunately, it remained clear-ish and I re-did my Jupiter shoot. As earlier in the evening, I could not use 4x zoom with the Seestar S50 as the moons were spread out. I noticed that the positions of the moons had changed since the last session, I also did another video of the cloud belts, in case the twilight shot did not work.

I combined the two images.

As I often do in dubious weather conditions, I decided to photograph double stars, as they are easier to get results from than faint galaxies and nebulae. I used the Skymap function to find them.

My first object with the Seestar S50 was the asteroid Psyche, which was near the star SZ Tauri and was the second brightest object in the image. I stacked 3 images for a total integration time of 10 minutes and tidied in GraXpert and GIMP.

I photographed the double star Delta Tauri with the Seestar S50.  I stacked 3 images for a total integration time of 12 minutes and tidied in GraXpert and GIMP.

 

I photographed the double star Theta Tauri with the Seestar S50. I stacked 3 images for a total integration time of 13 minutes and tidied in GraXpert and GIMP.

 

I photographed the double star Sigma Tauri with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed the asteroid Hygeia with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed the double star Omega Tauri with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed the double star Mintaka, in Orion's belt  with the Seestar S50.

 

As it is a close double star, I used Scenery mode and 4x zoom with the Seestar S50, trying both still images and video.

 

I photographed the double star Phi Orionis with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed the double star 23 Orionis with the Seestar S50.

 

As it is a close double star, I used Scenery mode and 2x zoom with the Seestar S50, trying both still images and video.

 

I photographed the double star Iota Orionis with the Seestar S50.

 

Cloud moved in and it started to drizzle, ending the session.

February 6^th 1800 GMT Jupiter

 

After persistent rain, sometimes heavy, the sky cleared somewhat at dusk. I would not normally shoot Jupiter at dusk but, with the risk of further cloud later, I proceeded. I shot two videos, as usual, one showing the moons (this time at 2x zoom, as the moons were too far apart to use my usual 4x) and the other showing the cloud belts, or at least attempting to.

I combined the two images.

February 4th 1340 GMT Sun 

Against the weather forecast, the sky was clear, although there was some moving cloud. I took two videos of the sun with the Seestar S50, one at full disc and the other at 4x zoom.

February 1st 2030 GMT Moon and Jupiter 

The conditions were poor but I managed to photograph Jupiter with the Seestar S50, taking one video of the moons and the other the cloud belts.

I combined the shot of Jupiter's moons and one with the cloud belts, both photographed using the Seestar S50.

I took a full disc video of the moon. 

January 2026

January 2026 Summary

In many ways, January is the worst month of the year in the UK. Everybody is broke after the Christmas and new year, or seems to be. It is the coldest month in the year and where seasonal affected disorder is at its peak. Spring seems a long way away and summer seems like a distant dream.

It would be naïve to expect 31 days of clear sky in January, or, indeed, any month in the UK but, with a bit of checking the weather forecast and planning, some viewing is possible, although the second half of the month was worse than the first.

I started the month with a bad back and cough, so was restricted to leaving the Seestar S50 out to do its business while I remained in the warm. With Jupiter being well placed, I took many images showing both cloud belts and moons.

January also saw the publication of my first book for general reading and not just for astronomers.

To order in the UK click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GJTDLY71/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HUTO600WD0KA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7VtSrxO1RoTRURHrhFwqUlXPHd6HFbfM2bhS1KEkJgmZLx5BIlkLBKt-OGFzPJEkPHAfZtUo7-yQTFmdWgh1kYWkrevEJctsVa39eBza_McdjpN0lcs-1ErdnO2M_JdEnlmfY8HO2F5LrXDH1yCPIT0idxEyFwGLomUJzPvdXDej6ZMtX6KopXJVlNTY2LxqHdH5Y-e9ULYrV8hRbTMroCNbrkdKyS8Ly-XDJCH5iF0.JmXFu17xlrApWr-h_258uMa_E7EBoKn4cvPG7QLOU8s&dib_tag=se&keywords=philip+pugh+stars&qid=1769449729&s=books&sprefix=philip+pugh+stars%2Cstripbooks%2C540&sr=1-1

To order from the USA, click below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJTDLY71/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14G8K3LJVSDDY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.owxsmYlrLSgblqglPD4R803ARKxGNC219PU19WcbM2OcgA56AdpBFYxBCtQFaNsg.tZCHy7kL5NEHLHRcQEuhhI_PpBgNNpS739huk7sI_Fw&dib_tag=se&keywords=stars+philip+pugh&qid=1769449491&s=digital-text&sprefix=stars+philip+pugh%2Cdigital-text%2C175&sr=1-1

 

Sun

The sun was too low for observation at the start of the month. I had a session on 16^th and this was the best shot.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55049926860/in/album-72177720331293955

I also viewed the sun through my binoculars and filters but only saw one sunspot.

Moon

The moon was approaching full phase at the start of the month, so I was able to take several images for the first five days.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55026988228/in/album-72157668899851116

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55027184930/in/album-72157668899851116/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55028353791/in/album-72157668899851116/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55028815340/in/album-72157668899851116/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55031399395/in/album-72157668899851116/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55066942337/in/dateposted-public/

Planets

Saturn was visible in the west but too low from our back garden. On the other hand, Jupiter was well placed and I did a lot of composite shots showing the cloud belts and moons.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55027245473/in/album-72157668899804626

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55029307805/in/album-72157668899804626/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55034240547/in/album-72157668899804626/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55049620243/in/album-72177720331293955/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55050034460/in/album-72177720331293955

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55068123039/in/album-72177720331293955/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55072329588/in/album-72177720331293955/

I also caught Uranus against the stellar background.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55049714136/in/album-72177720331293955/

Dwarf Planets/Asteroids

I did not photograph any in January.

Constellations

I did not photograph any constellations.

Deep Sky

It was sometimes difficult to run any long integrations with the Seestar S50 but managed to snap a few gems:

·       Running Man Nebula in Orion:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55027420740/in/album-72177720331293955

·       M50 in Monoceros:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55027448135/in/album-72177720331293955/

·       M48 in Hydra:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55027135241/in/album-72177720325141895/

·       M35 in Gemini:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55033668809/in/album-72177720331293955

·       M67 in Cancer:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55049667123/in/album-72177720331293955

·       M65 and M66 in Leo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55068213014/in/album-72177720331293955

·       NGC3628 (Hamburger Galaxy) in Leo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55074104850/in/dateposted-public/

I also photographed some double stars in Gemini and Cancer

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55067914556/in/album-72177720331293955

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55068283045/in/album-72177720331293955/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55067031822/in/album-72177720331293955/

Transient Events

I missed the best of an auroral display but caught some green and purple colours near the end with my phone camera.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55063598907/in/dateposted-public/

I  also used my phone camera to capture Jupiter in Gemini, with Canis Minor and Sirius.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55063598907/in/dateposted-public/

I photographed the moon with Jupiter by combining images from my DSLR camera and Seestar S50.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/55072869747/in/dateposted-public/

 

January 2026 Photo Album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philippughastronomer/albums/72177720331293955/

January 31st 2135 GMT Moon and Jupiter 

Only the moon and Jupiter were readily visible and Jupiter was a struggle.

I took a full disc video of the moon with the Seestar S50.

I took two videos and some still shots of Jupiter's moons and the cloud belts with the Seestar S50. Only the ones with the moons came out.

I shot the moon with Jupiter using my DSLR camera at 70mm focal length, ISO 800 and various exposures from 1/200 to 1/50 second.

I combined the shot of the moon with the photo of the moon with Jupiter.

January 31st 0910 GMT Sun 

With the Seestar S50 on charge, I took my 127mm Maksutov into action for the first time in 2026. I added a DSLR camera and filter and photographed the sun at my usual settings of .54m focal length, ISO 100 and 1/500 second exposure. I caught some sunspots amongst the cloud.

January 31st 0030 GMT Moon with Jupiter

I photographed the moon with Jupiter with my DSLR at 100mm focal length, ISO 800 and 1/200 second exposure.

January  30^th 2310 GMT Jupiter, Moon and a Galaxy

I took two videos of Jupiter, one showing the moons, where I had to use 2x zoom to get them all in and another showing the cloud belts with the Seestar S50.

I combined the two images.

I took a video of the full lunar disc with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed the Hamburger Galaxy (NGC3628) with the Seestar S50. I stacked 3 integration runs, the longest 33 minutes. I tidied in GraXpert and GIMP.

January 28th 2120 GMT Mixed Session

After a cloudy day and evening, it finally cleared. I started off by taking two videos of Jupiter with the Seestar S50, one showing the moons and the other showing the cloud belts.






I combined the two images.










I took a video of the full lunar disc with the Seestar S50.







I photographed Castor with the Seestar S50. Although it is a double star, it needs a much larger aperture than the S50 to split.







I photographed the double star 20 Geminorom with the Seestar S50. I stacked 3 integration runs for a total time of 20 minutes and used GraXpert.





I photographed the double stars Nu and 15 Geminorum in the same image with the Seestar S50. I took a single integration run for 10 minutes and used GraXpert. Nu is near the bottom of the image and 15 is a closer double near the top right.




I photographed the double star Omega Cancri with the Seestar S50. I took a single integration run for 10 minutes and used GraXpert.









I photographed the double star Iota Cancri with the Seestar S50. I took a single integration run for 3 minutes and used GraXpert. Longer integrations made the brighter star more fuzzy.




I photographed the double star 57 Cancri with the Seestar S50. I took a single integration run for 9 minutes.




At the end of the session I did a 15 minute integration on the galaxies M65 (top right) and M66 (centre). I used GraXpert to remove a lot of haze.



January 28th 1450 GMT Sun



I bin scanned the sun through thin cloud but did not see any sunspots.

January 27th 1530 GMT Moon'





I tried to find the moon with the Seestar S50 but failed. I took some shots with my DSLR camera at 300mm focal length, ISO 400 and 1/200 second as backup.








January 27th 1410 GMT Sun





The sun was too low to capture with my Seestar S50. My first binocular view of 2026 revealed a single sunspot. Normally, this would not be newsworthy but it was amazing, considering the awful weather of the preceding few days.











January 25th 1850 GMT Moon and Jupiter



I tried to photograph the moon and Jupiter with the Seestar S50 but was unable to get focus with either object under poor conditions. At least I saw Jupiter's moons on my phone screen, which was a sort of partial result during a bad spell of weather.


January 21st 0105 GMT Jupiter and Sirius


I took some photos of Jupiter with Sirius with my phone camera. I took five shots and stacked them in Sequator and finished in GIMP. I caught the brighter stars of Gemini and both stars of Canis Minor, as well as Sirius.

January 17^th 1950 GMT Jupiter and Uranus

 

I took  my usual two videos of Jupiter at high brightness to show the moons and low brightness to show the cloud belts with the Seestar S50. I then combined the images.

 

I used Stargazing mode to capture Uranus against the stellar background before cloud rolled in. I used 9 minutes integration time then cleaned up in GraXpert and GIMP.

January 16th 1155 GMT Sun 

For the first time in 2026, the sun was active, the sky was clear and at 17 degrees elevation, it was high enough to photograph with the Seestar S50. I took full disc and 4x zoom videos for stacking.

January 15^th 2340 GMT Aurora

Having seen some of the photos on social media, I headed out to our neighbourhood and tried to snap the last of a display. I thought I had missed it but took a few shots anyway. It turned out I had caught green and purple colours with my phone camera.

January 15th 2305 GMT Jupiter and M67

 

There was some unexpected clear sky. I took videos of Jupiter with the Seestar S50  showing moons and planetary detail.

I combined the two images.

 

I photographed the open cluster M67 using the Seestar S50 and managed a few integrations before cloud rolled in. I stacked 10 integration runs for a total time of 153 minutes.

January 14th 0000 GMT Jupiter 

 

It cleared later, so I was able to take some videos of Jupiter with the Seestar S50. One was the moons, the other the planetary features.

 

I also took a still image of Jupiter but still prefer to take videos. Despite that, the still image was better on the night.

I combined the still image of Jupiter with the stacked video of the moons, both taken with the Seestar S50.

January 13th 2115 GMT Jupiter 

I tried to photograph Jupiter with the Seestar S50 but it was too cloudy and I  could not get sharp focus.

January 10^th 2045 GMT Jupiter and the Witch's Head

 

I took two videos of Jupiter, one showing moons and the other showing surface detail.

 

I combined the two images to show Jupiter with its moons.

I used Framing mode on the Witch's Head Nebula. I did a 62 minute integration but only caught a pale hint of the object.

I only had an 18 minute integration on M93 with the Seestar S50 but I had finally managed to capture a difficult Messier object.

January 9th 2220 GMT M35

 

Although I tried a few objects in cloudy conditions, only the open cluster M35 in Gemini produced any result. I stacked 8 integration runs for a total integration time of 162 minutes.

January 9th 1940 GMT Jupiter 

I was amazed to see some patches of clear sky following an awful few days. I had to perform a firmware upgrade first.

I took two videos of Jupiter with the Seestar S50, one showing the moons and the other showing planetary details.

I combined the two images.

January 5^th 2250 GMT M101

 

I tried to find the open star cluster M93 from our back garden but it was behind a house. M101 was quite well-placed, so I gave it a go with the Seestar S50. The integration run was 88 minutes but finished by cloud.

January 5th 2100 GMT Mixed Session 

 

I photographed the globular cluster M79 for the first time ever, with the Seestar S50. I did 5 integration runs, with a maximum time of 17 minutes. I stacked using Deep Sky Stacker and finished in GraXpert and GIMP.

 

I took two sets of videos of Jupiter with the Seestar S50, one to show the moons and the other the planetary features.

I was unable to extract any planetary detail from the stack.

 

I took a full disc video of the moon with the Seestar S50 and followed with some closeup videos.

January 4th 2320 GMT Moon and Jupiter 

 

Conditions were very poor, with moving cloud. I took a video of the moon with the Seestar S50 for 1 minute in an attempt to counteract the conditions.

 

I took videos of Jupiter's moons, then the planet with the Seestar S50. The moons video did not stack but the planet showed the cloud belts.

January 4th 1915 GMT Moon and Jupiter 

I photographed the moon with Jupiter with my phone camera from a motorway service station.

January 3rd 2035 GMT Moon and Jupiter 

 

I photographed the moon with Jupiter with my DSLR camera at 300mm focal length, ISO 6400 and 1/13 second exposure. This did not work.

I took a full disc video of the moon with the Seestar S50.

 

I took closeups of the moon at 4x zoom with the Seestar S50.

 

I photographed Jupiter's moons with the Seestar S50 by taking a video.

 

I took a video of Jupiter with the Seestar S50.

I combined the images to show Jupiter with its moons.

January 2nd 2300 GMT M44

 

I had trouble finding faint targets in the moonlight. I settled on M44 before cloud rolled in.

January 2nd 2100 GMT Jupiter and Deep Sky

 

I took videos of Jupiter's moons and the planet with the Seestar S50.

I combined the two shots.

I photographed the open star cluster NGC2169 with the Seestar S50. I stacked four integration runs for a total time of 29 minutes.

 

With many fainter objects drowned out by moonlight, I went for M41 with the Seestar S50. I did a single integration run of 29 minutes and finished with GraXpert and GIMP.

January 2nd 1810 GMT Moon 

I took full disc and 4x closeup videos of the moon with the Seestar S50.

January 1st 1920 GMT Mixed Session

I took full disc and closeup videos of the moon with the Seestar S50, then stacked them.

I took videos of Jupiter's moons and planetary details.

I combined the two.

I photographed the Running Man Nebula (NGC1977). I stacked four integration runs in Sequator for a total integration time of 177 minutes and finished in GraXpert and GIMP.

I photographed the open star cluster M50 with the Seestar S50, stacking 3 integration runs for a total of 81 minutes.

I photographed the open star cluster M48 with the Seestar S50. I stacked 5 integration runs for a total of 71 minutes.