Durham Region Astronomical Association (DRAA)

08/31/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1526187596189652&id=100063952777375

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope officially launched into space yesterday, riding on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket — and now it's flying on its own, all by itself in space.

It has already passed the Moon, and its solar panels and sunshade have opened up successfully. It's sending signals back to NASA the whole way.

But Roman isn't ready to take photos yet. It still has a 3-month journey ahead before it reaches its final spot in space, about a million miles from Earth. Once it gets there, a special shield will block light and heat from the Sun, Earth, and Moon — keeping it cool and steady so it can see deep into space clearly.

When it's finally ready, Roman will be able to see 100 times more sky than Hubble in a single picture, even though its mirror is the same size.

For now, it's just quietly flying through space... getting closer every day to changing what we know about the universe. 🌌

What do you think Roman will find first once it starts working?

📸 Credit: NASA

08/29/2026

The weather wasn’t looking to promising Thursday night but at the last minute skies cleared for the eclipse. Taken under dark skies near Orono Ontario. Seestar S50.

08/23/2026

The history behind naming the poor planet with the oddball name.

http://www.cgpgrey.com/Images by: http://www.jackfusco.com/ht...

08/21/2026

Unlike a solar eclipse a lunar eclipse is totally safe to look at with the naked eye, no special filters required if you’re going to use a telescope or binoculars.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1501182708712369&id=100064619626591

One week to go! 🌕🔴

On the night of August 27th into the 28th, the Sturgeon Moon will slip almost entirely into Earth's shadow for a deep partial lunar eclipse lasting more than 3 hours, with 93% covered at maximum.

The eclipse is visible across most of the Americas, plus parts of Europe and Africa. And, unlike a solar eclipse, it's completely safe to watch with just your eyes.

Subscribe for more observing guides, astronomy news, and skywatching tips: https://bit.ly/4uUYIJ4

Read more: https://bit.ly/4gogrT8

08/19/2026

Wrong on so many levels, not just astronomy.

By 2035, Reflect Orbital aims to launch up to 50,000 satellites equipped with mirrors to provide sunlight to Earth-based solar panels. Critics are concerned about impacts on wildlife, astronomy research and human health

08/07/2026

https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=235400

08/04/2026

Happening tonight after midnight.

Hi Spacecats, I'm Dr Maggie Lieu and welcome to my channel, where y...

07/20/2026

On July 20, 1969, exactly 57 years ago today, humanity achieved a monumental milestone by successfully landing on the Moon for the first time. 🚀🌕

07/17/2026

Charles Messier, a French astronomer in the 18 century, was a comet hunter but became more famous for his observations of what is now known as the Messier catalog. He would catalog objects he thought were comets so as not to confuse them with comets he was hunting. Little did he know he was cataloging some of the more interesting jewels of the night sky. These “jewels” are designated by an ‘M’ followed by the number in the order of his discovery. Here is M20 the Trifid nebula, actually discovered by another comet hunter which Messier added to his list. He did this on several occasions, sharing observations from his comet hunting buddies. Not all of the 110 Messier objects were discovered by Messier but the majority were. Taken with the Seestar S50.

07/12/2026

Here’s a useful tool that may come in handy for anyone who images, or is just a visual observer with either a telescope or binoculars.

Help us to grow by adding additional equipment to the database. When adding an eyepiece or binocular, please don't include the magnification or aperture details in the model, this will get added automatically.