Neil Sleat
@neilsleat.bsky.social
Radio 4 Extra babbler & freelance voice. Astronomy, piano, food, walks, sleep, repeat ;-)
The Moon peeping between the chimneys and the Dovecote just now. Cheeky sod.
July 8, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Moon peeping between the chimneys and the Dovecote just now. Cheeky sod.
The Sun and the Moon at 1034 - and just now at 1101.
March 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The Sun and the Moon at 1034 - and just now at 1101.
Another take on the Pleiades. Same light that I captured a few nights ago. But uncropped and with less contrast. So many ways to process the same image… I think I prefer this.
February 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Another take on the Pleiades. Same light that I captured a few nights ago. But uncropped and with less contrast. So many ways to process the same image… I think I prefer this.
The Pleiades last night. Visible to the naked eye as a little shimmering collection of stars. But there’s more to see with binoculars or a telescope, including the light from these hot blue stars reflecting off neighbouring gas and looking like luminous clouds. Lovely innit?
January 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The Pleiades last night. Visible to the naked eye as a little shimmering collection of stars. But there’s more to see with binoculars or a telescope, including the light from these hot blue stars reflecting off neighbouring gas and looking like luminous clouds. Lovely innit?
Jellyfish nebula tonight (the red dumpling towards the bottom right.) Almost certainly a star that exploded at the end of its life. The clouds sneaked in so I got less than two hours. Will have another go when it’s clear again.
January 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Jellyfish nebula tonight (the red dumpling towards the bottom right.) Almost certainly a star that exploded at the end of its life. The clouds sneaked in so I got less than two hours. Will have another go when it’s clear again.
Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula tonight.
January 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula tonight.
Flaming Star Nebula last night.
January 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Flaming Star Nebula last night.
Clouds illuminated by the Moon just now.
December 16, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Clouds illuminated by the Moon just now.
North America Nebula looking better I think. Added some more exposure time to last week’s capture. Was more ruthless with spurious background colour (outer space is not green). All very subjective but I like this one better.
November 22, 2024 at 11:54 PM
North America Nebula looking better I think. Added some more exposure time to last week’s capture. Was more ruthless with spurious background colour (outer space is not green). All very subjective but I like this one better.
North America Nebula last night.
November 15, 2024 at 6:27 PM
North America Nebula last night.
Finally a clearish night! First in a month. 2 hours on the Seagull Nebula. Nope. I can't see a seagull either. But that might be my strange framing - I hadn't quite realised how huge this object is.
February 26, 2024 at 11:18 PM
Finally a clearish night! First in a month. 2 hours on the Seagull Nebula. Nope. I can't see a seagull either. But that might be my strange framing - I hadn't quite realised how huge this object is.
Got a couple of hours on the Tadpoles Nebula last night. I’ll admit I CAN see how this one got its name. Though I think I can also see the Balrog from Lord of the Rings. Fly you fools.
January 18, 2024 at 2:44 PM
Got a couple of hours on the Tadpoles Nebula last night. I’ll admit I CAN see how this one got its name. Though I think I can also see the Balrog from Lord of the Rings. Fly you fools.
Clear skies last night so I had another go at the California Nebula. Made the shot a little wider this time and captured it for longer - so more detail. I see tree trunk more than California.
January 16, 2024 at 11:53 AM
Clear skies last night so I had another go at the California Nebula. Made the shot a little wider this time and captured it for longer - so more detail. I see tree trunk more than California.
Last night’s effort. Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster. Again. “Christmas Tree”? Maybe if it was the other way up? Even so… I would like to know what hallucinogenics these astronomers are using…
January 11, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Last night’s effort. Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster. Again. “Christmas Tree”? Maybe if it was the other way up? Even so… I would like to know what hallucinogenics these astronomers are using…
Last night’s effort. Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster. Again. “Christmas Tree”? Maybe if it was the other way up? Even so… I would like to know what hallucinogenics these astronomers are using…
January 11, 2024 at 1:15 PM
Last night’s effort. Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster. Again. “Christmas Tree”? Maybe if it was the other way up? Even so… I would like to know what hallucinogenics these astronomers are using…
Monkey Head Nebula tonight. Looks better this way up, I reckon - but doesn’t look like its name. To see the monkey, I think you would turn it nearly 90° clockwise (or your head anti-clockwise)? And use a LOT of imagination: I can’t see it 😂
January 10, 2024 at 12:38 AM
Monkey Head Nebula tonight. Looks better this way up, I reckon - but doesn’t look like its name. To see the monkey, I think you would turn it nearly 90° clockwise (or your head anti-clockwise)? And use a LOT of imagination: I can’t see it 😂
The cloudy forecast for last night was wrong. Well for a few hours anyway. Hurrah. The David Soul Nebula. (I’ll remember him especially for ‘Salem’s Lot.)
January 8, 2024 at 8:33 PM
The cloudy forecast for last night was wrong. Well for a few hours anyway. Hurrah. The David Soul Nebula. (I’ll remember him especially for ‘Salem’s Lot.)
Starry night! Yeh, for about half an hour. Got 20 minutes on the Horsehead Nebula before the clouds spoiled my fun…
January 6, 2024 at 11:23 PM
Starry night! Yeh, for about half an hour. Got 20 minutes on the Horsehead Nebula before the clouds spoiled my fun…
Heart Nebula from just before Christmas. Processed several ways since. I think I like this one best.
January 4, 2024 at 11:17 PM
Heart Nebula from just before Christmas. Processed several ways since. I think I like this one best.