The constellation Cassiopeia is named after the Ethiopean Queen Cassiopeia, mother to Andromeda who was saved from the whale, Cetus, by the Greek hero Perseus. You would have been forgiven for thinking that I had spent a short dark night taking a photograph of Cassiopeia but this is in fact the asterism, Kemble 2. Given its similar "W" shape, Kemble 2 is also known as 'The Little Queen' or 'Mini Cassiopeia' and can be found in the constellation Draco located RA 18h 35m 32.4s Dec +72° 22' 38.353" it is approximately one degree south east of chi Draconis.

This asterism was discovered by the Franciscan friar and amateur astronomer, Father Lucian Kemble in August 1994. Father Luc was a keen observer of the Sakatchewan skies in Canada building upon his first observations as a child from the dark prairies of Canada. Over the years he became an accomplished observer receiving the RASC Messier certificate, Astronomical League of America Herschel 400 certificate, RASC Amateur Astronomer of the year 1989 and the Webb Society award of excellence 1997. 

As the name would suggest there is a predecessor Kemble 1, also known as Kembles Cascade, a beautiful line of unconnected stars located in the constellation Camelopardalis and Kemble 3 (The Kite) which can be found in Cassiopeia. It is my aim to photograph these remaining two asterisms later in the year when they are higher in the night sky.

Being a man of faith some would assume there could be a contradiction between his religious belief and scientific interest. In fact in an interview he was once asked about the relationship between his interest in astronomy and his faith. He replied;

This is a question that often intrigues people. I know people who say, “Gee, if you’re interested in science, then how can you believe […] the Bible? Or if you’re a theologian, how can you believe in science?”

They see it as a contradiction, I see it as complementary.

I have no conflict at all. One bolsters the other.

My theology is made richer by learning the real cosmos in which we live […] and vice versa; my interest in astronomy just overwhelms me sometimes with the beauty and the order and the precision and the absolute awesome wonder of the universe.

So my prayer life is just as much at the telescope as it is in the chapel.

Father Luc passed away in Regina, Saskatchewan on 21st February 1999. His obituary can be found here:

https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1999JRASC..93..151.&defaultprint=YES&page_ind=0&filetype=.pdf