Skip to main content

Summer

It's been a while since I posted anything on here.
Were still enjoying the best British Summer since the early 2000s and I am loving it.

Last weekend, was the North West Astronomy festival, in Runcorn, Cheshire. This event is becoming more popular every year. That's good, because I personally think. The North West needs an event like this, to compete with Astro Fest in London, and the IAS in the west midlands. So long may it continue.

I was helping out on our, Macclesfield Astronomical Society's stand. It was very well received, and we were all talked off our feet. I am sure everyone involved, went home tired, but satisfied.

These events give me a chance to look at the latest toys and books.
The Webb DSS were there, with Steve and Owen manning their stand. Both gentleman were wearing Webb DSS clothing. These were a Polo shirt and Hoodie. In Cheery red. and very nice they looked.
(the apparel I mean)

These come with a lovely embroidered society logo. I was so impressed with the Hoodie. I have put my order in for one. I'll be wearing that, at Kelling in September.

I also bought a one of the Alvin Huey observing guides. "Small Galaxy Clusters"

I can't wait to use that, in conjunction with the C9.25 and Altair SW 115 EDT. Or even the OMC 140.

Looking towards the return to darker skies, has made me realise. I need to get outside, and do more imaging, and visual astronomy.
There are too many occasions when, the skies have been clear, but I have gone to the pub, instead. This usually happens on Friday's or Saturday's. I must try and stop doing this, otherwise. I might as well sell up!

I have been following Astro Backyard. Which has given me much food for thought, regarding Visual but also astro imaging. With luck. I hope to be spending more night's here, than down the road supping.

I intend doing more visual observing, when the season begins. So I might buy another quality eyepiece. TV's are very desirable but very expensive. ES or Baader Hyperion, would be my prefered choice.

Let me see what's is available from the EQSP 2017.

That about wraps it up for now.



PST. Sun 2017 July.

Canon 1000D with wide angle lens Teggs Nose 2016.

Altair Wave series 115 EDT - Lunacy

Jupiter OMC 140


Until next time
Clear Skies 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IC 1805

The skies on Thursday evening were for the second time. Very clear. This allowed me to use my Canon 1000D and 200mm telephoto lens, on the Heart Nebula. I shot 24 x 5-minute exposures for this nebula, through an Optilong UHC filter. The Heart Nebula (IC 1805) is an emission nebula located at an approximate distance of about 7,500 light years from Earth, in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is also known as Sharpless 2-190 (Sh2-190) or the Running Dog Nebula because, when seen through a telescope, it looks a bit like a running dog.  I have not seen or heard this name before. The nebula has an apparent magnitude of 18.3 and an absolute magnitude of 6.5. It is 150 arcminutes in size and known for its intensely red glowing gas and dark dust lanes forming a shape that resembles a heart symbol. The Heart Nebula forms a famous complex known as the Heart and Soul with its smaller neighbour Westerhout 5, also known as the Soul Nebula, which lies just 2.5 degrees to the southeast. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

September

I've just notice that it's been eight months since I last posted anything in this blog. So I think it's time I made amends. I've not really been doing anything over the Summer month's, and what a Summer too. I have been able to study the Sun now I have another scope. I bought myself a nice little Acuter AZ mount and Skywatcher 102 Maksutov back in June. And surprisingly the weather didn't break. I brought the Mak for white light solar observing and imaging. And it is perfect for this. So when the Sun is visible, you'll find me at the end of my Canon EOS 1000D, merrily imaging. I typically shoot 1/1000 second at ISO 800. This helps to freeze the seeing. The images are then resized before stacking in Registax. Here is one example. I have been very busy with my local Astronomical Society too. I am the Observing Director for Macclesfield As, and I have recently been chosen to stand for committee at Octobers AGM. This is a great honour for me and I hope ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Weather.

You have to be, very thick skinned, to be an amateur astronomer in this country. I haven't done any visual astronomy or astro imaging, since the beginning of the month. We had a few clear spells at the end of  January, and into early February. But since that time. I have not seen a totally cloud free sky. This evening was supposed to have been, our society observing, session on Teggs Nose. That has been called off, or I should say rained off. Because of the wind and rain. It's driving me mad. Strom Doris, whizzed by last week. Sadly she took one young victim's life, who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Very sad indeed. Thankfully. Where I work and live. We had no damage. Although there were, at times. When I wondered. Should be working under all that glass at Stocks Lane. The environmental computer, recorded  a gust of 56 mph at one point. I hope the Lovell telescope wasn't damaged during the storms! On Wednesday we move into Meteorological Spring. ...
Post a Comment
Read more