The Cheshire Astronomer

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 impr...

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. ...

It has hasn't it! I have not published anything since 2013. It isn't because I have lost interest. Far from it. I just got a little lazy, and to tell you the truth. I'd forgotten I had a blog running. So- What have I been doing. Since 2013. I now have a pier in my garden. with the Losmandy G11, permanently attached. This is of cause covered over, with a Cygnus telescope cover. I then kitted out my shed with electricity and computer hardware and two monitors. This is my observatory-command center. That is "The Whirlpool Observatory" where the mount and cameras are controlled from. I also have new kit. I bought a S/H Williams Optics  Megrez  EDT 80, and fitted that with a nice FT focuser from Starlight. And I also bought an Atik 428EX CCD camera. Then came a PST and two CMOS cameras from the QHY stable. QHY5L and a QHY5L-II. These cameras work as guiders but the QHY5L I also use for imaging the Moon-Planets and our Star with the PST. I also have a IOptr...

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 ...

Here is the first of many, I hope. Of my newly updated BLOG. The old one went the way of the Dodo, so I have been forced to create a new one. My older one. Pauls Deepsky Wanderings is still on here somewhere. But I can't access it so I can add to it. The weather at the moment is rubbish isn't it. I'm typing this whilst suffering from a bad cold. But hey. What the heck. It's Spring, yesterday in-fact at 11am GMT. Though out side. The weather feels more like late November than March 21st. And to cap it all we have Snow on the way. Now I am not pessimistic but. We now have that long awaited comet C/2012 L4 PanStarrs visible from the Northern Hemisphere, and guess what. Coupled with a big fat Moon and the day length increasing rapidly. The skies are still CLOUDY. Why does this always happen when, we have something interesting to look at? I have not been able to do any Astronomy now since the back end of last year. And like most off you. I am really sick and...