Hi all

Been a while since my last entry, so thought it about time to log another!

Things are getting a lot busier at work. My area has changed, and I have now taken on Norfolk, along with Bristol and South Wales. I am a Regional Systems Manager for Greene King Pub Co. and look after all the sites IT and till equipment. So, more sites means more meetings and more miles, but I love it - getting out and about, and seeing areas of the country I haven't been too before. The other day I had to drive from Shrewsbury to Sheffield, and the SatNav took me over the Moors near Manchester, and the High Peaks near Buxton. It was a lovely drive!!

As a result of the above, my leisure time has taken a bit of a hit, but I have still managed to get out with my Telescope on quite a few occasions, albeit from the back garden. When the weather has cooperated anyway! I will do a more detailed write up later, but I have made good in roads on my Lunar 100 challenge, and also made good progress in re-learning the sky. All being well, I will be heading up to the area around Ashbourne / Ilam in a few weeks. I have a friend living out in the sticks, and he has graciously let me use his back garden. Its proper dark there - compare to my garden anyway, so that’s something to look forward too.

I have also taken my first, probably ill-advised step, into AP!!!!! I went out last night and took some pics of the full moon. I used my 25mm eyepiece, and hand held my iPhone up to it. I wasn't expecting anything amazing, but was fairly pleased with the results:

Not completely in focus, but as I said, it was all hand held! Makes me think if I can mount the phone in some way, I could get some sharper shots. I have also found an old webcam - I have butchered it, and made some adaptions to allow it to attach to the focuser. I gave downloaded various software to hopefully allow me to get some video of the moon for stacking purposes. Not tried it yet, as I need to get a longer extension lead for the laptop. But I think it should work ok. I will do a full post on it once it has been for its first test drive!!

Clear Skies!!

Nige