DAVE AMENDALL

Possibly the main benefits you will experience apart from permanent set up is freedom from stray light and wind. I gave my ROR to a friend when I got my dome. I would love to see some pics posted when you have assembled it and up and running. May it give you many happy hours...............Dave

I can see that's going to be a great observatory once assembled. It seems to be a later model and much improved. This will probably be the best piece of kit you will buy and you will love it. My 2.2 metre obsy is a different make but I have no regrets purchasing it and would hate to be without it . It has been operational for three years now...Dave

Hi , Thanks for the LP link ref Nottingham County Council ( I was searching within Rushcliffe borough and found nothing) Looks hopeful should make progress there...........Dave

You were lucky there. My next door people have garden fairy lights (Xmas tree style) and balloons with led lights in them. they are on every night and all night. They would never switch them off. I have combated this by hanging a large campers ground sheet on my clothes line which fortunately is just the right height and angle which keeps 95% of the light out of my garden. My biggest worry is they could be a fire risk as the lights are close to my fence and garden shed and are transformer operated. I don't think Nottingham council are bothered about light pollution as I could not find a web page dealing with this ?....Dave

Thanks Olly, I will give the longer exposures a try although this does tend to lighten the sky back ground as with the Veil shots. My conditions are semi urban with a small percentage of light pollution. We have the new led street lights here in Bingham with the lights of Nottingham about 8 miles to the west..............Dave

Good one for Croatia. Doubtful if it would work in the UK though, as many laws of a similar nature are rarely or never enforced...............Dave

That's a great compliment coming from an imaging challenge winner. Hope you are coping with the floods OK over in Alicante.....Dave

Last nights efforts followed the advice and were ISO 1600 at F10 20 exposures at 30 secs each 15 darks with Registax. focusing is critical on the C11.............Dave

Thanks Alan, Pity about the imaging difficulties with these larger SCTs. The visual experience with them is impressive.I will take your advice and try the higher ISO and shorter exposure times with more frames. Not forgetting the darks....Dave

Thanks for the advice on the darks......Dave

Hi Olly 50 seconds each exposure at F10 ISO 800. Maybe I should increase the ISO and reduce the exposure time..Dave

My first efforts with Celestron C11 mounted on an NEQ6 Nikon 5000 DSLR 10 frames 2 darks Registax with final convert to Jpeg Better than my efforts with the C8 but still along way to go.................Dave

I used to use an illuminating magnifier,the sought the military use for map reading at night. Since I had cataract surgery some years ago I don't need any form of optical aid now. You can buy monocles on Ebay good quality at reasonable cost too. The thing is you don't want to look like a ventriloquist dummy even at night.........Dave

Nobody could fault that, It's really cool. I like it as much as my 1950s Omega Constellation........Dave

Just found www. myphotorescue.com that offer this service.I think they are based in France......Dave

Hi, Anyone know of a company that will do image processing.? A situation where I supply the pics, darks, and flats and they do the processing for a fee Reminds me of the service chemists used to do printing your holiday snaps............Dave

Too low for my C11. But will try later.....Dave

Great ideas with the Alchohol ,but the neighbors may object to my singing. Will give the Avon a go though..Dave

I did not feel like observing last night.too tired what with the heat and all. Made the effort and within half an hour felt wide awake. Had a good two hour session locating globulars. Also received a generous number of mozzy and related insect bites. I use to use an insect repellant years ago called Flypel the one the night fishermen used. Not available now. So now I am itching to get out there again tonight............Dave

During the war years my grandad who lived in Long Eaton Derbys used to talk about observing 6 nights on the trot under pitch black skies (you were for it if you were caught with a light on during the black out). He must have had a good fumble about in the dark in those days..............Dave

Seems I managed to get everything I will ever need Astronomy wise just in time before the crunch. I had a feeling there would be another increase. Some say it's the weak pound others blame Brexit. Most don't know why but the fact remains. No doubt there will be more increases to follow...Dave

I see Richard Branson has opened the first Space Port. I suppose he will be offering Celebs round the moon trips. I think space trips to the sun would be safer at night when it's cooler. I wonder what he will be charging. One would need a return ticket and travel insurance.......Dave

Marvellous images. You can't beat the Canary Islands. On the exoplanet dome pic, the man on the right looks like he's about to serve lunch

I thought sun shielding in the UK was in operation anyway. Don't seem see it around here much

I don't know if you can still get salt tablets. They were issued to us when I was living in Malaya. People took them by the handful before meals.They were affective and economical................Dave