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simon84

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    http://www.simonjwallis.webs.com

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    Essex

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  1. simon84

    Equinox

    Images of my Skywatcher Equinox 120 ED Apo.
  2. simon84

    DSO

    Finished small versions of any DSO targets.
  3. simon84

    First shots of Luna

  4. simon84

    p

    Excellent picture. Brilliantly taken, one of a series or single shot timed to perfection?
  5. Another few frustrating weeks. It does start to get annoying after a while, take last week for instance. Tuesday afternoon the weather report says clear skies until at least 4am so I decide I'll give it a go. Get all setup and then some nasty looking thunder clouds roll in so because I dont have my imaging setup in an obsy I decide to take it all down just in case. Couple of hours go by and like magic its clear again so I spend another half hour getting it all setup. Polar alignment is spot on, easily enough for 10 minute subs with guiding. After letting everything cool down I pop back outside to stare at sta......nope, more clouds. Decide to myself I'll take a chance and leave it this time. About 1:30am I decide to call it a night as it dosnt look like its going to break so take it all down again. Once thats all done I pop back outside with a torch to check I've not left any bolts or leads laying around. I shouldnt have done it, I should have just stayed indoors and checked in the morning because now all the blasted clouds have dissapeared.....argghhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Ahwell, lesson learned, dont become an astronomer. Nah I'm only joking, wouldnt be without this hobby now. It tests you to your breaking point and then a little bit more but we always come back for more. Just have something to do when your not doing it. I've started making things astro, a few old engineering skills, some tools and a brother who works in the industry to scrounge free issue materials from and your laughing. I'm about to start making myself a set of guide scope rings for my ST-80, which will keep me more than happy until I can get back out there and start using a scope.
  6. simon84

    Dear blog.....

    .....I cant help but feel so totally frustrated at the moment. I'm just not getting any time outside and its doing my blumming head in. I took my time putting my kit together making sure what I have will keep me happy until I have learned how to use it all properly. I've had two very good clear nights with more than reasonable seeing and on both occasions I've either felt ill or my prolapsed disc is playing me up something rotten. Hopefully it wont last too long as I'm arranging my surgery Monday but why does it always have to be on the clear nights. I have had the pleasure of putting together what looks to me a fantastic little imaging rig and I desperatley want to try it so how about you do me a favour blog me ol' mate and let me get out there some time soon. Much appreciated, Simon.
  7. Where to begin, at the start I suppose. I've had an interest in all things astro for years, right back from when, as a boy, my Dad would tell me tales of eclipses and meteorites and shooting stars. I loved sitting at the dinner table after the meal was finished and Mum was clearing away, thats when Dad would start telling my brothers and I all the fantastic stories of life on other planets and UFO's. One day he came home with a brown box with some bits and bobs poking out the top and announced that a friend of his at work had had a clear out and that he had taken a few bits which we might find of interest. As I sat there with baited breath he pulled out a small white tube with three spindly legs attached to it. My first telescope. I will never forget it. Every night I would set it up in the garden, I think I only ever looked up at the moon with it, the fov was tiny and getting it focussed was a chore beyond belief, it would always shift about. The fun I had though was more than worth it. It was only a small sliding refractor but it kept me happy for hours. My Dad would be out there with me, with his 10x50 bins showing me all the constelations. Orion will always have a special place in my heart because I remember so fondly the first time he showed me the Nebula through his binoculars. One evening we tried setting the bins and the scope up a-focally so that we could have a closer look at the moon. It kind of worked. I now, thanks to my Dad and his love of science, have the ability to share all of these experiences with my children and have had treasured moments already. When showing my 4 year old son, Adam, the moon through his first set of bins, he lifted them up in line with the moon and when he saw luna for the first time he took a giant step backwards. It was brilliant. Now that I have spent some time with the wonderful people of SGL and from the use of books, I have gotten used to using more advanced equipment and have had the pleasure of giving my Dad his first view of Saturn, best bit was it was my first time looking at the ringed giant aswell. Another treasured magical moment. Astronomy is an amazing experience which can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. Quite often my family and I are out in the garden together enjoying the sites. So now I have half a clue what I'm doing I'm taking my adventure one step further and will now be able to show pictures of the sights that I have seen.
  8. simon84

    Planets

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