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Doc

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Blog Entries posted by Doc

  1. Doc

    1.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Lovely day today, nice and warm with clear skies.
    Cleaned the house throughout, sort of spring clean. Love a clean house, hate clutter.
    Then took James down park for a game of football before coming home and watching Carling Cup on TV. Man United beat Spurs on Penalties.
    And to cap it off great night, it was clear at last, stayed out till 22.30 and bagged another 4 Messier objects. Will write up my report tomorrow.
  2. Doc

    10.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Been really busy at work for the past few days so didn't post yesterday.
    Other then work there was nout to report and I'm sure you don't want to be bored about work.
    Been outside for a bit tonight, almost a full moon. A bit cloudy though so looking through some breaks in the cloud.
    Lunar is fantasic tonight. Didn't bother with the laptop outside so don't know which craters I've looked at but been up and down terminator and it's just so detailed and clear.
    When it is cloudy have bbeen watching snippits of the Liverpool v Real Madrid game. What a game that's been. 4-0
  3. Doc

    11.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Full moon tonight .....
    At last the supplier for my broken rotary encoder has e-mailed with a schematic drawing of which wires go where.
    I've access to a soldering iron from work so hopefully, and fingers crossed I'll have a go myself.
    I'll let you know what happens.
    Cloudy outside so will be watching Champions league again Man Utd v Inter Milan. 2-0
  4. Doc

    14.3.2009

    By Doc,

    My scopes outside cooling. Not a cloud in the sky buy it's pretty windy right now.
    I don't hold out to much for tonight. Not fun observing in a gale.
    Just looking at the scope sitting outside on the patio and boy does it look good. Can't believe I have one of these. A boyhood dream come true.
    Off to make a list of possible targets.
    Typical it's now all cloudy. Arrrghhhh why oh why does this happen.
  5. Doc

    15.3.2009

    By Doc,

    23.43 GMT.
    36th Launch of Discovery.
    Space shuttle launch on Nasa TV. My first time watching this live and I must admit I'm enjoying every minute of it.
    I love this stuff. Fingers crossed for a safe blast off.
    AWESOME....
    LOVED IT.
  6. Doc

    16.2.2009

    By Doc,

    I feel alot better today. I was struck down with Man flu but it seems to have departed.
    It's the day after the big SGL switch over. I must say the forum looks really impressive and I'm getting to love it.
    At the momment I'm waiting for the wife to finish work so I can go. Working the afternoon shift this week.
    James my son is playing with his friend on WWE Xbox.
    Francesca my daughter is in town shopping with her friend.
    All I've done today is surf SGL. What a life.
  7. Doc

    16.3.2009

    By Doc,

    I let my mate in work solder those wires back onto my rotary encoder and I'm glad I did. Apparently it was a PITA. The wires were also broke by the plug, took him 2 hours to do.
    Anyway working now so well chuffed.
    Also put some bicycle handle bar grips onto my Handle bars on my dob. Looks good and makes it alot better to use.
  8. Doc

    17.2.09...

    By Doc,

    Day 2 of my blog.
    Why are there so many school holidays?
    Took James to dentist today, had to wait 30 minutes. I hate waiting one of my bug bears.
    Dishwasher is playing up. Sometimes washes in hot water sometimes cold. I think it's the heater element on the way out.
    I wonder if it's a DIY job!
    Have sent of cheque for Star party in August. Cannot wait to see you all.
    Bought a 32mm holesaw today to drill some 1 1/4" holes in my laptop/eyepece table. Going to do it tommorow.
  9. Doc

    18.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Spent today....
    Drilling 6 x 32mm holes in my Laptop/Eyepiece tray which will be connected to the dob in time.
    Also done some more work on my barn door project.
    All in all a good morning.
  10. Doc

    19.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Still half term for the kids. But they are out and about playing with friends so it's pretty quite here.
    Tried to find some 1/4" UNC nuts. How hard tried Midland fixings and Cromwell tools. Both don't stock them. Have now ordered them from E-Bay.
    Fitted my TAL finder to my newly made brackets on my barn door mount. Another job done. It's coming along nicely now just need a ball head mount for the camera and a way to turn the screw. Going for manual turning first then if it's all ok I'll add a motor a later date.
    Waiting for the wife to finish work and then I'm off to my afternoon shift.
    That's it for today.
  11. Doc

    19.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Wanted to see the ISS tonight but no chance. Loads of clouds as normal.
    Bought a DV or Firewire lead today. My DV camcorder now acts as a webcam. All I need now is a nosepiece I think it's a "C" mount I need.
    Tried making sense of Registax. My god it's pretty hard to understand.
    The idea is to take an AVI of the moon and try using registax to get a good frame fromm it.
    We will see.
  12. Doc

    2.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Spent the morning writing up my observing log for last night.
    It can be seen here...
    http://stargazerslounge.com/showthread.php?p=1185328#post1185328
    Then dismantalled a old alarm clock so I could use the face on my barn door.
    Off to work later, I'm on the late shift so no stargazing for me tonight.
  13. Doc

    2.4.2009

    By Doc,

    Strange had some sort of power surge go through the house last night....
    It tripped the main fuse but after turning everything back on I found out it had blown 6 bulbs, and fried the living room dimmer switch.
    Fixed everthing today.
    I wonder what caused that!
  14. Doc

    20.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Bad day today....
    Hard day at work.
    Got home form work to find a £250 bill for work that our digger driver caused to next doors drive when we had our extention built.
    Had to sort out some computer problems. Got headache as well.
    All I wanted was to relax with clear skies and guess what more clouds.
    I'm going to have a beer tonight.
  15. Doc

    20.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Just spotted the 20.28 ISS fly pass.
    I've seen it a few times before but this time it was really bright.
    Glad I've seen it though as the shuttle was docked with the ISS.
    No luck with stargazing tonight as the house 5 doors down are having a barbeque and have one of those outside security light thats been turned on permanently. Also the sky is a bit lentil soup like.
  16. Doc

    21.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Bought one of those Aldi ironing stools today. Looks well made only niggle I have is it's a bit long winded to adjust to different heights.
    The 1/4" UNC nuts I ordered have arrived this morning. Isn't it rather sad when the highlight of your day is receiving some nuts in the post.
    Anyway it will give me something to do tonight if it is cloudy again.
    Just spent the last 2 hours working on my barn door mount. Just have to secure the ball head mount on a riser and sort out some form off dial so I know that 15 seconds = 1/4 turn.
  17. Doc

    22.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Would you credit it. Sunday should be the day to have a lay in bed and the postman knocked on the door at 07.30 as we had to sign for a parcel.
    Aghhhh I could have cried.
    Spent sometime photographing my Barn door Project it can be seen here:
    http://stargazerslounge.com/showthread.php?t=75703
    Just cooking Sunday dinner now and I think I will relax later and watch football on TV.
  18. Doc

    23.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Cloudy again. it's getting a bit beyond the joke now have not done any major observing since 13.1.2009.
    Seems a lot longer. I have over 2k worth of stuff sitting in the conversatory looking like a cannon or as someone said a time machine.
    Have found out today my 13 year old daughter has got a boyfriend. First one that I know off. New territory for me lets hope I've played it cool.
  19. Doc

    23.3.2009

    By Doc,

    A very windy night but did manage a little observing see here.
    http://stargazerslounge.com/observing-reports/77342-meade-lightbridge-observing-report-23-3-2009-a.html#post1196138
  20. Doc

    24.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Pancake day.......
    Cloudy again so having a few beers while watching Man Utd v Inter Milan in the Champions league.
    Have made arangements with Red Dwalf (Rob) to go to ilkeston Astronomy Society tomorrow so cannot wait for that.
    Finished 0-0.
    But a good game.
  21. Doc

    24.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Bought one of those headlamps today. Looks pretty good has 4 settings including 2 red LED one.
    Very bright.
    Going up to Ilkeston Astronomical Society tomorrow with Rob so hopefully it will be a good night.
  22. Doc

    25.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Went for a visit to IDAS (Ilkeston District Astronomical Society) tonight with Rob (Red Dwallf).
    First time either of us have been to a astronomy club so didn't know what to expect.
    They were very friendly bunch, very informal but some great people with some great advice.
    No scopes were there, but one lad did bring his EQ6 Pro mount which we looked around.
    There were some astrophoto's to look at as well.
    A good night.
  23. Doc

    26.2.2009

    By Doc,

    Not much to report today.
    I did warn you that not all my days are interesting. ;)
    I did look out at 18.00 and the sky was pretty clear. Orion was shining and Venus looked awesome. So have a guess I wheeled out the dob and then the clouds rolled in. I should have known better. :)
    Up at 05.30 so an early night for me.
  24. Doc

    26.3.2009

    By Doc,

    Went to IDAS last night with Rob (Red Dwalf) had a great time. Rob bought along his scope. He showed the members around it and we took go's at viewing Saturn. As normal it was pretty cloudy and very cold.
    There was three slideshow presentations where various members showed us there images taken that month. Some cracking efforts and nicely presented on a big screen.
    Overall a good night and look forward to the next one.
  25. Doc

    27.2.2009

    By Doc,

    It is a day of bad news. Compulsary redundancies started in work today. My Group Leader and good friend was made redundant. I personally think he was s***ed on big style as he is not a "Yes Man". He will be missed.
    Then I knackered my Azimuth Encoder by accidently getting the wires ripped from it.
    Cloudy once again so all in all a carp day.
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