Hi Everyone

[SteveNickolls]

Hi,

My name is Steve and I live in Gedling about 3 miles NE of Nottingham. I've been an SGL member for around a year and apologise for not posting on the EM page. I have had an interest in astronomy since I was young and I have a few early memories realated to astronomy. The first was being shown what must have been an early satellite moving across the night sky by my Dad (circa 1960). Second, watching Sky at Night at Butlins- allowed to stay up late in 1967 and in 1969 watching live the Apollo 11 moon landing. I bought my first telescope only about 7 years ago (a 9.25" SCT) and have progressed to binoculars in the last year following retirement. Living in the suburbs my views are largely light polluted (LV about 4.3) but living high up have good views NW-SE so am 'good friends' with the circumpolar constellations. I am serious about 'improving' night-time street lighting and have been active with Notts County Council regarding their street lighting programme and writing to the S&N magazine to promote the national light pollution cause.

I'm presently struggling with a horrible cold (almost two weeks now) but am up for viewing from darker sites. Last year I went on an astronomy evening at Sherwood Pines but the night sky was not so much darker than here in Gedling. Darkest sky has to be Salthouse, North Norfolk closely followed by Pembrokeshire. I will be going on holiday to the Isle of Skye this year and look forward to some dark skies and maybe an aurora or two.

Cheers,

Steve

[brantuk]

Hi Steve and a warm welcome to EMS on SGL

Sorry to be a spot late replying - been a bit busy of late. We are a local group to your location who meet up regularly for observing and imaging sessions in two dark sites at Wymewold (Leics) and Belper (Derbys). You'd be very welcome to join us at any of our meetings - bring some gear or just drop in for a socialise, share our scopes, and get a feel for the group.

You can find details of EMS Meets on our local website - just click the link to "EMS" in my signature. Feel free to sign up and leave an intro and the members will say hi. Hope we get to meet at a session soon.