Designing a New Journal

[MarkRadice]

Hi all,

For years I have been using an A5 notepad to make notes and sketches at the telescope before typing them up the next day.  This simple approach has a number of shortcomings.  Older pages suffer from wear and tear as they are repeatedly exposed to dew and dust.  I have nowhere to put the variety of pens and pencils I am using; and I end up holding a red light and notepad in one hand while sketching with the other - and trying not to drop my eraser and other pencils.  I definitely need to be an octopus!  Also, my pre-prepared observing lists and comet finder charts tend to get lost of suffer in the dew. 

Having spent three nights last weekend at our dark sky sites on Salisbury Plain, I got fed up and spent this morning knocking up a simple journal from an old A5 folder, some laminated sheets and a bulldog clip as shown below. It also has a red light clipped to the front and I have ordered some pencil holders that should arrive next week.  I now have everything I need in one easy to grab journal. 

As an aside, I was wondering whether to get a few made up professionally, perhaps with some foil prints on the front.  What do you think?

Further details are on my blog: http://www.refreshingviews.com/designing-a-new-journal/

[Mr niall]

Very nice... but you know my wife owns a bespoke stationary company, she made me one a couple of weeks ago as a trial, I didn't design the logs but you get the idea;

 

[wookie1965]

I make a observation list take a couple of notes colour and such then write it up in a journal properly. The stationary looks brilliant i wonder if the circle could be black to draw on, then you could take notes and draw on same page.

[MarkRadice]

Mr Niall: I love the design.  What a special way to record your observations.

Wookie: I agree with you.  1 page with circles and 1 page for notes seems ideal.

Thanks both!  I'll keep you posted when they arrive.

Mark