Category Archives: Projects

Projects undertaken at New Forest Observatory

The mini-WASP array does the PacMan nebula and Schedar

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Greg Parker

Several hour’s worth of half hour subs resulted in this deep view of the PacMan nebula and nearby bright star Schedar in Cassiopeia courtesy of the mini-WASP array. The array is due for an upgrade at the end of this … Continue reading →

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Another mini-WASP upgrade

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Greg Parker

I recently discovered that Takahashi have discontinued making the Sky 90 – mad decision IMO.  And this comes at a time when I was looking to replace the TS80 with a Sky 90 giving me a mini-WASP array with 3 … Continue reading →

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The recent Supermoon of 08/09/2014 – but in colour

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Greg Parker

Put the 5D MkII on the back of a TS80 refractor together with a 5X Barlow (not really called a Barlow then, but the name sticks). Took 17 subs at 1/200th second and ISO800 which I stacked in Maxim.  This … Continue reading →

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Comet Jacques c/2014 E2 from 22/08/2014

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Greg Parker

Managed to capture a few 5-minute subs of comet Jacques when it was close to Epsilon Cassiopeiae on the evening of 22nd August 2014.

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Mini-WASP upgrade number 2 for June 2014

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Greg Parker

Second upgrade for the week that required the earlier upgrade to go ahead 🙂 This time the in-storage Sky 90 and filter-wheel have gone back on.  It was taken off over a year ago as I got terrible star shapes … Continue reading →

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Upgrade of the week for the mini-WASP array

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Greg Parker

A small upgrade was made to the mini-WASP array this week – can you spot it??

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December 21st 2013 until June 21st 2014 solargraph

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Greg Parker

This is a Solstice-to-Solstice solargraph taken at the New Forest Observatory using the REALLY BIG pinhole camera. You can clearly see the two New Forest Observatory domes, and the oval-shaped object in the middle foreground is the top of a … Continue reading →

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Amazing light panel for flats

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Greg Parker

A friend on one of the astronomy forums asked me if these would be any good for taking flats: Any good?  They are utterly superb!!!!!!!!!!!!  AND they are cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AND you can get an A3 or even an A2 panel … Continue reading →

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Statrep for the second Canon 200mm prime lens

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Greg Parker

I am getting all the bits together to be able to put another Canon 200mm prime lens on the mini-WASP top plate.  I will use an M26C camera from the top TS80 scope and will put an eyepiece (shock-horror) into … Continue reading →

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What a clever chap!!

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Greg Parker

Sergi Verdugo is a very clever chap http://astrophoto-sv.com/index.php?p=1_78 🙂 I have been thinking today about setting up a second Canon 200mm lens on the mini-WASP array for the wide field work.  To this end I was looking for 72mm HUTECH IDAS … Continue reading →

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