Category Archives: Projects

Projects undertaken at New Forest Observatory

December 21st 2013 until June 21st 2014 solargraph

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

Posted in Projects | Leave a comment

Amazing light panel for flats

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

Posted in Equipment, News, Projects | 14 Comments

Statrep for the second Canon 200mm prime lens

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

Posted in mini-WASP Array | Leave a comment

What a clever chap!!

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

Posted in mini-WASP Array | Leave a comment

Mini-WASP array statrep May 2014

Here is the current status of the mini-WASP array as of beginning May 2014.  The latest addition is the autofocuser for the Canon 200mm prime lens fitted to the top plate.  So we have: 1)  A Megrez 80 used as … Continue reading

Posted in mini-WASP Array, News | Leave a comment

The new autofocuser for the Canon 200mm prime lens

Grabbed a couple of pics of the Tom How autofocuser this afternoon.  Follow the yellow lead from the stepper motor to the control box housing the Arduino and the stepper motor drive board.

Posted in mini-WASP Array | Leave a comment

New goodies from Tom How arrived today

Met up with Tom How for the first time in quite a while and he brought along the stepper motor/Arduino drive unit for auto-focusing the Canon 200mm lens.  Focusmax talks to the unit (and to Maxim DL) and it all … Continue reading

Posted in mini-WASP Array | Leave a comment

Carbon star V623 Cassiopeiae

In putting together the next book “Experimental Photography” I came across some unprocessed data from a while back.  It was Carbon star V623 Cassiopeiae or SAO23858 – a very nice Carbon star lying just below Pazmino’s cluster in the constellation … Continue reading

Posted in Deep Space Objects, mini-WASP Array, News, Writing | Leave a comment

A new book project is underway!

I had discussions with a book publisher yesterday to see how he felt about a “photography book” project I have been mulling over for around 2 or 3 years now.  I am pleased to say that he thought it was … Continue reading

Posted in News, Projects, Writing | Leave a comment

The current status of the mini-WASP array

Since First Light at the beginning of 2013, the mini-WASP array has undergone a number of changes. The current status of the array is: Megrez 80 guide scope with SX guide camera linked to M26C camera 1. Sky 90 imager … Continue reading

Posted in mini-WASP Array | Leave a comment