Category Archives: Projects

Projects undertaken at New Forest Observatory

“Little Planet” 2

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Greg Parker

A second go at a New Forest Observatories “Little Planet” scene – taken today.

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A “Little Planet” image of the New Forest Observatories

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Greg Parker

I was sitting at the computer yesterday (Saturday) typing out some rubbish or the other when for some unknown reason I suddenly twigged how those “Little Planet” images are taken.  So I grabbed the Canon 5D MkII and a fish … Continue reading →

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The never ending collimation problem

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Greg Parker

Clear night last night so could see if my collimation efforts had any effect. The scope that always had reasonable collimation was still o.k. the scope that had poor collimation was still poor.  Now seeing how they looked pretty much … Continue reading →

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Sky 90 collimation statrep

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Greg Parker

I spent a couple of hours yesterday taking the imaging Sky 90s off the mini-WASP frame, collimating them with the Takahashi collimator, and then putting the whole thing back together again.  Well – as far as the collimator goes, both … Continue reading →

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Takahashi collimator delivered – mini-WASP fine-tuning good to go

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Greg Parker

Nick Hudson (True Technology) visited the New Forest Observatory yesterday and brought with him an essential piece of kit for tuning up the mini-WASP array.  Yes – the thing that has been halting any further progress on mini-WASP commissioning has … Continue reading →

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Scary skies 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 12th April 2012

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Greg Parker

This was the “Close Encounters” scene over the New Forest Observatories at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 12th April 2012.  By 10:00 p.m. it had cleared to a perfect dark sky with no interfering Moon!

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Flaming Star nebula – composite image

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Greg Parker

This is last night’s Sky-Watcher data (2-hours) composited with the earlier Sky 90 data (11 and a half hours) – so 13 and a half hours total into this one so far 🙂  

Posted in mini-WASP Array, Sky 90 and SXVF-M25C | 2 Comments

The ED-100 quintuplet refractor does the Flaming Star nebula in Auriga

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Greg Parker

I managed to get 2-hours on the Flaming Star nebula in Auriga with the Sky-Watcher Esprit ED-100 quintuplet refractor last night.  Once again, not long enough for a pretty picture, but long enough to check out its performance.  This image … Continue reading →

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First Light for the Sky-Watcher Esprit ED-100 quintuplet refractor

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Greg Parker

Very lucky to have some clear skies again last night 🙂  Managed to get some imaging done on the Merak region with the new Esprit ED-100 quintuplet refractor.  Two frames here, only half an hour per frame using 3-minute subs, … Continue reading →

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The Sky-Watcher Esprit ED-100 quintuplet is loaded and ready to go!

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Greg Parker

The utterly superb Sky-Watcher Esprit ED-100 quintuplet refractor is now mounted on the Paramount with the Megrez 80 guide scope piggy-backed above.  I have a Robofocus connected to the ED-100 fine focus knob via a tiny timing belt and actually … Continue reading →

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