Category Archives: Projects

Projects undertaken at New Forest Observatory

Second Light on the NFO mini-WASP array

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Greg Parker

Tom How spent a night over the Bank Holiday weekend at the NFO where he had a good play with the mini-WASP array – I was attempting (half satisfactorily) to polar align the Hyperstar III in the south dome.  Meanwhile … Continue reading →

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Mini-WASP “First Light” party at the New Forest Observatory 21/08/2011

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Greg Parker

Here are a few pictures from the day – I still can’t believe how lucky we were with the weather.  Had a few drops of rain first thing in the morning just to put the scarers on us – then … Continue reading →

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Tankification of the Celestron wedge completed today

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Greg Parker

As you probably know, the Celestron “Heavy Duty” wedge has a fundamental design fault – a large open ended box section which flexes all over the place with a heavy scope like the C11 being cantilevered all over the sky.  … Continue reading →

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New warm room for the mini-WASP?

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Greg Parker

Have I gone a bit too far with the new warm room for the mini-WASP?

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ISS pass 19/08/2011 10:06 p.m. local time

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Greg Parker

The beginning of this ISS pass is missing (the bit on the left) – why?  Because I was pointing in the wrong part of the sky when the action kicked off and it was only when my son said “it’s … Continue reading →

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ISS tonight?

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Greg Parker

Well – although it has been pouring with rain ALL day it looks like (on the satellite) there is a clear patch coming over for later tonight.  As there is a 6-minute pass (that’s long!) of the ISS at 9:28 … Continue reading →

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An outing for the AstroTrac evening of 16th August 2011

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Greg Parker

As it was cloudy AND a bright Moon last night it was no good for deep-sky imaging – but as it wasn’t actually raining – and I could see a FEW stars, it was an opportunity to take the AstroTrac … Continue reading →

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Michael Hattey of Starlight Xpress brings the tested M26C down to the NFO – with Maglev fans for both cameras

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Greg Parker

Well – here’s that Starlight Xpress super customer service for you!  Michael Hattey of Starlight Xpress drove my tested M26C camera down to the New Forest Observatory today – thank you Michael.  Both M26C cameras are now back on the … Continue reading →

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The usual superbly efficient customer service from Starlight Xpress

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Greg Parker

Camera already at SX headquarters and Terry is giving it a good soak-testing.  Can’t find any fault with it, but I know it does run (a lot) hotter than the other M26C – so Terry will be returning it with … Continue reading →

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First Light for the mini-WASP project – the Gamma Cygni region

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Greg Parker

Just a single 2,000 second sub from one M26C camera – no processing other than brightening up so here’s the hot pixels, the polar rotation – the lot – in all its glory.  But it’s my First Light 🙂

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