Astro Nerd -

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The AstroNerd Observatory (2010/4/14)
The AstroNerd Observatory build starts today. Well not so much the building bit, more the actual getting the shed (to be converted) delivered and built !

I'll add each phase and at the end I should have a step by step guide on how to build your own with full pictures and details. I'm not a DIY person so the guide will be in noob terms !

The observatory will be about getting the best for the money, it wont be a cheap crappy thing that wont last, but something that will last and see me through many years of astronomy. Plus I'm on a budget set down by the wife (Not the real reason!!!!).

Check out the start here or click the link to the left.

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Council Meeting on the Street Light (2010/4/8)
So I received an email from the council regarding the street light at the front of my property and the vast amount of sodium light it bleeds into my back garden. Link to original post and picture:

Following your letter, as previously stated this was discussed at the Council meeting last evening. Whilst sympathetic to your hobby the Councillors felt that the alteration to the light would involve an expense to the Council and furthermore, that this would set a precedent to similar requests in the future, coupled with the concern of such alteration causing other complications for residents. Therefore, in this instance this Council felt unable to alter this light in the circumstances.

I am sorry that this decision is not favourable, but trust that if you have any further queries you will feel free to contact this office.

I wasn't able to make the meeting to hear what was fully said but I will be trying to take this further. Already sent an email to that effect. . .

Watch this space!!!!

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AstroNerd Observatory !! (2010/4/5)
Sick of all the light pollution I've been on the hunt for an observatory over the past few weeks. The budget started off as £430 all in, which will need to include the extra wood for the stiffer internal frame, wheels for the roll-off roof, security, black paint for internal walls and anything I may need along the way!

A proper dome observatory was swiftly out of the question with a price tag of £2k upwards. I'd seen a lot of forum posts about home-made ones which got me looking down that route. I started off looking at a £260 Apex roof, with overlap wood walls at the size of 8x6. This quickly became apparent that it would be the best design, not made in the best way and the wrong size !!

I made three other choices that were various sizes and design but I've now settled for a tongue and groove, pent roof at 9x7. The budget, well lets say that nothing ever stays within budget. The shed is being made to order and delivered on the 17th April at a cost of £430 !!! That's right the whole budget is on the shed leaving me to find the rest of the money to get everything else I'm going to need, which at the moment I have no idea what that will be !!!

I'll get something down on paper and post it. I'll be sure to keep you informed with every step I take. I might also write a guide too as I see a lot of people on forums asking how to and what if's.

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Robert Harrison Space Balloon Pictures (2010/3/26)
Wow, simply amazing.

What Nasa does for the sum of £300 million Robert Harrison did it for £500. Robert a computer engineer from West Yorkshire started his space project in 2008 with Icarus One. It basically consisted of Canon PowerShot A560, a GPS tracking module and a weather balloon.

The balloon reaches 110,892ft, four times the height of Mount Everest and pops! The camera is released from it's journey into the stratosphere and begins a new one back down to earth attached to a mini parachute.

Mr Harrison said the results had been "phenomenal".

"I could never have expected to get the results I have - you can see the curvature of the Earth, the blackness of space and the thin blue line that makes up the atmosphere"

"For a hobby I had this remote control helicopter and I wanted to take some pictures of my house using it," he said.

"It very quickly became apparent I could not do it with a helicopter, so I decided on a balloon."

You can learn more about Robert Harrison and his project at www.robertharrison.org

The website has been down due to heavy traffic and is currently being redirected to his Flickr page here.

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I'm Back !!! (2010/3/26)
After 4 months away because of other commitments, not only am I back for good now but I've got tons planned for the months ahead!

I found it disheartening towards the end of last year not being able to get out into the garden due to all the light pollution around me. To the North I have a street lamp (see 10 second exposure below) which kills the view of the North Star. South I have an industrial estate with a bus depot (transport depots aren't included in the light pollution law in the UK due to health and safety). East is fairly clear then, West within 2 miles I have a major city.

"This is one hobby I'm going to stick at" ~ AstroNerd 2009

With that said, I've written to my local council about the street light to the north of me (above) which lights my garden to the rear of the house. I had a favourable response, the "job" will be priced up and my letter will be taken to the board of local councillors for their approval. I have the option to go along when they discuss it on the 7th April which I may go to, hopefully not to scream and shout at them if they tell me they wont change it. I'll let you all know how that goes!!

Second thing I'm doing to combat the light pollution it building an observatory, a roll-off roof made from a wooden pent shed. I'm still researching how to customise it and once I have a proper plan I'll provide full pictures and details. If any of you out there have any suggestions please let me know.

Lastly to get my enthusiasm back I've bought another telescope !!! HAHA, I know, I know I don't know how to use the other stuff yet but hey, I had some spare cash and thought it would be a good idea to get me back into it with a new toy! So back to Viking Optical Centre I went and purchased the new SkyWatcher 200P DS 8" f/5 Newt.. In fact I'm picking that up tomorrow.

I will be updating the website regularly from now on with links and downloads so keep coming back for those too.

Lastly I want to say thanks for all the people that visit the site and the emails I've gotten so far, keep coming and keep the emails coming also.

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Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (2009/11/2)
Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is now in a 50km-high orbit around the Moon and has been able to resolve Apollo 17 hardware. The image shows the descent stage left on the Moon's surface by Jack Schmitt's and Gene Cernan's Lunar Module. Even the flag they planted is just visible.

Click to enlarge

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First Moon Image (2009/10/26)
What do all budding novice astrophotographers take their first image of?

The Moon!

I managed to get some scope time last night, I didn't need to polar align or connect anything. Just me, the EQ6, the 80ED and the 20D.

Snapped off about 15 shots at different speeds and got a couple of really nice detailed images with Mare Tranquillitatis & Serenitatis as the main two large dark spots and some really nice prominant shadows on craters Hipperarchus and Albategnius in the middle of the picture.

Sharpened and removed the colour in Photoshop CS3.

Click to enlarge

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