Special day today - it's 5 years since I started this blog.

Year zero.

A big thanks to all my followers.

Uranus 25th Sept 2010

Jupiter with IR & Blue filter - 17th Sept 2010

Jupiter & Io in IR 9th Sept 2010

Jupiter & Callisto in IRRGB & IR 7th Sept 2010

I need to get out more!

I also need to get to some darker skies. Here in Wiltshire we have some very good dark sky locations.
I hope to get out a bit more now that I have a new powertank from Maplin.
My old Celestron powertank is knackered, It never charged very well using the supplied PSU that came with it and I haven't used it for over 3 years, hence the battery is completely flat. A naughty No No! when it comes to lead acid batteries.
I sourced trying to get the battery replaced but it would have cost about £30... the Maplin unit is only £34, so it's "a no brainer".
Handy for me Doh!

We're on holiday soon in darkest South Wales in a place called Amroth. I'll be taking my old AS-GT mount and Takahashi to have a go there. Only problem is there'll be a full Moon about, but it'll be interesting to see what I can get.
I must go to a star party one of these days, if I can just get over my anti-social tendencies.

The Bubble Nebula NGC7635 August 2010

3Hours 98mins.

The Iris Nebula NGC 7023 August 2010

Here's three lots taken at 800ISO, 2hours 58Min, 178 Frames of 1min. Processed in DSS and PS. Takahashi SKY-90, Canon 50D.
I was hoping for a bit more dust, but as usual I need more subs!

Milky way 4th Sept 2010

Taken with 18mm lens pointing almost straight up, 60x 1min exposures on CGE mount.

Jupiter 3rd Sept 2010

Jupiter from 31st Aug - re-worked

Jupiter & Io transit 2nd Sept 2010

The white dot just down from the centre is IO with its shadow to the right.
Not very good seeing tonight, hence the 2.5x Powermate.

Below are 3x Barlow versions.