Well I set the scope up, checked collimation, then place dew preventing measures on. Waited for a few hours to let it cool off then started to.

Firstly, there is a notice that I’ve stepped down 2 inches from th 300p, BUT its not that much difference, and as i will be using this scope mainly for photography work its no big deal. Besides, at the eyepiece, the scope gave sharper images and better contrast.

My night consisted mostly of splitting doubles, the sky wasnt too clear. id give it a 5/10.

I started with Almaak. WOW first time I saw this double, what a pair lol!. Outstanding, started withthe 25mm, then the 10mm, then the 10mm with the 2x Barlow, around 240x. Wow it was still really pinpoint. Good optics.

I carried on splitting many pairs, Rigel too. The tightest I split tonight was 1.5ARC seconds, I probably would have got down to 1ARC in these seeing conditions.

Time passed by and now the moon and Mars are up high enough for me to view them. 10mm on Mars. Very sharp, can see the ice caps and other features nicely. straight away went for the 2x barlow and 10mm. Again took my time to focus and got it smack on, awesom! much better than the 300p. I cant wait to get a 5xpowermate!

The moon was the best I’ve every saw it, great contrast, sharp as a razor!. What more can i  say other than I love this scope, and it doesn’t break my back to get it out and in.

Here are a couple of pics of the conditions and my home made dew prevention.

Here is my new scope. Its an Orion Optics 250mm “10 inch” 1/6th optics Newtonian. With OO Dob Base, and rings to mount it on a equatorial mount. its F.4.8 and 1200mm Focal length. Really nice scope this, Cant wait for first light.

Why on earth do I block spam then seem to only get more for sending the current spam into the junk folders. Sort it out MS, Gmail has it sussed so why dont you.

The new polarised 3D techniques used in avatar at the Imax have to be the next big step for cinema. Avatar was my first 3D and my first Imax expeariance, i was gob smacked by the immersion the 3D gives you. It’s great having the feeling of depth and being inside the movie almost.

I know Allot of game creators are sprouting 3D into games, But technical aspects asides, I don’t think its going to work. With Cinema/ Movie you just sit there , relax and enjoy the movie. With Games you’re required to concentrate,  at first the 3d is nice, but then its a distraction and over strain on your eyes. This is just my 2p worth after playing some 3D games.

Some good lectures here from Berkley again. First one is on Astronomy. 2nd one is Physics with Richard Muller again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ZTOFFgitY

And Richard Muller.

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details_new.php?seriesid=2009-B-51905|2009-B-69390&semesterid=2009-B

Good video, Especially like the section on Floride. I know the UK government have pushed to put Floride in bottled water. Now come on, I want to drink water, not a bottle of chemicals.

Another thing I’ve noticed is with animals, My chickens when given the choice will avoid my tap water, and insist on drinking rain water.

On friday December 18th me and my mate Steffan witnessed the next step for cinema. Avatar is such an amazing movie it’s hard to actually put it into words. The only way I can describe it is that Avatar looks better than real life!.

We watched it at the Imax in Birmingham in 3D. They way the Movie immersed you into the film was breathtaking, the visuals were breathtaking. Just go and see it!

For me a 10/10 Movie that I can’t stop thinking about and that I will be going to see many times again.

For a scope that i fitted the mirror myself, and have not yet collimated, she performed outstandingly!

I started off just with Orion. HOLY **** the sky was 10 out of 10 for still and transparency here, only the moon ruined things. I cant remember seeing a sky so clear and still. I could clearly see full on green in the neb, and the trap, just amazing, gobsmacked! Must have spent 30 minutes just gawping at this with the 25mm.

I moved onto the double cluster by cass, Again looked outstanding best view I’ve had of this.

Right now took some finding but i got it, the owl cluster, or should i say Jonny 5! I laughed hard when i realized. Really good cluster to view.

I waited for Mars to go higher as it was going to get. Clearly see the ice cap, seemed to see one on the top and bottom, could see the distinct black/brown shapes too. 300x she was just awesome, although I could tell the scope needed collimation.

Had a go on Saturn but she was low, still, its been a while since i seen her, 5 moons clearly visible.

I viewed a few other clusters too tonight and i was pleased with my 5 hours of observing. A real shame the best night I can remember had a almost full moon white washing the sky

Here’s My monster, Braving the cold and survived, with out fogging, misting dewing or freezing!

And finally inside to dry off.

My first sketch EVER of the sky. M45 Pleiades’s laying in the constellation Taurus, 440 light years distant @ magnitude 1.6. Also known as the Seven sisters.

Well she arrived from Germany last night. Took some putting together, Gave her a quick blast and had some stunning views.

12 inch Skywatcher Dobson, 10mm, 25mm super plos, and 2x Barlow eyepieces.

Alex Reid came to train with us on saturday, He’s actually a really nice guy.

[View with PicLens]

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