what are you doing ?

[Dave the bass]

Thanks Nick, will do, I'll report back with findings.

[vinylnvalves]

Think my head is going to explode… Trying to source a secondhand car after mine was written off ( non structural damage). Apparently now with VAG cars on certain models if it’s not specified when the car is built that you might want to fit a tow bar, the cars come with a VIN plate with GTW =zero. As an uprated cooling systems need to be fitted, we are not talking 1.0 petrols, but 2.0 ltr diesels.

[jack]

Damp.

We did our self-build in 2005, so 18/19 years ago, and little things are starting to need looking at.

In one part of the older bit of the oast, where the roundel joins to the barn part, we have some damp in a cupboard. Not much, but the plaster in there is "popping" and it has to be dealt with.

We eschewed going straight to a "damp company" as they tend to specify lots of remedial requirements, some of which may be unnecessary, as they just want to sell services, i.e. they are biased.

So today we had an independent damp consultant in - it's a few 100 quid but they have absolutely no dog in the fight, so are completely honest about what *actually* needs to be done.

Very interesting talking to them. Here for an hour (some very interesting test kit!), report by end of week.

[Max N]

bodes_nebulae_small.jpg (118.64 KiB) Viewed 16219 times

Messier 81 & 82 aka Bode's nebulae. A few hundred million years ago, a close encounter took place between them which deformed the smaller one. Their centres are currently about 150,000 light years apart.
This image was an integration of roughly 70, 5 minute exposures. There was a bright moon which reduced the signal to noise ratio. It was b****y cold but I managed to get the system working so that I could sit indoors for some of the time and monitor the images on my iPad, which was a first for me

[simon]

These photos are extraordinary Max

[jack]

Interesting. A nearby village, Wadhurst, where my in-laws used to have a farm, has a very active astronomy society with a fair number of astrophotographers using pretty fancy kit, including cryogenic cooling on the detectors etc.

We went to a "dark skies" night with them earlier this year and I keep meaning to go to their meetings.

https://wadhurstastro.co.uk/

[Max N]

These photos are extraordinary Max

Cheers Simon. The main limitation is good conditions have to align with me not working the next day!

[Max N]

Interesting. A nearby village, Wadhurst, where my in-laws used to have a farm, has a very active astronomy society with a fair number of astrophotographers using pretty fancy kit, including cryogenic cooling on the detectors etc.

We went to a "dark skies" night with them earlier this year and I keep meaning to go to their meetings.

https://wadhurstastro.co.uk/

I haven’t joined a society yet but I probably should.
As well as enjoying the process of collecting the data, I try to understand the maths used to pull the signal out of the noise.
My next step is to try some narrow-band imaging.

[Mike H]

@ Max, wow!

[andrew Ivimey]

Max - WOW indeed. How....

This morning I took my Tannoy 12inch hpds in big ( appr0priate) cabinets to a place where bigger than GRF, 15 inch with fabulous home designed ( not by me!) crossovers live.

My Tannoys sounded great! ( Tannoys always do) and then Andy connected his speakers up - breath taking - tannoy on steroids and all in the right way.

Ca vas

Back at home I pulled out a tiny pair of AVI things mk3. Total weed.... but... After a while my ears accomodated and, (within 4 inch bass unit) reason they were very pleasant.

But you can't beat speakers that really disturb the air!

[Max N]

@ Max, wow!

Max - WOW indeed. How....

Thanks chaps!

[Ali Tait]

+1 Max, great shots.

[jack]

Interesting. A nearby village, Wadhurst, where my in-laws used to have a farm, has a very active astronomy society with a fair number of astrophotographers using pretty fancy kit, including cryogenic cooling on the detectors etc.

We went to a "dark skies" night with them earlier this year and I keep meaning to go to their meetings.

https://wadhurstastro.co.uk/

I haven’t joined a society yet but I probably should.
As well as enjoying the process of collecting the data, I try to understand the maths used to pull the signal out of the noise.
My next step is to try some narrow-band imaging.

Went to the meeting last week of the Wadhurst & Tunbridge Wells Astronomical Society. Very interesting lecture about Richard Carrington, he of the eponymous Carrington Event, which in itself was fascinating.

Audience was a "Certain demographic" and at 65, I was one of the younger attendees. However they were a very interesting and academic group of physicists, engineers, mathematicians & chemists etc. Really nice to be amongst a group of similar minded, if somewhat more superannuated, folk.

[Max N]

Sounds like an interesting evening Nick.
One of my local societies is having a stargazing evening at Rutherford Appleton Lab soon. I think I’ll check it out.

[andrew Ivimey]

NWT Holme(s) Dunes - Southside of The Wash. Sunny with powerful NNE wind - bbbbbrrrrrrr but fabulous! Coffee and rock cake helps...