well i wrapped up and set up the scope in the back garden, started ok but very rapidly the seeing got very poor due to scummy high altitude cloud. However I did manage to take in Mars, M42, M81 and M31. A quick glimpse at mizar and pleiades and I had had enough 
Observing
February 2nd, 2010Weather station
January 26th, 2010want to see what the weather is like in my room and back garden? just click on the My Weather site link on the right. There may be a few bugs as I am setting up and the system will only update while my main pc is up and running but there ya go
Orbiter Update
January 21st, 2010Another 4 issues of my orbiter magazine arrived, I think that means there’s only 5 left \o/. A little building ensued and the Tellurian / Orbiter has been updated.
click on the pic to see more.
Another model nears completion and a watch returns :)
January 20th, 2010As the model shop is beside the jewellers I use to get watch stuff done I waited until one of my watches was back from repair to get paints needed. So I have my speedmaster back and my apollo command module is nearing completion.
I had a lovely walk in the rain this morning apart from the asshole in a tonka toy that tried to drown me, was probably a 5′ tall girl at least thats who seems to drive them mostly.
Snow is here
January 6th, 2010Not just a brief flurry but proper walk in and leave tracks snow
I haven’t had to drive too far in it but as usual off the beaten track care is needed. The back garden looks almost pretty and the fountain and waterfall are keeping the pond liquid
Festivities
December 29th, 2009Had a great holiday more importantly I think the rest of the family had fun too
lots of whiskey appeared too
I was on call over the xmas week so had to be well behaved, but now I’m off over New years so I can sample some of the goodness that is whiskey and whisky
Click on the images to see the relevant galleries
Visting Christine
November 9th, 2009Spent a lovely weekend at Christines to celebrate her Birthday. Friday we went to La Piazza (sp) and had a lovely meal and shopped before returning to her place for drinks and a movie (Erin Brockovitch). Saturday we went shopping and walking (8 miles). we had a chinese take away and watched Golden compass and I drank some more whiskey
I got a few nice images on the flight home 
. Looking forward to her visit here next week.
Bragan 16th October 2009
October 18th, 2009Another great night observing, this time Michelle came along which was nice. the site was again bragan with a host of folks from the NIAAS there. I left early as fog descended and my back decided to play up. prior to that the seeing was great, I notched up a few more items on my list and had some spectacular views of Jupiter.
I borrowed a few pics by Eamonn of the site in use
Object: 14 – Perseus Double Cluster… NGC869 & NGC884
Object: 18 – Western Veil Nebula… NGC6960 & Eastern Veil Nebula… NGC6992
Object: 31 – Owl Cluster… NGC457
I tried to image the milky way but failed badly (wrong aperture .
All in all a great night.
The source of the River Lagan – Slieve Croob
October 8th, 2009Took the da out for an expedition to locate the source of the lagan, a babbling brook near the summit of Slieve Croob. The mission was achieved on a glorious morning with both of us enjoying a beautiful climb to the summit. Well worth the effort (and it did babble).
A day out on Belfast Lough
October 5th, 2009thanks to John Cochrane skipper of the Kiwi for a beautiful day out in Belfast lough and to Da for a lovely lunch
Many beautiful sights including 3 large dolphin off the ‘Gobbins’ at whitehead.
as usual click on the image for the full gallery
