Hi All
I just wish to introduce myself. My name is Barry and I have just joined this forum which was recomended to me by my friend Don at the B & T shop. I have been involved in Amateur astronomy for many years now and operate a 12" LX200GPS in a domed backyard observatory. I do not do much observing these days as my eyesight is not what it used to be but I am happy to demonstrate when friends and neighbours come around.
I am a member of the ASNSW but not very active. I am interested in engineering and do electronic and mechanical repairs, not in a commercial manner, on LX200 telescopes, mostly to help out friends, see my web site.
www.geocities.com/barrykgerdes
I belong to a number of astronomy forums on Yahoo and I am a moderator on the Unwired wireless internet forum.
My current interest is in the planetarium program Stellarium where I have made some minor contributions. It is a freeware openGl program for Windows, Mac, and Linux. At the moment I am working on the next release v9.0 which I compile and run under Linux. It is simply the best planetarium program I have ever used.
My other major interest is Model Engineering 5" guage live steam railways where I am a member of the Hornsby Model Engineers.
Barry