[astrodave (David)]

By lurking for a few days I missed out from getting in the first 100 - but I joined you guys anyway.

This looks a great forum you are running here and I offer general thanks and congratulations (iceman in particular of course).

I grew up with a general interest in astronomy (learnt what RA and Dec was at my father's knee!). But life and other expenses stopped me doing anything much about it. About a year ago I discovered what amateur astronomers were doing with telescopes, webcams and a little computer power under light polluted skies. This merged a number of my interests and I wanted in. I built a barn door drive (ratted a stepper motor out of an old 5.25" floppy drive) - but a small inhertitance suddenly enabled me to contemplate buying a telescope and stuff. I came across a 2nd hand Meade 10" Starfinder (Eq) with some bits and pieces (being sold by one Steve Massey) and the rest as they say is history.

I have bought a number of eyepieces, a ToUcam, Stary Night [and then the money ran out] and had a fun and frustrating time of it since. I have just finished building a DSC (Dave Ek's little project) and got this driving Stary night on my (work) laptop - so now I tend to know where I am!

This week I've just taken delivery of a flip mirror I bought on eBay so I'm hoping to reduce some of the frustrations.


Regards