NEAF - Wow!

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I spent yesterday and a lot of money at NEAF with my two boys Cam and Tom and a good time was had by all.

I am a member of RAC (the club who puts on the show) and duly served my time as a volunteer yesterday morning working at the membership table.

This year the show was particularly focused on kids with lots of activities aimed at youngsters to get them excited about the hobby. It was well done as my kids were able to keep occupied while I did my volunteer work!

It is hard to describe the show to those who have never attended, you can see pictures and video feeds but they do not do it justice...it is truly a spectacle to behold...the "Woodstock of Amatuer Astronomy" is how I think of it.

So many things to see and hear, it is stimulus overload for the Astro Enthusiast.

I could not begin to describe or remember all of the things that are there or that I saw....

Now to the important stuff, what did I get?

First, I picked up my DM6 (DiscMount) from Tom Peters that I had ordered a few weeks ago (saved on shipping!). He is a lovely guy and makes wonderful gear. This mount will become the new home to my APM 130/780 refractor that found it's way home with me from last years show.

Although I did not really need another collimation tool (can you every really have too many?), I did buy a Howie Glatter "tu-blug"...I liked the look of it and it will aide in adjusting collimation in the field.

As has been my tradition, through the course of the year I try and save my pennies to make an "astro splurge"...seperate from any planned purchases.

I've been holding off on getting into the Ethos line of eyepieces for some time (making due with my Naglers and Pentax) because I just couldn't justify it to myself...what I have is pretty good.

In the excitement and buying frenzy that is the show, I could not restrain myself...I bought an Ethos 21mm! It is a huge but pretty bit of kit! When the clouds clear in a month or so, I'm sure that it will be a peach to use in my reflectors and at low mag it should be fun in the refractor too!

All in all another great show! The only thing missing is a dark Southern Hemisphere night sky!

Clear skies...

[h0ughy (David)]

I am in awe and in one way glad i cant be there (that way temptation cant get me )

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I am in awe and in one way glad i cant be there (that way temptation cant get me )

I understand completely, day two is harder than day one as the vendors start thinking about closing down you can sometimes get some "specials" to save them from shipping gear back home.

I should have added that on the way home I had to take my boys past the LEGO store...when they came in with their bag of goodies it did take some of my wife's attention away from my purchases!

[h0ughy (David)]

Scott thats a classic and fool hardy move. You are indeed a brave man

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

Must be difficult to attend something like this and not spend, spend, spend..

[renormalised (Carl)]

This is the sort of venue that is mandatory to take a substantial proportion of a large lotto win to