Astrofest

I've posted some pictures of Astrofest on my web site at
http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk/index.html.
A few random thoughts - I thought it got off to a shaky start with a
less than stellar couple of speakers and a misbehaving sound system. But
it improved, and the Discovery Channel film which closed Fulvio Melia's
talk was most impressive. Three years supercomputer time to show a trip
to the black hole at the centre of the galaxy, and they still don't have
enough power to do the relativistic view properly! He also showed an
animation of stars near the BH which was interesting. Real data, not a
simulation.
The Society Showcase wasn't as good as in previous years.
Richard West of ESO showed the VLT Taruntius picture, which looks
impressive on the big screen, and said they hope to image Apollo landing
sites.
And John Murray of the Open University suggested that rilles on Ascraeus
Mons on Mars were due to "water volcanism", and that by analogy, similar
structures on our Moon might be due to water. A nice heretical
viewpoint.
I'll be braving the crowds tomorrow!
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And John Murray of the Open University suggested that rilles on Ascraeus
Mons on Mars were due to "water volcanism", and that by analogy, similar
structures on our Moon might be due to water. A nice heretical
viewpoint.

Amazing there could be that much water and not have it leave any other
clues!

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/

Are you interested in understanding optics?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ATM_Optics_Software/

************************************

AH ****!!!

i forgot it was on, i was going to go as well!!! BUGGER!!!!

Was it good? Many deals going around there?

It would be nice if you said no to both those questions!!

Stuart
"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message
...
And John Murray of the Open University suggested that rilles on Ascraeus
Mons on Mars were due to "water volcanism", and that by analogy, similar
structures on our Moon might be due to water. A nice heretical
viewpoint.

Amazing there could be that much water and not have it leave any other
clues!

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/

Are you interested in understanding optics?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ATM_Optics_Software/

************************************

"Stuart Turrell" wrote in message
...
AH ****!!!

i forgot it was on, i was going to go as well!!! BUGGER!!!!

Was it good? Many deals going around there?
A few new things. Some deals. Discount prices on the Televue eyepieces.
£1000 off, if you decided to buy a OMC300 at the show. Some good prices on
the Takahashi scopes, plus a few second hand bits at good prices. A cheap
ST7, on the CCDPlanet stand. It depends what you were after..

It would be nice if you said no to both those questions!!
Unfortunately, there were some good deals...

Best Wishes

Roger Hamlett wrote:
"Stuart Turrell" wrote in message
...

AH ****!!!

i forgot it was on, i was going to go as well!!! BUGGER!!!!

Was it good? Many deals going around there?

A few new things. Some deals. Discount prices on the Televue eyepieces.
£1000 off, if you decided to buy a OMC300 at the show. Some good prices on
the Takahashi scopes, plus a few second hand bits at good prices. A cheap
ST7, on the CCDPlanet stand. It depends what you were after..


It would be nice if you said no to both those questions!!

Unfortunately, there were some good deals...

Best Wishes



The 12" Dob that (IIRC) Telescope House will be doing for 499 looked
quite nice.

G.

--
Graham J. Platt
graham (a) bowhunter (d) demon (d) co (d) uk
TRA #10112 L2

Roger,

Can you tell us a bit more about the OMC300? I knew Barry Pemberton was
thinking about producing a 12" some time in the future. What's the cost?

Many thanks,
Richard

Was it good? Many deals going around there?
A few new things. Some deals. Discount prices on the Televue eyepieces.
£1000 off, if you decided to buy a OMC300 at the show. Some good prices on
the Takahashi scopes, plus a few second hand bits at good prices. A cheap
ST7, on the CCDPlanet stand. It depends what you were after..

It would be nice if you said no to both those questions!!
Unfortunately, there were some good deals...

Best Wishes

"Richard Darn" wrote:

Can you tell us a bit more about the OMC300? I knew Barry Pemberton was
thinking about producing a 12" some time in the future. What's the cost?

I just twigged, *OMC* 300. I saw the 300 and assumed it was a newt.
Mmmmm, a 12" Mak would be lovely. But pricey.


Tim
--
This is not my signature.

"Richard Darn" wrote in message
...

Roger,

Can you tell us a bit more about the OMC300? I knew Barry Pemberton was
thinking about producing a 12" some time in the future. What's the
cost?
£4000 at the show, £5000 otherwise. Predicting about six months for first
delivery.
It is a Mak-Cass, with a sub aperture corrector behind the secondary, like
the Mangin system. F/9.
There was also 'talk' of a 10", and 14" unit.

Best Wishes

Many thanks,
Richard

Was it good? Many deals going around there?
A few new things. Some deals. Discount prices on the Televue eyepieces.
£1000 off, if you decided to buy a OMC300 at the show. Some good prices
on
the Takahashi scopes, plus a few second hand bits at good prices. A
cheap
ST7, on the CCDPlanet stand. It depends what you were after..

It would be nice if you said no to both those questions!!
Unfortunately, there were some good deals...

Best Wishes