My main areas of interest are:
Variable Nebulae: I started imaging variable nebulae in 2008 after hearing a talk by Nick Hewitt on the subject. Many of my images are on the Orwell Astronomical Society web site.
Spectroscopy: Experimenting with a 22cm diameter, 12 degree objective prism originally on loan, but then purchased from, the BAA instrument collection. I have also made a 26cm, 3 degree prism for fainter objects at lower dispersion. It is not yet fully figured flat on both sides but still gives useful spectra.
Telescope making: Although now of “historical interest only” for many years I made all my own instruments including the optics. My main telescope for imaging, a 12inch F/3.6 astrograph, now has a mirror made by Es Reid which is a bit better than mine ever were! The F/3.8 mirror is used with a 3" Wynne corrector from Astrosysteme Austria (ASA) to give the F/3.6 fully corrected flat-field for imaging.
Updated: 14th January 2021
Local society membership: Orwell Astronomical Society Ipswich