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Posted by Paul A Brierley at 20:11 on 2012 Dec 24
What a good choice.Merry Christmas David and the same to you Tony.
Posted by David Arditti at 19:13 on 2012 Dec 24
Merry Christmas to all BAA members. I haven’t made a Christmas image, so here’s Jupiter, the Bringer of Joy, instead.
Posted by Dave Jones at 14:20 on 2012 Dec 20
Hi EricAt my local observatory (Norman Lockyer, Sidmouth Devon) we regularly use our laptops outside for our member’s telescope and camera control.We all use boxes to keep them in, large plastic boxes from a well known stationers, and if you can get one with clip on lids they are even better.We drill small holes in the sides for cable entries and have the box on the side so the lid is at the front. Once we have done all our setup and start imaging we snap on the lid and the residual heat from the laptop keeps the temperature high enough inside to prevent dew or frost forming. (it also helps to keep light pollution to a minimum if there are lots of members imaging or observing at that time)HTHDave
Posted by Gary Poyner at 13:57 on 2012 Dec 20
John Mason is a good choice, but lets face it – you can’t replace the irreplaceable.Good luck to whoever gets chosen.Gary
Posted by TonyAngel at 13:38 on 2012 Dec 20
Personally I would like to see John Mason in the chair supported by Chris Lintott.
Posted by Americo Watkins at 12:34 on 2012 Dec 20
Tony,thanks for the comments. I’ve just aquired another re-con lap top and will take your advice and keep it running after returning it to the house after use.Eventually, I will run an observatory laptop or pc from the house, I can then enclose the computer into warmer, drier cupboard, which hopefully will reduce any problems.In returning to regular observing, I don’t recal the dampness being so prevelent when I regularly observed many years ago, yes there were some weeks, but it seems to be months now. B ut then I suppose the summers were warmer and longer and policeman didn’t seem so young and …..Cheers eric
Posted by Gary Poyner at 09:01 on 2012 Dec 20
David Arditti wrote:
The Telegraph also seems to have started a campaign for Brian May to be the next presenter of S@N.A joke surely?Gary
Posted by TonyAngel at 22:40 on 2012 Dec 19
I have used both a laptop and a desktop pc in the observatory. I have found that dew is the problem. With the desktop I was advised never to switch it off as that is when the problems start. I have found with the laptop I also never switch it off until I have brought it back to the house and let it run inside for a few hours. Saying all that I still sometimes have problems.For my setup I use a computer in the observatory running VNC server and another in the house running VNC client, but I am going to try and get rid of the observatory computer and replace it with a USB server. I still need an internet connection because I have an IP camera in the observatory to keep an eye on things.
Posted by TonyAngel at 22:22 on 2012 Dec 19
I doubt if he would want to do it. He would be better in other areas. I know who I would want.
Posted by Paul A Brierley at 19:16 on 2012 Dec 19
That would be a good choice.But I do wish the media. Would stop referring to Patrick as eccentric. I for one don’t think he was.
Posted by David Arditti at 21:11 on 2012 Dec 18
Yes, I liked that as well.According to The Telegraph, PM’s house is to be turned into an astronomy centre.The Telegraph also seems to have started a campaign for Brian May to be the next presenter of S@N.David
Posted by D A Dunn at 18:16 on 2012 Dec 18
Eric,Maybe it is just an old machine and some of the components are at their limit. Capacitors particularly fail with age.Looks like trying another one might be a good idea.Good luckDavid
Posted by Americo Watkins at 16:21 on 2012 Dec 18
David,I do not keep the computers in the observatory. Last use, it worked fine, though the night was not as cold.However, when I bought it in and tried to use it the next morning in the house, having been indorrs all night it started up, loaded and after a few minutes of use failed. I have tried it again today within the hosure and it still wouldn’t start up. Tried it just now in the study and it loaded up. I get a feeling it may be the laptop. I’ve got another referbished one coming tommorow. I’ll see how I get on with that. I also have an old Tower systgem I could use and keep running if problem persists.Eric
Posted by D A Dunn at 16:02 on 2012 Dec 18
Eric,As you say the safety issue is the main worry.As to why your machine failed. If it was cold initially then damp could have got in. My advice would be to start the machine indoors for a laptop or keep it running if you have a desktop permanently in the observatory. If I recall, ordinary commercial computers are only designed to work in the 0 – 30 Celsius range. Did the machine recover after warming up indoors?RegardsDavid
Posted by D A Dunn at 15:54 on 2012 Dec 18
Very many thanks. Couldn’t wait for Christmas! Just watched all the meeting. I do miss being able to get to BAA meetings but I guess that’s the price I pay for dark skies in France.Unfortunately its been cloudy a lot recently but I have got a few observing sessions in over the last month.David
Posted by Gary Poyner at 09:24 on 2012 Dec 17
Thanks Nick.So there is something decent to watch over the Christmas period after all!Gary
Posted by Callum Potter at 21:32 on 2012 Dec 13
Hi Nick,Go to the My Profile link in the forum (should be just above)Then, choose the My Avatar link, and the page there will let you upload your forum picture.Email me if you have any problems.Thanks, Callum
