Mr Nicholas John Atkinson

I was able from the age of 11 to use my fathers 3" Dolland Student refractor, later in the 6th Form of Farnborough Grammar school I had access to the Army's refractor to study planets and vividly recollect the great red spot on Jupiter. I have been a member since 25th October 2000 and continue visually observing. In 1997 I aquired a AP 900 mount now with GTO4 control box and APCC software. Telescopes:  a 6" refractor with a FSQ 85 piggy backed on top. I use a Starlight Xpress 694 mono and Appogee AltaF CCD cameras with their 7 position filter wheel guiding using a Loadstar  and a Nikon D810A DSLR for guided images of the Deep Sky. The APCC software provides a link to Horizons Comet ephemeris, once downloaded allows tracking on comets and asteroids. Other software: Maxim Dl  ver 6, Sky X, AIP4WIN and Pix Insight I am also venturing into Spectroscopy with the Alpy 600 Instrument. I am a fully qualified member of British Sub Aqua club with a Nitrox Enriched Air advanced Certificate  and enjoyed diving on the South Coast of England particulary off Kimmeridge Bay. The Bay is a great  dark sky  site as well. The Botony of both the New Forest and the Isle of Purbeck is rich and varied with for example the Early Spider Orchid and the coral neckless a challenge to find.