Fiat Lux!

First, the renovations then the unveiling

Is there anyone reading this that doesn't want that view?

Oh and .. why can't I be you?

Shuttle Silhouette

But hark! What approaches, o'er this layered and misty setting?

Tis a shadow, an arrival, relief.

:D

Wall-E? Is that you?

Familiar vistas in an unfamiliar place
Oh to see a sunset on Mars

NASA Goodies and more

Lots of launches of late, not that I'm complaining or anything! Then there's the Spacewalking, which I am also not complaining about! But of course there's the pretties further away and also debris and then some frost. Then there's collisions and clusters and geeklove.

Damn! It's a great big universe, and it's very very pretty.

On the smaller side, at home. There's a Mars session planned for the weekend, clouds permitting with Bill and Pip, hoping for clear skies tomorrow. If all goes well I want to take my scope, both cameras (little one for timelapses) and various tripods and inverters and laptops.

If it comes off, you will all know about it :)

Stars Over Snells Beach

Stars Over Snells Beach
Originally uploaded by chickinthepark1

Went out to test the 20D tonight, was an awesomely clear night but I had power problems with the camera, which kinda sucked. The laptop worked fine, but I only got 25 shots in before the camera died. So this is the best of those.

30second exposure, Apeture f/3.5, ISO 400

Launches and Planetoids

Damn I love NASA:

On Launch Pad 39A and 'Go' for Launch and GOES-P Set for Launch.

Then there's this. And a Little Galaxy With a Tail.

As you all might have noticed from my last post, there's family things I need to deal with, so expect posting to be sporadic and mainly link-based for a while.

War. And peace.

Tonight saw Mars through the 'scope and for the first time ever saw details on the planet!  Very exciting!

In other, sadder, news.  My uncle, John McKechnie, passed away this morning.  He was an enormous influence on my life, he got me into CG, he looked after me, he taught me a lot of the things that help me be me now and he was my friend.

He was also one of the big inspirations for my astronomy habit.  I loved him and I will miss him terribly.  He's survived by  my Mum, and his 3 children, Cameron, Rosemary and Andrea.  He was, and  will always be one of the brightest stars in my sky, and now he has rejoined the universe.

Bye Bye Uncle John, love you mate.