Image of the day

Captured by
Arthur Hogan

Heart and Soul Nebulas

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

December 25, 2015 02:01 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Happy Christmas

Posted By Maurice Clark
A happy Christmas to everyone from where Christmas is celebrated how it should be!! Done by the beach and singing the REAL Christmas songs!!! grin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFbItuu2YWA

February 2, 2016 03:56 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

One for all Star Trek fans

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi All,

For all Trekkies, here is an interesting article detailing the restoration of the original Enterprise, currently being conducted at the Smithsonian.

Enjoy.

Maurice

http://blog.nasm.si.edu/conservation/uss-enterprise-conservation-begins/

February 12, 2016 10:59 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Gravity Waves Detected

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi All,

Very surprised that no-one has yet started a discussion of the first detection of gravity waves. This is a MAJOR breakthrough! It has the potential to rival the first use of the telescope.

Several of the faculty here are associated with LIGO and I had a VERY minor association with the studies done in WA by David Blair. I had a feeling that something like this was in the air for the past few weeks as the faculty members and post-grads involved were suddenly very secretive. Expect a few Nobel prizes being awarded for this in the next few years.

With a completely new window now opened on the universe, we are no longer dependent on just light. Who knows what we will discover over the next few decades!

Maurice

February 16, 2016 09:28 PM Forum: Politics

Rubio stuff-up

Posted By Maurice Clark
It seems like Rubio does not even know his own country! He has released an advert promising a return to "morning in America," but the ad shows the sun rising over the Canadian city of Vancouver, not a USA city.

I have seen this posted on a number of international news sources, eg BBC, ABC. A lot of people are laughing!

March 9, 2016 03:08 PM Forum: Politics

This is just sooo funny!!!!

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi All,

Found this one online. It had me laughing out loud! Typical British homour. (Make sure you read it all)

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelYonFanPage/photos/a.235978145664.135781.207730000664/10151144133110665/?type=3&theater

Maurice

April 9, 2016 03:33 AM Forum: N.A.S.A.

SpaceX nails it

Posted By Maurice Clark
Congrats to SpaceX! They nailed their first successful Falcon 9 first stage booster landing at sea on their drone ship.

After one successful landing on land and 3 "rapid unscheduled disamblies" at sea, the company had a successful sea landing today after launching a Dragon re-sully mission to the ISS. It was amazing to watch.

See here for a reply of the launch and landing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pUAydjne5M#t=35m46s

At first sight it does not seem much as the booster comes in to land, until you realise just how BIG that stick is!

Hopefully this is a big step towards resuabiliy and the reduction in the cost of reaching orbit.

August 9, 2016 03:02 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Time to say "Goodbye"

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi All,

After 16 years of working in and touring around your country, it is finally time to say "Goodbye". I retired 6 weeks ago and after driving over 10,000 miles in 4 weeks, exploring every state west of the Mississippi, tomorrow I get on a plane and head back to Oz.

It has been a fascinating time learning about your culture and exploring your country. You have many beautiful and interesting places, and the way the different regions of your country are so different only enhances the interest.

While I have enjoyed my time over here, I have 5 acres waiting for an observatory and the spectacular southern skies waiting. If anyone is interested in heading "down under" sometime to see the southern skies, PM me and I can send you my email. I will be able to access this site until May of next year. After that I will not be able to renew my membership as I will not have a credit card.

Play nice and clear skies to everyone.

Maurice

PS:- Good luck in the election....... I think you are going to need it!!!!! 8O grin

September 5, 2016 11:55 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Philae Found

Posted By Maurice Clark
It has just been announced that the Philae lander has been located on photos taken by Rosetta on September 2. A great way to finish the mission!

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/09/05/philae-found/

BBC News report:- http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37276221

January 7, 2018 12:09 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

R. I.P. John Young

Posted By Maurice Clark
Sad news from NASA, astronaut John Young has died aged 87.

From Gemini through to the shuttle era, Young was a real pioneer in space exploration.

April 3, 2002 11:19 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Converting a Newtonian to Dobsonian

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi. Converting the OTA to a dobsonian should not be much of a problem.
How are you at woodwork?

One thing I would suggest is that you put the tube into a
cushioned rockerbox with a hinged top so that you can easily remove the OTA and put it back on the GC-3.

To get an idea of what I mean, have a look at the picture
below. The dobsonian is an 8" that I also used on the equatorial.
So I made the top of the rockerbox hinged so that I could quickly and easily remove the OTA.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards,

Maurice


Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search