Hello from New Zealand

[Stu Todd]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Stuart Todd, a train driver living in Dunedin, New Zealand.
I have been a keen amateur since reading a book by the late, great Patrick Moore, in 1981, I've been hooked ever since!

I "enjoy" micro-lensing event hunting and participate in public outreach with schools, groups and the general public at the Beverly-Begg observatory here in Dunedin. I have been using a SA100 for a couple of years and recently bought a Lhires III (#4) just as my EQ6 blew up so haven't got a mount to use.
Working on that so in the mean time, I am learning by reading these wonderful forums and imaging terrestrial and the solar spectrum, as well as reading many books and online information.

I look forward to contributing to the community and to adding to the BeSS datebase with lots of the southern objects not yet submitted, as well as submitting data for many other southern sky objects.

Warm regards and clear skies,

Stu Todd
Dunedin
New Zealand

[Francois Teyssier]

Hello Stu,

That's great. There are so many targets in southern ky and not enough observers.
Which gratings have you got ?

Welcome on the forum,
Waiting for your first results

François

[Ken Harrison]

Stu, Welcome on board!
There's a pretty active group of spectroscopists in NZ/Oz which I'm sure will be able to assist you on your journey.
As Francois says there are many southern objects just waiting for your attention.
Onwards and Upwards!

[Stu Todd]

Hi Francois and Ken.

I'm keen to learn and start submitting data! I have the 150, 600, 1200 and 2400 l/mm gratings but have an Atik 414Ex which may or may not have issues with fringing.
I also have use of a C11 and C14 but no mount (one burnt out one!) so thinking about an AZ EQ6. I will have to work harder for that....

Stu

[Peter Somogyi]

Hello Stu,

Southern stars seem like a blind spot for amateurs.
Well, C14 on AZ-EQ6... I'll be interested to see it. Maybe I'd be a follower once upon a time. My max weight for my EQ6 pro I was thinking of a 16-18kg 12" Carbon f/4 Newton (for Netwonians you can turn the LHires down, it is saving lots of weight).
First hope you have a remote calibration capable of controlling via software - that's a must for the LHires (especially with the elongated 414 EXm camera design...).

Cheers,
Peter

[Stu Todd]

Hello Peter!

Thanks for your notes, I appreciate everything you said.
I must clarify now that the C14 I mounted is on a Paramount ME2 at the Dunedin observatory and has been my main scope, even with the SA100 (with a SBIG ST-7). We aren't a very active group (many armchair astronomers) but I have been participating in, and this coming Sagittarius winter (!!) we will be fully enrolled in the MicroFun micro-lensing stuff. I won't have use of that scope as won't alter the optical, but can borrow a C11 or a 10" Meade for use on the yet to be paid for new mount (still working on the wife ).

I fancy the AZ EQ6 as its easy to polar align and get great results on PHD2, is versatile and can be used out in the field (very much into my public outreach stuff). Should work with the C11 or Meade 10". My only worry is the Atik 414... as you know Peter.

Stu