Fumbling in the Dark

The speaker says

“This is the story of how I got into astrophotography as I approached retirement: things I learned from first-hand experience working with low-cost and second-hand equipment, the mistakes I made and the disasters I managed to sort out”

About this month’s speaker

David Davies

I was born and raised in Wales and graduated from the University College of North Wales, Bangor,
with a degree in Electronic Engineering in 1969.
My interest in astronomy started when I was 10 or 11 years old. The Space Race was beginning, and
there were many astronomy-related programmes on the radio and TV. As a teenager, I spent many
hours exploring the sky with a Charles Frank 4” Newtonian. Then came university, and I sold the
telescope. I even tried photography through the telescope; fortunately, none of those images
survived.
After university, I moved to Stevenage, where I became a ‘rocket scientist’ in the guided weapons
division of the British Aircraft Corporation, specialising in systems engineering and simulation.
My interest in astronomy returned at the beginning of 2010 after my company presented me with a
telescope in recognition of my long service. I retired at the end of 2011 and moved to the village of
Harlton, Cambridge, to continue to develop my interest in astronomy under darker skies.
I’ve owned several telescopes and now use a 10” Ritchey Chretien and a 107mm refractor in a
manually powered dome observatory in my garden.

You can see what I get up to on my Flickr site.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daviddavies/with/52310871914/

—-

Anyone is welcome – beginner or expert – and there is no need to pre-book. A small charge applies to help us cover costs (typically £3 for non-members; £2 for NEAS members; U16s free). Doors open at 7.30pm with the talk starting at 8.00pm.

Note that if you are using satnav system, the postcode may not take you directly to the hall – please check this Google Maps link if you aren’t sure: https://goo.gl/maps/fNxmg9qnAYm

Covid Precautions

• You are encouraged to wear a mask and you are asked to be respectful and sensitive to the medical circumstances of others
• What to do if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) or symptoms of COVID-19
  The NHS says:
  While you’re no longer legally required to self-isolate if you have COVID-19, you should try to stay at home and away from others to avoid passing on the virus.
  Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you:
• have any symptoms of COVID-19, and have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities
• have tested positive for COVID-19 – this means it’s very likely you have the virusFor full details please see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/
• If you have Covid symptoms and have not taken a test, please do not attend.
• There will be a section of the Hall for exclusively mask wearers. If you are wearing a mask you may of course sit where you want but if you are not wearing a mask do not sit in the masks only area. We have vulnerable people in our club and we want to make our meeting accessible for them.
• We will ventilate the Hall to the best of our ability.