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Mickserized Dob
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After days of experimentation, regional astronomers, inventors and part time boffins Paul Thomas and Marc Bradshaw have perfected a low cost solution to mounting a big dob in equatorial mode. Using nothing more than the ubiquitous big dob, an Acme Cement and Slab model 2.2CF concrete mixer, a few bits and bobs and a couple of big lunchboxes, Marc and Paul have created a versatile and scalable mount that takes the guesswork out of looking at Cool Stuff(TM).
 Paul explained the basics behind the mount for us. "It's hardly rocket science" says Paul. "Fortunately, the Acme Cement and Slab 2.2CF comes inclined at an angle of 20 degrees out of the box, so we just needed to weld a fine tuning nut and bolt onto the tilt mechanism to give us our local lattitude fine adjustment of 20.25 degrees." We asked Paul whether the mount needed any counter weights. "We did have few problems at first", Paul replied, "but we soon solved that with some extra ballast. A 10kg bag of cement, with your normal ratio of sand and water has just the required effect, and you can get cement mixed for any odd jobs you have at the same time. Just be sure to make an adjustment for the correct quantity depending on the size of the Dob or the job. If you need a really big slab laying, you'll probably want a 16 or even a 20" Dob." Asked about any possible drawbacks, Paul said "Not really, just be sure you don't get quick drying cement by mistake." Elaborating further, Paul said "2.2 cubic feet of quick drying cement down your optical tube is worse than a week of cloudy nights."
 Marc was in control of the electronics and computer interface. "Piece of cake really." says Marc, "The biggest challenge was getting the mixer motor to slow down enough to stop the end the of the Dob slapping into the concrete we'd just laid, and to follow the stars instead. Grizz came up with the winning idea there, we just plugged it into the mains instead of our generator, and it suddenly slowed right down. Thank goodness for outback electricity!". Of course no Mickserized Dob is complete without a couple of big lunchboxes, and fortunately Marc and Paul have a couple. Asked what was in them, Marc replied "Originally it was smoked salmon sandwiches, a pork pie, clotted cream and jam scones, but the cream and scones would only work in the northern hemisphere, so we had to switch to using a couple of Anzac biscuits and a blueberry muffin".
 "The whole thing can be computer controlled too", Marc said. "Just eat the sandwiches, pie, muffin and biscuits, fill the empty lunchbox with electronic gubbins, write a nifty bit of code, plug in, and hey presto, in minutes you'll be making the hubble look like the world's best telescope. Your concreting skills won't suffer either." When asked about the future of the Mickserized Dob, Marc said "Watch this space. Anytime now we'll be adding a Cox Stockman ride-on mower and Garmin GPS for that complete GOTO scope solution at an economical 4.6 light years to the gallon. As an extra bonus you get the grass cut before you lay your slab."
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Another Stargazer Published
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21/10/2005 - For the second time in a blue Moon, A Tropical Stargazer has had a picture published in Australia's leading space and astronomy magazine, Australian Sky & Telescope. This time it's the talented upcoming astrophotographer and Mick Benedetti protégé Marc Bradshaw with his image of the recent Venus, Jupiter, Moon, Spica conjunction in an article entitled 'Triple Treat'. At a recent public event where Marc signed copies of Australian Sky & Telescope for his doting fans, Marc said "I owe it all to Mick really. Before he took me under his wing I didn't know a pixel from a pulsar, but now it's fine carriages, country estates, and as many viewing nights as my telescope can cope with."
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Local astronomer Paul Thomas was also present at the event, and when asked what Marc had signed on his copy replied "Thanks Grizz, I'll slip you the fifty later." And in an interview with the Astonisher, Tropical Stargazers' secretary and Great Barrier Reef Observatory Director Ray Johnston said, "Marc is on the up and up. It wouldn't surprise me if Mick offered him a position at one of his observatories. Preferably the one at the South Pole." You can see Marc's image in this month's Australian Sky & Telescope on page 53.
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Local Astronomer Published
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18/08/2005 - Club president Mick Benedetti has had one of his amazing
pictures published in the Australia's leading astronomy magazine, Australian Sky & Telescope. The picture, taken from a cane field west of Mackay in June, shows the three planet conjunction of Mercury, Venus and Saturn, as a backdrop to some very nice trees. When interviewed on national television, Mick denied this would be changing his life too much. "Of course I'll need a few weeks off work to travel to London to collect my medal from the Queen, and I may buy a new observatory in Hawaii on the way back, but otherwise it's business as usual" says Mick.
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| However, Mick's photo has caused some unrest in the club, leading to Mick's disqualification from a current photo contest being run by the club secretary Ray Johnston, Director of the Great Barrier Reef Observatory. Ray says "Mick's gotten too big for his boots, this contest is for amateurs only. And as for his Hawiian observatory, it's not how big it is that matters, it's what you look at with it!". You can see Mick's image in this month's Australian Sky & Telescope on page 93.
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Taking the Mick is named in honour of the first president of the Tropical Stargazers Inc, Michael Benedetti, and came about after he had a picture published in a prominent astronomy magazine. News items and features on this page are authored on a planet that manufactures nut products, and as such should be taken with a pinch of salt.
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