First Light

Well she's finally finished! Got her out last night with great results. Smooth action, good color, superb detail and easy collimation - life is good. A 14 inch f4.5 ZOC mirror on a telekit base.

Fall Fun!

Some retriever practice for Rush this Thanksgiving holiday. Oh do I enjoy the fall weather!

Thanksgiving

A great way to spend Thanksgiving - a little shooting with some friends!

Table!

Thanks to the Youngsville Agility Club for inviting us to shoot at their trials last weekend. We couldn't have asked for better weather for a November trial date. The dogs also had a big time as can been seen by this little guy launching himself for the table.

OK OK But I Love This Dog

OK, I know, two Newfie pictures in a row but he was having such a great time at the Langley Agility trials in Toano last weekend hurricane and all. Thanks to the Langley club for having us shoot and once again many thanks to Laura for hosting the event and putting us up in the barn - much better than outside in the wind and rain!

Poles What Poles

Thanks again to the Tidelands Poodle Club for having us shoot last weekend. A little rainy on Sunday but that didn't seem to slow down the dogs at all. Also thanks to Laura for hosting the event. Still one of our most favorite outdoor locations!

Look Ma No Feets

Well another sunny, rainy, sunny, muddy and yet fun weekend at the DKC's fall agility trials. Thanks to the club for having us shoot - we always enjoy shooting here even if we seem to have a little rain sneak in most times. There were a ton of exciting runs this weekend including some from Emmy shown here with no feets tearing up the dog walk.

Cutie!

Now wouldn't you like to take this little guy home! Not only cute but a fantastic agility dog. Thanks to the Richmond club for having us shoot last weekend. The weather was great and as usual we had some terrific runs. Also many thanks to Laura for hosting the event and letting us set up in the barn.

Great Skies

Well the last couple of weekends before we start hitting the agility road again. The weather has finally co-operated with some nice night skies. Here is SH2-188 the dolphin nebula. A really nice planetary nebula in Cassiopeia.

Mist and Moon

Out to Medoc last week for an evening of astronomy. The weather has been so bad that even a night with a full moon and humidly (read ground fog) couldn't keep us astronuts away. this great pic was taken by Tony Garcia.

Beautiful but Deadly

Back from our trip to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Had a great trip and logged a large number of creature pics. Here's one of a blue ringed octopus. This creature is beautiful to look at but has the dubious distinction of being the most deadly animal in the world.

Coming Together

Last bit of work on the telescope before we leave for Indonesia. This is a test fit of the miror and rocker boxes.

Indoors - Thank Goodness

Well a very hot weekend but thankfully we were indoors at a very nice venue in Cary, NC. Thanks to the DKC for inviting us to shoot their obedience trials.

Telescope Progress

Karen is headed home this Sunday so its time to get the garage cleaned up. I am making progress on the telescope. Here is a test fit of the mirror box and rocker box.

Field Trials and Telescopes

Well, while Karen is up in Maine getting some retriever training in and getting a third place on Miss Spinner in the qualifying and two more legs to get Miss Rush to a Senior Hunter, I have been building a new telescope. It's chaos in the garage until I get it built. It looks like Karen will be home before its done.Guess the car will have to stay outside.

Yahoo!

Well Miss Spinner didn't have too successful a weekend Q-wise but she had a big time running on the fabulous turf at Laura's place. Thanks to the Belroi club for putting on a great trial and thanks again to Laura and Dave for providing such a super venue.

Wet and Wild

Well it's Durham Agility Club's trials again and as much as we do enjoy shooting there - there always seems to be a little (or a lot) of rain. Two great days on Friday and Saturday and then the skies opened up on Sunday. It did make for some interesting shots - as Willow would atest too. Once again thanks for having us.

Thank You Merrimac

Always good weather and great runs at the Merrimac trials. Thanks for having us and thanks to Laura and Dave for being such accommodating hosts! I think there was a jump somewhere ahead?

Super Nova SN2012aw

Well had one clear night last week. Took a shot of the new supernova in M95 - SN2012aw. M95 is pretty close to us - only 37 million light years away so the event we're seeing now happened a scant 37 million years ago. I've marked the location of SN2012aw so you can see it better.

Happy Dog!

A very big thank you to the Tidelands Poodle Club for having us shoot this weekend at what has to be one of our most favorite outdoor venues (thank you Laura and Dave). Here's a shot of Spinner having a big time through the tire. See you all at Merrimac!

Nightly Vigil

For those of you who have wondered where those astro images come from - here you go. The Astro Haven. I figure every hour spent in here under the stars is time added to my life.

Jumping With Style

Thanks to the Star City Agility Club for having us this weekend. We had a big time as usual with the exception of the loooooong ride home on Sunday. Courses were great and the dogs - well just awesome.

The Owl Nebula

Yep no trials again this weekend so I had time to get out last night and do a little imaging again. This is one of my favorite planetary nebula's M97 or The Owl Nebula.

The Cigar Galaxy

Finally had a little time and clear evenings to get out to the observatory. Here is a quick process of M82 or often called the "Cigar" galaxy for good reason. It's about 12 million light years away from us.

Spinner Caricature

Spinner at her finest! Created by Camille Weber from woofsbyweber.com

Tunnel Fun!

Thanks to the DOTC and Star City clubs for having us shoot their January trial. The Virginia Horse Center is a terrific venue. Karen and I apologize for not being able to shoot Sunday. The good news is she is up and around again and should be ready for next months gig.