Author Archives: james

Xbox Live Camera Base Removal

Posted on June 23, 2012 by james

If you’re modding the Xbox Live camera for astro imaging then the base is just one more thing to get in the way. Here’s how to remove it. I’ll assume you’ve already got the front shell off to start with. … Continue reading →

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Fan-Cooled Xbox Live Camera Howto

Posted on June 23, 2012 by james

I modded a second Xbox Live camera to add a fan today and this time took photos, so here’s how it’s done. This one is slightly different from the first in that I’ve not chopped down the lens housing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Astro Equipment, Astroimaging, Astronomy, Projects | Leave a comment

It’s mid-summer, so where’s the Sun?

Posted on June 20, 2012 by james

Someone was asking today why the sky is so bright at night at this time of year, so I had to have a think about where the Sun actually goes… So we’re clear what I’m talking about, let’s say you’re … Continue reading →

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Observation Report, 19th June 2012

Posted on June 20, 2012 by james

Well, it’s been a full month since I last got out with a telescope thanks to the weather, which has been on the wrong side of depressingly atrocious for all of the last four weeks. Despite feeling fairly tired therefore, … Continue reading →

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May 2012 FIT Payment

Posted on June 18, 2012 by james

At the end of May we received our second FIT payment, somewhat less than the first as expected. It does mean however that about 4.3% of the installation cost is now covered. Unfortunately the late Spring and early Summer months … Continue reading →

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Solar PV Generation Update, June 2012

Posted on June 18, 2012 by james

Well, another awful month weather-wise and they say there’s more to come 🙁 Generation for May was, oddly, exactly the same as for April at 395kWh. I was hoping for anything between 500kWh and 650kWh. You’d think all of those … Continue reading →

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Solar PV Generation Update, May 2012

Posted on June 18, 2012 by james

Well, for the first time since installation we’ve had a poorer-than-expected month. No great surprises there, given how utterly awful the weather has been. Output for April came it at a measly 395kWh when based on past performance I was … Continue reading →

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Solar PV Generation Update, April 2012

Posted on June 18, 2012 by james

Somewhat delayed, this, as I’d lost the piece of paper that I wrote the reading down on. Doh! Anyhow, output for March was 383kWh, another good month thanks to the unusually good weather. That takes our generation total since installation … Continue reading →

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Fan-Cooled Xbox Live Camera for Planetary Imaging

Posted on June 17, 2012 by james

The Xbox Live camera has found something of a following as a cheap planetary/lunar imaging camera since the SPC900 (which is undoubtedly a far better camera) started fetching silly prices. I’ve always found it very noisy however. The camera does … Continue reading →

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50mm Binocular Objective Finder

Posted on June 17, 2012 by james

I wanted a 50mm right-angle finder, but didn’t fancy paying the £90 to £100 they seem to cost, so after someone mentioned it was possible I decided to make my own. I picked up a 50mm binocular objective, cheap diagonal … Continue reading →

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