Last month we reviewed Windows 10 – Microsoft’s new operating system which is still in the testing phase but due out this summer. I thought I would let you know that recently Microsoft announced that they will be giving away Windows 10 for free! This is in line with what Apple and many other software developers are now doing and it’s great for us consumers.
This month I want to cover a subject that holds a lot of interest for me – astronomy and astrophotography. The idea of being able to take photographs of the stars, planets, galaxy and nebula has long fascinated me; we are now well into an era of modern technology that makes this possible for you and I to do from our home.
There are a whole host of software packages that can be used to explore space that are either free or very inexpensive. Take www.stellarium.org/en_GB for example, it’s a free download for the PC or Mac that allows you to explore what’s around you in the night sky without even leaving your armchair. Apps like Star Walk and Stellarium Mobile can be installed on your smartphone or tablet and enable you to simply point your device to the sky and identify stars and planets. The other day someone in a group I was with, pointed up at a bright object and exclaimed “I’m sure that’s the International Space Station”, within a few taps we were able to confirm that he was wrong – it was in fact the planet Jupiter!
If you have your own telescope then you will be used to looking at objects like the moon and other celestial bodies – did you know that its easy to attach your smartphone to the eyepiece to take pictures of what you see? Have a look on amazon.co.uk, there a loads of after-market “thingamebobs” that will attach your phone to your telescope.
If you dont have a telescope then here are a few websites that will allow you to rent time on theirs. Have a look at www.itelescope.net – you can even try some of them out for free.
If you’re interested in this sort of stuff then drop me an email, there are clubs and groups in the local area that would be happy to give you more information and advice.