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Concept Proposal:
Coleshill Astronomical Public Observatory (CAPO)

Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Equipment:

Project manager Dave Evans has provided items of equipment to the value of £20,434 for initial installation at the Observatory.

Dave's interest in astronomy began as a fourth-year student at Central Grammar School. He found a book in the library titled O'Level Astronomy by Patrick Moore and after thumbing through the pages he was well and truly hooked! He sort permission from the Head-Teacher to form a small study group of classmates who would learn a chapter of the book each week. The group of students were promised that if they studied well they would be entered for the exam at end of term. The whole class passed with grades A to C.

Upon learning about the success of the study group, Patrick Moore invited Dave and his parents to spend the weekend at his home in Selsey Sussex. The weather was superb and everyone had a great time stargazing, playing cricket, and drinking cider. Patrick asked if he could nominate Dave for membership of the British Astronomical Association and the offer was accepted. After a short while, Dave became Analysis Coordinator of the Terrestrial Planets Section (Mercury, Venus and Mars) and also joined a local group, the Chelmsley Astronomical Society.

Over the years Dave's attention turned to comets. In particular, a special group of comets known as 'Sungrazers' that skim past the surface of the Sun and can only be found using the C2/C3 imaging systems of the SOHO Space Telescope. The science teams of NASA / LASCO designated Dave as a named observer of the instrument and in total he discovered 20 comets. At the time he was ranked 2nd in the UK and 16th in the world for all-time comet discoveries.

Today, Dave's main interest is H-Alpha Solar Photography. He images the Sun using a narrow-band filter centred on the hydrogen line of the spectrum. Dave's photographs have appeared on the cover of magazines, in television news reports, and are currently on display at observatories and learning centres around the world.

Now at age 61, Dave has decided to retire early to focus his attention on public outreach activities. In particular, the creation of a new astronomy society for Coleshill and North Warwickshire and to raise funds to build a Public Astronomical Observatory for shared use by local schools and the community.

For the past 18 years, Dave has been CMMS Controller and member of staff at SERTEC.

Observatory Telescope

Celestron 11” Edge HD Optical Tube Assembly £3,658.