Space Pilot

 2020 has presented us with a very long summer in many ways, but now there are little signs of autumn here in the southwest of Scotland. I collected a few today as I explored the Crichton Estate.

 I've been admiring the nearby bright and clear view we're having of Mars this week. It's burning bright and fiery in the eastern sky around 11pm or so from this part of Scotland. I snapped off a few shots with my Pentax K-7 and got these quite satisfying results.   The little red dot of Mars in the night sky, too bright for the stars to be detected on the same image (ISO3200 f/4, 1/8s, f=18mm).   A closer look with a 300mm lens. Mars shines through the glare of a street lamp (ISO3200, f/5.6, 1/10s).   An enlarged view taken with the 300mm lens again (ISO3200, f/5.6, 1/60s). It's still up there. So look out for it tonight if it's clear.

 How will Prof Poot Poot cope with all of the stress laid on him in Episode 10? Well Dr Zoe Scope has an idea and all will be revealed in the next instalment of Magpie of Space. She thinks playing a particular 3D game might help focus his mind and help him to offload the stress.   Out now!