Alan Murta 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
@alanmurta.bsky.social
Senior graphics programmer at Cloud Imperium Games. Planetary photographer. Formerly at TT Games and Computer Science lecturer. Inept bassist.
Relieved to find that my new telescope mount fits in my observatory, thanks to careful measuring and some 3D modelling done ahead of its purchase. It replaces the old Meade fork mount which had become unusable.
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Relieved to find that my new telescope mount fits in my observatory, thanks to careful measuring and some 3D modelling done ahead of its purchase. It replaces the old Meade fork mount which had become unusable.
I spent some time renovating my boiler room. It was my first attempt at floor levelling and tiling.
November 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I spent some time renovating my boiler room. It was my first attempt at floor levelling and tiling.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), Souter Lighthouse, Whitburn, UK. 25 October 2025. #Astrophotography
October 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), Souter Lighthouse, Whitburn, UK. 25 October 2025. #Astrophotography
Cleanly removing my 12" Meade LX200 from its old fork mount was tricky. I'm now waiting for a dovetail plate to arrive so I can attach it to its new Sky-Watcher mount.
October 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Cleanly removing my 12" Meade LX200 from its old fork mount was tricky. I'm now waiting for a dovetail plate to arrive so I can attach it to its new Sky-Watcher mount.
We are skipping our #CitizenCon in-person annual event this year but will be showcasing our ongoing developments in a livestream on YouTube (Saturday, 8:00pm UK time).
CitizenCon Direct 2955
Roberts Space Industries is the official go-to website for all news about Star Citizen and Squadron 42. It also hosts the online store for game items and merch, as well as all the community tools use...
robertsspaceindustries.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:55 AM
We are skipping our #CitizenCon in-person annual event this year but will be showcasing our ongoing developments in a livestream on YouTube (Saturday, 8:00pm UK time).
I just attended a great talk about interstellar asteroids at Jodrell Bank given by Prof Chris Lintott.
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I just attended a great talk about interstellar asteroids at Jodrell Bank given by Prof Chris Lintott.
Current DIY project: renovating my boiler room which includes levelling the concrete floor.
October 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Current DIY project: renovating my boiler room which includes levelling the concrete floor.
Reposted by Alan Murta 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
My 20+ year old telescope mount has finally become unusable. It's been temperamental for a long time, but is now worse than ever. I am looking into alternatives
September 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
My 20+ year old telescope mount has finally become unusable. It's been temperamental for a long time, but is now worse than ever. I am looking into alternatives
Saturn at opposition (21 September) and Rhea transiting Saturn (22 September). 12" Meade LX200 / Player One Uranus-C. #Astrophotography
September 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Saturn at opposition (21 September) and Rhea transiting Saturn (22 September). 12" Meade LX200 / Player One Uranus-C. #Astrophotography
I gave a tech talk to my work colleagues today. This wasn't the real topic, but maybe I fooled them for a moment. 😅
September 18, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I gave a tech talk to my work colleagues today. This wasn't the real topic, but maybe I fooled them for a moment. 😅
Saturn on 9 September 2025. 12" Meade LX200 / Player One Uranus-C. #Astrophotography
September 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Saturn on 9 September 2025. 12" Meade LX200 / Player One Uranus-C. #Astrophotography
Getting some sharp views of Saturn tonight. #Astrophotography
September 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Getting some sharp views of Saturn tonight. #Astrophotography
Morning walk around Dunham Massey Deer Park.
August 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Morning walk around Dunham Massey Deer Park.
I have acquired a copy of this Andy Saunders book a few days before its official release. A masterpiece - as was its predecessor Apollo Remastered.
August 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I have acquired a copy of this Andy Saunders book a few days before its official release. A masterpiece - as was its predecessor Apollo Remastered.
Congratulations to my former TT Games colleagues on the release of the LEGO Batman reveal trailer.
August 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Congratulations to my former TT Games colleagues on the release of the LEGO Batman reveal trailer.
New desktop microphone for my home office setup. All I need now are some colourful LEDs behind me and I can start podcasting. 😅
August 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
New desktop microphone for my home office setup. All I need now are some colourful LEDs behind me and I can start podcasting. 😅
I'm off to see some death metal next year. Unfortunately they didn't offer a discount for seniors.
August 12, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I'm off to see some death metal next year. Unfortunately they didn't offer a discount for seniors.
I just learned I have a new wisdom tooth coming through. Late bloomer.
August 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I just learned I have a new wisdom tooth coming through. Late bloomer.
I got my boxing equipment out today for the first time in years. I'm really rusty. There was a time when I could kick near head level.
August 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I got my boxing equipment out today for the first time in years. I'm really rusty. There was a time when I could kick near head level.
Taken around 33 years ago, this was my official staff photo when I was lecturing at the University of Manchester. It was displayed on the Computer Science Department photo board so the students could put names to faces.
August 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Taken around 33 years ago, this was my official staff photo when I was lecturing at the University of Manchester. It was displayed on the Computer Science Department photo board so the students could put names to faces.
I can certainly focus more when working remotely, having worked in office-based game development for 20 years and then spending 5 years doing the same from home.
Remote workers are 40% more productive than those same workers in the office. And most of us spend those in-office days on Zoom ANYWAY, talking to people in other offices.
But it makes managers sad that they can't physically see their peasants toiling in the fields, so out you go!
But it makes managers sad that they can't physically see their peasants toiling in the fields, so out you go!
getting into this template
July 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I can certainly focus more when working remotely, having worked in office-based game development for 20 years and then spending 5 years doing the same from home.
With Ozzy Osbourne, 1982.
July 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
With Ozzy Osbourne, 1982.
I used to experiment with something similar to this over 35 years ago, after reading a 1988 article in Scientific American (concerning Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction cellular automata). The field has come a long way since then.
Algorithms for making interesting organic simulations
Article explaining simulation algorithms that produce complex organic behaviours, starting with the classic physarum algorithm from Jeff Jones.
bleuje.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I used to experiment with something similar to this over 35 years ago, after reading a 1988 article in Scientific American (concerning Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction cellular automata). The field has come a long way since then.