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Greg Parker is a professor of electronics at Southampton University. He’s also a wizard. Like his co-author Noel Carboni. Real wizards, capable of obtaining some images that rival the best of Hubble’s and giant Earth-based telescopes using less than $15,000 in equipment and more patience than any money in the world could buy. Their magic: A refrigerated CCD chip, a rotating dome, and some smart post processing in Photoshop.

These images will be part of Star Vistas, a book that will be published next year and will collect all their photos of space, taken since they met online four years ago. The two alien Peeping Toms started to collaborate online in 2004. Noel—a Photoshop wizard with an astronomy inclination—helped Greg post-process his images of M33, which is a member of our local group of galaxies along with Andromeda (M31, who they also got in their book) and our very own Milky Way.

Greg uses a 28 cm Celestron NExtar 11 GPS reflecting telescope with Hyperstar lens, an optical assembly that attaches to the telescope secondary mirror, turning it from a slow f10 to an ultrafast f2 astrograph. This system is not designed for the human eye, so he got a matching Starlight Xpress SXV-H9C one-shot color CCD camera.

To increase the performance of the camera, he had to get rid of the noise in the sensor, which is produced by heat during long exposure times. This is achieved by installing a solid-state refrigeration system, which lowers the temperature of the CCD to 55º F less than the ambient temperature.

In addition to this, there is a last ingredient in the recipe: Parker moves the dome in his observatory by hand ever half hour, to adjust to the rotation of the Earth, which results in a moving sky.

In other words: Magic. [Star Vistas via Daily Mail]

By allowing its snooty customers to manipulate the snooty Microsoft Surface interface with their snooty fingers, BMW has officially become the first car maker to offer the touchscreen tech to a worldwide car-buying audience. Impressed? Me neither, but that’s just because I’m a low-paid writer who’s insanely jealous of anyone driving a car that’s hotter than my 2006 Mercury Milan. So, basically everyone.

As you can see in the video, there’s nothing ground-breaking here, save for some fancy cars and interactive swatches for interior and exterior colors (the software was developed by Vectorform for BMW, btw). If you’re up for a stiff German guy reading off a cue card, though, then by all means clicky clicky. [BMW Blog, Thanks Haratiu!]

Is this tire really the “Holy Grail of Eco-Transportation,” as Treehugger believes? Maybe. Time will tell if the electric engine inside the Active Wheel from Michelin will catch on and further drive down the cost of electric vehicles. For now, let’s delve deep into this tire-motor combo, and you can decide for yourself if it has what it takes to kill the gas-guzzling combustion engine for good.

The wheels, while still in development over at Michelin, already have a vehicle ready to receive them. Called the Heuliez Will, this tiny tot from Opel doesn’t look like much, but it has it where it counts, and might produce an offspring that, in a galaxy far, far away, makes the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Or requires no gasoline to run. Probably the latter.

Even more impressive is the notion that in-wheel motors would free up space in the front or rear of the vehicle. This model also eliminates the need for other notorious space hogs like transmissions and exhaust systems. More room means more freedom for tomorrow’s automobile designers, and cooler cars for we consumers. (*fingers crossed* anyway).

The target price for the Opel right now is about $24,000-37,000, which puts it in line with the upcoming so-called savior of Detroit, the Chevy Volt. Testing on the Opel has already begun, with an official consumer roll out expected by 2011. Active Wheels are also expected to come standard on the Venturi Volage sometime in 2012. [Michelin via Treehugger]

The global recession has sparked riots at the Nerf factory in Dongguan, South China, but there are as-of-yet no reports of any Vulcan GF-25 cannon discharges. In fact, no foam weaponry of any kind was brandished during the tussle, which came to a head following layoffs and unpaid wages.

And unlike the riots that took place in Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores in the States last Friday, there were no reports of fatalities. Just general bedlam:

The workers battled security guards, turned over a police car, smashed the headlights of police motorcycles and forced their way through the factory’s front gate, Guo said. They went on a rampage in the plant’s offices, damaging 10 computers, the company said.

Below is that oldie but goodie Nerf office war video, because it’s awesome.

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[AP via Boing Boing]

We figure this RC Black Widow Spider is good for maybe one, possibly two, good scares before a skittish family member offs it with a well-placed slipper to the head. But until then, you’ll have seconds or minutes of fun making this hairy little abomination scurry around the family room on its eight little legs. Requires six AA batteries, one 9-volt battery, about $36, and a forgiving family that doesn’t instinctively squash something that resembles one of the deadliest spiders on the planet. [Play.com via Technabob]

I was overcome with nostalgic joy this fine afternoon when I first laid eyes on these M.U.S.C.L.E Men USB dongles (short for Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere). The memories! These fleshy pink rubber men, featuring unforgettable names like Muscle Man, Mr. Blocky and Mr. Tea (teacup for a head, duh!), were a staple of my youth. Too bad those fond memories were quickly sullied by the obscene humping end of these USB dongles. Why the Japanese took something as sacred as Kinniukman and turned him into something like this, I’ll never know. All I can say is “only in Japan,” and then order ten for my desktop. [Geek Stuff For You via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Today, Black Friday is a distant, blood-soaked memory, and the tamer online affair known to the marketers who created it as “Cyber Monday” will arrive tomorrow. Look for a Gizmodo roundup of what to expect on tomorrow later this evening. For now, revel in the crazy eBay Door Buster deals we’ve uncovered so far.

The purported list includes one of each of these items, which will be randomly posted to eBay throughout the day. Starting bid for each item is $1. But, you have to find them, like an Easter Egg hunt.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Coupe
2.25 carat Asscher cut diamond engagement ring
Kawasaki Jet Ski
Panasonic 1080p 65” plasma TV
Playskool KOTA the Triceratops Dinosaur
Supoman intelligent robot automatic lawn mower Previously owned
2007 Oscar de la Renta jeweled evening gown2
Men’s Brooks Brothers charcoal wool suit2
Playhouse Kingdom mansion kit
Zorb inflatable ball
LG HDTV titanium refrigerator/freezer unit
1948 Leaf Series 3 Babe Ruth card
Ping G10 golf club set
Green Life Electric Scooter
One-person mini-sauna

The items include free shipping, which definitely helps if you win a frickin’ Corvette.

Official rules, found at eBay, are below:

How to Play the $1.00 Holiday Doorbusters Event: Over the course of each day during the Promotion Period, Sponsor will hide one hundred one (101) item listings on the eBay Site(s) (each, a “Hidden Listing”). Each day, Sponsor will post a clue related to each such Hidden Listing (the point at which the Hidden Listing and corresponding clue are posted during each day of the Entry Period shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole and exclusive discretion) at http://eBay.promotionexpert.com/doorbuster/index.html (the “Promotion Site”). Eligible Participants will be required to think of an answer to the clue to help guide them through a search of the eBay Site(s) for the featured Hidden Listing. The first Eligible Participant to find each Hidden Listing, click “Buy It Now,” follow the instructions provided, and successfully complete the purchase will secure the Hidden Listing item (pending verification of his/her status as an Eligible Participant). All Hidden Listings will be priced at $1.00. Limit of one (1) eBay $1.00 Holiday Doorbusters Event Hidden Listing purchase per person per eBay User ID per household during the Promotion Period. Each Hidden Listing will remain on the eBay Site(s) until it is found or until the Promotion Period has ended, at which point the Hidden Listing will be removed. Since the Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of an “Ultimate Deal” item exceeds $600, a U.S. purchaser will be required to supply his/her social security number for tax purposes and will receive an IRS Form 1099 for the ARV of the “Ultimate Deal” item purchased. Images used in the Promotion may not be actual representations of Hidden Listing items. While the items for sale are new and have not been used for any other purpose, item may not be delivered in its original packaging or with its original documentation. Winners will be required to sign additional documentation, including, but not limited to, affidavit/declaration of eligibility and liability release, and where legal, a publicity release, and for U.S. residents, a federal and state tax release and return same, properly executed, within seven (7) days of issuance. Failure to return documents as specified, or if any notification is returned as undeliverable, will result in disqualification.

[GottaDeal]

For some, the all-seeing CCTV camera is a bit off putting. Its uncaring eye records all, making even a simple trip to the ATM an adventure in privacy rights for our more conservative-minded citizens. In Japan, they understand this, and in typical Japanese fashion they’ve started hiding surveillance cameras in “friendly” Daruma wish dolls to lessen the blow.

And yes, it says “this is a surveillance camera” on the side, but it’s still damn cute. Record my every move all you want, Daruma-san! [Japan Probe via Crunch Gear]

While many people use the shopping bonanza Black Friday (now deadly, btw) to secure new clothes as gifts for loved ones, I use it as an excuse to buy new pants because my old ones don’t fit after Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully, I won’t have to do that anymore, because the Waistband Stretcher removes that task and all other vestiges of personal accountability from the equation forever.

The $30 device slips into a pair of jeans or slacks and does as advertised. It stretches them out to a more pleasing and comfortable size 40, or whatever your waistline might be after a full day of gorging on turkey, potatoes and pie.

The stretcher promises to breath new life into your old wardrobe by adding one to five inches of extra girth. All you have to do is moisten the waistband of your pants, shorts or skirts and insert the stretcher. It’s “easier and more economical than taking tight-waisted clothes to the tailor for alterations,” says the marketing spiel, and who are we to argue?! The sad thing for the heftiest amongst us is the Waistband Stretcher only “rescues” garments with waistbands ranging from 21″ to 45″. But look on the bright side, you 46-inchers—there’s always the mumu! [Skymall via Random Good Stuff]

Last Sunday we were writing about amazing underground diving rigs in the heart of New York City. It seems only fair that we jump across the pond this Sunday and write about a mile-long super secret tunnel lair below London that’s currently for sale, don’t you think? Asking price: A cool $7.4 million. It sounds a bit much for an empty stretch of nothingness deep below the British streets, but wait until you hear about the history. Oh, the history!

This tunnel is actually one of eight built by the British government during World War 2 as a network of bomb shelters to protect citizens from the German blitz. They could hold 8,000 people and were designed to function for five weeks without any assistance from the outside world. This “protection” even included “a bar and two canteens, not in use, and a billiard room, not to mention functioning water and electricity supplies,” reports the New York Times.

However, after their completion, the tunnels were held aside to serve as secret bases of operations for soldiers. They were never used as shelters. Instead, they served as a temporary base for D-Day troops; one even became the European HQ for U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Later, in 1944, the tunnels became bastions of counterintelligence, as members of the secret service used them to coordinate resistance movements in Nazi-controlled countries. The tunnels, once filled with Normandy invaders, were decked out with spy gear, telephones and teleprinters.

Today, though, the tunnels are empty, and waiting for some rich playboy real estate tycoon to swoop in and buy them up. Won’t you take up that standard, and invite us poor gadget-loving folk to a few parties below the busy London streets? Please? [New york Times]