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Nov 20, 2009, 4:09pm


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Result 1 of 30:

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Topic: Von Braun - Dreamer of Space - Enginerr of War (Read 20 times)

erikruud
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Von Braun - Dreamer of Space - Enginerr of War
« Result #1 on Nov 12, 2009, 10:25am »

I found this at my local library.

It is a very fascinating book with a lot of details that I had not heard of before.

http://www.amazon.com/Von-Braun-Dreamer-....8043064&sr= 8-1

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Topic: Lunar Imaging - 12 Nov '09... (Read 46 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Lunar Imaging - 12 Nov '09...
« Result #2 on Nov 12, 2009, 8:52am »

Morning Lunar Imaging
12 November 2009

Still on my "Follow the Shadow" lunar series....I got up rather late - 6:00 am...and the skies were already brightening quickly. But still, it was clear, takes no time to set up the C5 and took a few quick images...

[image]

The contrast was very low, the air turbulent and as the city is waking up...traffic makes the ground shake, especially with delivery trucks rumbling by.

No, practical urban astronomy ceases when the sun comes up.

But there were pics to grab and I started along the terminator...

[image]

Hovering around the "Mare Humorum - (Sea of moisture)" region and about 275 miles across, we see an impressive large crater to the lower right...get many craters for the price of one... Crater Gassendi - (17 th century French Philosopher and astronomer - Pioneer of the observation with a refractor. First observer of the path of Mercury ahead of the Sun in 1631. Copernican in connection with Kepler and Galilée).

He gets at least 15, count 'em Fifteen craters named in the general vicinity after him!! It's "who" you know!! #confuse#

Aside from that, the main crater is 67 miles in diameter and the central mountain peak reaches up to 3630 feet. It was looked at at a possible landing spot for Apollo 17.

Looking straight across the Mare, we see three craters.

"Doppelmayer", (18 th century German Mathematician and astronomer ), with a central peak...

Open ended "Lee m" Crater , (19 th century English Astronomer )...

...and Crater "Vitello", (13 th century polish Philosopher mathematician and astronomer).

We revisit Kepler again, with the great ejecta rays in a different light and compared with yesterdays image below...

[image]

But it seems that as the area approaches sunset, the rays are losing their brilliancy.

Looking back at "Sinus Iridum", ( Sea of Rainbows), it's time for cold sleep till we see it again in a week or so.

[image]

Heading north, we come across a array of large "shallow" craters...

[image]

From left to right: "Herschel" (19 th century English Astronomer)...

"Anaximander and Anaximander b" ( Recommended a flat circular Earth. Map of the world known. Discovery of the
Polar Star and of the obliquity of the Ecliptic.)...

Then just reaching to the limb is "Desargues" (17 th century French Mathematician and engineer, and Unification of the theory of the conical.)...

The deeper sharper crater above is "Carpenter" (19 th century English Astronomer)...

...and below is central peaked "Pythagoras" (6 th century BC Greek Philosopher and mathematician and his famous theorem.)

Large piece of lunar real estate..!

And another peek at the elongated "Schiller" crater with yesterdays below...

[image]

And "Hainzel" Triplet crater now in deep shadow.

There was a cat hanging around for my session that I have seen about, and if I didn't already have cats, I would convince her to join my family...

[image]

With that, conditions were not getting better and I was ok with the images of this morning. Not great, but at least it was clear...and we get to follow the phase for another session...

[image]

We see that the Moon is hanging right above my neighbors chimney and approaching trees...session over.

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Chicago Astronomer Joe

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Result 3 of 30:

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Topic: Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09... (Read 113 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Re: Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09...
« Result #3 on Nov 11, 2009, 5:43pm »

Robert,

First welcome to the Chicago Astrronomer.

A easy going place to share our passion for Urban astronomy with each other.

Alas....there are no real astro equipment shops in the general area...it's all internet now. Attaching your Canon to your scope, you will need a "T-mount"...something like mine....

http://astronomer.proboards.com/index.cg....286&page=1#4478

I have a 58mm lens on my Canon Powershot S3 and the T-mount screws into my lens adapter and the three screws on the other end "grab" onto to the 1 1/4 eyepiece.

Does a very good job, but I need a focal reducer, as the camera/scope pair magnifies too much for some shots - can't get the whole Moon in the pic- for example.

There is a T-mount with your name on it somewhere.

Morning skies are very nice to to end a session on.

Joe

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Topic: Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09... (Read 113 times)

bobroude
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Re: Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09...
« Result #4 on Nov 11, 2009, 4:05pm »

Joe, thanks for sharing the morning sky with us. I am a nite owl and seldom see sunrise so this was a treat. I live west of the city and am looking for a good astro equipment shop in the area. Need to find out how to mount a Canon T1i to my Meade 10" SN telescope. Any sugestions would be greatly appreciated. Robert

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Result 5 of 30:

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Topic: Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09... (Read 113 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Lunar & Saturn Imaging - 11 Nov '09...
« Result #5 on Nov 11, 2009, 10:54am »

Lunar and Saturnian Imaging Session

11 November 2009

Continuing my lunar observation and imaging series, this early morning Veteran's Day was a clear one and ready for a session. Starting out at 4:00 am, I set up outside my garage, polar aligned the mount and ready for a quick session.

Temps were in the low 40's and the sky looked deep, but observing conditions through the eyepiece were turbulent and unsettled...and the following images not as clear as other sessions....

[image]

Clearing my neighbors roof and finding itself in a clear section, I took the whole Moon shots thru the 63.5mm finderscope...

[image]

There was now a nice Earth glow on the lunar dark side...

[image]

Attaching the Canon Powershot S3 to the Celestron C5 SCT, I started the shots....

The terminator made a perfect 1/2 slice through Copernicus this morning...

[image]

Staring the crater right in the eye, it's quite a spooky interior.

[image]

Kepler crater has great star shaped ejecta rays...dousing crater "Enke" to the left.

[image]

Further to the right lays "Aristarchus", with very bright reflection properties.

[image]

Sinus Iridum getting ready for sunset and "Pythagoras" crater still in full sunshine to the far right.

[image]

I spent some time enjoying "Lambert" crater - (18 th century German Mathematician), with the interesting riles running in the vicinity. "Mount La Hire" to the left and a ghost of an ancient lava filled crater (Lambert R)....on the way to "Pythéas" (4 th century BC Greek Navigator and geographer).

[image]

The elongated scarf of a crater, "Schiller" (17 th century German Monk, Author of the 'Coelum Stellarum Christianus Atlas' showing Bible inspired constellations), caught my attention and the triplet crater "Hainzel" - (16 th century Danish Astronomer and collaborator of Tycho Brahé), has cool lookin' mountain peak shadows on it's smooth floor.

-------------

With a successful, (although kinda blurry), imaging session, I saw that Mars was high up and Saturn was out of the muck.

I choose Saturn..(Mars is still too small - but wait until January when the planet is at opposition!...

)

I could see the nearly edge-on rings making their way back to open status and decided to take some pics...

[image]

The first image showed promise and I pushed magnification...

[image]

Considering my Lunar shots were not sharp earlier, I am pleasantly surprised at the details, including the transit/shadow the rings were casting on the planet.

I switched the white balance from normal to Flourescent...

[image]

And to Florescent 2...

[image]

...and finally to Tungsten setting...

[image]

Perhaps I should stack these sometime and see what kind of image I would get.

Lastly, observing Titan in the eyepiece, I attempted to image it with Saturn....

[image]

Overexposing, I managed to capture the satellite on the far right - along with three unknown points.

[image]

Could I have captured four Satellites...? Titan, Enceladus, Hyperion and Mimas...? They are not star-like in the image.

If so...quite cool!

(Saturn doesn't require long exposures surprisenly...only about 1/4 of a second or so. Nice....

)

It was now 6:00 am, sunrise quickly brightening the sky and time to pack tools of science away and document another nice imaging session.

« Last Edit: Nov 11, 2009, 12:45pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Result 6 of 30:

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Topic: M42 Imaging - 08 Nov '09... (Read 36 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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M42 Imaging - 08 Nov '09...
« Result #6 on Nov 10, 2009, 6:06am »

First time Imaging of M42
08 November 2009

While on our six hour observation session on the 8th of November, ( http://astronomer.proboards.com/index.cg....lay&thread=2607 ), fellow astro bud Bill and I also did some Orion Nebula viewing.

[image]

Out of the muck and in good position, I planned to see if I could get anything on camera. With the latest success of imaging Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the C5, I was hoping for similar results.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

[image]

With just the camera zoomed in, M42 was bright enough to capture and attaching the Canon to the C5 I got some indication of a nebula...

[image]

Seeing the Triangulum, I knew I was spot on and altered exposures...

[image]

Through the LCD screen on the camera, I was getting color....! I was very excited over this, as I never had tried to capture M42 before. With the limited 15 second/ISO 800 option on the Canon, this was about as good as it was going to get without Registax or similar stacking/processing.

Not a great shot by far, but for a first time attempt..ok. In comparison to a better image by an unknown astroimager....

[image]

Taken thru Bill's 4" Takahashi telescope, I used his nebula filter and it brought out nice detail.

[image]

I decided to try M31 and catch Andromeda in Bill's scope and maybe image it. Sinking into the muck in the west, we caught it and spent a difficult time imaging it.

[image]

As there was nothing I could see in the LCD Screen, even using the laptop remote control feature with larger viewing screen, it was hit and miss - and only verified after the exposure...(Thank goodness for instant digital...!)

[image]

But this was the best I could get with limited equipment, but you can just make out the tilt.

[image]

With that, we went back to some lunar imaging, (pics on the above link), and by 4:00 am...time to pack it in.

Another successful observation session.

« Last Edit: Nov 10, 2009, 6:41am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Tripod socket Adapter... (Read 1,099 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Re: Tripod socket Adapter...
« Result #7 on Nov 10, 2009, 4:58am »

Tripod Socket Replacement Update

Every once in awhile, I get an email from fellow Canon Powershot S3 users world wide, regarding the upgrades and alterations I have made to the camera.

One of the changes was replacing the cheap plastic tripod socket with a brass one. In the above post in 2007, was the first attempt and I thought I could just epoxy the above assembly to the plastic socket, but within a month, it came loose and unusable. I took the leap to completely replace the plastic socket itself and pop in the brass one....ridding the attached plate.

I placed the camera on some padding on the drill press table...and slowly drilled out the plastic socket. I was nervous about this, but had to be done...and the control I had on the press, (as opposed to a hand drill), allowed me to micro-manage the procedure. It came out easy enough and the drill bit was just the right size to remove it all in one slow press. I now had a clean socket hole.

The brass socket would make a tight fit in the now vacant hole, so I placed a couple of drops of Crazy Glue in the hole and placed the new socket in. It needed some persuasion, so I placed a thin plastic shim over it and gently tapped it in with a light tack hammer. It bottomed out and was very secure with no movement.

[image]

Almost three years later and very heavy use, it is still solid and strong.

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Result 8 of 30:

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Topic: Lunar Imaging - 08 Nov '09 (Read 65 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Lunar Imaging - 08 Nov '09
« Result #8 on Nov 9, 2009, 8:06am »

Lunar Imaging Session

- 08 November 2009 -

This fourth evening of consecutive lunar observation found me by the lakefront in a favorite semi-secret location. Fellow Chicago Astronomer Bill joined me and brought along his Takahashi 4" Refractor, offering razor sharp views. We had permission to stay as long as we wanted from the honcho in charge...and we set up for a long unrushed night of lunar/nebula targeting.

On our observation list were some Lunar, M45, & Epsilon Aurigae...along with some star testing for our optics.

Orion was rising nicely and would be a target of some astrophotography later on...

[image]

The rising Moon caught me unprepared, as I was still setting up and took some shots in haste through the 63.5mm finderscope...

[image]

I waited until the Moon rose up high enough to get out of the atmospheric muck and started shooting interesting lunarscapes...

[image]

Here I found the smooth floored crater "Plato" quite interesting:

[image]

...and crossing the central peaked crater "Archytas ", the two craggy scarfs to the NW looked nice...

[image]

The one to the north is called "Epigenes" - 4 th century BC Greek Astronomer and the other to the south "W Bond G" - Observatory Director of Harvard and pioneer in astronomical photography.

Also shown to the south of Plato, is the impressive "Vallis Alpes - (Alpine Valley)"...discovered in 1727, it is a 130 mile long valley.

[image]

Above, "Cassini and Cassini A & B" show two craterlets within the main filled crater at the top. Also are the "Montes Caucasus and Montes Apenninus" range - separating the Mares of Serenitatis and Imbrium (Sea of Rains).

The high walled plain, named "Alexander", shows good shadows from the surrounding mountains, just SouthEast of "Eudoxus"...
which reminds me of Mork & Mindy.

[image]

Copernicus, above, shows nice ejecta lanes.

[image]

Two Items here caught our attention...

First were the two riles named, "Rima Ariadaeus" - after the son of Philippe II. Author of a compilation of eclipses. Assassinated on the order of Olympias and was a 4th century Macedonian King
and "Rima Hyginus" - after a ancient 2nd century Greek Astronomer and Friend of Ovide.

Above the two riles...was this Pentagonal shaped crater named "Boscovich" - 18th century Croatian Mathematician and astronomer.

[image]

Also nice to observe was this curve of craters...

From left to right:
"Hipparchus" - 2nd century BC greek Astronomer...
"Albategius" - 9th century Arabian Astronomer...
"Ptolemaeus" - 2nd century Greek Astronomer mathematician and geographer ...
"Alphonsus" - 13th century Castillan King...
...and "Arzachel" - 11th century Arabian Astronomer and mathematician.

[image]

Here is "Sinus Iridum" - Bay of Rainbows" - just off of Mare Imbrium, is still in bright sunlight this early morning.

The observation night was going great, with Bill and I using his impressive Binocular viewers, (where the observer uses both eyes instead of one). I was mesmerized as I explored the lunar landscape with both eyes and quite comfortable. The 3-D effect is very nice...and thinking about getting me a pair.

We did some other targeting as well, taking images of the Orion nebula, (which came out very nice), and the Andromeda galaxy, but that is for another posting soon. (Using my trusty Canon Powershot S3 is limited in a 15 second/ISO800 to exposure.)

But now, overhead, the Moon was high up...and in the middle of a starry triangle...

[image]

With Gemini above, Mars in Cancer, to the left and Procyon to the lower right...I wonder what this means for my astronomical fortune...?

[image]

It was shirt weather when we started around 9:00 pm, but at 10:30, a cold wind blew in quick from the lake and it was starting to get chilly...and with it - heavy dew. Dew was never a problem for me in the past, using the 4.5" reflector - but now using the C5 SCT and it's corrector plate open to the elements, it started to get fogged up...as well as the other equipment we had out. I brought the scope into the car and kicked up the heater - and while it was clearing up, I made a dew shield from old outdated monthy star charts...and you can see the handy work taped on the scope in the back.

Duct tape is a gift from the gods... :-*

It was now close to 4:00 am and we had been out for close to six hours under open skies and time to pack it in. Both hungry, we elected to have some eats at a all night Chinese restaurant and reflect on the successful session.

2nd part of the session soon -

« Last Edit: Nov 9, 2009, 9:58am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Europa Annularly Transits Io - Nov 12 (Read 29 times)

Centaur
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Gamymede Totally Occults Io - Nov 13
« Result #9 on Nov 8, 2009, 3:25pm »

During the following afternoon/evening Ganymede will totally occult Io. This will be an evening event only on the eastern portion of North America, with afternoon occurrence elsewhere on the continent. At the same time, Io’s shadow will be transiting Jupiter.

For those who might be wondering about the differing terminology, an occultation occurs when a celestial body covers another one with an apparent smaller angular diameter; the converse is a transit.

Ganymede Totally Occults Io
2009 NOV 13 CST (UT-6)

16:20:45 CST Partial Occultation Begins
16:31:31 CST Total Occultation Begins
16:33:25 CST Minimum Separation between Satellite Centers
16:35:20 CST Total Occultation Ends
16:46:26 CST Partial Occultation Ends

[image]

« Last Edit: Nov 8, 2009, 4:03pm by Centaur »

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Result 10 of 30:

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Topic: Europa Annularly Transits Io - Nov 12 (Read 29 times)

Centaur
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Europa Annularly Transits Io - Nov 12
« Result #10 on Nov 7, 2009, 8:16pm »

I predict that Jupiter’s Galilean satellite Europa will appear in annular transit across Io during the evening of 2009 NOV 12. I’ve created two diagrams. The first is a view from above Jupiter’s north pole, and the second is a view from Earth. They can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical . Below is my timetable.

Europa Annularly Transits Io
2009 NOV 12 CST (UT-6)

20:03:41 CST Partial Transit Begins
20:05:29 CST Annular Transit Begins
20:05:36 CST Minimum Separation between Satellite Centers
20:05:44 CST Annular Transit Ends
20:07:33 CST Partial Transit Ends

Photos, descriptions and timings of this event would be welcome additions to this thread.

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Result 11 of 30:

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Topic: Chicago Astronomer Adler Observation sites... (Read 723 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Re: Chicago Astronomer Observation sites...
« Result #11 on Nov 7, 2009, 7:08pm »

Chicago Astronomer Meigs Field Observation site

On evenings where parking is prohibited or otherwise non-available off the immediate Adler Planetarium area, a third spot is often open to me...

[image]

Granted, you can't see the open lake water from here, but it does have a great open sky and for serious observation, no visitors.

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Topic: The "Moon" Who Came to Dinner (Read 14 times)

Centaur
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The "Moon" Who Came to Dinner
« Result #12 on Nov 7, 2009, 3:13pm »

Falling in love is like discovering the Moon, said the secretary in the classic comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner. I’ll be in that play at Cutting Hall in Palatine Fri-Sat-Sun during November 13-29. It’s being produced by Theatre Nebula (another astronomical connection), which is definitely a step above most community theatre companies.

The hilarious and farcical comedy of manners was written and first produced on Broadway in 1939. The popular 1942 film starred Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner and Jimmy Durante. Despite knowing the story, our excellent large cast keeps laughing during rehearsals. Feel free to laugh out loud if you come.

I’ll be playing the radio producer/announcer. It’s a minor role, but suits my background as a former TV anchorman. I’ll be on stage only during the latter portion of the second of three acts. That’s not counting a brief silent role as a prison guard in the first act. So if you come, it should be to enjoy a really funny Kaufman & Hart play, and not to see me.

Here’s a link to more information: http://www.theatrenebula.org/the_man_who_came_to_dinner.htm

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Topic: Lunar Imaging - 07 Nov '09 (Read 37 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Lunar Imaging - 07 Nov '09
« Result #13 on Nov 7, 2009, 9:06am »

Insomnia Lunar Imaging session
07 November 2009

Worked the Adler Planetarium Overnight activity, even catching Jupiter for the visitors through very hazy skies and bands of heavy clouds. I was tired and sleepy by the time I came back home at 10:00 pm and went to sleep.

Getting up for no reason at 3:30 am, I thought to take advantage of the now very clear sky and continue my Lunar imaging series - following the shadow across the surface from last night. Conditions were not optimal for imaging this session, as the winds were brisk and the atmosphere very turbulent...ergo - the pics are not as sharp as last nights.

Setting up outside of my garage, I found the Moon over the roof of the garage and zoomed in for the session...

[image]

Zooming in and hovering over "Mare Serenitatis", we examine the prominent snaking ridge named appropriately "The Serpentine Ridge"....weaving from "Posidonius" crater, Deep in shadow now), on the left to the "Dorsa Lister" ridge.

Again, we revisit the trio of craters: "Theophilus", "Cyrillus" & "Catharina"...deeper in shadow now...

[image]

Only now, is Cyrillus E, F & G craters - making a oddly shaped depression - easily seen and in nice shadow, just to the right of Cyrillus major.

Zooming in "Theophilus", it's central peak, is losing light and just the mountain tip grabbing the last rays of sunlight, as compared to the image taken one night prior...

[image]

In comparison of two nights of observation we examine the crater trio next to each other:

[image]

Mare Serenitatis on two consecutive nights:

[image]

The radio played classical tunes and "Pictures at an Exhibition" had just finished, when the announcer said it was 6:00 am...and with that, an end to another session, as the Moon was slipping behind my neighbors roofline...

[image]

There are plans for the Chicago Astronomer to gather this evening for another lunar observation session....perhaps lakeside.

« Last Edit: Nov 7, 2009, 9:12am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Lunar Imaging - 06 Nov '09 (Read 51 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Lunar Imaging - 06 Nov '09
« Result #14 on Nov 6, 2009, 5:35am »

Lunar Imaging session

- 06 November 2009 -

A bright sunny day lead to a clear evening, but I had no intention of doing any observing this evening. My buddy Bill from the Adler called me and to see if I was going to set up this evening.

And so we had a unplanned session.

[image]

Bill brought along his portable 60mm shorty scope on a Takahashi mount and a set of eyepieces. We also brought out the massive sewer pipe for some comparison views.

The 8' Dob we discovered was good at gathering light, but did not offer razor sharp images as did the C5. It offers "soft" images, and perhaps a combo of dirty mirrors and a badly needed collimation is in order, but it's good for public/visitor abuse. Jumping from 8" Dob to the 60mm shorty refractor to the 5" SCT, Bill and I concurred on our evaluations of the scopes.

(I also discovered that one single screw holds the Sewer Pipe Dob to it's cradle. Wanting to rotate the tube for better viewing, I loosened the screw....and BAM!!!...the tube slid backwards with only the focuser stopping it's travel and taking the force of the slide. No damage, but at least I can rotate the tube now... )

We had three scopes out, including my laptop, garage tunes and digital camera, spending the next couple of hours examining the Moon through different scopes. Using the remote operation option for the Canon Powershot S3 via computer - it was just ok. I appreciated that the vibration factor was eliminated, but it doesn't allow for focusing...and I prefer to have a "hands on" method of imaging. I also took some images of the changing lunarscape from yesterday....

[image]

Taken through Bill's 60mm, lunar sunset is racing across the surface - creating interesting lighting scenes. This evening, "Mare Nectaris" was the star of the evening. At 19.21 Lunar days, the 26,000 mile wide basin with two prominent Ear-like craters, ( Theophilus on the south, Beaumont in the middle and Fracastorius to the north), stood out nicely...

[image]

And the oddly shaped "Gutenberg" crater in deep dark shadow - here zoomed in -

[image]

Just to the "SW" of the basin was a long ridge - leading from "Piccolomini" crater - with a nice central peak...

[image]

Also in the vicinity, the three crater series in a row was inviting too...

[image]

With "Catharina" on the left, "Cyrillus" in the middle and "Theophilus" on the right, it's a remarkable trio of craters.

Theophilus has a interesting central peak formation which also seems to echo the triad theme...

[image]

During our session, three isolated and elongated cloud bands whisked across the sky at great speed from the west...

[image]

As they crossed the Moon, they reminded me of galactic dust lanes ala Sombero Galaxy...!

Closer to the south of the Moon was the "Mare Serenitatis" region where the double ringed "Posidonius" crater caught my attention and the flat floor/open ended Le Monnier crater to the left or north.

[image]

Bill left around 1:00 am, but I stayed out till 2:00 am and took some of the preceding lunar shots...using the "Virtual Moon Atlas" as my lunar road map....

http://www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start

Highly recommended... #Thumbsup#

Another satisfying and successful lunar observation/imaging session to grow on.

« Last Edit: Nov 6, 2009, 5:53am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Mars, Saturn and the Moon - 05 Nov'09... (Read 110 times)

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Mars, Saturn and the Moon - 05 Nov'09...
« Result #15 on Nov 5, 2009, 8:46am »

AstroImaging Mars, Saturn and the Moon

The cloud cover that blanketed Chicago - lifted after midnight, and the skies looked pretty good for some astronomy and maybe some astrophotography.

Taking out the C5 at 3:30 am, I set up out outside my garage and put on some classical tunes. It was rather chilly out (35°), but it was still on till dawn.

[image]

It's rather quiet at 3:30 am in a Chicago alley...

I targeted Mars first, since it was high up and I haven't used the C5 to view it yet. I was pleasantly surprised at the orange disk in the 25mm eyepiece. Kicking it up to a 10mm, I could discern the polar ice cap and terrestrial markings on the planet. Quite cool... :-[

I attached the Canon Powershot S3 via T-mount on the C5 and had a hell of a time centering it and locating the image on the LCD viewfinder. Taking time to precisely aligning the polar finder on the mount, I set the motor tracker and fished around for Mars...and finally found it via the camera screen.

Without a filter, the images came out...ok...

[image]

The Southern ice cap is clearly captured digitally, as are darker terrestrial markings. Did I catch Sitris Major...?

[image]

A difficult time focusing, but I did manage to get some half decent shots. Mars was clearer and sharper than what the pics relay. Satisfied, I went to the next target of the early morning...Saturn.

Saturn had already risen and cleared roofs, so I took a chance in targeting it and maybe even shooting some images...

[image]

The C5 does a good job in capturing Saturn and her rings...again sharper and clearer that what shows in the images, but I was pleased that the rings were showing considering their near-edge on position.

Using the same 10mm eyepiece, Saturn was easier to target via camera and never disappoints.

This was my first time successfully capturing Mars & Saturn on camera..and with the motor drive on the C5 scope, it made it much more easier and less of a hassle...although it wasn't that easy.

One can catch the transit of rings against the planet and visually, some slight banding...but not captured on camera. Titan was also visible, but I did not go fishing for it.

The Moon was shining brightly and sinking in the west, displaying after Full Moon atrifacts..so I took some nice shots...

[image]

I compared the two finderscopes - (The 63.5mm & the 60mm)...and like the images that the 60mm provides better - albeit smaller images...

[image]

There seems to be some achromatic aberration on the 63.5 mm and none on the smaller scope....so I think I will mount that one on the C5 and the 63.5mm on my 4.5" kick-around reflector.

I took a leisurely tour of the lunar surface and snapped away at interesting light & shadow lunarscape scenes...

[image]

On my next shoot, I'll identify the lunar features, but good shots of Copernicus and Tycho here. I like the C5's ability to image the Moon and the motor drive really helps in taking the images.

At around 6:00 am, the sun was rising and my session for this day was over. I was cold, back ached, but it was a nice quiet time with me, planets and the Moon - by ourselves.

[image]

These next few days will be nice and warm....certain to encourage more early morning astrophotography...

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Topic: Four Telescope Session - 02 Nov'09... (Read 78 times)

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Four Telescope Session - 02 Nov'09...
« Result #16 on Nov 3, 2009, 3:12am »

Full Moon Four Telescope Shootout
- 02 November 2009 -

I thought I would do some Lunar imaging this Hunter/Beaver Full Moon of November, using the C5...but...it was a nice evening and quite clear out...

so I brought out three scopes....

[image]

From left to right: 4.5" Newtonian, (Kick-around scope), 5" Celestron SCT, and the Mighty Nikon 4" refractor

I wanted to do a "Shoot-out" between my different telescopes, using the same 25mm eyepiece and comparing them together on the lunar views.

The Moon was rising nicely over my neighbors roofs and I was ready for an evening of testing scopes and lunar imaging...

[image]

But...

I felt this would be a good night to drag out the cumbersome 8" "sewer Pipe" Dobsonian and include it in the shoot out...

[image]

I got it from the Adler, after they no longer wanted it and was taking up space. I don't know who constructed it or the history of it, but it is VERY heavy and clumsy. I included it among the scope armada...and then there were four...

[image]

So now, we had a: 4.5" Newtonian on a Alt/Az mount, 5" Schmidt-Cassegrain on an EQ, 4" refractor on an EQ and a 8" Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount.

Telescopes are like magnets, I had many neighbors and passerbys stop by and ask what was going on - and similar to my Adler activities, showed them the Moon and Jupiter, (which only had three Moons visible this evening.)...

[image]

Although I wanted to compare the the qualities of the scopes and weight the pros and cons of each, I do enjoy talking astronomy with people and sharing with them them the sights. Questions about the Oceans on Europa, why we never see the otherside of the Moon and how many Satellites Jupiter has were some of the many questions I fielded this evening. But in between visitors, I was able to shoot some images of the Moon...

[image]

In the commotion of attending to the visitors, I have forgotten which shots are thru which scopes, (which was my goal for the evening), but the first one was taken thru the 60mm finder scope on the 4.5" reflector.

Full Moons are nice to look at, but very one dimensional, washed out optically and flat...but near the limbs, sometimes one can catch the few hours old post Full Moon objects.

[image]

I was catching Rimae Petavius just on the edge of the lunar limb and viewed at a acute angle...

[image]

As a comparison to established images...

[image]

...I think it is correct. Next time I'll bring a lunar atlas with me.

I also got a nice head on shot of Copernicus...

[image]

56 miles in diameter and great ejecta rays.

It was about 10:00 pm now, have been at it for three hours and done for the night. I did swap out the finderscopes on scopes this evening. Even tho, I like the 63.5mm finder scope that I recently restored a lot, it's still a .096 one...and difficult to attach a camera to...

[image]

I took the 60mm finderscope off the 4.5 reflector, (which is 1 1/4), and installed it on the C5 for now. Maybe I can swap out the focusers....!

[image]

The sewer pipe Dob has been sitting in the basement for about three years, being so awkward, that I really haven't had the opportunity to work it. But even being it is an 8" scope, I was not too impressed in the views. Disregarding the fact that the mount is hard to manipulate, (got to bang it with a closed fist to nudge it along), the extra inches in mirror surface just did not create that much better views of the Moon or Jupiter - which I though would be brighter. But not so. Perhaps the mirrors need to be dusted off and collimated, but I'm digging the other scopes better.

One of my neighbors thought that the kick-around 4.5" reflector had the best views, while another thought the C5 did. For the Moon, both the C5 and Newt did well, but I think the C5 was the winner. The Nikon refractor will always be superior for planetary views with it's great focal length and contrast. For now, the Dob is out of the shoot out.

There will be more, better planned shootouts, perhaps with a fellow astromoner buddy to assist soon.

My desire for the night, (To compare the telescopes against each other), was not accomplished, but it was an enjoyable time...as astronomy often is. I might wait till 4:00 am and take some images of Saturn & Venus...in about one hour....

« Last Edit: Nov 3, 2009, 3:35am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Lunar Experiment shots - 01 Nov'09... (Read 50 times)

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Lunar Experiment shots - 01 Nov'09...
« Result #17 on Nov 2, 2009, 3:21am »

Experimental Lunar Images through the C5
- 01 November 2009 -

It's been very cloudy and rainy of recent, and I have had no opportunities to put the C5 and 63.5 mm finderscope through it's paces. This first day of November, it was kinda clear...so I spent about an hour taking some experimental shots.

The finderscope is very picky, being that it wants it's focal point precise, and using a camera in it's present configuration just won't cut it. It's focus is either too long...or too short...not extending far enough out - or with a diagonal on, not retracting enough in...

I need to craft some sort of adapter to use the Canon Powershot S3 on it.

But, the C5 gladly accepts the camera with a T-mount. Red Dot Laser needs a bump in calibration I found out...

[image]

But the shots are acceptable using a wide field 25mm...

[center] [image]

Using the Tungsten setting, I zoomed in with the camera, catching the sunrise lunar limb.

[image]

Using a more normal white balance, some shots of the interior, but the lunarscape was rather washed out, as we near full Moon tomorrow.

Later on in the early morning, whilst taking out the garbage...I noticed a very nice Lunar Halo from the thickening passing clouds and took some shots at 2:30 am.....

[image]

With the bare limbed trees of my backyard, it all had a very spooky, yet serene feel.

« Last Edit: Nov 2, 2009, 3:33am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Never Date an Astronomer... (Read 44 times)

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Never Date an Astronomer...
« Result #18 on Nov 2, 2009, 1:15am »

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Topic: Chicago Astronomers and Cosmic Adventures Concert (Read 142 times)

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Re: Chicago Astronomers and Cosmic Adventures
« Result #19 on Nov 1, 2009, 3:31am »

Cosmic Adventures Symphony Concert
at the University of Chicago

31 October 2009

Part 2

After the great surprise of the three Astro Joe's, we find our way to our seats to catch this wonderful evening of Space Themed symphonic music...

Shown are: Myself, John, Bill, Hongxia, Carmen , Linda and Alfred

It was a full house for this second show of the evening at 9:00 pm...and the University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra were all in great costume..

Dig the Cello section - all dressed in Star Trek TOS uniforms.

Barbara Schubert was our Maestra, and she always makes an great entrance for each year I have attended. This year, she dressed as a Space conductor...entering in a silver flying saucer...ala "Balloon Boy"...

With that, the evening started off and interweaved with a rhyme - pertaining to the works about to be performed ... Holst: The Planets...with Star Trek and Star Wars melody themes. All seven movements of "The Planets" were played beautifully, (With Mars being my favorite and Linda digging Jupiter).

The Orchestra was joined by performers from the University of Chicago's Women Chorale and The Hyde Park School of Dance/Tyego Next Generation - who did a great an exceptional job in both interpreting the music and adding ethereal layers to the Holst work.

Orbs, glow sticks, undulating bolts of cloth and dance gave the orchestral performance extra dimensions and entertainment.

I enjoyed the Star Trek melody..and although the "TOS" was most inspiring and filled us geeks with familiar pride of nerd, the "Voyager" theme was the most beautiful and haunting...I always liked it - but hearing it live was too cool and emotional. DS9 & TMP was also played ...and TNG - which brought a smile to my face.

After the performance, I tracked down our Maestra and Barbara was nice to take a pic with us after the concert...

(My batteries died just as we were waiting for the timer and a lame moment for the Chicago Astronomer legend - but soon recovered...

)

It was a great evening of music, friends and laughs and we plan to attend more of the concerts together in the future.

« Last Edit: Nov 1, 2009, 3:42am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Chicago Astronomers and Cosmic Adventures Concert (Read 142 times)

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Chicago Astronomers and Cosmic Adventures Concert
« Result #20 on Nov 1, 2009, 2:40am »

Cosmic Adventures Symphony Concert
at the University of Chicago

31 October 2009

Part 1

I try to attend the University of Chicago's annual Halloween concert at Mandel Hall in the great Gothic environment of the campus. This year, the Music Dept had a space theme...and we astronomers had to attend.

But first, my astro buddies had a surprise for me.....

It was Chicago Astronomer Joe night for this Halloween concert, and John, Bill and Hongxia dressed up like me - mustaches, white shirt and Adler Planetarium ID badge...even mannerisms.

Really quite cool and so much fun.

I have never had such light hearted impersonations of myself and was taken by such surprise that it set me in a great mood.

Quen es mas Macho.....Juan or Jose...? Jose of course!

Some time was spent trying to look like me, finding 'staches, white shirts, black shoes...and Bill re-created the ID badge Holder I use...

By sheer serendipity, I had my Adler ID in my jacket pocket from the last Adler activity.

And this rather blurred image of Bill.....it DOES look like me...

Joe jokes were the call of the evening, referencing all Joe...all the time, including Chevelle, ex-Fiance, CPD and other Life of Joe jabs. It was four ply Joe or Joe Quad...

I wore a plaid comfortable shirt this evening, (Thank goodness I didn't wear a white shirt!) I think I must revisit my image....

Afterwards, the Joe gang and other astronomers went to dine in a local eartery...

The mustaches also served a second life as Unibrows and Vulcan eyebrows.

This was a great treat for me, humbled and a good feeling to have such friends in my close circle.

Now....the Concert....

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Topic: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project.... (Read 212 times)

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Re: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project....
« Result #21 on Oct 30, 2009, 4:16am »

Addendum to the C5 Finderscope project
- Carrying case -

While in the garage this evening, I caught glimpse of the C5/finderscope duo, but it reaffirmed my thoughts yesterday that I need a new container/case of sorts for the scopes...as now, the finder scope peeks out from the case I originally carried the C5 in...

[image]

Even zippering it snuggly, the finderscope would not be fully protected. Something had to be done...and before winter.

Looking around at the various cases, bags and packs I had, none made me happy. But I remembered I had this huge, (really huge), hard shelled "Craftsman" case that I found years ago and brought it in - " 'cause, one day I'll need it ". ..

[image]

It's been in the way from day one. Moving it from the garage, to the basement, to the yard...it finally rested under the back steps, where it collected dirt and spiders. I had thought that perhaps I would use it to house my routers or planers, but never got around to it.

Good thing I did not...

I grabbed it and blew out the creatures with the air gun and gave it a good cleaning....

[image]

Studying the case, it was some sort of multi-power tool holder, with various nooks and depressions. By the looks of it, it held air tools or battery powered tools.

Lookin' at it and placing the C5 in the case, I thought this would be a good place for the scopes...

[image]

Somewhat larger than the scopes, it would do. Who knows, perhaps one day I'll get a C8 or 10 and transfer it here. But I couldn't leave the scopes to bang around the case like this and needed padding. Luckily, I had some padding and knew to keep this gold for future telescopic projects.

[image]

But first, I need to cut out the insides of the case. I elected to remove the "top" inside of the case, as it was deeper...and kept the "bottom" inside form intact - to act as buffers and hold downs. I used a rotary tool with a cutting wheel - plugged in to a variable outlet that I constructed years ago - to keep the speed low and not melt the plastic. The cutting was easy and encountered no major problems.

I had a section of grey "fingered" padding that I was saving and it fit almost perfectly, without any cutting needed...

[image]

It snugged in with friction fit and expanded nicely under lips of the cut out edge. I did not have more of this padding, but had plenty of yellow softer stuff, so I placed it on the upper portion of the case and worked out well...

[image]

No cutting necessary and it all was secured by maneuvering it in-between the cut out edge and the case nicely - grabbing it like a vice. The top forms behind the padding acted as nice contours to keep the scopes from moving about, but I had to place the scopes "upside down" - with some nudging against the Zero-mag red Dot finder.

It closed well and held the scopes securely. But I wanted the scope more seated into it's spot in case of rough handling or accidental dropping. I had these car trunk nets that were laying around, doing nothing - and thought they may help.

[image]

Drilling holes where the net hooks were, it holds the scopes firmly and releases quickly when ready to remove the instruments of science. I also attached a strap to keep the lid from banging down in the field. The "Craftsman" logo is now the bottom of the case and not visible while in use. Perhaps next year I'll create a "Chicago Astronomer" placard to permanently cover it up.

Although now I have a much bigger case than the shoulder bag of before, I dig this much better and provides ease of mind on potential damage and bumps. I plan to use the two inside spaces by the handle for eyepiece holders, but I need a 1 1/4 spade bit.

Tomorrow.

A totally free scope, finder scope and now free hard shelled case.

The Thrifty Astronomer strikes again... against the Taliban...!

« Last Edit: Oct 30, 2009, 4:28am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project.... (Read 212 times)

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Re: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Prioject....
« Result #22 on Oct 29, 2009, 3:07am »

Attaching a 63.5mm Finderscope to the Celestron C5 SCT Project
Part 3

Yesterday, I gave the parts a final shot of metallic...and it came out nice....

[image]

Both the Dew Shield and tube were satisfactory and dried quite fast. About a 1/2 hour later, I shot clear coat on the dew shield...and was surprised at the result..

[image]

The paint started to "crinkle" giving it a mottled look. Not what I had planned and perhaps I either waited too long or not long enough - catching the paint while it was still soft and the enamel reducer reacting harshly. I stopped spraying clear and brought the items inside and heat treated them over the heater for a day...making sure it was quite dry.

I placed a "Chicago Astronomer" label on the finderscope, (as an experiment), and sprayed clear over that, sealing it in. It didn't come out as well as I thought, and may redo the tube in the spring. I had to use clear packaging tape to keep the corners from lifting...but I'm digging the Dew Shield and it's crinkly-look. With a top coating of clear...it looks rough, but is quite smooth.

[image]

Quite cool.

I assembled the parts back together when all was dry and installed it in the rings on the C5....

[image]

I like it.

I placed the friendly side of Velcro at the contact points of the adjustment bolts and aligned it to the C5....and not only looks cool, but works great....

[image]

Using the same paint I used to paint the Chevelle, the finder scope now matches the car nicely...(Makes me want to paint the C5 and the 4.5" Newtonian...!)

The before and after pics both are nice, with the classic white and the new metallic blue...

[image]

But...I like the final paint job on this unplanned project - on this classic Japanese refractor of unknown history. I do have a airbrush, and perhaps with some practice, I can paint me some spacescapes on my OTAs next year.

[image]

Ready for some classy astronomy...

« Last Edit: Oct 29, 2009, 3:24am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project.... (Read 212 times)

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Re: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Prioject....
« Result #23 on Oct 25, 2009, 11:37pm »

Attaching a 63.5mm Finderscope to the Celestron C5 SCT Project

Part 2

This day in late October was warm enough to spray primer and paint on the little refractor.

There are small indentations on the tube, but I didn't want to do metal/body work on it and just left it as is...lends character. I taped the ends and filled the innards with paper towels..

[image]

I cleaned the parts with "Pre-Clean" and they were ready for primer...

[image]

Using grey filler primer and basic air gun for primer, I shot a few layers using a small air compressor, but it just wasn't atomizing enough, leaving little splatter bits on the work. Disappointing.

[image]

So, I transferred the hose over to the main floor compressor with odds and ends, making the not so direct connection and kicking down the pressure to about 50 psi...

[image]

It now atomized quite well and the primer shot out nicely. Reducing the primer with Lacquer thinner, it shot well and in no time was dry, giving the work it's first sanding with #1000 sandpaper. I tried using a sander and more aggressive paper at first, but it was too much and was sanding down the primer, So, it was all by hand...

[image]

The lens holder gave most work, following the inside curved contours, but it all came out smooth and ready for another and final coat of primer...

[image]

With another hand sanding, it was soon ready for the first shot of paint.

I'm using the same paint I used to paint the Chevelle last year - Metallic Blue - I will give it plenty of coats, ( and some clear coats tomorrow). The weather was changing now, getting cooler and and the air more humid, as rain was starting to fall - changes the chemistry of things.

I mixed the enamel with medium dry reducer and no "wet look" additive, as I'm gonna shoot clear anyway. I sprayed the first mist coat and it covered well, but I over estimated the mixture of reducer and started to get a slight run on the dew shield, but it's ok...

[image]

The tube was coming out nicely as well, and seeing how good it looked, I regretted not doing the body work to the small indentations, making the surface perfect...but whatever, it's done.

I painted the lens holder gloss black, using just simple "Rustolium", and reducing it to spray - matching the focuser and making a nice alternate "Black/Blue scheme...

[image]

Black and blue like a bruise...perhaps that what I'll call it - "The Bruise Scope".

(I need to paint my guitar like this and have matching, Telescope, Guitar and Chevelle...slick...!

Items are drying presently and onward to the clear coat...!

« Last Edit: Oct 25, 2009, 11:49pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: 2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project.... (Read 212 times)

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2.5" Finder Scope for the C5 Project....
« Result #24 on Oct 24, 2009, 2:17am »

Attaching a 63.5mm Finderscope to the Celestron C5 SCT Project

I recently acquired a Celestron C5 SCT.

A nice compact scope, easy to transport and has been providing me very good views. (Had a great imaging session this past week... http://astronomer.proboards.com/index.cg....ead=2593&page=1 )

[image]

But, the C5 only came with a Zero Mag Red Laser Starfinder and an empty finder scope bracket. I have a 60mm shorty finderscope on my 4.5" Newtonian Reflector and desired something similar on the C5. On a recent observing session, it was rather difficult to locate objects with just the red dot finder. I need a finder scope on this tube.

[image]

In the bounty of other items I acquired with the S5...was this old, beat up .096 shorty refractor. The objective was in good condition and was 2.5" (63.5mm) in diameter. Could be a great little finder/tracker scope for the C5....and I do have a few .096 eyepieces laying around - doing nothing. And using the tracking motor, I could use this to verify and nudge the mount.

I started to get ideas.

Also in the bounty, were these old scope rings, obviously for a 90/100mm scope, but they would do to hold on to this little finder. Only, now I would have to drill into the C5 - not something casually approached with a hammer and screwdriver.

Wearing nitrile gloves for the project, I took off the corrector plate, and examining it, looked good...(you can catch the shorty refractor laying there in my trunk - waiting to serve useful life once again)....

[image]

The secondary was a bit dusty, but we will take care of that later.

I wanted to place the bulk of the piggyback refractor above the polar axis and let the shaft take the weight, (not that it weighs much), but experimenting with placements - the positioning of both the main eyepiece and the finderscopes were in the way of each other...too bad. I set the position of the rings low, closer to the R.A axis base. It will do and not in the way now.

Not wanting to tap holes for the rings too close to the primary mirror, I started my drilling about 1/2 inch away, very slowly - keeping the tube pointed down for the metal debris to fall away...

[image]

Near the Corrector plate end of the tube, the thinner metal of the tube fit around the thicker end of the plate holder...excellent! It now gives the forward most ring something beefy to fasten to. Using air from a compressor, I continually blast jets of air inside the tube to blast out the shavings and dust while drilling.

The rings came with screws already attached, but I wanted to use some split lock washers as well as regular washers. Wire brushing all fasteners on the electric drill made them all nicely clean and shiny. (I wanted to paint the hardware flat black, but I just wanted to keep this project moving on - winter is coming fast.) The screws just barely protrude into the field of the primary mirror - nothing to get bothered about, and so I left them be.

Tightening the four screws with a 1/4 ratchet, I was careful not to warp the tube...and that was that. The base of the rings do not fully fit the curve of the C5, as they were meant for some bigger scope, perhaps a 8" or 10" scope - but the rings were solidly in place with no wiggle, and I placed the shorty refractor in the rings...

[image]

The focusing is done by twisting the knurled ring and is solid.

[image]

Looks sharp!

But does it work...?

I every so lightly wiped the secondary with cotton Q-tips and removed the haze and gunk without marring the "Starbright" coating, (I hope), and replaced the corrector plate and aligned it as best I could - eye balling it throught the directional, (there's about a 1/4 space around the plate to the holder base)...and then snugged the retaining ring.

It's a rainy Friday evening when this project was undertaken, so no celestial objects to target. But I often use my neighbor's chimney to conduct optical experiments from the garage and it will do.

[image]

Popping in a 40mm into the C5 and 10x Binocular eyepiece into the finder that I made into a reticle many years ago - and using a diagonal I had since I was a kid - from a Montgomery Ward 60mm refractor, (that I still have), I put it to the test.

Roughly holding the camera by hand, my neighbors chimney does it's job, despite the drizzly rain. And adjusting the ring screws, (The rings originally had brass knurled screws, but missing one unfortunately - so I replaced them all with stainless steel carriage bolts - works well), I centered the chiminey...and... it works...quite well and very cool.

[image]

The additional apparatus assembly doesn't throw the balance off too much, just ever so slightly on the Declination axis. But just a bit of clutch friction takes care of that well. I can also add one more light plate to the counter weights too. We will see.

This is good, I am geekily happy I haven't destroyed the C5 and more tweaking later, but.....

Looking at the assembly now, as cool as it is, the shorty refractor tube is beat up and is insulting the C5. I then decide it's time to take the little finder scope apart and refurbish it.

Sigh.

I try to dis-assemble it, but it just won't come apart. Time has solidly joined these ancient pieces together. Using a vice, pipe wrenches and friction straps...nothing. I grab some spray lubricant and carefully drop minute amounts into the threads..and bingo!...they easily come apart with just hand muscle. Sweet!....

Better life thru chemistry.

[image]

Nothing fancy here, just a simple little refractor with a triplet glued objective lens - 2.5" (63.5mm), which looks alright, albeit a little dusty...

[image]

The objective holder is very banged up and will need some intense attention...

[image]

The tube also needs much attention, as it's beat up pretty bad...( I wonder what it's history is...?) I would imagine that it's circa 1960's or early '70's. It will live on at the Chicago Astronomer.

[image]

The inspection sticker on the tube was interesting, but I could not save it. "Japan Telescopes" informs me that Inspector 102 said it passed.

Some research has discovered that the Japanese Government oversaw all optical exports and "102" was handled by the "JB 102 Hoya Kogaku Co. Ltd." - "All optical products that have passed these rigorous standards are
tagged “PASSED” by the Government’s Japan Telescopes Inspection Institute".

http://www.europa.com/~telscope/jbcode.txt

I wire brush first on a drill to remove the paint from the tube and the holder, then with an orbital sander with #60 and then #100, make it all nicely even...and came out well...

[image]

The dew cap was not bad surprisingly, but I scuffed it up for the next stage of primer application....

[image]

Having supplies from when I painted the Chevelle last year, I will paint the little refractor the same color as my car....

That will be part 2 of this narrative, but for free, all the parts and the C5...ain't bad....

:-[

« Last Edit: Oct 29, 2009, 3:25am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Kip Thorn: Black Hole Lecture (Read 186 times)

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Re: Kip Thorn: Black Hole Lecture
« Result #25 on Oct 21, 2009, 10:03pm »

Astro Joe Meets Kip Throne

Arriving early, Dr, Thorne was settling up and prepping for his lecture on Black Holes, when I thought I would take the quiet opportunity to introduce myself and grab a pic with the esteemed theorist...

[image]

Pictured are Fellow Chicago Astronomer John, Kip Thorne and myself.

[image]

Attending with fellow Adler Telescope Operators, John and Steve...we settled down to for an hour of Astrophysics.

The lecture was very interesting and the dance of duo Black Holes were a fascinating one.

[image]

Demonstarting mechanics with video and images, the hour went by pretty fast. A new trio of satellites are planned for gravitational wave detection in 2014 using lasers to measure fluctuations from Black Holes, with graviton waves being the only known energies from the moment of the Big Bang, with photons and neutons coming later....about one second later.

[image]

In a bet with Stephen Hawking, Thorne won a debate about singularities and Hawkings conceeded with an embroidered t-shirt with this.

Audrey, from the Chicago Astronomical Society is nursing a kitten, (Galileo), and this is his third visit to the Adler...

[image]

A good night of "in your face Black Holes" talk for the Chicago Astronomers.

« Last Edit: Oct 21, 2009, 11:15pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Kip Thorn: Black Hole Lecture (Read 186 times)

Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Kip Thorn: Black Hole Lecture
« Result #26 on Oct 20, 2009, 12:37pm »

Adler Planetarium to host lecture on Black Holes and Cosmology
21 October 2007
7:00 pm

[image]

Made possible by the University of Chicago Astronomy & Physics Dept - Kip Thorne, esteemed Professor of Theoretical Physics at California Institute of Technology will make a presentation on mysterious cosmological forces - Wednesday at the Adler.....

The Warped Side of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Black Holes"
Featuring Kip Thorne, PhD
Adler Planetarium - Universe Theater
Wednesday, October 21
7:00 - 8:00 pm

Our Universe has a "warped side" -- objects and phenomena, like black holes and the big-bang, that are made not from matter, but rather from warped space and warped time. Thorne will describe this mysterious warped side and the quest to simulate it using supercomputers and observe it using gravitational waves."

------------

[image]

Quite a fascinating area of study and I just might learn something.

I'm there and invite my Chicago Astronomers to stop by and say hi!

If you attend, get there early for good seats and parking along the Drive.

« Last Edit: Oct 20, 2009, 1:00pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Jupiter Imaging - 09 Oct 19 (Read 92 times)

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Jupiter Imaging - 09 Oct 19
« Result #27 on Oct 20, 2009, 10:27am »

Jupiter Imaging by Old Meigs Field
19 October 2009

A warmer and clearer night than yesterday, I took the opportunity to do some solo quiet astrophotography by the old Meigs airport - south of the Adler Planetarium. Quiet, no one around...just me, the scope and some tunes.

It was quite warm when I started out at 7:30 pm and I doffed off the heavy jacket and in shirtsleeves, but by 9:00 pm, it was started to get chilly and by 11:00 pm when I packed it in...it was quite cold.

Using the C5 SCT and Canon Powershot S3, I polar aligned the mount and attached the motor tracker. This time it did a better job than the last session, keeping Jupiter in the filed of the 25mm eyepiece. Sky conditions were not prime for observation, as a haze and high thin clouds were in the area - and streetlamps displayed a slight halo...but the Jupiter imaging was an ok one, better than last time.

[image]

Processed by hand, (no Registax or other processing - perhaps later on ), they came out alright in these series of C5/imaging tests. Using a 25mm eyepiece and zooming in on the camera, atmospheric conditions were not good, as much blurring with brief moments of clarity. You can make out the Great Red Spot and good banding - with the northern band coming back nicely after dimming dramatically two years ago.

Exposures were varied from 2 seconds down to 1/4th and some on tungsten setting. But all on full manual and wide open aperture of 3.2. (Perhaps next time I'll do some video and stack the images on registax for much better pics.)

I also imaged the Pleaides rising in the east, but just through the camera at 12x. Imaging through the C5 did not capture the entire star cluster well and cut off several stars. Imaging through the 60mm finder scope on the 4.5" reflector would do a better job. Next time.

I also did some experimenting on city buildings, pushing the magnification and imaging capabilities of the duo. Some imaging using insane magnifications on the antennae array of the Sears Tower...

[image]

Starting out with the 25mm, I ending up using a 10mm...and got in quite close to the piping near the catwalk cradle.

I had attempted to target M31 Andromeda and M57 Ring Nebula, but conditions were such, that I could not locate either one of them...or anything else for that matter....dispite intensive searching.

So, with a laser, I wrote my name on the Chevelle with a 15 second exposure..

[image]

In the trunk, I have installed a LED pull chain light...and it came in quite handy for the session, but I think I shall install another one with a red light for these type of sessions in the future.

It was a nice, pleasant and quiet observation/imaging session - just by myself. Without attending to visitors and crowds, I have sorta forgotten how nice it is just to be alone with the universe.

[image]

« Last Edit: Oct 20, 2009, 10:28pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Apparition of Mars and its Beehive Passage (Read 31 times)

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Apparition of Mars and its Beehive Passage
« Result #28 on Oct 19, 2009, 8:52pm »

Mars is returning to our evening skies! It is now rising before midnight daylight time for most observers. All of my following calculations are true for both UT and American Central Time dates.

Mars will achieve western quadrature (90° from Sun) on 2009 OCT 29. On that date it will appear as a gibbous 88.6% illuminated with a magnitude of +0.5 and an angular diameter of 7.8 arcseconds. Apparent retrograde movement will commence on DEC 20. Its closest approach for this apparition will occur on 2010 JAN 27 at 0.66396 AU with an angular diameter of 14.1 arcseconds. Greatest brilliance with magnitude -1.3 along with greatest elongation and the opposition in longitude with declination of N 22.2 ° will occur on JAN 29. Opposition in right ascension will occur on JAN 30. Apparent direct motion will resume on MAR 10. Mars will achieve eastern quadrature on MAY 04. On that date it will appear as a gibbous 89.7% illuminated with a magnitude of +0.8 and an angular diameter of 7.1 arcseconds. Conjunction with the Sun in longitude will occur on 2011 FEB 04.

On Halloween (the night of 2009 OCT 31/NOV 01) Mars (mag +0.4) will appear to move through the Beehive (M44 Praesepe) cluster in Cancer. I predict that early on NOV 01 Mars will pass 4.1 arcminutes south of 39 Cancri (mag +6.4) at 07:14 UT, and 2.2 arcminutes south of 40 Cancri (mag +6.6) at 08:42 UT. Be careful regarding the timing, since it will be the night of the change from daylight time back to standard time in America.

I’ve created a graphic demonstrating the current apparition of Mars, including its passage through the Beehive. It can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical

Photos and descriptions of Mars (including the Beehive passage) would be welcome additions to this thread.

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monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
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Curt Renz - "Centaur"

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Topic: Jupiter Imaging - 09 Oct 18 (Read 50 times)

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Jupiter Imaging - 09 Oct 18
« Result #29 on Oct 18, 2009, 11:07pm »

Imaging Jupiter thru a 5" SCT and a 4" Refractor

I took advantage of this somewhat clear evening to catch Jupiter and put the new 5" Celestron SCT thru it's Jovian paces. It wasn't the best of nights for planetary observing, a bit windy and hazy, but it's the first clear night in a very long time. I set up by the Adler Planetarium at 7:30 pm - in the shadows.

Receiving the 5" SCT used, there seems to be a bit of haze, at least to me. Fellow Chicago Astronomer Steve, who joined me this evening, likes the views thru it. He brought along his 4" refractor and the battle of the scopes had begun.

I dig refractors as well, as I almost exclusively use the mighty 4" Nikon Refractor at the Adler...which provides exceptional razor sharp views. I preferred the views in his refractor over my SCT, but planetary observation is always better in refractors...and better contrast.

So..

I attached the Canon Powershot S3 via T-mount to Steve's refractor using 2" eyepieces - a hefty piece of glass and took some exposures. Then a couple on mine using 1.25 eyepieces. Our tracking on both scopes were a bit off, even with polar alignment and tracking motors operating, but short exposures were good enough for this trial run.

On the left were two shots thru my 5" SCT and the left thru Steve's 4" refractor. Both comparable to each other...and focusing was difficult, as the LCD screen is not suited for precise focusing...and the scopes were buffeted by winds coming off the lake. Check out the color differences between the two scopes, but in both, the "flattening"of the planet is clearly visible.

Banding was good and satellites clearly visible, but no GRS.

At about 9:00 pm, we ceased observing and packed our equipment away and headed out for some late dinner and laughs.

It was an ok session, but there will be more trial astrophotography practice shots soon and better than the samples above.

« Last Edit: Oct 18, 2009, 11:49pm by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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Topic: Adler After Dark and Yelp Lovelies... (Read 204 times)

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Adler After Dark and Yelp Lovelies...
« Result #30 on Oct 15, 2009, 10:45pm »

Chicago Astronomer Joe and lovely Yelpettes
at Adler After Dark

The Adler Planetarium has shifted focus, from a Child based format, to one one more an adult themed one. And creating a new "Adler After Dark" event - held on the Third Thursday of each month - replacing the successful "Far Out Fridays" we have had for the past five years.

The night had a DJ spinning tunes, alcohol and dancing, while we had telescopes out for the public. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy and drizzly evening and no celestial observing was to be had, so we focused on familiar skyline landmarks.

But, the evening was filled with sweet Yelp sugar for Astro Joe from beautiful women who came out to enjoy the evening...

[image]

I met up with two sizzling hot lovely ladies, Keri and Melanie while I was working telescopes...and received such nice attentions....

I gave a brief tour of the Adler with the ladies, but had responsibilities to attend to back at the scopes..and the loud atmosphere didn't lend to leisurely conversation. Next time.

[image]

I then ran into the uber sexy and perky Candice, who was as excited as I in taking our first rod shot

[image]

Sweet! #blush#

Thank you ladies for making a nice evening a great one...and I am humbled by Yelp's tender attentions.

Also ...

Some more pics of my good friends....

[image]

Fellow Yelper Jaik and his friend Roberta

[image]

Fellow Telescope Operators: Fred, Linda and Steve photobombing.

[image]

And...The Telescope crew for the evening - Jeff, Adler Astronomer Mark, Fred, Steve, Steve, Linda and myself. (Jeff ain't lookin' so well.)

Astro Joe

« Last Edit: Oct 16, 2009, 5:03am by Chicago Astronomer Joe »

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