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[magic612]

I've gone to a weekly format - should make things easier to keep track of in the night sky:



At www.eyesonthesky.com, I've also included a finder chart for locating Uranus from the Moon nearby on November 6th (I know - go ahead with the Uranus/Moon jokes - I can't help what gravity places near one another!)

Let me know what you think of the new, shorter format - good, bad, indifferent - any feedback helps.

[Paulie pchris00]

A weekly format would be easier for the audience to keep up with, but I'm guessing it's more work for you. If you don't mind it, I prefer the shorter weekly version.

[magic612]

Paulie, surprisingly enough, it's not that much extra work to do weekly videos. The research, writing and graphics take nearly the same amount of time. The editing is a little extra work, but not much, and the nice thing is I can spread it out over a few weeks if needed too. So far I've gotten good feedback about weekly vs. monthly, so I'll likely stick with it.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I like it.

Weekly, will enable you to be cutting edge and uber current... especially on new astronomical phenomenon like supernovae, comets, aurorae etc...

And the shorter piece comes to the point and good.

Very cool.

[erikruud]

Hey Dave,

I like the shorter format too.

Video Geek Question: What software packages are you using for your videos?

[magic612]

Joe, not sure I can be current enough to get aurorae (I missed the one last week, even though you guys mentioned it here and I ran outside - while I was still sick!), but definitely with the other things like comets and supernova. And yes, shorter is good, plus people don't have to fast forward over stuff that's already old late in the month.

Erik, thanks! I'm using Sony Vegas 11. I started out with simple Windows Move Maker, until I was doing too many edits that it would choke and crash. Then I had a copy of Corel Videosuite that also worked okay until it was choking and crashing. Sony Vegas is powerful enough I can edit in HD quality with a lot of edits, do green-screen/chromakey and other editing tricks (audio adjustments are great in Vegas), and it only crashes very sporadically, and when it does, it saves what you did. Nice program - well worth the $$ for it.

[erikruud]

I have been using Kdenlive which is an open source editor running under Linux. Most reviews of it compare it to Sony Vegas. I haven't had an excuse yet to try green screen with it but it does support it and other tricks. It's very easy to use and it directly supports DVD standard MPEG's. It seems to support pretty much any format of video and does care if the source format matches the output. It also doesn't seem to care if the sources match each other, so I can mix my older 4:3 home videos with my newer 16:9 home videos.

I use Inkscape and Blender for titling and other CGI effects.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Inkscape is good.

Clean vector graphics...and I have Blender as well, but have yet to master it.

[erikruud]

I love Blender. I love Karate.

They are the same in that even after you get to black belt level, you still have much to learn.

I am not at black belt in either.

[magic612]

I have downloaded Blender, but have not had any time to delve into it. I have some neat ideas I'd like to try with it, but that is for down the road. For now, I'm concentrating my efforts on Celestia - and even that is in fits and starts, as I manage to find time here and there.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

"but have not had any time to delve into it.

"

This is what winters are for...

[erikruud]

And 1 hour plus commutes on the train.

[magic612]

Nov 1, 2011 12:39:06 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

"but have not had any time to delve into it.

"

This is what winters are for...

That's what I am planning on! ;D

Though I still have a lot to do with Celestia first. So we'll see.

Nov 1, 2011 13:10:48 GMT -6 erikruud said:

And 1 hour plus commutes on the train.

Thankfully, I was done with those starting in 2003, when my commute went from 90 minutes one way to 8 minutes.

[Mark Ross]

Awesome. This is my first time seeing this. It will be required viewing from now on.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I am mighty proud that Dave shares his love of astronomy and his cool vid treats with the Chicago Astronomers.

[magic612]

Mark, if you subscribe to my channel on YouTube or find my page on Facebook (facebook.com/eyesonsky) you won't miss any.

Though I'll try to always post them here as well. ;D

Joe, thank you kind sir.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

"Though I'll try to always post them here as well."

Do or do not... There is no try.

[magic612]

Yes, Master Yoda. May the Force be with you.