37 posts tagged “astronomy”
I spent Saturday night at the observatory first sweeping up --dead ants everywhere-- and then experimenting with the 9-inch telescope. Three local high school students saw that the front door was open and stopped by for a visit. I spoke with them a bit about the observatory and telescope, gave them a look at the Moon, and sent them on their way -- this was not a scheduled open night! The Moon was big and bright and, unfortunately, was washing out 'most everything else in the sky. My main target for the night was to have been the grand M4 globular star cluster in Scorpius. Couldn't see it... too close to the Moon. So I tried something I'd not experimented with before and hand-held my FinePix digital camera to the ca. 1900 telescope's fist-sized eyepiece and shot some photos. The big eyepiece presents bright, sharp low-magnification views and is my favorite for observing any phase of the Moon. It turns out to be perfect for the "afocal" photographic technique as well! A couple of the images were quite good and I am delighted with them. Converting the images to grayscale seemed to help so that's what I am displaying here. First is the whole, waxing gibbous phase disk... about three days from full. The second image is detail from the full disk shot.
Later I practiced use of the telescope's clock-driven right-ascension (R.A.) clock and indicator. With some effort I was able to find the beautiful galactic pair M81 & M82 in the northern sky; that was the first time I'd been able to find those galaxies with the big scope! The view wasn't so good as the slightly hazy sky was lit up, even that far north, by that old devil Moon, but the success boosted my confidence. I should now be able to more easily find charted objects... I still must master aiming in declination to really locate things! In all, a good night.
Yeah! The much-anticipated release of the Firefox 3 browser is coming Tuesday, June 17. I'd tried an earlier --beta, I think-- release and it already was already looking very, very good! I haven't been running the pre-release versions since because I regularly bookmark items (actually, too frequently) and don't want everything to get out of sync. Tuesday morning, though, I'll be one of those downloading Firefox 3 and, incidentally, helping them to reach a Guinness Book record for downloads in one day. There will be my several personal and work computers plus a few around the office, just for good measure. It really is a great browser and, I think, the best and most innovative. Good luck, Mozilla, let's hope the servers don't crash!
I don't miss the tomatoes! That's right... I'm not sorry tomatoes aren't being served in restaurants these days due to a salmonella contamination problem. Don't get me wrong, I think tomatoes can be a great food. And I'm sorry for the farmers who grow them but can't sell due to the FDA ban. I don't, however, miss the crunchy pink disks or bits that so many places were serving on their sandwiches, salads, etc., or the nasty mealy slices sometimes seen in place of them. Lately, over the past several years, tomato quality has, well, sucked. I don't miss 'em. So, when they do come back, I may just make it a rule to say "hold the tomatoes." I'll keep that up until those who select and serve 'em think about the quality of what they put before their customers. Yeah, I'm talkin' to you: Taco Bell, Quizno's, Subway.....
Now it's "plutoids." The International Astronomical Union has chosen "plutoid" as the new name for some of the objects that it classified two years ago as "dwarf planets." It may help soothe those who are still smarting from the IAU's reclassification of Pluto from planet status to "dwarf planet." Thing is, plutoids sounds awfully like the name of an icy, refreshing breath mint!
Gad, what a hot day! We decided to take it a little easier than we might otherwise have on a sunny Sunday and went on another "photo safari." I thought we would wind up at Hinckley Lake --one of our favorite places-- but She Who Must be Obeyed had suffered several nasty bug bites last night at a star party. Yes, She actually went with me to an astronomy club meeting; this one was the Aurora Astronomical Society and a Saturday night meeting. We did not expect a star party as it had been cloudy all day. The overcast parted enough, however, that after sunset we could look at Mars, Saturn, and the Moon through several telescopes members had set up. The meeting place, the Moebius Nature Center, was immediately adjacent to a wetland area which was perfect for rearing large clouds of insects. I escaped with nary a bite but, as noted, not She!
At any rate, the bug bites suppressed any wish on Her part to go into natural areas where blood-thirsty insects might swarm, so we went back to the zoo. Two visits in as many weeks! We continued our visit there, checking out areas we missed last weekend. I had in hand my Canon Digital Rebel XT with its brand-new, never-used, 70 - 200mm Canon "L" lens I was so eager to test.
We had a lovely, though sweaty, day photographing the animals and plants of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. My first photos with the lens were actually grab-shots of wild, domestic buzzards visiting an open-air environment where keepers had scattered carrion for captive birds to devour. Our native turkey vultures put on quite a show, soaring and speeding through the air. The captive African variety --rendered flightless-- were tame by comparison. Because of their speed riding strong winds I was only able to catch three images of our local birds: the first and third were out of focus but the "middle" shot was good and gave me an idea of the potential the new glass holds.
Walking along we viewed giraffes, sea lions, reindeer, wolves, bears, and more, photographing them all. A very pleasant way to spend the time and learn about the habits and features of the creatures. We entered the greenhouse that serves as seasonal habitat to a tropical butterfly exhibit. Outdoors the temperature was around 90 (F) degrees with humidity around 40 percent; it was hot but tolerable. In there, among the tropical plants and butterflies, it was hotter and misting sprays sent the humidity through the roof. We could only tolerate a few minutes. During that time an exquisite iridescent blue butterfly --a blue morpho-- settled on to a board of the wooden walkway, just ahead of me. It flattened its wings and posed! Picture time! Before I moved on I gently coaxed the beauty on to my index finger and it took flight ... we didn't want it to become a patch of blue goo.
We were drained by the heat and so left a little before noon and headed back to Whole Foods Market where yesterday we had purchased some food and She picked up some makeup. The makeup color choice was a bit too dark for her so we were returning the pretty tube. Then we sought lunch and enjoyed custom stir-fries at the Heinen's in-store cafe. Customers pick out most of the ingredients salad bar style and the staff cooks them up adding one's choice of proteins, rice, noodles, sauce, etc. Yummy! Before leaving we picked up a nice bottle of Monkey Business Merlot. Dinner should also be scrumptious.
Following lunch it was back home to look at our digital photos and enjoy the cool, quiet environs here. In all a fine day of buzzards and butterflies.
I'm looking around and hoping to be able to add a Mars Phoenix Mission weather graphic to my astronomy Web sites -- something that updates daily. So far, only a desktop widget for Windows Vista computers --not what I want-- is available. The Phoenix lander sits at what would be the Martian arctic circle. The mission is limited to only about 92 days because, even as it sits there in Mars's summer season, the high temperature never exceeds something like 20 degrees (F) below zero and, at night, well, your ice cream would never melt. EVER! They tell us that, as winter sets in on Mars, the Phoenix lander will become entombed in snow and ice --mostly frozen carbon dioxide-- effectively "killing" the immobile robot about three (Earth) months from now. When summer returns to the northern regions of Mars, the lander will be exposed again. The solar panels will generate electricity again. And NASA will listen. There is a small chance Phoenix will stir back to life and, if it does, her handlers don't want to miss it! In the mean time we sit and watch the show from warmer climes and marvel.
Saturday was a kind of personal "astronomy day" for me.
First I met my predecessor in the position of Observatory curator. Bob was coming to town for a visit with family and wanted to meet me at the college Observatory. He's 77 now but active in his retirement as a tour guide at a professional observatory facility in Arizona -- "for the perks!" The job gives him access to the facilities himself. He filled me in on some of the recent history and background of the Ohio facility and the workings of our century-old telescope. Though he rarely visits the area, he has taken an interest in the progress we're making with the Observatory and cares about its future, especially, of the vintage instrument. I'm sure we'll be in communication with each other for some time to come.
Sky conditions for Saturday night were forecast to be excellent (for Northeastern Ohio). I learned that some friends from the astronomy club were going to the club's observing site. I decided to take advantage of the situation and use my own telescope for the first time in more than a year! Well, even our usually accurate sky forecast can be wrong and this one was! An unexpected thin layer of cloud moved in so that, by twilight, it covered the darkening sky with a thin "haze." Drat! Everyone was disappointed as it was our best chance for stargazing for the entire holiday weekend. As it turns out the experience served us well as a shakedown. Lynn was learning how to operate the Sphinx computerized telescope mount (much cursing), Steve was apparently having focus problems (maybe atmosphere related but he wasn't sure), but I had a pretty good night.
I remembered how to put everything together --which was a bit surprising-- and, even more surprising, my own computerized telescope system performed flawlessly. It had been very tempermental most times in the past. My telescope's alignment was a bit off (my fault) so the system wasn't perfect in finding things, but I did manage to find and enjoy views of Saturn (beautiful), Mars (tiny and disappointing), galaxies M81 & M82 (unimpressive this night due to atmosphere), and a surprising view of M104 --the Sombrero-- which I had never seen before. The Sombrero, to my eye, looked like a long string of stars, like a stretched star cluster, instead of a fuzzy cloud -- the way most galaxies look when viewed through a small telescope. Optically my big refractor did at least as well as neighboring Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (SCT) delivering excellent quality images of, especially, Saturn under the less than ideal conditions. I was very happy with the beast! I also spied my first Iridium flare which is an extended "flash" of light reflected off one of the many Iritium communications satellites that circle Earth. I had forgotten the custom dew shield for the telescope and, by about midnight, the objective was getting fogged up -- the telescope tube was already just about dripping!
I came home happy but late after a rewarding day with friends and the night sky.
There are actually two observatories at the Cincinnati Observatory Center. The original Cincinnati Observatory was located on Mt. Adams with a cornerstone (laid by John Quincy Adams) in 1843. That facility earned the moniker, "Birthplace of American Astronomy" was equipped with a 12-inch Merz und Mahler refracting telescope. The widespread burning of sooty coal sullied the air such that, by the 1850s, astronomy from Mt. Adams became impractical. A new site for the observatory was sought and that was Mt. Lookout, five miles away from the original location.
The new observatory was built in 1873. The original telescope was installed and used at the new location. To keep up with technological progress, a new telescope was purchased in 1904 -- the 16-inch Alvan Clark machine from the previous post. Happily for the original telescope, and for the public, the older and smaller Merz und Mahler instrument was still valued.
In 1904 a second, smaller, observatory facility was built --the Mitchel Building, named in honor of Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, founder of the Observatory-- to house the fine old 12-inch which has a wooden optical tube assembly! The 12-inch was installed in the Mitchel Building where it helped maintain the tradition of public viewing begun at the original 1845 site and which continues today. How many generations of Cincinnatians have looked through that grand telescope, the same old glass as their forebears, and wondered at the starry realm above them?
During the conference along with other astronomers, historians, telescope experts, and preservationists, I was afforded full access to the Cincinnati Observatory grounds and facilities. It was a wonderful experience and a joy to see the institution flourishing in the 21st century.
The day of presentations seemed to go on forever at the Antique Telescope Society's workshop. There was really good content but way too many hours of it. So I got up and walked out of the classroom --the former meridian transit room of the observatory-- or shifted in my seat. Often. At times rain poured down in sheets as we heard discussions of the viability and survivability of "Vintage Observatories" in the 21st century. Don't get me wrong... the presentations were both interesting and informative. My bottom still got sore from all the sitting, though. Fortunately the sky began to clear off in the late morning hours and many of us enjoyed strolling around the grounds of the Cincinnati Observatory Center. I shot many photos both indoors and outdoors showing various views of the main observatory building and the smaller Mitchel Building on Mt. Lookout. After dinner I listened impatiently to presenters but was really anticipating sunset and a chance to look through the grand 16-inch Alvan Clark & Sons telescope, showpiece of the Center.
From inside the classroom I heard a rumble. Someone said that was the sound of the dome being rotated. So I ran up the stairs and into the dome room and got to see the huge dome rotate above me. The presenting astronomer for the evening offered me the honor of opening the shutter for the night's observing. He said to be careful to stand directly under the rope-operated pulley so as not to derail the rope and cause it to fall off. I got the shutter opened but managed to drop the rope! {Sigh.} Fortunately it was easy to fix: rotate the dome so that the aperture was over the observer's chair, climb up, loop the rope over the pulley -- fixed!
The astronomer also let me turn the crank to wind the drive weights into position. Or was that something like Tom Sawyer "letting" his friends paint the fence? No matter, I grabbed hold with both hands and turned the crank lifting 300 pounds of cold iron. Conversing with the observatory staff and just hanging around in the dome was a fine time for me, far from the yammering crowd below!
As luck would have it --this always seems to happen-- clouds began to roll in at about the time it got dark enough to spot Saturn. We all got at least one glimpse of the ringed world before solid overcast moved in and shut us down. I was allowed, and requested, to run the R.A. slow-motion control to center up Saturn before clouds could obscure it. That would allow some lead time should another opening appear in the cloud deck (and one or two did) whilst the telescope was tracking. The telescope is the largest refractor I've ever used and it moved smoothly and easily with the turn of a knob. I got one good, brief look at Saturn but that second or two hinted at how good the telescope is: I glimpsed at least three of Saturn's moons, some banding in the planetary body, and my first look at the Cassini Division -- the dark separation in the ring system. And that was on a night of poor seeing!
The conference ends tomorrow (Sunday) with a half-day of sessions, door prizes, and a fond farewell to the Observatory Center. I may post one more photo here, but I'll have much to think about and photos to share and enjoy for quite some time to come. It's been a good visit.
Today I traveled from Northeastern Ohio into Columbus. I ran a little delivery errand there, then headed out for Cincinnati. The trip went fine until I hit the Cincinnati ring road -- I-276. I'd done really well up til then -- not a single missed turn or problem. In Cinci, however, I watched for my first exit and did not find it. I found my motel (it will remain unnamed but it has a red roof) and didn't like the location or looks. So I set off cross-town in the best way I could seeking the address of my Cincinnati delivery errand. Well, if you've got business in two cities and you happen to be visiting both of those cities, why not make it a part of the trip? After long bouts with bad traffic, bad weather, bad neighborhoods, bad maps, I finally found my way to I-71 (thanks to my trusty hand-held GPS), eventually delivered my packages, canceled my previous reservation, and sought an alternative motel. I wound up at the Holiday Inn Express. It's very nice, moderately priced, and convenient to I-71 and, presumably, to my astronomy workshop location -- the Cincinnati Observatory Center. Good high-speed Internet access is included and the entire property is non-smoking which suites me perfectly! I decided to go out again to explore and to find dinner winding up at the gigantic Kenwood Towne Centre shopping mall. (Don't you just love their creative use of "olde-fashioned" and European spellings?). The place was huge. Didn't have enough parking. And is about the busiest shopping mall I've ever seen outside of the Christmas shopping season! Anyway I settled for baked ziti at Sbarro's. I know, ewwww... but I couldn't find anyplace else. That is, of course, until I went across the street to a smaller shopping center to visit and stroll around a Barnes & Noble store. All kinds of trendy and interesting dining places there. Oh well.
Heading back to the Holiday Inn the sky lit up with brilliant yellow-orange colored mammatus and cirrus clouds. I ran to the room to grab my camera as quickly as I could as the clouds were smoothing out and the light was fading fast. I managed to catch the last of the beautiful display but was left wishing I'd been back a few minutes sooner to record the splendor that I had seen.
Walking back to the motel entrance I was greeted by a four-footed resident -- a beautiful male tabby cat that, according to the desk clerk, hangs around this motel in an industry-laden area. He was very friendly and curious walking towards the camera every time I pointed it at him. The sweetie cried and cried and seemed to want to follow me inside. Loved being petted. Heartbreaking. He's so tame he certainly grew up as a pet. I hope he finds a good home but fear he never will.
I spent Saturday night at the observatory... it was our local observance of the Saturn Observation Campaign's Saturn Observation Night. The ringed planet was very near opposition and, after a partly-cloudy day, we were treated to a chilly but clear night. Saturn shown like a yellow diamond in the east and was, as always, a crowd-pleaser in the eyepiece. Seeing was fairly good (not excellent) and we could spot four moons, see the space between the inside of the rings and the limbs of the planet, and got regular glimpses of banding in the planetary atmosphere. In all 33 people of a wide range of ages visited the observatory and looked through the telescope. Most didn't stick around; after seeing Saturn they took off for home -- probably because it was a cold 28 degrees in the dome. Many also were treated to views of the Orion Nebula and eight late-comers climbed high on a ladder to see the rising, waning gibbous Moon.
Sweetie and I woke Sunday to a strange smell in the air. I thought it was Her hand, smelly from working with garlic the night before. No, it wasn't that! We searched the house for the source of the acrid, garlic-vinegar stench but to no avail: not the trash bag, not the garbage disposer, not the cat box, not anything we could find. It occurred to me that it might be the solenoid actuator on the heat pump's humidifier overheating and failing. I shut off the humidifier and we opened the house briefly to air the place out. There's still a hint of the odor here but it's tolerable now. This may be a mystery stink for a while... at least until we have the heat pump looked at for routine service.
My Mom has spinal surgery tomorrow. I'll be headed over there to greet her in recovery. It's not a particularly high-risk procedure but that sort of thing is always a worry!
I packed up only one extra eyepiece --the great antique scope has a wonderful low-power ocular that presents the entire lunar disk-- and bundled myself up. It was a c-o-l-d night!
As the eclipse was getting underway a freshly-cleared sky began to cloud up. A thin layer of cloudiness obscured all detail from the Moon just as Earth's shadow was taking a good chunk out. And a little snow fell through the dome slit! Gad! Just as I was beginning to give up hope, however, the sky quickly cleared and we had good seeing for the rest of the night!
The view of the Moon through the 9-inch refractor was typically spectacular. Even the full Moon looks great through that scope with its fist-sized eyepiece. During the partial phase of the eclipse, however, there was a time when the lunar limb was relatively bright, the central portion of the disk was bluish, and the dark shadowed region took on a reddish hue. Quite beautiful. During totality the Moon took on a pale coppery color; it was not a particularly colorful eclipse. Impressive and beautiful, nonetheless.
In all more than 44 visitors came into the observatory -- there were probably more but people were coming in to look through the telescope and going out to enjoy the sky with their own eyes ... they were getting into the event!
The last visitors left at around 11 PM and I was finally free to try some photos. A little too late, however, to get the shot I wanted... looking at the Moon along the telescope and through the dome. The Moon had already brightened to the point that I couldn't balance the exposure. It's a nice photo anyway and I'll use it for some things, it's just not the picture I had imagined. It was getting late and my feet and hands were getting cold --it was 18 degrees F. in the dome-- so I closed up and went home.
A very good night of eclipse watching.
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