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March 2011 Blog Posts (13)

Blue skies

Supposed to be clear skies tonight. Finally. Unfortunately the southern California fog has returned as well. Hopefully i can get a shot before the fog invades.

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 30, 2011 at 7:29am — No Comments

ISS Solar Transit Expedition of March 29th, 2011

On a whim last weekend I went to Calsky and checked to see if the ISS would be transiting the Sun in my area. I selected a 100mile radius assuming I would probably have to travel to see one of these somewhat rare events. Well, you can imagine my surprise to learn that a transit would be taking place less than 20miles from me in only 3 days. This blog entry will unfold the sequence of events that took place next.

Having never done this before I decided I had…

Continue

Added by John O'Neal on March 29, 2011 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

plate adapter

It's finally showing up this week, and it should be sunny this week as well. FINALLY, that took I believe what, five months? Can't wait to finally get it all set up and my system working. Lot of new upgrades that haven't been played with, MaximDL Pro, Moonlite autofocuser, pier, dome, USB hub cabled into the pod underground. There's going to be a learning curve right off the bat just getting everything going smoothly. Back in the game this week though!

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 27, 2011 at 3:22pm — 5 Comments

Free Focus Mask Generator

Hey guys you are going to love this... an on-line focus mask generator

just grab your scissors and knife and start cutting away!

http://astrojargon.net/MaskGenerator.aspx

Added by space_jockey on March 20, 2011 at 10:10am — 1 Comment

Hi..

hello world...

Added by Vinay Shah on March 17, 2011 at 5:29am — 2 Comments

autofocuser

got the autofocuser working.

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 10, 2011 at 9:35pm — No Comments

I am not using my hobby as much as I would like to mainly because I am getting so I can't take the cold anymore. I have been thinking about trying to run everything from inside. My skypod is under 30…

I am not using my hobby as much as I would like to mainly because I am getting so I can't take the cold anymore. I have been thinking about trying to run everything from inside. My skypod is under 30' from the house.

Just in case anyone out there would consider a little tutorial on how to do this

here is what I have.

Losmandy G11 w/Gemini

Canon 40D>

Orion autoguider Canon Xti

computer camera programmer

Meade LX90 8:

Meade… Continue

Added by Bob Black on March 10, 2011 at 7:34am — 5 Comments

Clear skies

Three to four days of zero clouds. New focuser, nut still no adapter plate to attach the mount to the pier. Talk about driving me insane!!!! Either way, stoked, have some cool toys to play with tonight.

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 8, 2011 at 7:55am — No Comments

Detection of a meteoroidal impact on the Moon

full analysis and article of the event recorded on february 11 2011, which very likely is a metoroidal impact on the moon.

The issue and more info is present in the webpage

http://digilander.libero.it/glrgroup/

Summary

Detection of a meteoroidal impact on the Moon

By Stefano Sposetti (a), Marco Iten (b) and Raffaello Lena (c)

(a) Gnosca Observatory… Continue

Added by raf lena on March 6, 2011 at 1:55pm — No Comments

Link to my blog.

I maintain a blog some of you might find interesting at:

http://www.silvren.com/blog/

Pictures, thoughts, screenshots, whatever. Mostly astronomy related.

Jeff

Added by Jeff McFarlin on March 3, 2011 at 8:47pm — 8 Comments

Focuser

Moonlite focuser with stepper motor shows tomorrow. Can't wait to check the thing out. Astrobling fix.

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 3, 2011 at 7:53pm — 5 Comments

well, I for one will miss rose. For a while I thought there must have been a mistake on my birth certificate!! 19 instead of 69!!Afar stretch I suppose, alas. Had the wife going there a little bit t…

well, I for one will miss rose. For a while I thought there must have been a mistake on my birth certificate!! 19 instead of 69!!Afar stretch I suppose, alas.

Had the wife going there a little bit though when I told her about this young babe that was interested in me. I'm not sure how to take her reply though,she said, and I quote, 'she can have you'. Now me being a reasonable man, I'm sure she only meant she would share me, for meals and such eh.

Oh, well, might as well keep my… Continue

Added by Bob Black on March 3, 2011 at 11:14am — 3 Comments

Rose

Might have a new girlfriend guys and might cut into my astronomy time. Nit sure, keep you all posted, or not. Lol.

Hey were not techs and were not making money in fact were spending money for this site so we can learn, even if it makes me jealous of Jeff's setup.

We took care of rose, although i thought i had a chance, but she's now gone, and this won't be the last time we have a tech issue... But we now screen newcomers decreasing the likelihood of spammers.

Added by Charles Dunlop on March 2, 2011 at 11:39pm — 1 Comment