Sky looked really good tonight, on the way home from work... Really clear. Not a cloud. I almost started setting up. But I had not eaten breakfast or lunch. Was really hungry.
After dinner I stepped outside. Orion was bright, Sirius burning. Mars rising, getting closer to Gemini. Pleiades over head, I could easily see 5 individual stars. But as I walked back into the kitchen, I suddenly, instantly, abruptly felt... I dunno. I can't describe it. Just this powerful feeling that I didn't want to do all the preparation, set up, dressing (for the cold), dark adaptation, calling the neighbours, choosing of targets, making the most of it, all of it, all the work to ready... I just didn't want to do it.
I was shocked at the intensity of the feeling.
I resolved to not worry. Go with the flow. Don't force it.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Moon and Antares
Was up and out the door early today. The whole sky was stunning. Incredible dark and clear. Wouldn't you know it... The Moon was very attractive, a waning crescent. I caught sight of an deep orange star to the right. Took me a while to figure out that it was our summer friend, Antares.
STS-130 away
The space shuttle launched this morning. Congrats and godspeed to all.
Katrina and entourage from the RASC Toronto Centre are in Florida. They were a little bummed out by yesterday's scrub; I imagine euphoria is present today.
Katrina and entourage from the RASC Toronto Centre are in Florida. They were a little bummed out by yesterday's scrub; I imagine euphoria is present today.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Mars in C14
The fourth planet was spectacular in the Celestron 14.
I popped out the back door after dessert and saw that the southern skies were pretty good. I told the gang that I was going to go out to the observatory, target Mars, and assess the conditions. I'd call if it was really good.
And it was.
With the 18mm eyepiece, the view was fantastic. Good clarity, good detail. The polar cap stood out. The surface, pale orange through dark grey blue. When the view steadied, it was impressive. This is a great telescope.
With the 13mm, it was a bit too soft.
I returned to the house and stuck my head into the kitchen. Everyone was gathered in the living room. I told them Mars was amazing. I wondered if they might want to look now. Mom said, "Actually, yes. We're not sure we can stay awake to midnight."
They joined me one by one and took a look. Mom and Steve really enjoyed the views. I think Donna struggled a little with the focus. Mom particularly liked when I showed the zoomed in view on the computer.
I was tempting to sit down and sketch.
Very beautiful, at just over 101 million km.
I don't know if I remember a view this good. Even when I view it at 56 million km... Mind you, in an 8", in the city limits.
I popped out the back door after dessert and saw that the southern skies were pretty good. I told the gang that I was going to go out to the observatory, target Mars, and assess the conditions. I'd call if it was really good.
And it was.
With the 18mm eyepiece, the view was fantastic. Good clarity, good detail. The polar cap stood out. The surface, pale orange through dark grey blue. When the view steadied, it was impressive. This is a great telescope.
With the 13mm, it was a bit too soft.
I returned to the house and stuck my head into the kitchen. Everyone was gathered in the living room. I told them Mars was amazing. I wondered if they might want to look now. Mom said, "Actually, yes. We're not sure we can stay awake to midnight."
They joined me one by one and took a look. Mom and Steve really enjoyed the views. I think Donna struggled a little with the focus. Mom particularly liked when I showed the zoomed in view on the computer.
I was tempting to sit down and sketch.
Very beautiful, at just over 101 million km.
I don't know if I remember a view this good. Even when I view it at 56 million km... Mind you, in an 8", in the city limits.
H-alpha fun for the whole family
It looked like the clouds were breaking up. I was seeing lots of blue sky to the north. And occasional rays of sunlight blasting into the kitchen and living room. I headed out to the GBO to bolt up the Coronado filters onto the Tele Vue 101.
Once complete, I opened the roof the minimal amount. Dropped the south-west flap. And set about focusing the thing. When I finally got it (and the clouds stayed away), the view was good!
I rang the house on the intercom. Steve picked up, wondering what was going on. I told him to gather the troops and head over. He acknowledged.
Mom, Donna, and Steve were very impressed with the views. Steve quickly made the comparison to the skin of an orange. We took in a group of 3 or 4 small sunspots.
And then I tuned the filter! Steve reported that the surface detail improved. In fact, it drew out a number of flares on the disc edge. And it completely changed the appearance of the sunspot complex, making it much more dimensional.
We all could have looked at it longer but it was very chilly (-9 with a slight wind).
---
Mom exclaimed, on entering the GBO, "Now this is how I should have built my observatory!"
I let her close the roof. She was excited like a little girl!
Once complete, I opened the roof the minimal amount. Dropped the south-west flap. And set about focusing the thing. When I finally got it (and the clouds stayed away), the view was good!
I rang the house on the intercom. Steve picked up, wondering what was going on. I told him to gather the troops and head over. He acknowledged.
Mom, Donna, and Steve were very impressed with the views. Steve quickly made the comparison to the skin of an orange. We took in a group of 3 or 4 small sunspots.
And then I tuned the filter! Steve reported that the surface detail improved. In fact, it drew out a number of flares on the disc edge. And it completely changed the appearance of the sunspot complex, making it much more dimensional.
We all could have looked at it longer but it was very chilly (-9 with a slight wind).
---
Mom exclaimed, on entering the GBO, "Now this is how I should have built my observatory!"
I let her close the roof. She was excited like a little girl!
Friday, February 5, 2010
ice dogs
Spotted a parhelion left of the Sun as I walked along the groomed trail to the Carr Astronomical Observatory. Just a hint of the halo...
Data: FujiFilm J20, ISO 100, 1/950 sec, f7.8.
As I cut diagonally across the field to the house, it brightened a great deal, becoming prismatic. Finally, when I reached the house, I was rewarded with both, dual spots, parhelia.
I was pleased that the lens was wide enough to catch both.
Data: FujiFilm J20, ISO 100, 1/850 sec, f7.8.
Data: FujiFilm J20, ISO 100, 1/950 sec, f7.8.
As I cut diagonally across the field to the house, it brightened a great deal, becoming prismatic. Finally, when I reached the house, I was rewarded with both, dual spots, parhelia.
I was pleased that the lens was wide enough to catch both.
Data: FujiFilm J20, ISO 100, 1/850 sec, f7.8.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
a face to the RASC
In an effort to humanise the RASC Toronto Centre, I uploaded photos for many of the council members and committee chairs. I think one or two people clued in to my shooting photos at the Strategic Conference last weekend...
I've wanted this from day 1!
Four hours of work to get it all done. But the "staff" page looks so much better now.
I've wanted this from day 1!
Four hours of work to get it all done. But the "staff" page looks so much better now.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
SkyNews Mar/Apr 2010
Latest SkyNews showed up in the mail. Cover article is on Saturn's rings. And I see they will be doing some mythbusting on 2012...
I successfully peeled the address label off the front cover.
I successfully peeled the address label off the front cover.
OH glitch found
Denis confirmed that the second RASC Observer's Handbook sent to me was due to a glitch in the new system. He's implemented a fix immediately.
Told me to not worry about the second book, to keep it.
I'll donate it to the Toronto Centre, for the Carr Astronomical Observatory.
Told me to not worry about the second book, to keep it.
I'll donate it to the Toronto Centre, for the Carr Astronomical Observatory.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Willie saw his shadow
Proclaimed Wiarton Willie: "My shadow I see - six more weeks of winter."
From the Canadian Press: "Earlier today, both Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania also saw their shadows, making it a unanimous forecast."
See the article on the internet. It must be true!
From the Canadian Press: "Earlier today, both Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania also saw their shadows, making it a unanimous forecast."
See the article on the internet. It must be true!
Monday, February 1, 2010
navigating by Orion (Napanee)
Was not 100% sure of my bearings after one of my pit stops on the way back from Ottawa. But as I glanced over my left shoulder, I saw Orion rising. Good! I was going west.
Actually, it was bright blue Sirius that kept catching my eye.
§
It occurred to me that the Moon should be rising... Behind me. I scanned the driver's side mirror. And caught it peaking through low clouds.
Actually, it was bright blue Sirius that kept catching my eye.
§
It occurred to me that the Moon should be rising... Behind me. I scanned the driver's side mirror. And caught it peaking through low clouds.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Blue Moon facts
My buddy Malcolm asked me about the "Blue Moon" thing. He asked me specifically, "How often do Blue Moons occur?" Hopefully, I clarified matters for him...
There is a "common" understanding that if you have 2 full Moons in a month, like what happened in December, that the 2nd full Moon is called a Blue Moon.
This is however an urban legend ultimately started due to a factual error in, ironically, a 1940 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.
The Moon doesn't appear blue. Two full Moons in a month is not an extremely rare event. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 so that means by chance coincidence a double full Moon could fit within every month [including but very rarely] February. Statistically, it happens about every 3 years.
SkyNews magazine published a good myth-busting article.
So, in summary, there really is no such thing as an astronomical Blue Moon.
There is a "common" understanding that if you have 2 full Moons in a month, like what happened in December, that the 2nd full Moon is called a Blue Moon.
This is however an urban legend ultimately started due to a factual error in, ironically, a 1940 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.
The Moon doesn't appear blue. Two full Moons in a month is not an extremely rare event. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 so that means by chance coincidence a double full Moon could fit within every month [including but very rarely] February. Statistically, it happens about every 3 years.
SkyNews magazine published a good myth-busting article.
So, in summary, there really is no such thing as an astronomical Blue Moon.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Kendrick moved
Phil told me about this. Kendrick moved from Dundas St W. Still in the neighbourhood, fortunately (bottom end of Cawthra). I had no idea!
StratCon2
Participated in the second part of the RASC Toronto Centre Strategic Planning Conference, this time at U of T. The easy part of developing initiatives. I brought my shopping list! The hard part was picking 5 of the 3 groups. The harder part was working on Mission, Vision, and Values.
Laila did amazing work getting us together and thinking about these things.
Already there is some good stuff happening. Just the awareness factor alone will, I think, help our cause.
Laila did amazing work getting us together and thinking about these things.
Already there is some good stuff happening. Just the awareness factor alone will, I think, help our cause.
Friday, January 29, 2010
six degrees (Toronto)
All the lights were off, having watched a scary movie. I was dark adapted. As I returned to my desk, before staring into the bright computer monitor, I glanced out the window. Wow! That moonlight was bright! Impressive how much pale blue light there was.
Popped outside for a moment, to view the pairing, and to see Mars during moments of opposition. The Moon was indeed bright, nearly full. Mars, about six degrees away, was very bright too. The sky looked really clear...
But it's as cold as outer space. I can not get energised to fire up the telescope. No way.
Popped outside for a moment, to view the pairing, and to see Mars during moments of opposition. The Moon was indeed bright, nearly full. Mars, about six degrees away, was very bright too. The sky looked really clear...
But it's as cold as outer space. I can not get energised to fire up the telescope. No way.
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