fixed big tripod

I finally fixed my large Manfrotto tripod today. Ever since I've had this thing, the rubber grips for the leg clamps have slipped. I guess the rubber has hardened over the years and the glue to the clamp weakened. I used Loctite Stick 'n Seal. Looking forward to improved operation. It's such a great tripod!

no scopes at CostCo

Dace was heading over to CostCo. She phoned me. I boogied over just as she was returning an item. She snuck me in.

Sadly we could not find any of the Celestron IYA telescopes...

library book

After renewing my library card, I put a hold on another astronomy book. Today, I picked it up: Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs by Antony Cooke.

On skimming the prologue, I grew discouraged. It sounds like the author is going to recommend buying an image intensifier...

I'll press on. I'm sure I'll learn other things.

Curiously, it has already inspired me to try light filters. I'll see if I can borrow some members filters for my gear. I'll do some comparative tests at home from the back garden and see what I see.

all watching launch attempt

I didn't realise everyone else was so interested in the Space Shuttle launch.

I kept everyone updated on the proceedings through the morning. Answered questions.

During dinner, Rob had his laptop going. I had the netbook running. We both had good (free) wireless signals in the dining room. We watched the Close Out Crew working in the White Room.

Everyone was very disappointed when NASA scrubbed... They were experiencing the same volatile weather we were.

clear again but windy (Buckhorn)

Another clear night. Surprising after sketchy weather. But cool and windy.

Looked for Leo again. It looked so... not right. I could not see Regulus. Saturn, if that's what it was, seemed so far away from the bright stars.

I could see Virgo and Spica. Leo should be right there!

The sky was an amazing dark velvet blue.

It was too windy for a bonfire tonight. Everyone wanted to play cards...

whole sky (Buckhorn)

Dace and Scott invited me back to their cottage. Offered me a ride. Asked if I wanted to bring the telescope back up.

I accepted the invite and lift; but I declined bringing the 'scope. The weather reports, for Peterborough, did not bode well for clear skies. It looked like, at best, there was only going to be one clear night. I didn't feel like setting up for one night.

And wouldn't you know it... clear... Relatively clear.

It took me a while to get my bearings. I forgot how good their north-western view was.

I tried looking for Saturn but I wasn't sure that I had seen it. I could not see any of Leo. Maybe I was looking in the wrong spot. Arcturus was up high. Gradually I could see all of Bootes. Over time, Lyra and Cygnus rose over the trees.

Lukas knew where the Big Dipper was. He asked where the giraffe was, his favourite animal. Everyone was surprised when I said there really was a giraffe. But I didn't know where Camelopardalis was exactly. That's when I learned that they didn't have a star chart at the cottage. Or a planisphere.

I borrowed their 8x50 binoculars and looked at Mizar and Alcor. Tried to view M13 but the light from the fire was a distraction.

We saw a bright satellite off to the north at one point. It was fast moving and orangish, heading to the north east, fairly low. Looked like the International Space Station to me!

Clouds off to the north started to glow as the Moon rose.

Nice night.

It rained on and off over the evening...

changed widgets...

... or gadgets... or whatever they're called.

I've always liked the Google Gadget for the Moon phase. The previous one I used showed an entire week. It was fine. It worked. But, well, I like this one better.

The APOD gadget was always wonky. Dimensions acted strangely. And it didn't link to the APOD site. Today I grabbed a different one. It works well.

controller mounted

Inspired by Guy and Scott, after seeing their iOptron presentation to the RASC last Wednesday, I went to work at finally mounting my Vixen SD-1 hand controller to the tripod. It's only been 2 years...

I simply stapled white strips of Velcro hook tape to the top of the tripod legs. I put some self-adhesive black Velcro loop tape on the back of the controller. Now I can stick the controller any where that is convenient.

While working on this, I decided to attach a cable holding hook to the side of the controller. Hopefully this will hold the power cord securely and prevent disconnects. Once I had the connector jiggle loose. I also hope it will be faster. Previously, I was unwrapping and wrapping a twist tie around the data and power cables...

I rejigged the North/South switch. Previously, I had a piece of Magic Tape over it to prevent accidental activation. Today, I jammed some plastic into the well of the switch and then put black electrical tape over top the hole. That switch can't move.

Another overdue item: I replaced the black twist ties on the power and data cords with orange Velcro One-Wraps (couldn't find my red ones).

Finally, with some red electrical tape, I attached the power connector and male adapter. Hopefully this will prevent disconnects. Never had an issue with this. I just want to avoid polarity problems...

delivered Stellarium demo

I delivered my software demo of Stellarium 0.10.2 tonight to the RASC Toronto Centre.

I ran out of handouts. I made the handout available as a PDF for download.

scripting in 10

Learned the new scripting language today. I made a script in Stellarium 0.10.2 that shows the lunar eclipse of Feb 2008 from Toronto. Seems powerful.

However I could not find commands for changing the Absolute scale, Relative scale, or Dynamic eye adaptation settings...

Still very much a work in progress.

new Stellarium UG

Was sniffing around the main Stellarium web site today. I found a new version of the user guide in the SourceForge files area. This is for the current version of the software, v0.10.2.

Read it in preparation for my presentation on Wednesday...

a new beginning

Members of the RASC Toronto Centre were invited to the DDO this evening. As usual, people were set up on the front lawn. But this time, under Archie's guidance, we could put the 74" on whatever target we wanted. And we didn't have to leave at midnight.

I did not take my gear up on this occasion. I looked through lots of other 'scopes.

I viewed the Moon, Saturn (with Titan, Rhea, and Enceladus on one side and Dione on the other), Albireo, Mizar & Alcor, M13, and Zubenelgenubi. The views in Gilles LX200 were awesome.

I helped Caroline sort out her 'scope. Once again, the Nexstar interface tripped up people. Kooky!

Photo by Katrina.

cameraless

When Fred saw me arrive the front lawn of the DDO, he accosted me: "Where's your camera?!" Good point. A photographer shoots!

this lunar cycle

Dietmar was driving. We were heading up to the David Dunlap Observatory. As he exited Highway 400 northbound for Highway 7 eastbound, I spotted the Moon. It was about 5° above the horizon. Very pale against the blue sky. Fat. Gibbous. Not quite full, we all agreed.

Soon it will be full. And then it will begin the slow loop around in front of the Earth. Soon to block out the Sun. It is this Moon, this cycle, that will cause the longest solar eclipse (ur, occultation) in years.

And I know a bunch of people heading off to China soon to see it.

Must be exciting for them!

Just a short time to go...

The word inexorable came to mind. Although I didn't like the negative connotations. There's just this feeling that it is moving, moving along, unstoppable. Slowly gracefully silently moving. Whether humans watch or not. They must go to it. It will not wait. They must begin their journeys.

I saw the Moon differently, somehow, tonight.

soon, to the observatory

The Big Observatory...