At the time I thought it a fascinating journey—over 26 years—and concluded in the middle of 2017 that it had been a heck of a trip.
Could I have imagined the future, back then? Certainly I was pressing ahead for a certificate program since at least 2014. And I started thinking about measuring doubles as far back as 2008. Still. It still surprises me.
For fun, I thought I'd do another dive in the logs, to review what's happened in the last mere 5 years.
2017 (late)
- started wondering just what was going on...
- split 1100 doubles - 29 Nov
- discovered the lunar occultations data no longer updated for Occult Watcher
- searched RASC Journal back to 2006 for double stars articles
2018
- found misplaced book Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars (2nd Edition)
- enhanced my Excel graphical plotter
- delivered talk "unnoticed treasures" to RASC Toronto Centre (TO)
- learned how to properly say Struve
- received gift book Observing Visual Double Stars by Paul Couteau
- imaged Mizar and Alcor with BDT - with new AAB
- over 1200 doubles split - 10 May
- noted other The Sky This Month presenters mentioning doubles - hurrah
- issued the first of a monthly bulletin to RASC TO, issued near the full Moon, a short list of 5 suggested doubles, to view over the month
- read article Sirius and Its Companion by Aitken from Sep 1942 Sky & Telescope
- received Bert Topham Award for Observing, notably for double stars
- delivered "missing data" talk for RASC TO
- imaged M45 in TV 101 from Carr Astronomical Observation
- continued work on the double star (DS) candidates for the future RASC observing program...
- observed and imaged many doubles over the year
2019
- noted an up-tick in interest in doubles in RASC TO
- imaged Struve 1424 in 74-inch at David Dunlap Observatory (DDO)
- noted Jul/Aug SkyNews article on doubles in Lyra
- broke 1400 doubles 4 Jun 2019
- viewed Izar in 74 at DDO
- viewed Rasalgethi in 74 at DDO
- hit 1500 doubles - 3 Sep
- reviewed Struve family catalogues
- submitted first paper to Journal of Double Star Observations
- read Double and Multiple Stars by Mullaney - did not enjoy
- tested DS candidates for program throughout year
- made final update to DS project site - 2 Sep
- observed and imaged many doubles over the year
- continued monthly DS bulletins to RASC TO
2020
- showed Castor at 1000x in 74 at DDO
- delivered talk on observing doubles RASC Insider's Guide
- noted increased interest in doubles in RASC TO
- imaged Vulpecula region near Coathanger over 2 nights
- checked for known doubles in Vulpecula region
- surpassed 1600 viewed doubles - 27 Jun
- showed double stars for Ontario Science Centre star party
- found NAN in WDS
- plate-solved images from Vulpecula
- the RASC DS certificate program launched - 20 Oct
- reviewed Pocket Sky Atlas for double stars in RASC program
- observed and imaged many doubles over the year
- continued monthly DS bulletins to RASC TO
2021
- made ZC and XZ occultation list for SkyTools
- made diffraction mask for the ETX - to split Sirius B
- drafted pin design for RASC DS program
- published article on RASC DS program in Journal
- made a list in Stellarium based on RASC DS program
- made another diffraction mask, for the C8 this time
- reported DS label bugs to Stellarium development team
- listened to Chris and Shane's podcast referring to new RASC program
- delivered double stars talk to Seven Ponds in Michigan
- confirmed baader had discontinued Micro Guide
- documented extensive errors SkySafari for double stars
- imaged Vulpecula region for additional coverage
- tried zoom eyepiece with doubles
- learned DS talk for Seven Ponds had most views ever recorded
- learned cross-hair measurement method
- proofread '22 Observer's Handbook and reported a dozen issues
- issued 3 Double Stars program certificates
- helped a RASC member purchase the last new astrometric eyepiece
- made a correct calculator for Meade Astrometric eyepiece
- ended monthly postings to RASC TO
- left Sissy Haas's team
- observed and imaged many doubles over the year
- continued imaging fast-movers
2022 (so far)
- received new book, Anthology of Visual Double Stars by Argyle
- tried to split Sirius A and B
- awarded 4th DS cert
- prepared for citizen science talk for RASC Montreal for measuring doubles
It's been a busy few years!
No comments:
Post a Comment