Christmas 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Friday, November 01, 2013
Comet C/2012 X1 Linear
October 28 Very nice Sunset
November 1
Beautiful Moon caught rising just over mountains at 5:15 in front yard. Above photo was taken later after it had risen quite a bit.
Used 12x50 binoculars on photo tripod and found new Comet C/2012 X1 Linear. This comet had an unexpected brightening recently and was easy to spot this morning in binoculars above roof of house across street.
Prior to that, between 4 and 5 viewed Orion nebula, Mars, and Comet Lovejoy. It was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit coldest day this fall.
EDIT: Found out it was M3 NOT!!! c/2012 x1 linear. Looked again the next morning and clearly identified the star field which a few degrees to the right of M3. C'est la vie!
November 1
 | |
| New Moon in Old Moon's Arms |
Beautiful Moon caught rising just over mountains at 5:15 in front yard. Above photo was taken later after it had risen quite a bit.
Used 12x50 binoculars on photo tripod and found new Comet C/2012 X1 Linear. This comet had an unexpected brightening recently and was easy to spot this morning in binoculars above roof of house across street.
Prior to that, between 4 and 5 viewed Orion nebula, Mars, and Comet Lovejoy. It was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit coldest day this fall.
EDIT: Found out it was M3 NOT!!! c/2012 x1 linear. Looked again the next morning and clearly identified the star field which a few degrees to the right of M3. C'est la vie!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Observing Session NGC 2261 Hubbles Variable Nebula and C/2013 R1 LOVEJOY
Had a great night observing.
Found another comet C/2013 R1 LOVEJOY.
Comet was easily visible in 12x50 binoculars and scope, could not see tail.
Also found NCG 2261 , Hubble's Variable Nebula. At first confused it with comet, then cone nebula but it is NGC 2261 and is very bright.
Here are my notes:
Will check for Cone next time!
Found another comet C/2013 R1 LOVEJOY.
Comet was easily visible in 12x50 binoculars and scope, could not see tail.
Also found NCG 2261 , Hubble's Variable Nebula. At first confused it with comet, then cone nebula but it is NGC 2261 and is very bright.
Here are my notes:
Will check for Cone next time!
Friday, October 25, 2013
In Cosmology, the third and fourth dimensions are equivalent.
The first two are polar coordinates. The third is distance from the origin and
also elapsed time.
Local time is so small comparatively, it can be ignored.
However, local time is our most important fact, and gives us both a warning and a clue.
The failure to identify the equivalence of the 3rd and 4th gives rise to much of the confusion in cosmology.
The warning and clue are to the existence of a separate reality.
Local time is so small comparatively, it can be ignored.
However, local time is our most important fact, and gives us both a warning and a clue.
The failure to identify the equivalence of the 3rd and 4th gives rise to much of the confusion in cosmology.
The warning and clue are to the existence of a separate reality.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Finally get a clear explanation of the theory
Finished Einstein's "Relativity The Special and The General Theory - A Clear Explanation That Anyone Can Understand"
The last pages Appendix V which were added in 1952 explain his further thoughts.
In the note to the Fifteenth Edition:
" I wished to show that space-time is not necessarily something to which one can ascribe a separate existence, independently of the actual objects of physical reality. Physical objects are not in space, but these objects are spatially extended. In this way the concept "empty space" loses its meaning.
June 9th, 1952 A. Einstein
The appendix discusses Descartes view on whether space and exist without matter.
The last pages Appendix V which were added in 1952 explain his further thoughts.
In the note to the Fifteenth Edition:
" I wished to show that space-time is not necessarily something to which one can ascribe a separate existence, independently of the actual objects of physical reality. Physical objects are not in space, but these objects are spatially extended. In this way the concept "empty space" loses its meaning.
June 9th, 1952 A. Einstein
The appendix discusses Descartes view on whether space and exist without matter.
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Sept 2 7pm HASP Balloon from New Mexico
We were walking the dog on the golf course and I remarked to Jan that Venus was very bright tonight, more so than I recall seeing it.
We continued walking and as we neared home I noticed that Venus was in the wrong place! I found the real Venus, which was more to the South. This was about 15 degrees west of North and about 15 degrees elevation.
I reached home and got out binocs and noticed it was an UFO!!!!!
I got the 80ED scope with 8-24mm zoom eyepiece and took some photos at 75x magnification.
Here it is:
http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/Flightinfo-2013.php?py=2013
We continued walking and as we neared home I noticed that Venus was in the wrong place! I found the real Venus, which was more to the South. This was about 15 degrees west of North and about 15 degrees elevation.
I reached home and got out binocs and noticed it was an UFO!!!!!
I got the 80ED scope with 8-24mm zoom eyepiece and took some photos at 75x magnification.
Here it is:
http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/Flightinfo-2013.php?py=2013
Aug 24, 2013 Mirror Lab Tour by Dean Ketelsen
We were so fortunate to be invited to a tour of the Tucson Mirror Lab where they were cooling and rotating the 8.4m third mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile.
Dean Ketelsen graciously provided a wonderful tour.
Here we are enjoying the trip.
The GMT #3 rotating mirror as it is still being heated and formed.
Dean Ketelsen graciously provided a wonderful tour.
 |
| Dean Ketelsen describing measurments. |
Here we are enjoying the trip.
 |
| Jan and I with Baja mirror in background |
An amazing factory!
The GMT #3 rotating mirror as it is still being heated and formed.
A great tour!
Aug 15, 2013 Nova Delphinus 2013 Naked Eye!
Using 8x40 binocs at 10pm saw a Nova
in Delphinus.
Viewed it again over the coming
weeks as it dimmed.
Saw it two nights, 8/15 and 8/17 in am naked
eye.
This is my first nova viewed and
also the first naked eye nova
in around twenty years. It was overcast
from 8/18 through 8/25,
visible in binoculars after that.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
August 11, 2013 Lowell Observatory Elk Condors Milky Way
Nice trip to Lowell Observatory.
Took Mars tour. Saw 24" Clark Refractor
Also Saw Grand Canyon
Took Mars tour. Saw 24" Clark Refractor
Also Saw Grand Canyon
Friday, June 14, 2013
Cats Eye, Central Star in Ring, and Distant Quasar
Observing Report June 13, 2013
15" Obsession
Paracorr
14mm ES100 140X .72degree=43'
9mm ES100 217X .46degree=27'
4.7mm ES82 416X .2deg=12'
11pm-1am Back Yard-80degrees no shirt patio fan on
Laptop Stellarium
Targets:
10pm Saturn Moons (4) - Rhea Dione Titan Tethys
Comet Panstarrs - Fading as it exits Solar System
Targets:
Sue French - Sky and Telescope July 2013 article Deep Sky Wonders "Assorted Delights in Draco and Ursa Minor"
eta Dra - 9mm barely showed double, 20 Dra 9mm double not seen
NGC6217 galaxy not very bright
NGC 5985/82/81 easily seen after Joe's outdoor lights went off.
NGC 6503 very bright
Zeta UMi was not easily naked eye visible. At first it was level in altitude with Comet.
Tried for Quasar with 9mm, could barely see 15 Dra in TelRad.
Could not locate Quasar star field with 9mm. Switched to 14mm, used Stellarium, found Quasar star field, verified Quasar 1634+706 z=1.334 with Stellarium and memory from June 8!
Used 14mm on NGC 6503 - mag 10.
Looked at two doubles eta and 20 Dra. Neither seemed split. Decided to try 4.7mm ES82 eyepiece even though seeing and transparency did not seem that good. Readjusted TelRad and finder.
With 4.7mm at 416X, easily split eta Dra 2.8-8.2 4.8" double and 20Dra 1.2" 7.1-7.3 doubles.
Decided to look at Antares. Companion not positively identified. Could see multiple diffraction rings on defocusing with scintillation. Seeing was much better and 4.7mm 416X worked very well.
Decided to go for M57, Ring Nebula. WOW!! was very large and Central Star was visible most of the time. I think this is the first time I have seen the central star in backyard. Why did I not use higher mag before??
Went to M13. Was almost at zenith. WOW!! Stars were resolved, was very beautiful. Found propeller. Looked in Stellarium to see position of NGC 6207. It is about 1/2degree towards eta Her (nearest star of keystone) and center of keystone Galaxy core was very bright and compact, galaxy was large compared with normal view at lower magnification.
15" Obsession
Paracorr
14mm ES100 140X .72degree=43'
9mm ES100 217X .46degree=27'
4.7mm ES82 416X .2deg=12'
11pm-1am Back Yard-80degrees no shirt patio fan on
Laptop Stellarium
Targets:
10pm Saturn Moons (4) - Rhea Dione Titan Tethys
Comet Panstarrs - Fading as it exits Solar System
Targets:
Sue French - Sky and Telescope July 2013 article Deep Sky Wonders "Assorted Delights in Draco and Ursa Minor"
- Object Type Mag(v) Size/Sep RA Dec.
- NGC 6543 Planetary nebula 8.1 22″ × 19″ 17h 58.6m +66° 38′
- IC 4677 Part of planetary halo 15 44″ × 23″ 17h 58.3m +66° 38′
- η Dra Double star 2.8, 8.2 4.8″ 16h 24.0m +61° 31′
- 20 Dra Double star 7.1, 7.3 1.2″ 16h 56.4m +65° 02′
- Q1634+706 Quasar 14.4 — 16h 34.5m +70° 32′
- NGC 6217 Galaxy 11.2 3.0′ × 2.5′ 16h 32.7m +78° 12′
eta Dra - 9mm barely showed double, 20 Dra 9mm double not seen
NGC6217 galaxy not very bright
NGC 5985/82/81 easily seen after Joe's outdoor lights went off.
NGC 6503 very bright
Zeta UMi was not easily naked eye visible. At first it was level in altitude with Comet.
Tried for Quasar with 9mm, could barely see 15 Dra in TelRad.
Could not locate Quasar star field with 9mm. Switched to 14mm, used Stellarium, found Quasar star field, verified Quasar 1634+706 z=1.334 with Stellarium and memory from June 8!
Used 14mm on NGC 6503 - mag 10.
Looked at two doubles eta and 20 Dra. Neither seemed split. Decided to try 4.7mm ES82 eyepiece even though seeing and transparency did not seem that good. Readjusted TelRad and finder.
With 4.7mm at 416X, easily split eta Dra 2.8-8.2 4.8" double and 20Dra 1.2" 7.1-7.3 doubles.
Decided to look at Antares. Companion not positively identified. Could see multiple diffraction rings on defocusing with scintillation. Seeing was much better and 4.7mm 416X worked very well.
Decided to go for M57, Ring Nebula. WOW!! was very large and Central Star was visible most of the time. I think this is the first time I have seen the central star in backyard. Why did I not use higher mag before??
Went to M13. Was almost at zenith. WOW!! Stars were resolved, was very beautiful. Found propeller. Looked in Stellarium to see position of NGC 6207. It is about 1/2degree towards eta Her (nearest star of keystone) and center of keystone Galaxy core was very bright and compact, galaxy was large compared with normal view at lower magnification.
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