September 25, 2009 #078 - Arkaroola Observatory

Another stop on my Internet Aussie Walkabout was the Arkaroola Wilderness Area where there is an excellent observing site with lots of facilities for the southern hemisphere observer. What first caught my eye was the roll off roof observatory with three observing chairs that can be used to scan with binoculars. They mention that there can be large temperature variations from day to night. If you look closely at the pictures you will see a lot of reflective foil insulation to ward off daytime heat. Their list of available equipment is impressive. I have always been interested in mobile observing chairs since I first read Leslie Peltier's article on his Merry-Go -Round Chair in Sky & Telescope back in the 70's.

Surf around and you will discover a lot of interesting Australian Astronomy links. It's fun to "Walk-A-Bout".

http://www.arkaroola.com.au/astronomy.php

Clear Sky - Rich

September 24, 2009 #077 - Clavé Eyepieces

During a recent Internet walkabout on the Australian astronomy sites I got a real shock. In Victoria, the owner of "Astronomy Alive", Cris Ellis is still offering Clavé eyepieces. The site shows f5mm, 6mm, 8mm, in 1.25"and 35mm in 2". In stock. I sure wouldn't think that he has very many as they have not been made, as far as I can determine, for years.

I have been using a Clavé 30mm and Clavé Barlow since the late 70's. I thought that the only way to pick any up were as they become available at infrequent personal sales. I would never give up mine as the quality of images they bring out on every scope I have had has been outstanding. I must admit that I have not used any of the new super lenses from Al Nagler. I can't seem to get past the fact that they cost more to purchase than I ever spent on a scope save for my 12.5" reflector.

By the way the French Company Clavé is still in business. They sell telescopes but do not mention the brand of eyepieces that they come with.

http://www.clave.fr/

http://www.astronomyalive.com.au/

Clear Sky - Rich

September 23, 2009 #076 - Telescope

I was randomly browsing through some new commercial telescope web sites when I happened upon an Italian site with a novel type of scope for sale. I have seen this form in a few scopes built by ATM's in past years but not as a commercial offering. They are manufactured around a classical Dall-Kirkham optical system. I was struck by their outward beauty and the photos taken through them are equally impressive. Take a look and I think you might be impressed.

http://www.lazzarotti-optics.com/main.html

Clear Sky - Rich

September 22, 2009 #075 - Cassini

On January 1st. I wrote a post about the beauty of a new Cassini full Saturn picture. She may have topped that picture. Take a look at the Cassini Equinox Mission Site by The Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This is how we dream that things will look through our backyard telescopes. They keep coming out with better versions just when I think things can't get any better. In addition the team has been doing a little star gazing of their own. They have posted a photo of the seven sisters from Saturn. And I thought stargazing from the surface of mars was something!

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=3661

The Seven Sisters picture can be seen at:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=3496

Clear Sky - Rich

September 19, 2009 #074 - Luna

It is an exciting time for lunar science. Both the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, in operation, and the JAXA - Kaguya (Selene) mission, which has now been completed, have returned some fantastic views of the lunar surface. Take some time to watch the movies, it feels like you are flying just above the lunar surface. Then look at the Apollo landing hardware, observed from orbit for the first time almost 40 years after the landings. Just out are some one meter resolution looks at the lunar south pole. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever hope to see such places with the clarity that is now available.


The JAXA movies can be found on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DA9C6AA8E11F7E56

the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter pictures can be seen:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/main/index.html


Clear Sky - Rich

September 18, 2009 #073 - Astronomy Music

Listening to Last FM Radio and found one of my favorite songs. If you haven't listened to Amethysium you have missed a treat. Try "Autumn Interlude" for a star observation listening treat.

"Feels like I could reach up into dark October skies
Scoop up seven of Orion’s stars, hold them like shiny diamonds
Then I turn and return to a world less than I’d like it to be
Strange thoughts staring at the stars on an autumn’s night "


http://www.last.fm/music/Amethystium/_/Autumn+Interlude


Clear Sky - Rich

September 17, 2009 #072 - Eyepieces

I was browsing the Internet this morning and happened upon a telescope sales site in Japan by Kokusai Kohki. To my surprise I find that they sell erfle eyepieces, apparently on a production by order basis. Time span a few weeks. From the pictures they look very much like those sold by University Optics. University stopped selling the erfle several years ago. I am including a picture showing the apparent cosmetic quality of these eyepieces and a list of what is available. Has anyone out there had any experiences with this Brand? What kind of optical quality do they have? It would be interesting to hear about them.

http://www.kkohki.com/English/kkohkiparts.html



Clear Sky - Rich

September 2, 2009 #071 - Meteor

We are sitting watching the moon and Jupiter rise out of Lake Superior on this beautiful Wisconsin evening. As we looked across the lake a meteor as bright as Jupiter falls north of the moon almost directly down towards the water. The color was a pale yellow until it neared the surface when there was a marked deceleration and the color turned bright sparkling silver. At the very lowest point, almost at the surface of the lake from our perspective, it dimmed and slowly lost its brightness, at it terminus it looked as if there was a trail of smoke like debris.

I spent several days watching meteors in the Perseid Shower period last month. On the peak evening I saw almost 90 per hour and half a dozen sporadic meteors before the moon became too bright. During the clear night a couple of days later there were still a few that were bright enough to be seen in the moon light.

Looking south I am reminded, as Scorpius sets, Sagittarius is at mid sky, and Orion makes an after midnight appearance, that winter again approaches. We are adjusting to retirement but why has the clock speeded up?

Clear Sky - Rich

June 4, 2009 #070 - A New Page

It has been several months since I last added to my Blog. Change has come to our life as my wife and I have been preparing to retire. It sounds great but it is amazing the amount of preparation required to get from there to here. My advise to anyone planning to pull up roots: Simplify as early as you can! It is amazing the stuff you accumulate! Getting rid of books that were old friends, for me, is like pulling teeth. I have never thrown a Sky and Telescope or Astronomy Magazine away. How can one get rid of the first edition of Astronomy followed by a hundred pounds of wonderful issues? My earliest S&T's date back to the 50's. Every one is filled with articles too valuable to lose, though I've read them a hundred times! How will I fit all those telescopes in a motor home? I guess we will get through it, but does anyone have a cure for a Pack Rat?

Clear Sky - Rich

January 2, 2009 #069 - Mars

As I set here today writing, snow flakes are drifting down softly from a gray sky. The Chickadee's have been feeding at the suet. Winter has a sure grip on the north land.

Yesterday, I was speaking about my favorite pictures from spacecraft roaming the solar system as the new year dawns. My second favorite view was captured by Opportunity as it treks across the Martian desert. This rover is racing time and entropy in a bid to reach Endeavour Crater before mechanical or electronic death embraces it. I can not help looking at this picture without remembering the martian named "Tweel" from "A Martian Odyssey" penned by Stanley G. Weinbaum in the 1930's. Like Opportunity, Stanley had only a short time to write his stories, as he was dying.



"Tweel" was described as bird like. As I look at images of Opportunity and especially it's shadow cast on the desert as the sun sets behind it the resemblance is striking. He traveled great distances by springing into the martian sky, and travelling much like a thrown javelin. The rover travels in spurts, gathering data for the next jump also.


Clear Sky - Rich

January 1, 2009 #068 - New Year

I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and many Clear Skies for 2009!

My wife and I are spending the holidays on the shore of Lake Superior. There are 16 inches of snow and temperatures below zero here. It is wonderful, a winter out of a Currier & Ives print. Last night we went out for a celebratory early supper and were treated to a beautiful sight. The moon and Venus hung in the clear western sky, cold and sparkling.

I spent some time today catching up on web sites presenting information on the current probes orbiting, transiting to, or roving the solar system. The list is mind boggling: Mercury, Venus, Luna, Mars, Saturn and it's 60 plus moons, Pluto, Vesta and Ceres. NASA has a New Cassini portrait of Saturn that is now my current desktop. The clarity of this shot looking at the ringed planet takes my breath away.


A full size version in all it's glory can be found at:

http://ciclops.org/view/5155/Saturn_Four_Years_on


Clear Sky - Rich