| |
Main
Date: 18 Dec 2006 12:31:42
From: W. H. Greer
Subject: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
I would like to get out and make better use of observing
opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
planned direction.
There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
--
Bill
Celestial Journeys
http://cejour.blogspot.com
|
|
| |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 21:07:40
From: Darian
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
John, What is the Flaming star of Auriga? DR
John Banister wrote:
> This will begin my second year of observing with a telescope. My goals are:
>
> 1. Improve my observing skills by systematic observation and documentation
> of each object observed. I plan to compare my observing notes from the
> previous year with my new notes to measure progress.
>
> 2. Finish the SAA Top 100 non-Messier list for my area.
>
> 3. Observe the following objects that eluded me last year or that I want to
> observe more from:
>
> a. Saturn
> b. Jupiter
> c. Mars
> d. Cone Nebula
> e. Flaming Star of Auriga
> f. California Nebula
> g. Horsehead Nebula
> h. Cocoon Nebula
>
> 4. Get a few really fine eyepieces.
>
> -John
>
>
>
> a.
> "W. H. Greer" <sendnomail@tome.net> wrote in message
> news:58odo2d3sc9qf28q4qi636fsd2e4se78b0@4ax.com...
> > What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
> >
> > I would like to get out and make better use of observing
> > opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
> > to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
> > planned direction.
> >
> > There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
> > changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
> > previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
> > there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
> > about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
> > not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
> > of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
> > accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
> > big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
> > --
> > Bill
> > Celestial Journeys
> > http://cejour.blogspot.com
|
| | |
Date: 19 Dec 2006 06:11:48
From: John Banister
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
IC 405. See
http://www.messier45.com/cgi-bin/dsdb/dsb.pl?ss=116653389342028&str=ic+405 .
-John
"Darian" <darian.rachal@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1166504860.697179.180420@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> John, What is the Flaming star of Auriga? DR
>
>
> John Banister wrote:
>> This will begin my second year of observing with a telescope. My goals
>> are:
>>
>> 1. Improve my observing skills by systematic observation and
>> documentation
>> of each object observed. I plan to compare my observing notes from the
>> previous year with my new notes to measure progress.
>>
>> 2. Finish the SAA Top 100 non-Messier list for my area.
>>
>> 3. Observe the following objects that eluded me last year or that I want
>> to
>> observe more from:
>>
>> a. Saturn
>> b. Jupiter
>> c. Mars
>> d. Cone Nebula
>> e. Flaming Star of Auriga
>> f. California Nebula
>> g. Horsehead Nebula
>> h. Cocoon Nebula
>>
>> 4. Get a few really fine eyepieces.
>>
>> -John
>>
>>
>>
>> a.
>> "W. H. Greer" <sendnomail@tome.net> wrote in message
>> news:58odo2d3sc9qf28q4qi636fsd2e4se78b0@4ax.com...
>> > What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
>> >
>> > I would like to get out and make better use of observing
>> > opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
>> > to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
>> > planned direction.
>> >
>> > There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
>> > changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
>> > previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
>> > there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
>> > about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
>> > not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
>> > of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
>> > accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
>> > big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
>> > --
>> > Bill
>> > Celestial Journeys
>> > http://cejour.blogspot.com
>
|
| |
Date: 19 Dec 2006 04:37:22
From: John Banister
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
This will begin my second year of observing with a telescope. My goals are:
1. Improve my observing skills by systematic observation and documentation
of each object observed. I plan to compare my observing notes from the
previous year with my new notes to measure progress.
2. Finish the SAA Top 100 non-Messier list for my area.
3. Observe the following objects that eluded me last year or that I want to
observe more from:
a. Saturn
b. Jupiter
c. Mars
d. Cone Nebula
e. Flaming Star of Auriga
f. California Nebula
g. Horsehead Nebula
h. Cocoon Nebula
4. Get a few really fine eyepieces.
-John
a.
"W. H. Greer" <sendnomail@tome.net > wrote in message
news:58odo2d3sc9qf28q4qi636fsd2e4se78b0@4ax.com...
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
>
> I would like to get out and make better use of observing
> opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
> to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
> planned direction.
>
> There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
> changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
> previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
> there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
> about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
> not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
> of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
> accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
> big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
> --
> Bill
> Celestial Journeys
> http://cejour.blogspot.com
|
| | |
Date: 19 Dec 2006 09:19:24
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
"John Banister" <jhbanister@sbcglobal.net > wrote in message
news:60Khh.11906$Ga1.5279@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
> This will begin my second year of observing with a telescope. My goals
> are:
>
> 1. Improve my observing skills by systematic observation and
> documentation of each object observed. I plan to compare my observing
> notes from the previous year with my new notes to measure progress.
>
> 2. Finish the SAA Top 100 non-Messier list for my area.
>
> 3. Observe the following objects that eluded me last year or that I want
> to observe more from:
>
> a. Saturn
> b. Jupiter
> c. Mars
> d. Cone Nebula
> e. Flaming Star of Auriga
> f. California Nebula
> g. Horsehead Nebula
> h. Cocoon Nebula
We recently observed all three of these using our 10" f/6 homemade dob and a
2" Lumicon H-Beta filter, sky just less than mag 6. The Cocoon was the most
difficult, and it was very faint even with the filter. We really enjoy the
hunt for the Cocoon as the neighborhood around it is very cool. The
Horsehead was much easier, and the outline of the horse's head was pretty
obvious and a real treat to see. The California is easily seen with the
filter, and is a great view. If you don't have a H-Beta filter, you will
need to get one.
>
> 4. Get a few really fine eyepieces.
We have friends with a variety of high-end eyepieces, and they are a
pleasure to use. However, I have to say that I don't find the difference in
performance great enough to justify purchasing them. Our modestly-priced
good-qualify eyepieces work very well in our fastest scopes (f/6), and
provide excellent fov, eye relief, and optical performance in the center of
the field. The edge performance does not compare to high-end eyepieces, but
is not so bad as to convince us to upgrade. Of course, only you can judge
what eyepieces work in your scope(s), and what characteristics are most
important to you. Finally (and without presuming that this applies to you)
I think that a lot of folks buy expensive eyepieces in the false belief that
they will improve the performance of their scopes, and are disappointed that
they don't. I would much sooner look through a cheap plossl in a scope with
great optics than a Nagler in one with mediocre or good optics.
Dennis
|
| |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 19:39:22
From: Mean Mr Mustard
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
W. H. Greer wrote:
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
My goal is the same as every year. Survive and get a few good
observing sessions in along the way.
|
| |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 18:25:41
From: laura halliday
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
W. H. Greer wrote:
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
Revise my astrophotography. I didn't take many pictures this
year, partly due to miserable weather, and partly that my new
scope at the end of 2005 (TOA-130) was a challenge to my
observing skill, and I wanted to observe visually, and see
what it could do, before attempting to photograph anything
with it. So in 2007 it's astrophotography.
I too live in the Vancouver area. Last winter was disgusting,
and this winter is shaping up to be as bad. Or worse. Travel
is an important part of astronomy in these parts. :-(
Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre
Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..."
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte
|
| | |
Date: 19 Dec 2006 02:44:20
From: Sam Wormley
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
laura halliday wrote:
> W. H. Greer wrote:
>
>> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
>
> Revise my astrophotography. I didn't take many pictures this
> year, partly due to miserable weather, and partly that my new
> scope at the end of 2005 (TOA-130) was a challenge to my
> observing skill, and I wanted to observe visually, and see
> what it could do, before attempting to photograph anything
> with it. So in 2007 it's astrophotography.
Same with me... I have to give up observing to fiddle with the
astrophotography! :-)
But I really do need to work on it... vibration is the biggest
problem.
-Sam
>
> I too live in the Vancouver area. Last winter was disgusting,
> and this winter is shaping up to be as bad. Or worse. Travel
> is an important part of astronomy in these parts. :-(
>
> Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre
> Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..."
> ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte
>
|
| |
Date: 19 Dec 2006 02:15:11
From: John Nichols
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
"W. H. Greer" <sendnomail@tome.net > wrote in message
news:58odo2d3sc9qf28q4qi636fsd2e4se78b0@4ax.com...
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
>
> I would like to get out and make better use of observing
> opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
> to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
> planned direction.
>
> There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
> changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
> previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
> there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
> about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
> not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
> of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
> accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
> big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
> --
Either figure out how to do afocal astrophotography better or acquire
Celestron's planetary imager and learn how to do that. Or both.
Buy a 9.25 goto SCT to help me find things that are nearly impossible for me
to find in my light polluted skies.
|
| |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 17:15:54
From: Grim Reaper
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
W. H. Greer wrote:
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
>
> I would like to get out and make better use of observing
> opportunities. In anticipation of glitches along the way, I decided
> to get an early start. I've already taken my first steps in the
> planned direction.
>
> There's a deep down, lingering suspicion or fear that our world is
> changing. Humanity's self fear is lighting up more and more of our
> previously dark landscape. In addition to our brightening skies,
> there's our blind eye towards air pollution. Then there's that story
> about cloud-free skies soon becoming a thing of the past. Last, but
> not least, we're human beings with limited life spans. The totality
> of these realizations pushes some of us toward the desire to
> accomplish something -- to leave behind something more than a great
> big pile of waste and a polluted planet.
> --
> Bill
> Celestial Journeys
> http://cejour.blogspot.com
Here are my goals:
-- Bring some kind of order to my observing session. That is, when I
go out to observe, I'm going with a list of things to see.
-- Start an observing journal.
-- Find, identify, and sketch as many Messier objects as I can.
-- Work my way through "Turn Left at Orion" -- that is, try to find
every object described there.
|
| | |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 20:49:10
From: Marty
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
Grim was saying
>Start an observing journal.
VERY good idea, for everyone! Mine started in 1990, with a few sketches
and notes left over from earlier times. Wish I'd started at least 20
years earlier, or even when I was a kid, but I didn't start until a
couple of astronomical events that I DID bother to record pointed out to
me how fallible my memory was. My earlier entries were mainly lists of
"M" objects with rather dull, cryptic, notes. Later, I morphed into
adding details about the observing session in a more conversational
style. Much more fun to look back on, and I'm most likely the only
person who will ever read it anyway. (Although it would be so cool to
have a thing like that from an ancestor...)
Marty
|
| |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 17:10:59
From: Ernie Dunbar
Subject: Re: Goals, etc. for 2007?
|
W. H. Greer wrote:
> What are your astronomical goals, hopes, dreams, etc. for 2007?
I hope to be able to actually get out and observe more. The weather
this past 8 months has been horrible. What's clear skies to civilians,
ain't.
Plus I also live in Vancouver, so don't get me started about what it's
been like the past 2 months. :)
|
|
