Heinz Trucking

I spent some time at the Naylor Observatory on Thursday evening. Using the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain in the French Dome, I was able to fit Venus and Uranus into the 26' field of view of a 2" 40mm University Optics MK-70 (162x), not long after 6:30 p.m. EST. Uranus was easily visible through the 5" f/5 achromatic finder scope. I could barely make out the distant gas giant over the glare of Venus with my Celestron 8x42s.

I also observed the Great Red Spot as it approached Jupiter's central meridian shortly before 7:00 p.m. Ganymede, Europa, and Io were to the west of the planet and Callisto was to the east.

I took a number of eyepiece projection shots of Venus and Uranus through the 5" refractor and a couple of prime focus photos of Venus through the 17".

After that, I spent some time on a handful of deep-sky objects, including M50, M78, NGC 1999, M79, M42, M43, NGC 1981, M31, and M32 before the Moon rose.

Using my binocular, I observed M45, the Hyades, M42 and the Sword of Orion, M41, M50, Melotte 20, and the Double Cluster.

As I left the observatory grounds, the gibbous Moon and Mars were rising above the French Dome.

Dave

This is a heavy solid bronze adapter that weighs 12 ounces. It helps to “equalize” equipment weight when changing from heavier 2 inch eyepieces to lighter 1.25 inch eyepieces. There is an anti-reflection angle that prevents reflections to the objective and it works as advertised. It has a brass compression ring with a captive thumb screw.

I’m selling this as I have two which I use to use when I would set up 2 scopes, but since getting a larger Dob I’m pretty much a one scope set-up observer now.

I’m the original owner. Very good condition with some signs of use and/or tarnishing. Included is the original box and papers.

Manufacturer’s list price is $60. I’m selling for $45.00 which includes USPS Shipping to CONUS.
For CAS members price is $38 but with delivery at next meeting.
PayPal price is $46.60.

I will also accept Money Order or Certified Bank Check. I will accept a Personal Check but will not ship/deliver until the check clears the buyer’s bank.

Fred De Lucia

This is a TEDx video showing how two different fields of science can come up with some amazing new technologies. The main medical imaging and Astronomy imaging part is about half way thru (it starts about 3 minutes into the video), but the whole video is pretty good.

Take an iconic Hubble photograph and turn it into something even more amazing... at least in my opinion

http://www.ted.com/talks/michelle_borkin_can_astronomers_help_doctors.ht...

Enjoy,
Joe

I missed this photo op by 10 seconds, plus I didn't have my camera, only my cell phone. So I plead no contest to the poor quality of these photos!!

Was driving along 422 last night around 7:00pm when I looked up and saw this X shaped cloud formation, with the moon right in the middle of it. I thought of Karl immediately - a sign of doom for the moon - a big X right across it. By the time I could pull over and snap the picture from my phone it had moved. But picture if you can that clear sky last night, with barely any clouds, except for this big X shaped formation, with the moon sitting right in the middle of it.

So the pictures are awful but I thought you'd enjoy seeing them anyway.

Maybe it's a good sign for the Feb. dark window!!

Rob

Weird and wonderful space science:

http://www.universetoday.com/93373/video-dancing-water-drops-in-earth-or...

Hello from St. Thomas. Me and Julie are on Vacation in St Thomas. We would like to find an Amature astronomer here. Does someone know how I should begin a search and try to find someone. I have done a search on google and don't seem to find any good leads to follow. Does anyone have any suggestions. I should have done more research from home but didn't have time.

Shawn

The nation has an opportunity to honor a truly exemplary accomplishment of humankind in general, and the U.S. space program in particular, with a new U.S. postage stamp in 2015 honoring the flyby and reconnaissance of the Pluto system by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.
You can read more about it and sign the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/usps-honor-new-horizons-and-the-explorat...