Search found 150 matches

by setnes
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:21 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Aligning equatorial mount in daytime?
Replies: 4
Views: 440

Re: Aligning equatorial mount in daytime?

I have some additional pointers for doing this. Setting the altitude can be done accurately with a level that gives you the angle. Setting the azimuth accurately then becomes the only thing that requires drift alignment adjusting. With that knowledge you can simplify drift alignment by doing the fol...
by setnes
Wed Sep 20, 2023 10:59 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: PBS News Hour Segment on Light Pollution
Replies: 1
Views: 2325

Re: PBS News Hour Segment on Light Pollution

Thanks for sharing this. I'm happy every time a news organization does a story about light pollution.
by setnes
Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:32 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Bill Volna article
Replies: 8
Views: 6672

Re: Bill Volna article

The article starts off by saying Bill attended a Minnesota Astronomical Society lecture when he was in middle school. If he is 91, it's hard to believe he was still in middle school when our club became the Twin Cities Astronomy Club. Clearly he attended an astronomy club lecture, but what was the s...
by setnes
Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:57 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Mini-Messier-Marathon Sept 23/24
Replies: 3
Views: 3704

Re: Mini-Messier-Marathon Sept 23/24

The Saturday forecast, although better than Friday, still looks bad. This event is cancelled. If the forecasts change, you can still go to CGO and take your chances with the morning, but there will be no official Mini-Messier event.
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Screenshot 2022-09-23 9.51.34 AM.png (114.73 KiB) Viewed 3407 times
by setnes
Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:12 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Mini-Messier-Marathon Sept 23/24
Replies: 3
Views: 3704

Re: Mini-Messier-Marathon Sept 23/24

It will not happen on Friday night and if this holds it will likely not happen on Saturday either.

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by setnes
Thu Jun 30, 2022 4:46 pm
Forum: MAS Electronic Media & Book Group
Topic: Memphis Astronomy Society Youtube
Replies: 2
Views: 2468

Re: Memphis Astronomy Society Youtube

I think it's really awesome that the other MAS (Memphis Astronomical Society) is also using Slack. :) https://youtu.be/NtLTpN--gfk?t=827 They are set up a little different than us, but are using it for similar reasons. As a reminder, if you would like to join our Slack platform, just send an e-mail ...
by setnes
Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:00 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Re: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!

There were 11 of us at CGO on Saturday for the Messier Marathon. It was cold and frosty, but there were moments of excellent sky between passing clouds. These are the results I have. Not everybody turned in a sheet as they left, so I might not have all scores yet. Don Gazdik -- 104 Kristopher Setnes...
by setnes
Sat Apr 02, 2022 3:46 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Re: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!

Here are the Messier Marathon Sheets for tonight. You can also use your own if you have an observing order preference. I will print and bring some of these along. One is an optimized Messier observation order and the other is ordered by Messier number. Messier_Marathon_2022-04-02-CGO_Observing_Order...
by setnes
Fri Apr 01, 2022 5:43 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Re: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 1 or 2, 2022)

We are about 24 hours from the event on Saturday and the forecast has been consistently good for the first half of the evening. The different forecast sites also seem to be in agreement. I am calling this event ON for Saturday night. Please dress warm!

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by setnes
Thu Mar 31, 2022 5:44 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Re: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 1 or 2, 2022)

I also agree. The Messier Marathon is officially OFF for Friday night.

I will wait before giving an official call for Saturday night. There is a reason for hope though.
by setnes
Wed Mar 30, 2022 2:57 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Re: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 1 or 2, 2022)

It's only Wednesday, so there's time for this to change, but I thought I'd share the current weather forecast. This points to Saturday over Friday for this event. (not an official call)

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by setnes
Mon Mar 28, 2022 8:58 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!
Replies: 12
Views: 6645

Messier Marathon (CGO: April 2, 2022) is ON for Saturday!

This year's Messier Marathon is scheduled for this Friday or Saturday at CGO. I will be making a call on the weather later this week. Prizes will be awarded at the following MAS meeting. The goal of the event is simple. Observe as many Messier objects as possible in one evening. More info to follow.
by setnes
Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:19 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Sunshine Protection Act
Replies: 11
Views: 2593

Re: Sunshine Protection Act

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this is weird. I've long wanted to get rid of Daylight Saving Time because it was an arbitrary hassle that saved nothing. Getting rid of Standard Time doesn't make any sense to me. High noon will forever be at 1pm. <sigh>
by setnes
Fri Feb 18, 2022 10:19 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: First image from the JWST!!
Replies: 29
Views: 8332

Re: First image from the JWST!!

Did they turn on the fans for cooling it down?! ...
Fans in space?
by setnes
Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:33 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: First image from the JWST!!
Replies: 29
Views: 8332

Re: First image from the JWST!!

Thanks Merle. That validates Mark's theory.

It also means this had nothing to do with it. :)


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Screenshot 2022-02-14 4.30.51 PM.png (210.57 KiB) Viewed 6672 times
by setnes
Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:03 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: First image from the JWST!!
Replies: 29
Views: 8332

Re: First image from the JWST!!

I've been scratching my head trying to understand how they determined which star was from which mirror. They eluded to it in the video, but didn't come out and say it exactly. Are they using the "selfie" images to determine which mirror is brighter for each sub exposure in the mosaic? If s...
by setnes
Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:54 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: First image from the JWST!!
Replies: 29
Views: 8332

Re: First image from the JWST!!

matt_2018 wrote: Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:41 pm We have people in the club who can help with collimation...
Let me know when you get up there, we'll stay here and tell you which screws to turn. :)
by setnes
Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:17 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)
Replies: 12
Views: 2163

Re: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)

I think some of the complications are necessary... or at least worthwhile. Infrared makes sense because we can see farther into the red shifted past, but that's also where many of the complications come into play. The L2 point is ideal because it allows the telescope to have only one infrared shield...
by setnes
Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:17 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)
Replies: 12
Views: 2163

Re: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)

sandconp wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 9:59 am You are going right?
No, but I think it would be super cool.
by setnes
Tue Nov 16, 2021 2:45 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)
Replies: 12
Views: 2163

Re: James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing(s)

In the video they described the sun shield deployment as a Rube Goldberg machine. Hopefully it's one that works. :)

Is anybody in MAS traveling to French Guiana to see the launch?
by setnes
Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:59 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: MAS Mini-Messier Marathon - Oct 8/9 at CGO!
Replies: 2
Views: 2965

Re: MAS Mini-Messier Marathon - Oct 8/9 at CGO: CANCELLED

The forecast for tonight has gotten worse, not better. I am officially cancelling the 4M this weekend. There is a little bit of room for optimism at the very start of the evening, but it doesn't look good enough for a Messier Marathon. If anybody DOES go out and experiences excellent sky, I'd love t...
by setnes
Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:35 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: MAS Mini-Messier Marathon - Oct 8/9 at CGO!
Replies: 2
Views: 2965

Re: MAS Mini-Messier Marathon - Oct 8/9 at CGO!

There will be three categories for this year's MAS Mini-Messier Marathon. 1) Non computerized visual (traditional Messier marathon) 2) Computerized visual (GOTO or Push-To computers) 3) Astrophotography (Most Messier objects imaged) We will have the Messier event at Cherry Grove Observatory, but you...
by setnes
Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:23 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Eagle still intact?
Replies: 5
Views: 1244

Re: Eagle still intact?

Deane Clark wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:16 pm “Recover”. That’s the tough nut to crack :)
Right. If it actually does still exist, it is likely safer in orbit than it would be if there was an attempt to encapsulate it somehow and drag it home. It's fun to think about though.