Search found 55 matches

by rdavidjohnson63
Sun Jun 19, 2022 9:22 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Wild fire at summit of Kitt Peak
Replies: 3
Views: 3908

Re: Wild fire at summit of Kitt Peak

I clicked on the link Merle provided. Here is an update from that report: Good news! Wildfire Today reported late in the afternoon on June 18 that all of the 20+ telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory in southern Arizona survived the wildfire that struck the site this week. However, four non-s...
by rdavidjohnson63
Mon May 16, 2022 1:39 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: B-SIG Special Event - Total Lunar Eclipse - Sunday May 15th - 7:30pm - Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy
Replies: 7
Views: 9653

Re: B-SIG Special Event - Total Lunar Eclipse - Sunday May 15th - 7:30pm - Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Here are a couple of my shots. Nikon D5100 through my Stellarview 105 on a CGEM-II that was not powered. As a result I had some star trails from the 3 and 4 second exposures.
DSC_5702.JPG
DSC_5702.JPG (76.69 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
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DSC_5925.JPG (75.37 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
DSC_6195.JPG
DSC_6195.JPG (76.48 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
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DSC_6243.JPG (76.56 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
by rdavidjohnson63
Sat Mar 19, 2022 7:04 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: First image from the JWST!!
Replies: 29
Views: 8333

Re: First image from the JWST!!

Kurt, I almost spit out my coffee I laughed so much at your post. Absolutely loved it.
by rdavidjohnson63
Wed Nov 24, 2021 2:42 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Telescope for Christmas gift
Replies: 9
Views: 7921

Re: Telescope for Christmas gift

Trena has an Orion Newt with goto that was in the $600 range. Nice scope she still uses. You could save a little money with a smaller aperture. My best advice is to check out some of the scopes from the loaner program to determine size and type that works for how you want to use. I know that doesn't...
by rdavidjohnson63
Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:46 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Humor
Replies: 4
Views: 971

Humor

I thought I would start this topic after coming across this picture.
211389291_2672352753063392_8690961152436046355_n.jpg
211389291_2672352753063392_8690961152436046355_n.jpg (42 KiB) Viewed 971 times
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:40 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Sky & Telescope Annular Eclipse flight out the MSP airport
Replies: 7
Views: 1232

Re: Sky & Telescope Annular Eclipse flight out the MSP airport

Seems like a rather steep price to me: Eclipse Flight Pricing (per person) Shared row Entire row Standard row $2,380 $4,300 Premium row (Row 11,12) Sorry, sold out! $2,745 $4,935 Gold row (Rows 1, 2, 3, 10, 15) Sorry, sold out! $3,100 $5,580 Note that the flight is priced by row, whether occupied by...
by rdavidjohnson63
Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:36 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: PUBLIC STAR PARTY - MARCH 20TH
Replies: 22
Views: 9512

Re: PUBLIC STAR PARTY - MARCH 20TH

I will be working the entire event and bringing 3 guests for the 7pm event.
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:29 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Beginning and city light
Replies: 7
Views: 1325

Re: Beginning and city light

I suggest you get on the list to borrow one of the club's loaner scopes. We have a Celestron 5 and 8 so you can see for real what you will get, then make your decision.
Go to the main page and find the loaner scope program under the members tab near the top of the page.
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Dec 01, 2020 5:36 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Scope suggestions
Replies: 9
Views: 1726

Re: Scope suggestions

Actually, Trena's scope is this one:
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-S ... /e/430.uts
Get the option with the controller.
by rdavidjohnson63
Sat Nov 28, 2020 8:09 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Scope suggestions
Replies: 9
Views: 1726

Re: Scope suggestions

Trena purchased a 6" Newt from Orion that has a good mount and is go-to. It has been a good first scope and I know she still uses it today, even after getting a 14" Dob. It did not come with a bag, so she quilted one up. It is light weight and I believe it holds colimation very well. f I r...
by rdavidjohnson63
Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:01 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Radiation on the moon
Replies: 0
Views: 505

Radiation on the moon

I found this article about radiation on the moon.
Spoiler alert, it is 200 times that on Earth and 2.6 times that on the ISS.

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/0 ... 601063382/
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Sep 08, 2020 1:47 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: New theory of Stellar Evolution
Replies: 8
Views: 1183

Re: New theory of Stellar Evolution

Then I probably should not put this here:
https://xkcd.com/2356/
by rdavidjohnson63
Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:42 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: New theory of Stellar Evolution
Replies: 8
Views: 1183

New theory of Stellar Evolution

Check out this new theory of Stellar Evolution:
https://xkcd.com/2354/
by rdavidjohnson63
Mon Aug 17, 2020 10:47 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Astronomy based comic
Replies: 0
Views: 487

Astronomy based comic

I found Foxtrot from this past Sunday very funny.
https://foxtrot.com/2020/08/16/constell ... lizations/
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Jun 30, 2020 7:17 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
Replies: 8
Views: 1315

Re: Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ

You will need the T-adapter also. The T-ring connects to your camera, the T-adapter connects to the telescope. I have 2 sets for my Nikon D5100. One is short and has a screw thread end on the adapter that screws directly to my SCT. I used this configuration with a F/5.6 reducer to shoot the 2017 sol...
by rdavidjohnson63
Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:24 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
Replies: 8
Views: 1315

Re: Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ

I use my Nikon D5100 for astrophotograhy today. I use this on my fork mount SCT, my single arm SCT as well as my CGEM mounted SCT and refractors. The issue with the included mount is how heavy these cameras are. They work OK on fork and beefier EQ mounts however they might be too much for the includ...
by rdavidjohnson63
Thu May 21, 2020 9:06 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: New Site Use Rules - Updated 5/22/2020
Replies: 12
Views: 6187

Re: New Site Use Rules - 5/20/2020

I was at Harbor Freight the other day and picked up several pair of clear safety glasses at $1.99 each.
by rdavidjohnson63
Mon May 18, 2020 1:16 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Buying 1st telescope - Looking for advice
Replies: 13
Views: 1947

Re: Buying 1st telescope - Looking for advice

I purchased my first scope used off Craigslist. Just have to meet the person, setup the scope and see if it works for you. Walk away if there is anything wrong or you don't get the warm fuzzy feeling about it. I have since purchased 2 more used scopes off the Marketplace/Exchange forum here. Again, ...
by rdavidjohnson63
Thu Apr 30, 2020 6:07 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Just joined
Replies: 6
Views: 1018

Re: Just joined

Welcome to the group. Once this COVID stuff is behind us, consider attending one of our monthly meetings. They usually have a very informative talk. Also we have partnered with Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, part of the U of M. We planed to have about a half dozen free public star parties th...
by rdavidjohnson63
Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:40 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Protein found in a meteorite
Replies: 1
Views: 575

Protein found in a meteorite

This article talks a little about the discovery of protein inside a meteorite found in 1990.

https://phys.org/news/2020-03-protein-meteorite.html
by rdavidjohnson63
Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:35 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: The End of SETI@Home
Replies: 1
Views: 492

Re: The End of SETI@Home

I have not been running SETI/BOINC for about a year now. I started in June 1999 and that got me a member number in the 21,000 range. I processed 15,881 classic work units for a total CPU time of 112,289 hours. Since the switch to BOINC, they report things differently. It is just a total credit numbe...
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:00 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Mike Lynch star party
Replies: 1
Views: 495

Mike Lynch star party

I just read an article saying Mike Lynch will be bringing several reflectors to Lake Elmo Park Reserve Friday, March 6 from 6:30-8:30pm. This is an all weather event as it will start with a presentation in the Nordic Center, then head outside. The article said "...[he] will be bringing reflecto...
by rdavidjohnson63
Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:18 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars
Replies: 20
Views: 3037

Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

I was also very surprised to see it clear up as I drove home. I decided to setup in Pioneer Park in Little Canada and managed to get lots of good pictures of first contact up to the moment Mars is fully covered. By the time Mars emerged from the other side, it was so bright Mars was not identifiable...