Search found 459 matches

by merle
Fri Oct 27, 2023 4:12 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Jupiter opposition
Replies: 3
Views: 4120

Re: Jupiter opposition

Kevin, Unless there's a specific Jupiter event on the 2nd, there will be virtually no perceptible difference between Jupiter on the 2nd or 4th. That said, there is an Io shadow transit on the morning of Nov. 3, beginning about 4:30 am that has the moon eclipsing its own shadow. - Screen Shot 2023-10...
by merle
Fri Oct 13, 2023 9:53 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: 2023 ELO Public Star Party Schedule
Replies: 5
Views: 3678

Re: 2023 ELO Public Star Party Schedule

...or if this is "simulcast" from some other location? Please advise, thanks! Here's a few to try: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/2023-annular-eclipse-broadcast/ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUg22TRWGdI or https://www.timeanddate.com/live/eclipse-sola...
by merle
Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:46 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: Forum "Attachments"
Replies: 1
Views: 4898

Forum "Attachments"

Instruction to post images or other attachment to your forum post: Select the "Attachment" tab at the bottom of your post, then select "Add" (you may need to scroll down the screen to see the expanded tab). A window will open and you find your picture to post. When uploaded, you ...
by merle
Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:40 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Storage ideas
Replies: 6
Views: 6328

Re: Storage ideas

There isn't a need to carry equipment from the parking lot. You are allowed to drive up to the observatory to unload and load your equipment. Unless it's a public star party, you can even park there during the night as long as it doesn't interfere with others bringing equipment up. But, to answer yo...
by merle
Thu Apr 13, 2023 9:25 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: 2023 ELO Public Star Party Schedule
Replies: 5
Views: 3678

2023 ELO Public Star Party Schedule

Link to the 2023 Eagle Lake Observatory Public Star Party Schedule

Merle
by merle
Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: I was given a telescope now what?
Replies: 19
Views: 12046

Re: I was given a telescope now what?

Maybe also be aware of any gaskets or "shims" between the corrector plate and the OTA (optical tube assembly) My Celestron had several paper "shims" stacked up. You'd want to make sure if your Meade has something similar they remain in place and do not fall onto the primary mirro...
by merle
Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:17 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: I was given a telescope now what?
Replies: 19
Views: 12046

Re: I was given a telescope now what?

Well, better late than never. I'm finally getting around to doing some cleaning, and here's a picture of what I was talking about so long ago. It looks like a hazy layer on the plate. Both inside and out. You'll need to remove the corrector plate to clean the haze on the inside. Just mark it carefu...
by merle
Sun Mar 19, 2023 2:31 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: Discussion Forum notifications
Replies: 0
Views: 6834

Discussion Forum notifications

Just a note for everyone on the forums to check that their "Notifications" are active. We are working on making at least some minimal notifications be the default, but until then please check these are set to your preference. At the very least, check that topics you post to, subscribe to o...
by merle
Mon Feb 27, 2023 1:54 pm
Forum: MAS Electronic Media & Book Group
Topic: NOVA: New Eye on the Universe (JWST) Feb 22, 2023
Replies: 3
Views: 2839

Re: NOVA: New Eye on the Universe (JWST) Feb 22, 2023

I saw this last week, excellent program. Definitely worth seeing, or seeing again.

Merle
by merle
Fri Feb 24, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Help Needed for an Elementary School Passion Project: due 2/25
Replies: 6
Views: 6977

Re: Help Needed for an Elementary School Passion Project: due 2/25

zimitsj wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 5:09 pm I connected with the student and completed this yesterday evening.
Thank you John. Would love to hear your responses to her questions... or do we need to wait for the book?

Merle
by merle
Thu Feb 23, 2023 7:00 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Help Needed for an Elementary School Passion Project: due 2/25
Replies: 6
Views: 6977

Re: Help Needed for an Elementary School Passion Project: due 2/25

FF2Rydia wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:30 pm Should this appear in the Outreach forum?
It's just an astronomy question, seems like the appropriate place for a response.

Merle
by merle
Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:11 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF close approach
Replies: 23
Views: 15210

Re: Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF close approach

Updated finder chart for the next couple weeks of viewing, before the moon becomes an issue again.

Merle
-
by merle
Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:14 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Galaxy/Nebula Eyepiece for 10" f4.7 Dob
Replies: 13
Views: 8959

Re: Galaxy/Nebula Eyepiece for 10" f4.7 Dob

Steve, regarding your answer for Q2, what's the best for splitting doubles? Regarding the double stars, I saw this on Cloudy Nights forum: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/515923-magnification-preference-for-double-star/ or https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/615832-splitting-double-stars/ or http...
by merle
Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:14 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Galaxy/Nebula Eyepiece for 10" f4.7 Dob
Replies: 13
Views: 8959

Re: Galaxy/Nebula Eyepiece for 10" f4.7 Dob

FF2Rydia wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:47 pm Steve, regarding your answer for Q2, what's the best for splitting doubles?
A good refractor... :-)
by merle
Tue Jan 17, 2023 3:38 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF close approach
Replies: 23
Views: 15210

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF close approach

Is this on anyone's radar? Comet (C/2022 E3) ZTF. Closest approach to earth Feb 1st at .283 au (26,000,000 mi) According to "Wiki", the comet is expected to get brighter than magnitude 6 and thus become visible with the naked eye from a dark sky site... but more likely you'll still need bi...
by merle
Mon Dec 12, 2022 3:18 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: I was given a telescope now what?
Replies: 19
Views: 12046

Re: I was given a telescope now what?

Hmmm... 1x magnification is the same as no magnification. Since nothing is zero then in this case 1=0... hmmm. Got it... 1x is no magnification, but what if you had .9 magnification? We're now in the wide angle realm. .9, .8, .7, increasing the angle view until you reach .1, .01, 0 when you would s...
by merle
Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:46 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: I was given a telescope now what?
Replies: 19
Views: 12046

Re: I was given a telescope now what?

Hmmm... 1x magnification is the same as no magnification. Since nothing is zero then in this case 1=0... hmmm. Googled it and found this at https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/astronomy-hacks/0596100604/ch04s11.html "Install a Unit-Power Finder" - Find deep-sky objects quickly and easily....
by merle
Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:19 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: I was given a telescope now what?
Replies: 19
Views: 12046

Re: I was given a telescope now what?

For cleaning the corrector plate, here's a video I like. There are many others too, key point would be to not "over clean" and be gentle. Would be nice to see a picture of the amount of dust you have. A little dust shouldn't be a problem and not worth messing with. https://www.youtube.com/...
by merle
Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:43 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Mars Opposition Public Star Party, December 3, 2022
Replies: 1
Views: 2608

Mars Opposition Public Star Party, December 3, 2022

Special Event public star party on December 3, 2022 for the opposition of Mars. Event starts at 7:00 This event will be CANCELLED IF CLOUDY . Mars comes to opposition, a position directly opposite from the sun, approximately every 26 months. This year Mars at its closest will have an angular size of...
by merle
Tue Nov 22, 2022 1:11 pm
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: Mars Observations
Replies: 15
Views: 10156

Re: Mars Observations

Still not making out the poles, but can see light and dark patches. I noticed there wasn't much for polar caps too. In looking at the orientation of Mars being nearly "vertical" I wouldn't expect to see as much of a cap. Compare to 2020 or 2003 where there was more of a view of the south ...
by merle
Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:45 am
Forum: Beginners SIG
Topic: telescope
Replies: 16
Views: 9762

Re: telescope

Darcy, Not surprisingly, this topic has come up before. Here's a link to posts from last year. https://forum.mnastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=13049 Here’s a list of what to look for in any telescope. 1- A strong, stable mount 2- A clock drive to follow the sky 3- “Large” aperture, light gathering 4- Foca...
by merle
Thu Oct 13, 2022 11:18 am
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Last weekend for the Apollo landing site at ELO:
Replies: 1
Views: 3250

Last weekend for the Apollo landing site at ELO:

This is the last weekend for our Apollo landing site display: Due to storage constraints, we will be permanently dismantling the module display after this weekends events. As part of the Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS) 50th anniversary celebration, we have once again set up our lunar module moc...
by merle
Tue Oct 04, 2022 1:52 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: 2022 ELO Public Star Party Schedule
Replies: 1
Views: 2818

Re: 2022 ELO Public Star Party Schedule

To provide more opportunities for the public to experience the lunar module, I’m adding an additional and unique full moon public star party this Saturday. Impromptu Public Star Party Saturday October 8 From 5:00-10:00 Apollo 11 landing site, lunar module mock-up on display. We have a nearly full sc...
by merle
Mon Oct 03, 2022 12:02 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: website issues....
Replies: 5
Views: 6071

website issues....

Still having trouble with attaching images. even though the "allowable" file size says 512 MiB, I constantly get an error. ...and again, why don't these show up as pictures instead of a link? Screen Shot 2022-10-03 at 11.45.21 AM.png I'm still noticing old ELO photos on the new website. C...
by merle
Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:56 am
Forum: Space Exploration
Topic: How NASA went from B&W to Color TV from the Moon
Replies: 1
Views: 2945

Re: How NASA went from B&W to Color TV from the Moon

Very interesting....

Merle