Search found 30 matches

by magneton
Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:22 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: ISS Transit Finder
Replies: 3
Views: 708

Re: ISS Transit Finder

Yes, it's a cool site. I've used it in the past - easy to use. I like how it gives data on angular size/distance to the ISS so you can pick out when the best transits are. The exact path bounces around over time, so it's a good idea to verify it as the time gets close.
by magneton
Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:07 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: NNSF Registration Deadline
Replies: 0
Views: 453

NNSF Registration Deadline

If you're thinking of going to the Northern Nights Star Fest Sept 5-9 at LLCC, you should know: the last day to register is Aug 30.
by magneton
Sun Sep 10, 2017 2:01 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Did anyone see stars during totality?
Replies: 3
Views: 655

Re: Did anyone see stars during totality?

I think rather than light scattering from forest-fire smoke, a more likely explanation of the "twilight" we experienced is the small size of the umbral shadow on earth relative to other eclipses (which also made for a shorter duration of totality). Roughly speaking, the shadow was about 70...
by magneton
Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:50 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Did anyone see stars during totality?
Replies: 3
Views: 655

Did anyone see stars during totality?

Viewing the eclipse from Douglas, Wyoming, the sky didn't get nearly as dark as I expected. I heard the same observation from someone who viewed from Nebraska. Although it wasn't a high priority during totality and I didn't put a lot of effort into it, I didn't see any stars, and the only planet I s...
by magneton
Tue Mar 28, 2017 8:20 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Messier Marathon - 2017
Replies: 21
Views: 2273

Re: Messier Marathon - 2017

Steve,
Thanks for your work on the BAD's Argo-Navis and the detailed pointers on operating it. Brandon and I are planning to use the BAD at the MM (weather permitting). Others are of course welcome to share its view of the sky.
by magneton
Fri Aug 05, 2016 8:13 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Upcoming July/August Star Parties
Replies: 7
Views: 1014

Re: Upcoming July/August Star Parties

Heading to CGO now.
by magneton
Fri Jul 01, 2016 2:16 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Upcoming July Star Parties
Replies: 21
Views: 2277

Re: Upcoming July Star Parties

I've been planning on going to CGO tonite - Friday. The NWS still shows it having the least cloud cover of the 3 upcoming nights, but CSC shows the sky deteriorating by 11pm. So like Vic, I'm suddenly hesitant. It will be a last-minute decision for me based on the forecast. Hoping for one clear nigh...
by magneton
Fri Mar 11, 2016 1:29 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Lecture on the accelerating universe, Apr 21 at U of MN
Replies: 1
Views: 303

Lecture on the accelerating universe, Apr 21 at U of MN

The Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and the School of Physics and Astronomy present Kaufmanis Lecture: "Supernovae and the Discovery of the Accelerating Universe" by Nobel Laureate Adam Riess Thursday, April 21, 2016 7:30 p.m. University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center 200 Oak St....
by magneton
Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:52 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: CGO July 17,18
Replies: 10
Views: 1101

Re: CGO July 17,18

As of now, I'm planning on Saturday night. The CSC transparency prediction for Sat. night is below average at this point, but cloud cover looks like it will be OK.
by magneton
Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:53 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: Mini Messier Marathon. Friday, Sept 26th!
Replies: 10
Views: 1383

Re: Mini Messier Marathon. Friday, Sept 26th!

I'm planning on using the BAD for the marathon, in GoTo mode. Anyone else is welcome to join. We'll miss our chance for MAS immortality but should enjoy some great views. I used the BAD on Monday night, and it worked well.
by magneton
Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:38 pm
Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
Topic: The moon comes to ELO
Replies: 4
Views: 868

Re: The moon comes to ELO

Well said, Ric. I agree. Thanks to all who worked to make this happen.

Here are a couple photos I took of the lunar sample. Lighting was a little tricky since it's encased in a plastic pyramid, but I used an off-camera flash to get side lighting.
by magneton
Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:03 am
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

On this page http://newsite.mnastro.org/about-us/newsletter/ the links to Gemini issues are not working.

Update: This problem has now been corrected. Thanks!
by magneton
Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:08 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

clayton wrote:I have tweaked the cookie settings for the board. Delete your cookies for mnastro.org and try now. Let me know if this helps.
Clayton,
Your tweak solved the "stay logged in" problem for me, without any action required on my part.
Thanks!
by magneton
Thu May 29, 2014 1:23 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

I'm still unable to stay logged in. I don't know how many people have the same problem - others who have reported is here are Ric, Craig and Deane. The problem is not limited to shutting down my computer or even my browser. I find that even if I'm logged onto the forum, if I open the forum in anothe...
by magneton
Mon May 26, 2014 10:30 am
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

Jim, The links on your post are actually on the U of M Bell Museum website. (I misunderstood and assumed the bad links were on our forums) I emailed the U and requested the information be revised. Double bonus points for finding bad links on other websites!!! You're half way to Hawaii… Keep 'em com...
by magneton
Mon May 26, 2014 9:56 am
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

On the home page, the "read more..." links for all 3 Featured Events return a 404 error.
by magneton
Sun May 25, 2014 10:37 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

Links to some commonly used pages have gone dead. Some of our partner organizations have these links on their websites to provide information on what MAS has to offer, and they no longer work. One example is the Bell Museum: http://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/ExploraDome/MinnesotaAstronomy/index.htm This...
by magneton
Sat May 24, 2014 4:58 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

I noticed the Forum page doesn't have a link to the MAS home page as it did before. This would be good to add.
by magneton
Sat May 24, 2014 4:50 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

Is anyone else having problems staying logged in? I keep getting logged after some time has passed. Even if I click the keep me logged in button. So something is not quite right. Yeah, me too. Your url may be flipping between forums.mnastro.org/forums... and <blank|oldsite|www>.mnastro.org/forums/....
by magneton
Sat May 24, 2014 2:06 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

Merle,

It looks great. For completeness in the weather.com section, please add Afton after Kenyon.

Thanks to you and the team.
by magneton
Fri May 23, 2014 3:43 pm
Forum: Forum Help, Comments
Topic: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!
Replies: 39
Views: 15319

Re: New MAS website and forums. Member comments!!!!

Weather is a key piece of information for all of us. I like having the CSC for each site visible simultaneously, but I also rely heavily on the Hourly Weather Graphs from the NWS which shows cloud cover, temperature, wind and humidity all in one easy chart. The one you've linked to shows it for Bay...
by magneton
Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:34 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Morning comets Nov2013
Replies: 24
Views: 2716

Re: Morning comets Nov2013

Congrats, Merle, on 5 comets in one night. I had hopes for 4 this morning, but got 2 of them - Lovejoy and ISON. Lovejoy was an easy binocular target as well. The following photos were on the TMB130 at Casby, 1600 ISO, 2 minutes on my Canon Xsi. Lovejoy: Lovejoy_2013_11_13_0057reduced.jpg ISON: 2013...
by magneton
Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:06 am
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Nobel Conference: The Universe at its Limits
Replies: 1
Views: 343

Nobel Conference: The Universe at its Limits

The Nobel Conference this week at Gustavus Adolphus explored fundamental questions about the universe. I had planned to attend, but October kind of snuck up on me. Here is a summary of the conference: https://gustavus.edu/events/nobelconference/2013/ Here are the videos of the talks and the (at time...
by magneton
Sat Aug 17, 2013 6:41 pm
Forum: General Astronomy
Topic: Bright Nova in Delphinus
Replies: 5
Views: 812

Re: Bright Nova in Delphinus

I also spotted it last night with binoculars. Very easy to find with Sagita as a reference. I read that the star was initially about mag 17, http://www.nbcnews.com/science/new-nova-star-explosion-spotted-night-sky-see-it-online-6C10929635 so at its peak mag 4.5 it had brightened by 12.5 magnitudes o...