Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year from The Astronomy Dude.

We hope you have a great 2013!

As my Astronomy Outreach Cools with the Temperature

Thanksgiving Day. It is a time to give thanks for what we have, and who we have around us as friends and family. I find it a nice time of year to go for walks in the evening, keeping a look toward the sky as the summer stars start to set in the west. It is fun to watch as the sky darkens and the stars pop out of the illuminated din of the sunset. Then, of course, the wasted light from the inhabitants of this earth starts to produce enough glow to hide most of the stars in my area. It is a shame that it is that way. People seem to feel that having alot of light around at night makes them safer. It is, actually, the opposite. Extraneous light, in poorly aimed fixtures, creates shadows that hide movement. The best thing to do is set up shielded lighting fixtures that target all the light toward the ground, and then lowering the wattage of that light. Then, you place that light on a motion sensor. You get the same security, but at up to 95% savings in energy costs. Think about it, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I do not have a great deal of outreach scheduled for the rest of the year, but that is to be expected, as thought shift towards holiday consumerism, and all the stress and turmoil that seems to come with it. However, if it makes people happy, who am I to complain. Just remember that if you get anything for me, it should be astronomy related .... or made of gold.....

Astronomy Outreach at Mountain Lake

The Astronomy Mobile Outreach Vehicle (AMOV) was at Mountain Lake for Astronomy Outreach at an Astronomy Elderhostel. This event, organized by the ever impressive Jessica Coker, was a pleasure, and the skies stayed clear for our observing dayes. It was a great success this year, from my point of view. Here are some images from a solar observing session.

 

Astronomy Elderhostel attendees lined up to view the sun through a Meade LX200 Classic Telescope with a full aperture solar filter. The Lunt Hydrogen-Alpha 60mm Solar Telescope is in the background. It is mounted on an iOptron Cube-G Mount.

Viewing the sun through a Meade LX200 Classic Telescope with a full aperture solar filter. The AMOV is in the background of this image.

Astronomy Elderhostel organizer extraordinaire, Jessica Coker..

Astronomy Elderhostel attendees are having a nice time at the solar event. We were happy to have clear skies and nice temperatures.

Jessica Coker watches over the event, ever ready to help the attendees.

An Astronomy Elderhostel attendee takes a nice, long view through the Meade LX200 Classic Telescope.

I will be observing the Transit of Venus

I will be setting up to observe the Transit of Venus on Tuesday, June 5th, if the weather permits. I will set up at the top end of the Tanglewood Mall parking lot. The transit starts a few minutes after 6:00 PM, and lasts until sunset. Feel free to stop by and take a look at this last chance in our lifetime event. This will be the last one until December of 2117, a little over 105 years from now. Below is an image I took of the last Transit of Venus on June 8, 2004.

A new way to view the heavens ....

Hello folks,

You all have been seeing images I have taken with my astrophotography equipment, but I have just received a camera and related equipment that will allow people that join me at my astronomy outreach events to see similar images in real time on a screen or projected in the Outreach Vehicle. I just purchased a Mallincam Xtreme Color Camera that sends images by video to screens so people can see the wonders of the night sky in real time.
I have to give a big thanks to Keith Miller of Maple Grove MN. for his help in putting all this gear together. So, in the future, at selected events, visitors to my outreach programs will be able to see even more awesome sights. Keep in touch, and check out this blog for upcoming events.

I am glad you have enjoyed my Images

Thank you to all for the kind words about my Astrophotography.