New Articles in May   Find out what articles were published this month. → Visit the archives for all past articles.   Submit a Review / Article   How to . . .   Observing Skills   Astronomical History   Beginners   Optical Theory   Telescope Articles   Binoculars   Eyepieces   Kids   Vision and Related Experiments   How to Gain the Support of your Family for your Astronomical Pursuits   Evaluation Tips   Travels   Special Events   Humour   The Elements   Astrophotography   Monthly Guides   Observatories   Behind the Scenes   Accessories "The Smiling Cyclops", an asterism. [Article]  | 02/02/13 | by Will Young The inside of NGC86 resembles a smiling Cyclops. While referencing the object as the "Smiling Cyclops" I’ve found it’s rather easy to point the asterism ou. . . 09/30/2010 — October Skies [Article]  | 10/05/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Halloween, October Hunter's Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Draco, U. . . 10/27/2010 — November Skies [Article]  | 11/03/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, November Moon.. . . 39 Reasons Astronomy is Better Than the Popular Culture [Article]  | 07/10/10 | by Mike Brake If you’re like me, you turn off the TV when skies are clear, avoid the Saturday night movie and read Astronomy or Sky and Telescope instead of People. As a. . . 50 Cloudy Nights Signatures [Article]  | 01/21/11 | by Terrance Hannan I have noted that It is the practice of many CN posters, to include a philosophical comment in their signatures, in addition to their recitation of telesco. . . A Brief History of the Saharan Gold Rush of Meteorites [Article]  | 09/14/11 | by Michael Gilmer The world of meteorite collectors has been forever changed by the flood of NWA meteorites, and we are unlikely to see a repeat performance in the future. T. . . A Chance to Do Real Research [Article]  | 01/12/11 | by Aaron Price The Citizen Sky project is about studying the current eclipse of epsilon Aurigae and other variable star phenomena.. . . A Human Powered Clock Drive [Article]  | 06/30/12 | by Zachrey Helmberger I have invented a human powered clock drive for astrophotography that works very nicely and is easy to build.. . . A New Simple Layout For A Large Refractive Astronomical Binocular [Article]  | 06/18/10 | by Bill Zmek As we all know, the main layout problem to solve for binoculars having objectives larger in diameter than the observer’s interpupillary spacing is how to b. . . A Night At The Hingol National Park [Article]  | 08/07/10 | by Zain Ahmed We call our dark sky trips Rutjugas. This is the transliteration of the Urdu word for "staying awake at night". Now, May didn't seem like the ideal time fo. . . A Polarization Sundial [How To]  | 01/24/11 | by Marty Moyer This simple sundial works very well and is the model Schafer described using a shallow pool of water in the bottom for the polarization reflection.. . . A Portable Observatory [Article]  | 06/30/10 | by Jon Risch I live in woods so my set-up needs to be several hundred feet from the house to see much unobstructed sky. The plan was to build a complete and self contai. . . A Simple And Stable Alt-Az Mount For Short, Lightweight Refractors [Article]  | 07/11/10 | by Ed De Mateo The mount and tripod exceeded my expectations. It is great for small scopes under three pounds weight, such as an Orion ST80, Celestron Travel Scope, etc. . . . A Simple Compact Portable Power Pack [Article]  | 08/06/10 | by Jim McAfee My travel to Easter Island to photograph the July 2010 total eclipse prompted me to assemble a compact light weight battery pack to power my AstroTrac TT32. . . A Simple Cone Error Correction Procedure [How To]  | 09/15/10 | by Ian Thompson Most of the procedures I have read utilise Polaris as a reference star and the method cannot be generalised Also, such procedures are not applicable to the. . . A Simple Do It Yourself Sun Finder for Under $20 [How To]  | 10/10/10 | by Ian Thompson This simple finder is accurate enough to centre the sun in a 60’ field of view eyepiece. It takes only 30 minutes to make and fits easily over the end of a. . . A “NEW APPROACH” FOR TESTING OPTICAL TRAINS [Article]  | 07/04/12 | by Samuel de Roa Trying to corner a long-term concern in the astro-amateur world through “slanted edge” method. . . ALCON 2010: Astronomical League Convention and Expo, International Dark-Sky Association Annual General Meeting [Article]  | 07/25/10 | by Thomas Watson Once a year, The Reflector is dominated by news of the most recent Astronomical League convention, ALCON. The 2010 rendition of ALCON was held here . . . America's Forgotten Astronomer [Article]  | 09/19/10 | by David Elosser I’m thinking of an American intellectual, born in the 18th Century. He was a statesman, a scholar, a clock maker, a scientist, and an astronom. . . An OFLI Dark Sky Adventure in an Ancient Land [Article]  | 08/25/12 | by James Barnett We are creatures held captive by the four dimensions making up space and time. Individually we are finite in measure in each of those dimensions, from the. . . April 2011 skies [Article]  | 04/21/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Easter, April Moon. Focus Constellations: Leo, Virgo, Bootes, Ursa Major, . . . Astro Book Drive: Ghana Book Drive – Cornell EPO helps Ghana Science Project [Article]  | 07/19/10 | by Thilina Heenatigala In 2008 "Ghana Science Project" built the first public planetarium in Accra, the only digital planetarium in West, East or Central Africa. The plan. . . AstroBookDrive report: Tanzania Book Drive, June 2010 [Article]  | 07/07/10 | by Thilina Heenatigala UNAWE-Tanzania wishes to thank Greater Portland Astronomical Society, Southworth Planetarium and everyone who helped for the material donation and shippi. . . Astrotrac Astrophotography with a DSLR [Article]  | 04/21/13 | by Erwin Matys We have been using this system for over a year now, including several trips to La Palma island. After an initial phase of testing and adapting some parts . . . August 2011 Skies [Article]  | 08/01/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, August Moon. Focus Constellations: Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, . . . August Skies 2010 [Article]  | 08/01/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Planet Plotting, Moonless Perseids, August Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Bootes, Hercules, Ophiuchus,. . . Beware kids and grandkids bearing gifts especially an ETX80. [Article]  | 07/14/12 | by Mark Stewart The whole project got started because of the gift so beware of kids and grandkids bearing gifts. As one so aptly put it "there is no such thing as a free p. . . Binocular Universe - Mission Impossible [Article]  | 02/08/11 | by Phil Harrington Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find the Horsehead for yourself with your own binoculars. This article will self-destruct in 5 seconds. . . Binocular Universe - Putting Our Best Foot Forward [Article]  | 03/17/11 | by Phil Harrington This month, we find the sky's twin brothers, Castor and Pollux, standing at attention in our western sky, as if to pay homage to those setting constellatio. . . Binocular Universe: A Galactic Dynamic Duo [Article]  | 04/21/11 | by Phil Harrington This month, we leave the confines of our galaxy and head into the depths of intergalactic space.. . . Binocular Universe: A Pair of Stingingly Beautiful Clusters [Article]  | 07/01/10 | by Phil Harrington Scorpius, the Scorpion, is one of those rare constellations that actually looks like what it is supposed to represent. Most stargazers find it easy to imag. . . Binocular Universe: A Spot of Celestial Tea [Article]  | 08/01/11 | by Phil Harrington If there a region of the sky more beautiful through binoculars than the area around Sagittarius’s Teapot asterism, I don’t know of it.. . . Binocular Universe: A Trio of Autumn Globulars [Article]  | 10/02/11 | by Phil Harrington We shouldn't let the constellation's faintness stop us from viewing some of its binocular sights this month. But to make it a little easier, we need to sta. . . Binocular Universe: Curving to Corvus [Article]  | 05/03/11 | by Phil Harrington The longest constellation in the entire sky, Hydra the Water-Snake, slithers along the southern horizon during the month of May. Perched on the Snake's bac. . . Binocular Universe: Hail the Queen [Article]  | 11/03/10 | by Phil Harrington I hope you're dressed appropriately, because this month we have an audience with the Queen… Queen Cassiopeia, that is. Cassiopeia reigns over the autumn sk. . . Binocular Universe: Jack and Jill [Article]  | 06/09/11 | by Phil Harrington In all likelihood, you learned that nursery rhyme long before you became interested in stargazing. But did you know that Jack and Jill may have also been . . . Binocular Universe: Oh, Bull! [Article]  | 01/10/11 | by Phil Harrington Every time you look toward the V-shaped head of the Bull, you're looking at "rain." Today, we call Taurus's head the Hyades.. . . Binocular Universe: Sly Fox (September 2010) [Article]  | 09/03/10 | by Phil Harrington Here are a few gems I bumped into along the way as I viewed the tiny constellation of Vulpecula the Fox. Vulpecula is a faint summertime constellation wed. . . Binocular Universe: Some Royal Clusters [Article]  | 11/04/11 | by Phil Harrington There’s no denying it, my family and I are dog people. And we have three to prove it. All are wonderful…except when one wakes me up at 3 AM to take a trip . . . Binocular Universe: Summer’s Swan Song [Article]  | 09/08/11 | by Phil Harrington As the haze and heat of summer slowly gives way this month to drier autumn nights, we find Cygnus, the Swan, flying high in the evening sky. Few constella. . . Binocular Universe: Surfing Serpens [Article]  | 08/01/10 | by Phil Harrington Serpens the Serpent has the unique distinction of being the sky’s only constellation that is sliced in half by a second star group, the constellation Ophiu. . . Binocular Universe: The Swan and the Lizard [Article]  | 10/05/10 | by Phil Harrington You probably know Cygnus well, but possibly not Lacerta. Lacerta was one of seven faint constellations created by the 17th-century Polish astronomer Johan. . . Binocular Universe: The Table of Scorpius [Article]  | 07/10/11 | by Phil Harrington Last July, this column visited M6 and M7, two of the finest open star clusters visible through binoculars in the summer – or for that matter, any – sky. B. . . Binocular Universe: You're My Hero! [Article]  | 12/05/10 | by Phil Harrington This month, we return to the scene of the rescue, to our hero, Perseus. He stands in our sky to the east of Cassiopeia and Andromeda, should the Queen's b. . . Breakfast with the Gods [Article]  | 08/11/12 | by Drew Farwell Many first telescopes are received on December 25th. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, this means that many of first set our sights on. . . Can’t leave well enough alone – drilling holes in my Obsession [Article]  | 05/13/12 | by Chris Casebolt While the Obession 18” is certainly a fabulous scope “as is” – the upgrades I’ve added provide convenience and utility – especially for outreach programs.. . . Celestial Ping-Pong: A Few Illustrations of the Size of the Moon [Article]  | 05/19/12 | by Vince Vella When first trying to understand why the Moon undergoes different phases throughout its —27 day rotation about the Earth, it is helpful to construct a model. . . CHEAP… Bluetooth Wireless Interface for Meade LX-80 Mount [Article]  | 02/04/13 | by Fred Wegener The entire setup described in this article was built for less than $40.. . . Classic & APO Refractors [Article]  | 01/17/11 | by George Kohl It is easy to tell the difference between good and bad optics. But when comparing good optics the differences can be so small that it comes down to a matte. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 1: Removing the Corrector Plate [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 1 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 2: Installing a Rail Carry Handle [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 2 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 3: Removing the Primary Mirror [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 3 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 4: Flocking the Interior [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 4 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 5: More Grab and control handles [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 5 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 6: Installing side control rails [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 6 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 7: Cleaning the optical surfaces - Primary Mirror [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 7 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 8: Cleaning the Corrector Plate [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 8 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Cleaning and Modifying the C11 Beast - Part 9: Installing the Corrector Plate and Closing the Tube [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Joe Guzman This article is part 9 in the How-To series “C11 Cleaning & Modification”.. . . Collimating the Newtonian with the South Cave Collimator [Article]  | 07/08/10 | by Peter Clark Correcting or aligning Newtonian telescopes is said to have become more difficult as focal lengths and ratios have shortened and enhanced optics appeared. . . . Collimation And The Newtonian Telescope V.4 [How To]  | 09/20/11 | by Don Pensack What follows is a description of how to collimate accurately to a level where collimation errors no longer influence the image quality.. . . Criterion Days [Article]  | 12/08/12 | by Gil Violette There was a time in my life, many years ago, when I worked for a telescope company. I was a telescope enthusiast at the time, one of my early obsessions. . . D.A.R.V (Drift Alignment by Robert Vice) [Article]  | 01/06/13 | by Robert Vice For many years I have spent time learning the Star drift method of alignment for my telescope. Although tedious, it has turned out to be quite beneficial.. . . December 2010 skies [Article]  | 12/05/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Winter Solstice, December Moon. Focus Constellations: Ursa. . . Destination Luna [Article]  | 01/19/13 | by Drew Farwell The next time you look into the clear night sky, won’t you make your destination Luna?. . . Discovery vs. Zambuto Optical Shoot-out [Article]  | 11/25/11 | by Tim Neubert For this comparison we conclude that Carl Zambuto's seven criteria must be providing the extra contrast that was observed at the eyepiece.. . . DIY Cheap Surveyor Rubber Tripod Feet [Article]  | 05/09/12 | by Rob Clark I figured there had to be an easy, DIY (do-it-yourself) solution for less than ten bucks. After about an hour at the local hardware store I came up with wh. . . EIGHT-INCH SHOOTOUT [Article]  | 07/14/12 | by Larry Carlino After this test, I’m convinced that the real key to enjoyable observing is making the most of what one has, sprinkled with a healthy dose of patience and p. . . EPIC! Dark Sky Astronomy Trips with Your Club, and How and Why to Host Them [Article]  | 09/19/11 | by James Barnett If there is a “Holy Grail” for amateur astronomers, irrespective of favored telescope design or aperture, it is certainly dark, transparent, steady skies.. . . ETX90ec RA Gearbox Repair [How To]  | 11/25/11 | by Brad Myers I hope this helps reduce the time of repairs for those of you that want to resurrect your own ETX scope. This base is certainly the weak link of the whole . . . Fanning the spark into a flame [Article]  | 06/22/10 | by Steve Fisher I saw a spark in some kindling in an eight year old boy, by spending some time with him and his family I was able to fan that spark in to a flame. Not just. . . February 2011 skies [Article]  | 02/08/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, First Magnitude Stars, February Moon. Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa . . . Fix Problems in a CG4 Equatorial Mount [How To]  | 07/25/10 | by Ian Thompson Last year I procured a pre-owned CELESTRON C102 HD refractor on a CG4 GEM mount. Previously, the mount had seen considerable use and neglect, and was suffe. . . Front Yard Astronomy [Article]  | 06/22/12 | by Drew Farwell Imagine that you looked up into the clear night sky and saw nothing. No constellations, no stars or planets, not even pitch black. The night sky as you kno. . . Genovese Rings [Article]  | 06/23/12 | by Charles Genovese Somewhere on the net I came across Lazy Susan bearings made by a Chinese company and sold by VXB Bearings and so cheap at about $14 I bought a pair. The be. . . Group Photo: Using Astrophotography for Public Outreach [Article]  | 04/20/13 | by Drew Farwell If you love sharing astronomy with others, I implore you to consider trying your hand at astrophotography. With the advent of photo sharing, video sharing . . . Home made Binoviewer [Article]  | 06/21/10 | by Frank Skeen I enjoy using this homemade unit, it is much easier for my eyes and my family and friends. It's really great on most objects I have looked at with them.. . . How much glass is enough? Comparing the TEC 140 apo to a TEC 200 apo [Article]  | 05/09/12 | by Tim Wetherell Regardless of how happy you are with your telescope every now and again we all find ourselves wondering what the same scope would be like with a bit more a. . . How to get eyepiece focal length and other useful data from indoors [How To]  | 01/25/11 | by Samuel de Roa Two methods for calculating the focal length and other data of an eyepiece. An Excel sheet is provided for computing different parameters.. . . How to Project:  Small accessory counterweight(s) [How To]  | 11/22/12 | by Mike Gibson No matter how often I searched eBay or telescope accessory vendors, I could never find tiny counterweights for medium sized counterweight shafts, or those . . . Inexpensive 2” housing for 1.25” eyepieces with SurPlus Shed Item L3890D [How To]  | 06/17/10 | by Jack Thomas Here's a way to inexpensively and semi-permanently house 1Ľ” eyepieces in two inch housings that can be sourced from Surplus Shed.. . . Installing Meade LXD75 Motors on a Vixen Great Polaris [Article]  | 05/18/13 | by Thomas Lee I recently gave a fellow CNer some advice on installing some motors from a Meade LXD 75 on a Vixen Great Polaris mount. It occured to me that since I had a. . . International Observe the Moon Night: Call to Action! [Article]  | 08/19/10 | by Thilina Heenatigala International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) - September 18, 2010 - follows NASA's first celebration of the historic 2009 missions as part of the Internati. . . It’s what you can’t see that counts [Article]  | 06/17/10 | by Tom Benjamin This article is about a most important but overlooked instrument in astronomy: perspective. We use perspective all the time. Our binocular vision is an exa. . . January 2011 Skies [Article]  | 01/12/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Intergalactic Space, January Moon. Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Min. . . July 2011 skies [Article]  | 07/12/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Diminishing Solar Cycles?, July Moon. Focus Constellations: Virgo, Libra, Boot. . . July Skies 2010 [Article]  | 07/01/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Planet Plotting, Meteors, Aphelion, July Moon. Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Bootes, Hercules, Ophiuchus, A. . . June 2011 Skies [Article]  | 06/09/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Summer Solstice, June Moon. Focus Constellations: Leo, Virgo, Libra, Bootes, H. . . March 2011 skies [Article]  | 03/17/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Spring Equinox, March Moon. . . May 2011 Skies [Article]  | 05/04/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Deep Sky, May Moon. Focus Constellations: Leo, Virgo, Bootes, Hercules, Lyra, . . . Modifying the DMD3/DMD2/DD1 controllers with an ST4 guiding port [How To]  | 09/17/11 | by Vlad Dumitrescu I have put a standard ST-4 port on my DMD3 controller in about one hour and it works very fine. I tried to keep it as low as possible on the outside , the . . . Moving Large Dobsonians [Article]  | 07/01/12 | by Thomas Clarke I could pick up the old C8 on its field tripod and carry it outside in one piece, but you would have to be a weightlifter to lift the XT12g in one piece! . . . My Comet Couch Updated - October 2010 [Article]  | 10/12/10 | by Eugene Artemyeff Over the years that I have enjoyed using my CC, I have had but one dissatisfaction. Mainly the fact that there were too many weights to carry, install, sto. . . NEAF - 2010 Alan Traino [Article]  | 10/05/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with NEAF director and master showman Alan Traino. He has great taste.. . . NEAF - 2010 Alex Filipenko Part 2 [Article]  | 08/18/10 | by Mike Loffland Alex finishes his lecture on Supernovae.. . . NEAF - 2010 Bill Denkmeier [Article]  | 09/25/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Bill Denkmeier at NEAF 2010.. . . NEAF - 2010 Chris Lintott Galaxy Zoo [Article]  | 08/19/10 | by Mike Loffland Chris Lintott lectures on Galaxy Zoo.. . . NEAF - 2010 Danko Lecture CSC [Article]  | 09/11/10 | by Mike Loffland Danko does a lecture on CSC.. . . NEAF - 2010 Dave & Al Nagler Announcement [Article]  | 09/15/10 | by Mike Loffland Dave and Al Nagler announce the new 110 degree ethos eye-piece!. . . NEAF - 2010 Dr. Reynolds [Article]  | 09/11/10 | by Mike Loffland Dr. Reynolds gives a lecture on meteorites.. . . NEAF - 2010 Erica Rix [Article]  | 09/19/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Erica Rix at NEAF 2010.. . . NEAF - 2010 Geoff Notkin (Meteorite Men) [Article]  | 09/15/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Geoff Notkin from the Meteorite Men!. . . NEAF - 2010 Meteorite Men Part 1 [Article]  | 09/05/10 | by Mike Loffland Geoff Notkin and Steve Arnold share their show from the Discovery Science channel "Meteorite Men".. . . NEAF - 2010 Phil Harrington [Article]  | 09/13/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Phil Harrington at NEAF 2010.. . . NEAF - 2010 Rob Teeter [Article]  | 09/13/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Rob Teeter on Teeter telescopes.. . . NEAF - 2010 Sawyer Rosenstein [Article]  | 09/11/10 | by Mike Loffland Interview with Sawyer Rosenstein.. . . NEAF - 2010 Walkthrough [Article]  | 10/06/10 | by Mike Loffland Tom details a very nice video tour of NEAF 2010 on behalf of Cloudy Nights and Astronomics.. . . NEAF - Traino T-Shirt [Article]  | 10/10/10 | by Mike Loffland Alan Traino gives detail about the shirts the entire NEAF "crew" wears.. . . NEAF 2010 - Alex Filipenko Part 1 [Article]  | 08/18/10 | by Mike Loffland Alex Filipenko from Discovery Science channel gives a lecture on Supernovae.. . . NEAF 2010 - Interview With Attilla Danko [Article]  | 08/05/10 | by Mike Loffland Video transcript of the NEAF 2010 Interview With Attilla Danko. . . Notes on a Homebuilt 16" Newtonian [Article]  | 07/10/10 | by John Nassr In March 2008 I decided that I would never be content with the image spot sizes and optical idiosyncrasies of my old C-14 telescope and finally embarke. . . November 2011 skies [Article]  | 11/04/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, November Moon. Focus Constellations: Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Minor. . . Obsession 25” f/5 – Rebuilding a Classic [Article]  | 07/08/10 | by Dave Bonandrini Two years ago, the scope in this article was picked up new from Obsession. The owner loves it, but wanted to be able to assemble it by himself without ca. . . October 2011 Skies [Article]  | 10/11/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, South Sea Evenings, October Moon. Focus Constellations: Cassiopeia, Cepheus, D. . . Open Source, Easy "HDR" [How To]  | 09/21/11 | by Dave Hensley The HDR is in quotes because it's not real HDR; I don't think there's any stacking of info into an expanded color depth in what I'm about to describe.. . . Packing a C14, Refractor, and Camping Gear into a Corolla [Article]  | 01/17/11 | by Greg Nowell In this pictorial essay, a Toyota Corolla is loaded with camping gear and appropriate astronomy gear.. . . Polar alignment where Polaris is not visible [How To]  | 09/22/11 | by Tom Clark If you intend to make long time-exposures, drift alignment will still be required, but the above method of using the Sun to find true North and South shoul. . . Rethinking Kriege & Berry - The Double Truss [How To]  | 12/27/10 | by Jeff Morgan It has been nearly twenty years since Wisconsin dentist Dave Kriege gave us the Obsession telescope model, followed by his book with Richard Berry.. . . Review of Orion BinoViewer [User Review]  | 03/24/13 | by Tom Fowler I highly recommend this (or any other high-quality) binoviewer, especially for solar system observing and brighter deep-sky objects. It is well worth the . . . SCT Semi-portable tripod for under $100 [Article]  | 09/08/12 | by Gil Violette The end result is a 100+ pound tripod that is absolutely vibration-free (semi-portable!). I can rest my hands on the parallel legs while observing, and vir. . . Selecting Narrowband Solar Observing Equipment [Article]  | 09/13/11 | by John Crilly This article will be mostly a rehash of material presented at the February meeting of the Astronomy Club of Akron. Those who were present may skip it or it. . . September 2011 skies [Article]  | 09/09/11 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Lander, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Autumnal Equinox, September Moon. Focus Constellations: Draco, Ursa Minor, Urs. . . September Skies 2010 [Article]  | 09/04/10 | by Dick Cookman Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, Autumnal Equinox, September Harvest Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Majo. . . Short notes on Asymmetric Binocular Telescopes [How To]  | 06/19/10 | by Alex Choy The refractive binocular telescopes brings a different dimension of enjoyment to star observing due to its great image clarity and contrast. The asymmetric. . . Small Scope Adventures; A Beginning and an End [Article]  | 01/18/11 | by Neil English Let’s face it, the long focus 60mm (2.4”) refractor has developed a bit of a Jekyll & Hyde personality among amateur astronomers over the years.. . . Some notes on Visual Urban Astronomy. [Article]  | 01/19/13 | by Tom Bryant It is reasonable to assume that ... in my badly light polluted back yard, the faintest stars I can reach should be around 10.5mv... This depressingly re. . . Spending Time With Dogs [Article]  | 02/17/13 | by Drew Farwell Whether this beautiful binary brings with it the sweltering heat of summer or the icy chill of winter, it is a perfect night to spend time with the dogs.. . . Star trekking across the Milky Way [Article]  | 09/15/10 | by Neale Monks Backyard astronomy is usually the closest thing any of us will get to space travel. But science fiction of lets our minds travel much further, conjuring up. . . Stepper Focuser [Article]  | 07/01/12 | by John Pearson This project was undertaken to provide a remote control mechanism to focus the telescope. . . . Stranger than Fiction! [Article]  | 09/25/10 | by Neil English This paper has compared and contrasted the optical properties of two refractors; a 4” F/6.3 doublet apochromat and a 4” F/15 Fraunhofer achromat, of clas. . . Testing optical flats - The Raleigh Water test [How To]  | 11/28/10 | by Ed Jones The Raleigh water test for testing optical flats. . . The Barkonian 127/830, a Novel RFT Refractor Design [Article]  | 06/30/12 | by Kevin Barker This article describes a novel, simple telescope design. It is essentially a way of utilising a mounted achromatic refractor objective using a Newtonian st. . . The Botswana Solstice Machine [Article]  | 02/16/12 | by Carl Dori Whilst driving through the Tropic of Capricorn, 140 km north of Gaborone in Botswana, I stopped one day to look at the curious structure by the side of the. . . The Collinder Catalog (updated) [Article]  | 10/10/10 | by Thomas Watson The Updated and Observer Friendly Rendition of “Collinder’s Catalog of Open Star Clusters”. . . The Fornax Dwarf and Its Five Globulars, Part 1 [Article]  | 06/09/12 | by Dana De Zoysa For amateurs the Fornax five are worth going after just because they are there. It’s not often one can see five faint, difficult globulars in the same fiel. . . The Fornax Dwarf and its Globulars, Part II [Article]  | 06/22/12 | by Dana De Zoysa The Fornax Dwarf may be the brightest dwarf galaxy we can see with our telescopes, but it belongs to a class of galaxies, the dwarf spheroidals (dSph for s. . . The Lap Scope [Article]  | 06/24/10 | by Douglas Bullis Admittedly, the final configuration resembles a snowmobile with training skis, but right-arm cradle or left-arm grasp, there’s not a single thing in the sk. . . The long 60mm achromat refractor [Article]  | 01/25/11 | by Doug Bailey I got the idea for this article because of the many misconceptions about this type scope, and thought it timely, in light of the recent resurgence in their. . . The opportunity of a lifetime [Article]  | 07/03/12 | by Drew Farwell The impression left was a lasting one. The childlike sense of excitement they showed, their appreciation left me feeling grateful to be alive in an age whe. . . The Unsung Hero [Article]  | 09/22/12 | by Malcolm Bird It’s not sexy and it’s not cutting edge, but if all you care about is what you see in the eyepiece, then you can’t get better bang for your buck. . . . The Visual Path [Article]  | 12/05/10 | by Craig Scogin I've been observing at 8000 feet in the mountains of Northern New Mexico for about 2 years now.. . . The Year-Long 60mm Telescope Challenge [Article]  | 04/06/13 | by James Barnett If you’re curious, competitive and have or are willing to obtain a 60mm telescope, I invite you…no, rather, I *challenge* you to chase the targets on my li. . . The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? [Article]  | 09/17/11 | by Neil English While the sun has long since set on both the Roman and British Empires, it is all too clear that the legacy of Thomas Cooke lives on in the people who have. . . Time to be more objective in reporting Reviews [Article]  | 11/28/10 | by Solomon Agbahowe It would be a good idea if a body like the International Union of Astronomy lay down some guidance about how to carry out these reviews and comparison stud. . . TMB 92SS APO - A quick one night observing session [Article]  | 06/09/12 | by Ralph Hildebrand Telescopes may come and telescopes may go, and when you get to be my age (51) and have owned approx. ten scopes of various types and sizes, and hauled back. . . Tour of Starlight Instruments [Article]  | 08/18/10 | by Darren Drake It was sometime back in the mid nineties that members of my astronomy club called the Northwest Suburban Astronomers first started acquiring a fancy new t. . . TriSchiefspiegler Tale [Article]  | 09/19/11 | by Greg Mort Ashton Some time back in the forums discussions there was a question about what a TriSchiefspiegler Telescope was.. . . UGC 9749, the Ursa Minor Dwarf—less than something but more than nothing [Article]  | 09/18/11 | by Douglas Bullis UGC 9749 falls into the “less than something but more than nothing” category of near-limit detection. The delight in objects like UMi Dwarf lies in using . . . Webcam Imaging with Small Telescopes [Article]  | 04/13/13 | by Erwin Matys Most owners of small telescopes sooner or later try webcam imaging with their instruments. It seems an easy, straightforward and inexpensive way to get sta. . . What Was The Star Of Bethlehem? [Article]  | 01/21/11 | by David Elosser Let me start out by saying I am not a biblical scholar, nor a student of ancient history, nor a professional astronomer. Still, as a Christian the mysterio. . . What's Up - Puppis (2) [Article]  | 02/27/11 | by Steve Coe Puppis is absolutely filled up with open clusters. All three Messier objects in the constellation are open clusters and most of what I have covered here ar. . . What's Up Auriga (2) [Article]  | 12/20/10 | by Steve Coe As I make my way around the sky for the second time there are some constellations that have plenty of deep sky objects for another look and some that do no. . . What's Up Coma Berenices (2) [Article]  | 05/30/11 | by Steve Coe There are certainly lots of interesting galaxies in this part of the sky. I do need a little diversity in my galaxies, otherwise I get bored. Too many of. . . What's Up Eridanus (2) [Article]  | 11/23/10 | by Steve Coe Eridanus is far from the Milky Way so all the objects in this article are galaxies external to our own.. . . What's Up Hydra (2) [Article]  | 03/18/11 | by Steve Coe Hydra has two M objects and that means it will get an observer’s attention pretty early.  However, it is also one of those constellations that need to get . . . What's Up Sagittarius (2) [Article]  | 09/04/10 | by Steve Coe This area of the sky is the marker for me that summer has really started. Once the center of the Milky Way is above the horizon, there is much to see and d. . . What's Up Ursa Major (2) [Article]  | 04/26/11 | by Steve Coe When I was going around the sky for the first time I was making an effort to not do the same objects are Tom Trusock’s articles. Now, I am going to catch u. . . What's Up: Ophiuchus (2) [Article]  | 07/12/11 | by Steve Coe Ophiuchus, the Snake Handler, is a big constellation that shares a border with Scorpius and Sagittarius. Therefore, there are lots of big, bright deep sky . . . What's Up: Pegasus (2) [Article]  | 11/24/11 | by Steve Coe There are many galaxies since this constellation is far from the stream of the Milky Way. I will also include a dim planetary nebulae as a challenge object. . . What’s Up Cepheus (2) [Article]  | 10/06/10 | by Steve Coe OK, let’s look at Cepheus for the second time.. . . What’s Up Hercules (2) [Article]  | 07/15/10 | by Steve Coe It would seem that this area of the sky has been a mythological strong man for many centuries. To us it is Hercules, the beloved of Hera (Queen of the Gree. . . What’s Up: Draco (2) [Article]  | 09/05/11 | by Steve Coe Draco winds between the two Dippers. It has been a dragon or snake in many culture’s stories. An observer of the naked eye dragon needs to be away from cit. . . Why Astronomy Matters: Knowing your place in the Universe – Part I [Article]  | 09/08/12 | by Drew Farwell What started as a simple glance at the night sky evolved into one of the oldest and most celebrated sciences in history. Knowing your place in the universe. . . Why do we all do what we all do? [Article]  | 06/23/10 | by Ragold Wenz About to set off for just another night of these stunning views of Mars, Saturn and the rest of it, the telescope cooling down to outside temperatures in t. . . Why My CN Post Count Refuses to Increase [Article]  | 06/09/11 | by Zain Ahmed I first learned about Cloudy Nights in 2008. Been registered on the CN forums since February 2009, but my post count seems to take forever to reach 100. Wh. . . Wish John Dobson a happy 95 [Article]  | 08/07/10 | by Thilina Heenatigala On September 14 2010, John is turning 95 and here's your chance to send birthday wishes to him!. . . Zeiss Telementor [Article]  | 09/22/11 | by PJ Anway The Telementor refractor is a telescope that many amateur observers have heard about, but relatively few have actually owned. My reason for writing this . . . Zhumell 12" Dobsonian Altitude Bearing Modification [How To]  | 07/27/10 | by Andrew De Luca The tube still moves like butter but now the bearing clutch grabs and holds. The tube stays erect when applying pressure or moving the scope out of the gar. . .