1511 replies to this topic

[steve t]

"Scopes in the National Parks"

http://www.sidewalka...tionalparks.pdf

 

Robert

Thanks Robert, great read

[Terra Nova]

In case you missed hearing about this, I found it pretty amazing!

 

https://wlwt.com/art...RWSEDfydT_VziMc

[steve t]

In case you missed hearing about this, I found it pretty amazing!

 

https://wlwt.com/art...RWSEDfydT_VziMc

Wow that's scary. 

I wonder, since it didn't hit the ground is it still considered a meteor? 

[Paul Hyndman]

In case you missed hearing about this, I found it pretty amazing!

 

https://wlwt.com/art...RWSEDfydT_VziMc

Reminiscent of the 1954 Alabama incident in which the homeowner was not quite as fortunate:

 

https://www.smithson...oman-180973646/

 

BTW, a belated happy birthday, Terra!

Edited by Paul Hyndman, 18 October 2021 - 11:52 AM.

[Terra Nova]

Thank you Paul. Yes, I remember reading of the Alabama fall years ago. IIRC, the woman was napping on her couch when it came through her roof and hit her on the leg leaving a nasty wound. 

[Katharine]

Well, yesterday I was at an estate sale (actually hoping for something else, but as I only managed to get there on the last day, knew that was a fat chance; I'm pretty sure my area is full of "pickers" who buy up everything good at estate/garage sales right away for resale, unfortunately) and the bookcase had a few older astronomy books.  I was on my way out of the room with the one I wanted under my arm (The Friendly Stars; it is old but looked interesting and it was only 50 cents-- which, according to the cover, is half what it cost new) when I walked past a shelf I'd already looked at earlier and saw... what is that, is it... yes... it says "Celestron."  Dug a bit further through the bins and what I ended up finding was a pair of eyepieces: 5mm Celestron X-Cel (not LX) and a Meade MA25mm.  I think the Celestron is an okay EP?, and from the looks of it the Meade is lower-end but, it's an EP.  As everything was half off, I got the pair for $15, which I think was okay (I probably wouldn't have paid $15 for the Meade at original asking price)?  Both look to be in okay shape, despite the fact that the X-Cel was out of its tube when I found it (which is how I spotted it...).

Perhaps the decision has now been made for me as to whether I get new-to-me .965 EPs for the scope (this thing needs a name) or a diagonal that converts to 1.25.  Not sure if that Celestron will be too heavy for my mount, though.  Either way... I felt I had to "rescue" them, even if I end up finding a new home for them instead of using them myself.

Now, of course, I'm wondering... what happened to the scope and the rest of the EPs???  (There was no telescope mentioned or pictured in the ad, so maybe the family kept it and it was never at the sale.)

(This was one of those estate sales that kind of made me wish I could've met the person.  They were clearly really into electronics-- it was a photo of an VLF receiver that got me there, but I couldn't find it; there was a lot of electronics stuff left when I was there but it was mostly odds and ends and I'm guessing most of the functional stuff went.  Still, it was pretty cool to see; there was even an old oscilloscope, what looked like some neat old volt meters, etc.  I bet they would've been nifty to talk to even if a lot of it would've gone over my head.)

 

 

I have my bedroom ceiling also adorned with glow-in-the-dark stars. I love turning out the lights at night and falling asleep to the constellations overhead. 

I have a bunch I'd like to put up, but I'm not sure how to put them up.  Back when I was a kid, I remember that putty stuff they usually tend to come with both wasn't that great, and also wouldn't come off the ceiling completely (and tended to leave greasy spots as well).  Since I don't own my ceilings and would like my security deposit back some day, that's a no-go...

 

 

In case you missed hearing about this, I found it pretty amazing!

 

https://wlwt.com/art...RWSEDfydT_VziMc

I heard this on the radio while in the car and was going, "COOL!  I wish this was me!"  (Hey, I don't own my ceiling, remember, so no skin off my teeth, lol.  {I've dealt with my renter's insurance for worse, in case there was any damage to my stuff.}  Even if it was my ceiling... I would just have fun calling up my insurance and saying, "You'll never guess why I'm making a claim for my roof.  ... NO, I have not been drinking.  Come see!"  Actually, is that an "act of God" that they won't cover?)

 

(Except because I'm stuck on the first floor, it would happen to the guy above me instead, who probably wouldn't care... not fair.  Plus he'd probably then get up and stomp around about it and wake me up for nothing...)

Edited by Katharine, 18 October 2021 - 06:23 PM.

[Paul Hyndman]

I have a bunch I'd like to put up, but I'm not sure how to put them up.  Back when I was a kid, I remember that putty stuff they usually tend to come with both wasn't that great, and also wouldn't come off the ceiling completely (and tended to leave greasy spots as well).  Since I don't own my ceilings and would like my security deposit back some day, that's a no-go...

I've packed it away for now (too many other diversions!), but reaaaaally enjoyed the displays from our Sega Homestar Planetarium. A really superb presentation from such a compact, modestly priced package. Leaps and bounds beyond the Spitz and Harmonic Reed of yesteryear.

 

[CHASLX200]

That sure beats my stars that glow in the dark i bought from Edmunds back in the 70's.

Edited by CHASLX200, 18 October 2021 - 07:04 PM.

[Kokatha man]

...reading about that old Alabama occurrence it seems the eventual aftermath of the lady who was hit by the meteorite (after it bounced off her radiogram btw) was not very happy...& apropos Katharine's comments above.....the landlord of the rented property where it happened sued for some share of any value the meteorite might bring getting $500...but neither the lady or her landlord did as well as the farmer who found the other half of the object, which apparently landed in his paddock a few miles away...

 

The 2019 article claimed that most meteorites are "between the size of a golf ball & a fist" which doesn't tally with what I know of here in Oz...as a boy I used to collect "australites" (tektites) with the most common being a translucent dark green when held up to the sunlight - but appearing black otherwise.

[ccwemyss]

Wethersfield CT had meteorites strike houses in 1971 and 1982. The first was stuck in the ceiling, the second one came through and bounced around the room. 

 

Chip W. 

[davidmcgo]

The Sega Homestars are pretty cool.  Put it on the slow motorized going through the seasons on a June Gloom night, put on a Jon Serrie CD, and lay back on the couch…

 

Dave

[Katharine]

I've packed it away for now (too many other diversions!), but reaaaaally enjoyed the displays from our Sega Homestar Planetarium. A really superb presentation from such a compact, modestly priced package. Leaps and bounds beyond the Spitz and Harmonic Reed of yesteryear.

 

 

Ooh, interesting!  I've seen the various "home planetarium" devices before and been intrigued...

 

 

the landlord of the rented property where it happened sued for some share of any value the meteorite might bring getting $500...

I wonder if they could force you to sell it?  I wouldn't want to...

[CHASLX200]

I've packed it away for now (too many other diversions!), but reaaaaally enjoyed the displays from our Sega Homestar Planetarium. A really superb presentation from such a compact, modestly priced package. Leaps and bounds beyond the Spitz and Harmonic Reed of yesteryear.

 

How much does it cost?
 

[Senex Bibax]

I've packed it away for now (too many other diversions!), but reaaaaally enjoyed the displays from our Sega Homestar Planetarium. A really superb presentation from such a compact, modestly priced package. Leaps and bounds beyond the Spitz and Harmonic Reed of yesteryear.

 

You can always turn on some of the room lights for an authentic suburban backyard experience

[Katharine]

You can always turn on some of the room lights for an authentic suburban backyard experience

Or, just leave the curtains open and bring the outside inside!  (Yes, my windows overlook two parking lots.  Don't ask how much I pay for this luxury...)

[Terra Nova]

I have a bunch I'd like to put up, but I'm not sure how to put them up.  Back when I was a kid, I remember that putty stuff they usually tend to come with both wasn't that great, and also wouldn't come off the ceiling completely (and tended to leave greasy spots as well).  Since I don't own my ceilings and would like my security deposit back some day, that's a no-go...

I put mine up with an electric glue gun like the ones used for crafts that use the flexible, translucent plastic rods that heat up and melt. It stays up well and also peals off without leaving a mark.

[Paul Hyndman]

How much does it cost?
 

HI Chas, they list for about $150 but you can often find them on fleabay for as little as $50. Ha ha, good idea about opening the blinds or turning on the lights if you want the true suburban experience.

[Jaylab]

Why is the sky projected backwards?

-Jay-

[brian dewelles]

So here is my spitz nova 3 planetarium i have set up in garage. Original starball used an arc lamp for a big dome and power supply was not available so i replaced original starball with one from goto eros projector. Works good with my 6 ft.fiberglass dome. My planetarium curved seats are spitz and came from A.S.U. Planetarium in Tempe after they upgraded.

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[Katharine]

I put mine up with an electric glue gun like the ones used for crafts that use the flexible, translucent plastic rods that heat up and melt. It stays up well and also peals off without leaving a mark.

Oh!  I never knew hot glue came off that easily!  *looks around to make sure no management company in earshot, makes plans for a test spot in a corner*

 

 

So here is my spitz nova 3 planetarium i have set up in garage. Original starball used an arc lamp for a big dome and power supply was not available so i replaced original starball with one from goto eros projector. Works good with my 6 ft.fiberglass dome. My planetarium curved seats are spitz and came from A.S.U. Planetarium in Tempe after they upgraded.

That is so cool!

[Terra Nova]

We classics lovers love our Vixen telescopes, mounts, and other products. As many of you know in the late 90s, Orion followed Celestron to become the principal source of Vixen products here in the U.S. At some point during the first decade of the new Millennium, Orion sifted away from (Orion-branded) Vixen Products and TeleVue become the official US Dealer for Vixen. Over the past decade or so, the official US standard bearer of Vixen has been Mr. Starguy. Early this year Mr. Starguy (Brian) stated his retirement goals and eventually left the business several months ago. Since that time, we have been without an official U.S. dealer.

 

Good news! A new dealer has been found and a contract signed. The new official U.S. dealer for Vixen will be Explore Scientific:

 

https://www.newswire...optics-21499348

 

ES has an excellent record in product support and I think this will become a great new home for the Vixen brand.

Edited by Terra Nova, 21 October 2021 - 01:22 PM.

[rcwolpert]

That’s great news. Explore Scientific will be perfect to handle Vixen products.

[clamchip]

Have a look at this review of the 60 inch Hale telescope.

It's so fabulous:

http://www.scopeview...untWilson60.htm

I noticed the author has many scope reviews:

http://www.scopeview...copeReviews.htm

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 02 December 2021 - 06:59 PM.

[Terra Nova]

Have a look at this review of the 60 inch Hale telescope.

It's so fabulous:

http://www.scopeview...untWilson60.htm

I noticed the author has many scope reviews:

http://www.scopeview...copeReviews.htm

 

Robert

Yes, that’s a good site. Lots of reviews. He’s in Jolly Olde England.

 

And Mt. Wilson is a very cool place to visit if you’ve never been there. I used to love the people hang gliding off the side of the mountain on Saturdays. The solar telescope in the high tower is cool too!

[Bomber Bob]

Y'all remember my Vixen 4-slot rotary eyepiece holder:

 

 

Went to use it with the C80 the other night, and... it would not rotate.  And, there was gross goop on the back.  Swamp Heat took its toll:  the original lube (like thin Vaseline) melted, ran out at the seams...  plastic on plastic must be like a brake.