1962 replies to this topic

[Terra Nova]

Actually, in looking at mission statements and range of topics in the fora I think the forum General Observing and Astronomy, might be a better fit!

[Bomber Bob]

What do y'all think about archaeology as the TAG, if the CN database field has a character limit??

[Garyth64]

I think Archeoastronomy would be a specialized part of Archeology.   I think the tag itself, if possible, would be Archeoastronomy.  And Archeoastronomy itself can have many sub titles, and specializations.

 

My wife and I have attended a few archeoastronomy lectures and presentations in the field.  On sites that have been at Chaco Canyon, Chimney Rock, etal, where the ancient Pueblo people lived.  There are lecture series, and you tube videos.

At Chimney Rock, in CO. we have been to a couple star parties put on my the San Juan Stargazers.

 

Yeah, I like being in the SW and learning about the Archeoastronomy of the area.  ( Archeoastronomy is in many places around the Earth.)

Edited by Garyth64, 04 February 2025 - 01:56 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

Yeah, I'd prefer the full term, but that may not be possible -- that's a DBA decision.

 

I got interested in A-A back around 1978, when Stonehenge's Solstice & Equinox alignments were popular.  

 

I've read some of Sweatman's work on Pillar 43 at Gobekli Tepe (Turkey), and I think he makes a good case for a particular Solstice in The Vulture constellation (our Sagittarius), but I'm not as convinced that the glyphs refer to a specific date / the catastrophe that started the Younger Dryas...

 

 

Shoot!  We already need a TAG...

Edited by Bomber Bob, 04 February 2025 - 02:25 PM.

[Garyth64]

There are many forums here on CN, most of which I have never looked at.  Some seem to be quite specialized in their topic.  Some others, I might glance at but have never posted anything.

In running down the list of topics of all the different forums, I see no reason why there couldn't be an Ancient Astronomy forum.

 

Ancient Astronomy is the oldest natural sciences, and is part of Astronomy.

An Ancient Astronomy forum could contain interests like: ancient sites; ancient civilizations who used Astronomy in their lives; myths and truths; relics; using Astronomy for keeping time and making calendars; and much more.

This forum could cover the time before Newton, Copernicus, and Galileo.

The forum would be a place for discussion on the dozens of topics it could hold, and provide a place to also post articles, lectures, display, and links to videos.

 

It would become one of the several forums I like to visit and participate in.

Edited by Garyth64, 06 February 2025 - 09:18 AM.

[ccwemyss]

Here's an example:

 

https://www.goodnews...slims-and-jews/

 

Not sure about some of the rather speculative assertions about its history, but an interesting instrument, nonetheless.

 

Chip W. 

[Bomber Bob]

I agree, Gary.  But... a new Forum needs MODs, and those are in short supply already.  And, They're concerned about CN becoming too fragmented...

 

Haven't heard back from them yet, so fingers crossed...

[Sean Cunneen]

Suggestions to add new forums are always being sent in. Unfortunately given the constraints of the software its not always possible and is in fact quite rare. 

 

Please see HERE for a better response than mine!

 

Sean

[Garyth64]

I agree, Gary.  But... a new Forum needs MODs, and those are in short supply already.  And, They're concerned about CN becoming too fragmented...

 

Haven't heard back from them yet, so fingers crossed...

It would be a sub-category, maybe under "Specialty Forums", or "General Astronomy", and called "Ancient Astronomy".

 

Look at all the imaging forums.  Major and Minor Planets Imaging; Beginning Imaging;  Experienced Imaging; Camera Imaging; Lunar Imaging; Solar Imaging; Comet Imaging.  I never really noticed them all before.  Talk about fragmented.

 

I feel it would be a great idea, and I can only try. 

Edited by Garyth64, 06 February 2025 - 09:52 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

Suggestions to add new forums are always being sent in. Unfortunately given the constraints of the software its not always possible and is in fact quite rare. 

 

Please see HERE for a better response than mine!

 

Sean

Can we get a TAG?  Then, we could generate metrics -- see if these Threads are popular enough to justify a Forum...

[RichA]

Obviously AI just aped something it found on the webernet - do an image search and dozens of similar images pop up, one of which is probably from a humanoid.

 

-drl

I saw the F1 image generated by AI that put a set of wheels on the spoiler of a race car...This tells me that there are "shortcomings" in the 3 dimensional aptitude of the program that did it.

[jkmccarthy]

To whom it may concern ---

 

Regarding the Orion / Meade / Coronado liquidation auction that was supposed to have happened at the turn of the year (and was apparently underway when the plug was pulled), it was announced yesterday that High Point Scientific acquired everything to be liquidated and instead of auctions for "pallet lots of 10" or whatever, High Point will be facilitating purchases of individual items to interested individuals at very substantial discounts.   They have setup a web page here for what will be a phased implementation (not everything all at once):

 

https://www.highpoin...nado-orion-sale

 

My summary above was gleaned from this YouTube video posted yesterday by an astronomy enthusiast whose YouTube channel is sponsored (either in full or in part) by High Point:

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=vcPn1IWrzKk

 

I know nothing more than what's in the above two on-line sources.   I was pointed to the YouTube video courtesy of Tim Robertson's "Observers Notebook" group on Facebook --- Tim is a recently retired co-worker [err --- now former co-worker] of mine here in Southern California.

 

Clear Skies,

 

         -- Jim

 

EDIT:   I see that ericb760 had already posted news of these developments in the Craiglist, etc., thread yesterday:  https://www.cloudyni...6#entry13963482  .....

Edited by jkmccarthy, 11 February 2025 - 05:04 PM.

[clamchip]

User's Guide to the Lick 36 inch Refracting Telescope:

https://mthamilton.u...s/36inch/intro/

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 12 February 2025 - 12:48 AM.

[Bomber Bob]

BIF:  I just asked about progress on an Ancient Astronomy TAG...

 

Once that's settled, I got a bunch of Topics to raise -- mostly Questions!

[Terra Nova]

Judging from it’s name, this one is sure to please some of you here in the heartland of classic sci fi:

 

https://www.theinterocitor.org

[deSitter]

User's Guide to the Lick 36 inch Refracting Telescope:

https://mthamilton.u...s/36inch/intro/

 

Robert

I always assumed these leviathans were motorized of necessity - but no!

 

Careful not to get crushed by a 12 ton telescope. Or fall off the pier. Or get your foot caught in the moving floor after splaying out over the short rail.

 

Those old astronomers were studs.

 

Focal length 17000mm and change.

 

It's f/20 so a 55mm Plossl gives a 2.6mm exit pupil, which is not too bad.

 

-drl

[Garyth64]

BIF:  I just asked about progress on an Ancient Astronomy TAG...

 

Once that's settled, I got a bunch of Topics to raise -- mostly Questions!

Yep, just waiting for the gate to open.

[clamchip]

Here's some vintage telescope projects:

https://www.vintagep...trial-telescope

 

Robert

[Bomber Bob]

The Ancient Astronomy TAG is now available...

 

Thanks CNers!

[Jay_Reynolds_Freeman]

The Ancient Astronomy TAG is now available...

 

Thanks CNers!

Maybe it applies to some members ...

[Bomber Bob]

 

Started a new A-A tagged thread over on General Observing and Astronomy:  https://www.cloudyni...onomy-then-now/

 

Rock & Roll Y'all...

Edited by Bomber Bob, 13 February 2025 - 11:01 AM.

[clamchip]

Today I was again wondering, "why a 60mm F/20" I've asked myself that question before but I don't remember an answer.

It seems to me it was a short lived Japanese thing. My first thought is, a very high powered telescope easy to transport around

on public transportation.  It's got to be more than that, something more scientific. Double star observing, okay maybe. 

I asked AI and got this response:

 "A "60mm f/20 telescope" refers to a telescope with a 60mm aperture (the diameter of the lens that collects light) and a focal ratio of f/20, meaning the focal length is significantly long compared to the aperture, making it ideal for very high magnification observations of small, detailed celestial objects, particularly when high image quality is prioritized over gathering large amounts of light, often used in specialized applications like solar viewing or planetary observation with a narrow field of view."

That's good, I like that. There must be more. Did amateur's ask for it, or did manufactures test the waters? there was only a few. 

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 18 February 2025 - 12:10 AM.

[deSitter]

Today I was again wondering, "why a 60mm F/20" I've asked myself that question before but I don't remember an answer.

It seems to me it was a short lived Japanese thing. My first thought is, a very high powered telescope easy to transport around

on public transportation.  It's got to be more than that, something more scientific. Double star observing, okay maybe. 

I asked AI and got this response:

 "A "60mm f/20 telescope" refers to a telescope with a 60mm aperture (the diameter of the lens that collects light) and a focal ratio of f/20, meaning the focal length is significantly long compared to the aperture, making it ideal for very high magnification observations of small, detailed celestial objects, particularly when high image quality is prioritized over gathering large amounts of light, often used in specialized applications like solar viewing or planetary observation with a narrow field of view."

That's good, I like that. There must be more. Did amateur's ask for it, or did manufactures test the waters? there was only a few. 

 

Robert

It never made any sense to me. These long refractors with 24.5mm eyepieces already have a hard time getting low power views. At f/15 a 60mm is already colorless in any important sense. I cannot have been easy to make an f/20 objective. I sometimes think they did it just for the elegant appearance.

 

-drl

[Kasmos]

I like long focal lengths since it makes using longer and more comfortable EPs usable for higher powers.

 

60/1200mm scope using a 12mm EP gives you 100x and a 9mm 133x

 

Using the same EPs with a 60/910mm gives you 75x and 101x

 

And a 60/700mm scope gives you 58x and 78x

 

That said the longest 60mms I have are the f/1000mm Soligor, Penncrest, plus a Carton objective that I still need to build.

[clamchip]

Even though F/15 may appear colorless CA at near invisible level is there doing it's best to

affect resolution. At F/20 the view is very clean. I notice whiter whites, and best of all a 60mm

with a focal length of 1200mm for easy high power. What else would you use a 60mm for but

high power work. 

I suppose we will need to talk to some Japanese amateurs to know more, I'm not finding much

information on the subject. 

I wonder if the F/20's were for guidescope duty, being closer to the focal length of the primary

instrument. Or just a special model made especially for someone seeking perfection.

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 18 February 2025 - 12:19 PM.