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now, to go public...
Gee. Picking a name was fun.
The topic had come up in a post by Richard about making our mailing list public. I suggest we do two things, 1. check that everyone is happy with the charter 2. cleanup the archives so the messages there are about astronomy (or monty python) And then check eveyone is cool with opening the list to all. I'd like to suggest a way to do number 2 first. Rather than delete all of the non-astronmical postings that we make, every time some topic comes up that generates non-astronomical discussion. I ...ahem... suggest we create a second group for talking about how to run OAFs. Err. Let me know if you guys think this is too complicated. But my suggestion is a. create another group called, say "OAFs-voting" b. make the charter something like: "A list for discussing how to run OAFs. Any member of OAFs may join this list. Any member of this list may start a poll about how to run OAFs, provided they discuss it in postings here first. Astronomical, observing and fun posts belong in the OAFs list. All posting must be civil. They may also be silly, if you feel like it." c. move our non-astromomical postings from OAFs to OAFs-voting I suggest this because its a way of having the discussions we've has about list names, going public, and charters in a nice place with no censorship and still keep the OAFs list about astronomy. It would even give us a place to talk about now to deal with other clubs, if we really had to. Feel free to tell me this is too complicated. But if people agree, i'd be happy to set up such a mailing list. (It's trivial.) I hope that traffic on OAFs would always exceed traffic on OAFs-voting. If nothing else. It would relax the requirement to refer to monty python in non-astromonical postings. Oops. That means this posting. err.. "Tell me again how pigs bladders may be used to prevent earthquakes." -ad |
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Re: looks like each of us had a say...
--- In amasot@y..., r.prevost@h... wrote:
I propose a poll be made up to include the following names: Hummm ... let's see if I've got this straight. I get to hang out with a bunch of 1. stupid, loutish lay-abouts OR 2. small, furry nocturnal creatures with striped tails OR 3. brave and honourable gentlemen of chivalrous or quixotic spirit How IS a girl to choose??? Just kidding... A poll sounds good. As for whether Starry Knights should be taken off the list for being too gender specific, in all seriousness, I don't know what to say. I've never felt very comfortable speaking on behalf of Womankind in general. Personally, I think it'd be cool to be a knight (bloody well time we gals got a shot at it, eh?) However, I can't say for sure whether the name would make some women reluctant to join. Maybe if it did get voted in, we'd have to do something like Richard suggested: "Despite its name, Starry Knights is an NGC - a Non Gender-specific Club. Some of our most enthusiastic members are actually Dames." :-) Jan |
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Re: [amasot] Re: the name game so far.
Mike Wirths
sure lets do a vote, I like both OAFS and Starry Knights, could'nt we
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incorporate starry knights into the group description somehow? Athough if I'm gonna be "dobed" make it a small dob ....please!! I think Mike Zeidler, Jean Dorais,Rb Robotham are prime to want to join if they knew, Mike even mentioned in an e-mail that a new e-group could be made ;) Frank Bayerl would join too. ALBATROSS!!!!! -Mike -----Original Message-----
From: attilla.danko@... <attilla.danko@...> To: amasot@... <amasot@...> Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 5:17 PM Subject: [amasot] Re: the name game so far. --- In amasot@y..., "Richard Harding" <rharding@i...> wrote:Ok OK....but could we be the Starry Knights of OAFS.....just forI like Starry Knights too. I'm leaning only slightly towards |
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Re: the name game so far.
--- In amasot@y..., "Attilla Danko" <attilla.danko@s...> wrote:
Here are the names suggested so far. SQOT freeMy two faves are: OAFS - lends itself well to MontyP and Astronomy motif. Also, it might slightly reduce hostile attacks on us if we admit straight off that we are OAFS. Would you attack OAFS without serious cause? I mean, where's the glory in that?! So the lower the standards, the more you get away with. A definite advantage. Starry Knights - same as above for MontyP, with possibly even more potential for silly mischief! examples: "We hereby 'dob' thee: Lady Janice of Tokar, Starry Knight !" ;-) "The Endless Quest for the Holy Eyepiece!" "Shrubbery!" Rol |
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ooh ooh ooh!!! Teach...Teach!!!!
Richard Harding
I LOVE STARRY KNIGHTS!!!!!! Is it too gender specific??...taken??..
It has me all a titter!!! Any reason why we can't consider this other than a GIRL came up with it (this is the point where I pull Janice's braids)?!?!? Richard "You don't really have any cheese at all, do you?" "Of course we do Sir...we're a Cheese Shop!!" "I see......." "Stilton? No! Camenbert? Not a slice? "Cheddar? No, not much call for that around here!" "NOT MUCH CALL FOR IT?!??!? ITS THE MOST POPULAR CHEESE IN BRITAIN!!!" "Not around here Sir!" now!
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Re: Reply to Attilla's question and Janice's comments!
Richard Harding
Ooooooooh!!! Spam sounds like a winner, but I KNOW that Attilla will
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not be able to set this up!! Richard OOMP |
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More Names? ...
And now, names that rhyme with "I don't have a clue!"
BOO - Bogus Observers of Ottawa ( good for Hallow'een full moons ) AAOO! - Amateur Astronomy Observers of Ottawa ( Easy to Howl ) POO - People Observing in Ottawa ( same old same old ) FOO - Friends Observing in Ottawa ( FOO-figthters? ) So many names, so few polls, ;-) Roland PS - I have now deleted the messages I'd written that might be considered offensive, ( except for this message, of course.) |
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Re: [amasot] Re: Reply to Attilla's question and Janice's comments!
Mike Wirths
Alright, alright balls in my court eh?
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I'm relatively numb all over today, we had to unload and 18 wheeler full of 1200 bales of wood shavings (bedding) today in 2 hrs (the time the driver is alloted), so with physical exhaustion often comes giddiness, so thats a good time to do stuff such as this.... how bout: LOONIES-- lovers of observing nifty interesting extraterrestrial sights I liked OAF --fargle-bargle though its taken @$#%%#& I like Rolands suggestion--The Guerrilla Amateur Group for Astronomy -- G.A.G.A. for short ). STP --silly telescope people AWL- astronomers without lederhosen OSA-- outrageously silly astronomers ---Mike "my hovercraft is full of eels" Wirths -----Original Message-----
From: jtokar@... <jtokar@...> To: amasot@... <amasot@...> Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 7:36 PM Subject: [amasot] Re: Reply to Attilla's question and Janice's comments! --- In amasot@y..., "Richard Harding" <rharding@i...> wrote:How about:OOMP |
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Re: Reply to Attilla's question and Janice's comments!
--- In amasot@y..., "Richard Harding" <rharding@i...> wrote:
How about: OOMP I'm kinda partial to OOMP, but. . . OK, Richard, I'll bite. How about Friends of Photons (FOPs) or Heavens Above Club (HAC) We'd be known as HAC-ers. or The M42's or Hooked on Photons (HOPs) or Society for the Promotion of Astro Mania (SPAM) (or simply,the ASTRO-MANIACS) OK, so I struck out. Who's next up to bat? Jan |
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Re: Reply to Attilla's question and Janice's comments!
Richard Harding
How about:
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SQOT Sidewalks in Quebec and Ontario Too UGH!! FOO Friends Observing in Ottawa Foo WHO?! FLOSS Friends Living and Observing on Sity Sidewalks ooh Miss Bradley my grade 4 teacher would not be happy!!! OF Observing Friends Hmmmmmmmmmmm...simple... OUI Observing Union Incorporated JUST SAY NO!!! POOP Photon Observing in Ottawa Pals Nuff Said!!! MPP Monty Python & Photons RCMP Really Cheezy Monty Python OOMP Ottawa Observing and Monty Python Or my Personal favourite Photonics Incorporated..........PI Your turn guys!! Ricardo Poop. OAF is taken, at least on yahoo. "Diskusjonsliste og |
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Re: bino-viewer
--- In amasot@y..., Richard Harding <rharding@i...> wrote:
Thanks for this Mike. I am not 100 % sure about the focusingquestions, but enough to know that it will probably lead to a hassle at the eyepiece. I have enough problem with focus shift on the C-8 without adding more problems with these binoviewers! I know that Todd may think that $500 to $600 is a bargain, but this is the price of a 31 Nagler!! I think I'll pass and buy the Crayford focuser for my C-8 to take the mirror shift out of the formula instead ;o) RichardA binoviewer should not make focus shift on an SCT any worse. However, it might encourage you to use higher powers which does make focus shift more annoying. However, aftermarket C8 focusers should be reasonably cheap. Years ago Tuthill sold a rack and pinion focuser for C8s that also eliminated focus shift. But I think you want all three: the N31, binoviewer and focuser. You just have to decide what order you want them in. Ah, the joy of toys. -ad ps. Mike is still winning. Time to catch up guys! |
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Re: [amasot] bino-viewer
Richard Harding
Thanks for this Mike. I am not 100 % sure about the focusing questions, but enough to know that it will probably lead to a hassle at the eyepiece. I have enough problem with focus shift on the C-8 without adding more problems with these binoviewers! I know that Todd may think that $500 to $600 is a bargain, but this is the price of a 31 Nagler!! I think I'll pass and buy the Crayford focuser for my C-8 to take the mirror shift out of the formula instead ;o)
Richard |
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Re: [amasot] bino-viewer
Mike Wirths
Hi Richard,
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Never used a UO binoviewer but this is what Todd Gross says about them: 1. Microscope-head style binoviewers (Celestron-Orion -University Optics): Adapted from Microscope heads, small prisms with limited clear aperture, 45 degree angle rather than straight through or 90 degree angle. Most will plug right into a 1.25" star diagonal, some like Orion's screw right onto the back of a Schmidt - Cassegrain scope. You can adapt Celestron's binoviewer to fit onto a schmidt-cassegrain like that using their standard visual back. The disadvantage of this binoviewer is that you cannot easily use eyepieces much over 18 or 20mm before you will see significant vignetting. The general light throughput is also not quite as good, and the 45 degree angle can be somewhat distracting. You cannot easily use these at all on reflectors. The other major disadvantage is the problem with focus shift as you adjust the two eyepieces (push-pull) for the different distances required for different sets of eyes. In fact, even with just ONE user, you sometimes have to change this interpupilary distance to accommodate different sets of eyepieces, and here again you will need to refocus every step of the way as you adjust the width between the eyepieces. The advantage of this style is the price, they tend to run around $500-$600 or so new, and a bit less second hand. (Orion's list is $649) They come in and out of availability and when I checked several months ago, the Celestron unit was not available, the Orion unit was. The other advantage is that on the Moon and planets at high power, you seem to be able to get as good performance, or just about anyway, as the more expensive units. Like all binoviewers, it takes a lot of focus travel to be able to accommodate them, see further down in this article for details. -----Original Message-----
From: Richard Harding <rharding@...> To: amasot@... <amasot@...> Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 10:06 AM Subject: [amasot] bino-viewer Has anyone had experience with the University Optics bino-viewer. |
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Re: Observing Report: Equuleus March 10th /2001
--- In amasot@y..., r.prevost@h... wrote:
PS- B.T.W., Attilla, who was that author you mentioned the othertime, you know, regarding Photons and interesting scientific theoriesI think you mean the "Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics". Its certainly much easier to understand than that collapsing-wavefunction cophenagen-interpretation stuff. It's written by a cool guy called John G. Cramer. His paper on his transactional intepretation of QM is online at: Cramer is an interesting fellow. His homepage is here: According to some net postings, science popularizer John Gribben has written a book that explains Cramer's interpretation: 21/ref=sc_b_21/105-1697110-8142369 (I've read Cramer's paper. Not Gribbin's book.) Cramer's interpretation opens the possiblity that every photon is both everywhere and everywhen. Heavy. The 60's were gooood to him. :) -ad ps. Hey, Mike. Thanks again for fine food and fine observing. |
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Observing Report: Equuleus March 10th /2001
Sess. #277 9:45-11:00 Mike Wirths' lm=5.5 s=5
Moon near Full Clear Skies -4C A bit Windy, but not in the observatory... ;-) A most excellent dinner at Mike's home with the much reknowned Butter Tandoori Chiken and most tasty ever lentil recipe. Janice, Ingrid, Attilla and myself were Pam and Mike's lucky guests. Many thanks to them for such a feast, and the warm hospitality as well. An observing session began later in the evening, with Mike, Attilla & myself attending. ( Janice had not brought observing garb. ) We observed with Mike's 'smaller' 18" scope. Moon, just past full, reduced limiting magnitude to maybe 5.5 Moon 1: A very attractive target that we returbed to a few times in the evening. Most striking was Tycho's rays - they seemed about twice as detailed as I had seen them thus far. Each ray seemed to have small thin filaments. Jupiter: Was getting low and so was barely above the northern edge of the pulled out observatory roof. Unfortunately, the seeing was only passable. It just so happens a moon was emerging and a shadow transit was in progress with the inky dark shadow located in the middle on of a belt. Bino-viewers, sporting a couple of Zeiss lenses I believe, were added by Attilla - you see so much more with 2 eyes. Moon 2: This time we looked at many features on the moon at approx. 200x The most striking thing for me was to notice how the usually smooth grey mare areas were peppered with literally hundreds of tiny craterlets. Rich details, and some hits of coloration - blue-grey vs. brown-gray vs. white, etc. Messier A & B Craters with their con-trail like ejecta was another favourite of mine. Aristarcus was extremely bright white. We also looked at the crater Petavius, which was well placed for us to see the prominent single radial line within it. I'll upload and old sketch file called Petavius.gif to the sketches directory on this group. Night vision was quite impaired after observing the moon. Castor - binary - kind of yellowish to my moon-blasted eyes, but more accurately whitish-blue to Attilla. Sep 4.0" & whitish blue says the manual. Gamma Leonis - binary - Sep 4.4" - these actually were yellowish. Tube currents were noticed when stars placed out of focus. This was due to the lowering temperature outside. Polaris - binary - Sep 18.4 Yellowish primary and whitish-grey secondary. Mizar - binary - since we were dooing doubles without any maps, it needed a visit. Sep 14.4" - the 18" scope was definitely overkill for this one. Still, quite attractive. Epsilon Bootis - binary - Sep 2.8" & a bit of colour constrast ( yellow - blue-green ). Two magnitude difference between them makes them more attractive to my eye. Muchos Gratias, Amigos! Roland Prevost( aka Photon Man ) PS- B.T.W., Attilla, who was that author you mentioned the other time, you know, regarding Photons and interesting scientific theories thereof? |
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Re: [amasot] Re: Drop 10mm Speers for Pentax XL 10.5mm?
Mike Wirths
Geez this group is busier than you know what other group! It maketh me
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chuckle! -Anyhow Attilla's and Richards responses were so thorough that I have little else to add except that my experience with the Speers is that they are a good middle of the road quality ep that does well in a slow scope (not too good in a fast dob though), but can't compare with the Pentax in terms of quality. Zeiss- yes they are the penultimate ep in terms of quality, the Germans spare no expense in making the best of the best. The Zeiss eps I'm getting are 54 deg AFOV which is not too bad, they come in 25,16,10mm sizes and are only slightly more expensive than the Tak el eps. The Canadian distributer is Maison Astronomie, through the German dealer Markus Ludes. Heres his website it has a lot of rare, and unusual eps: Some of the better ones are the Nikons,and from what i hear the ultrscan ep. Zeiss also makes a 90 deg ep but its expensive and has not enough in focus on fast scopes. So we'll have to do some comparsons at my place when the weathers a little warmer and hands don't freeze from handling eps! I have to run, I have to start marinating some Tandoori chicken (sorry to tease you Richard but there will be other times!). I know Rol I told you and Janice that I'm making butter chicken but the recipe Tandoori so its doubley rich! --Nigel hyphen hypen incubator jones-wirths (Silly Party candidate) -----Original Message-----
From: r.prevost@... <r.prevost@...> To: amasot@... <amasot@...> Date: Friday, March 09, 2001 5:36 PM Subject: [amasot] Re: Drop 10mm Speers for Pentax XL 10.5mm? Wow, when people help around here, they REALLY HELP! Merci Beaucoup |
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Re: Drop 10mm Speers for Pentax XL 10.5mm?
--- In amasot@y..., attilla.danko@s... wrote:
--- In amasot@y..., attilla.danko@s... wrote:No No. Forget that one. Try this:Oops. I cut an pasted the wrong link. I mean this one: "Amongst our "links" are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms - Oh damn!" -ad |
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