Keyboard Shortcuts
ctrl + shift + ? :
Show all keyboard shortcuts
ctrl + g :
Navigate to a group
ctrl + shift + f :
Find
ctrl + / :
Quick actions
esc to dismiss
Likes
- OAFs
- Messages
Search
|
Thanks Al!
Thanks very much, Al, for both the weather head's up, and the proper
way to use the gate at FLO. Knowing that saves alot of trouble for people going in and out, when the gate can stay open like that, for the duration that people are observing. Yesterday the only three RASC members who were there were Richard, Bruce and myself, who happen to all be members of this OAFs list as well. There were no others there, probably because they decided to trust their eyes, instead of all the weather reports that said "clear" all around. I guess I was definitely an OAF on that one! ;-) An observing report of the view from "pea soup mound" will soon be posted... Thanks again for that weather heads-up, and on an Easter Sunday, no less! Clearer Skies! Rol |
|
Re: Observing tonight
Bruce McGlashan
Re. the errant lenscap: I found it. It was in my equipment case all along.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I had confused it for a cap that goes on the mount when the polar alignment scope is removed. That cap was in the opposite end of the tray. Sigh. At least one positive thing came out of this fiasco. I was determined not to lose another lenscap, so I went out to CT yesterday and bought a $2 package of retroreflective strips that are intended to be stuck on bicycles. There were four 5" strips - 2 white and 2 red. I cut the strips into squares and put one on the inside and one on the outside of each lenscap. I also labeled each one with the lens it goes on, using a permanent marker normally used for overhead projector slides. I demonstrated the reflectors to Roland and Richard, and they seemed impressed. They suggested that I post the suggestion to everyone. Done. As for the conditions at FLO tonight, they were pretty miserable. I think I've seen better in my light-polluted backyard. After the feast at Mike's, the famine tonight was brutal. Whereas I found M3 in a matter of seconds at Mike's, I struggled for 15 minutes to track it down tonight. I ended up scrapping my list of objectives and trying easier targets, like splitting Castor (which I hadn't tried before). As usual, Roland turned this potentially disappointing night into a learning experience. I was trying to locate M37, without success, and he offered another star-hopping route that exploited the Declination drive. Duh, why didn't I think of that! Unfortunately, conditions had deteriorated so much that even that technique proved unfruitful. We tried splitting a few more doubles (Gamma Virginis, Polaris), comparing different EP's at the same time. He also showed me his technique for determining the limiting magnitude using Leo. Something more to try on my own! Richard was using the 10" Dob with his own EP's. He showed me the view of M3 with his very nice Pentax EP, but every time we tried to use the EP in my scope on M3, we managed to lose alignment. After three attempts (I think), we gave up. Too bad. Thanks, Richard, for the use of your mini-atlas - sure beats trying to hold the Cambridge Star Atlas at the scope! Oh, and Janice, thanks for the use of the red-LED flashlight. Sure is nice, being able to adjust the intensity of the beam. I'm sold - it's off to Focus for me to pick up one of my own. At 23:30 or so, Richard had left, and Roland and I were starting to get cold, so we packed it in. All in all, not the night I had planned for, but fruitful nonetheless. Bruce McGlashan -----Original Message-----
From: Matt Weeks <mweeks@...> To: OAFs@... <OAFs@...> Date: April 15, 2001 21:25 Subject: [OAFs] Re: Observing tonight Janice, |
|
Re: Observing tonight
Matt Weeks
Janice,
Yeah, I think your right!! It's too bad, my wife and I went out to FLO this afternoon for a look. We walked in to the observatory and had a look around. If I had known to look, I may have been able to fing Bruce's cover in the daylight! Oh well, I'm sure he'll find it. Matt --- In OAFs@y..., jtokar@s... wrote: --- In OAFs@y..., "Matt Weeks" <mweeks@i...> wrote:inI just got home and the skies look pretty bad, so I'll be staying spottedfor the night. Hope all that went out at least get a look atThat's probably a good call, Matt. From the way things sounded, I tonight - assuming a modicum of luck - is Bruce McGlashan errantlens cap! |
|
Re: Observing tonight
--- In OAFs@y..., "Matt Weeks" <mweeks@i...> wrote:
I just got home and the skies look pretty bad, so I'll be staying inThat's probably a good call, Matt. From the way things sounded, I have a feeling that the only astronomical object likely to be spotted tonight - assuming a modicum of luck - is Bruce McGlashan errant lens cap! Janice |
|
Hazy Skies for Easter FLO
Matt -
I just spoke with Roland -- he is at FLO with Richard and Bruce. The skies remain quite hazy, and do not appear to be improving. They plan to stay for a while anyway -- at least until 9:30 or so. I don't know if you want to make the trip under such "iffy" conditions or not. Let's hope for clear skies next weekend! Janice |
|
Re: Easter FLO a "GO!"
--- In OAFs@y..., Al Seaman <alseaman@a...> wrote:
Just looking out my back window at the moment (7:00 pm) it is veryI got a call from Roland - who is en route to Almonte - at approximately 7:20. He asked me to post that the sky was looking extremely hazy, with the sunset almost totally obscured. Roland will call me from Almonte or FLO around 8:15 to let me know how things are looking. However, now that I've seen your post Al, I'd say things definitely aren't looking too good for tonight. Unfortunately, I can't reach Roland to pass on your (and Frank's) message. For any die-hards who are still thinking of going,( ;-) ) I will post again after I hear from Roland to let you know if the skies have cleared or not. Al - I will also pass on the correction re the gate protocol to Roland -- Thanks! Janice |
|
Re: Easter FLO a "GO!"
Al Seaman
r.prevost@... wrote:
Just looking out my back window at the moment (7:00 pm) it is very hazy in Almonte, so much so that the sun is very dim. I suspect that the viewing at FLO will be pretty lousy unless it clears up in a major way. Unless things improve, I won't bother going. If we are already there, the gate will be closed but unlocked.Correction: The first one there unlocks and opens the gate and leaves it open for the convenience of anyone who may follow. The lock should be left on the end of the chain on the gate post. At the end of the nights observing, the last one out closes and locks the gate. Cheers - Al Seaman |
|
Easter FLO a "GO!"
Bruce, Richard, Frank, & Matt ...
I will aim to be at the Petro Canada Station for 8:00pm. I will then proceed soon thereafter for FLO to arrive there between 8:15 and 8:30pm. The directions prepared by Al Seaman should be good enough to get you there if you miss us at the gas station or wish to get there yourself, later or earlier. I believe Bruce is intending to go earlier, and Matt might be coming later. If we are already there, the gate will be closed but unlocked. That's the way you leave the gate until the last one leaves. That's who locks it on the way out. There's a fair bit of haze in the skies, it seems from here, but let's hope it dissipates. If you have anything that can act as a dewshield, you might be wise to bring it. HINT: If you have a paper grocery bag, that can double well as a disposable dewshield for one evening. I presume there might be RASC people there this evening as well, given the "clear" weather forecast. It'll be great to see you all there! Photons by the bucketfull! Roland Descriptive Directions - Ottawa to FLO ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * If coming from Ottawa, head west on the Queensway (Highway 417), and note odometer reading as you pass the Corel Centre at Exit #142. * Go 2.8 km past the Corel Centre to Exit #145 for Highway 7 (but don't take it), and continue straight in the direction of Highway 417 to Arnprior. * Go 8.7 km further to Exit 155 for March Road and Almonte, and exit from 417. * Go 0.7 km up the exit ramp to T junction at March Road (Regional Road 49), and turn left towards Almonte. * Go 12.8 km to the entrance to Almonte at Appleton Road and continue straight through. A first traffic light is a short distance beyond this point. * Go 1.4 km along Ottawa Street to the next traffic lights at Martin Street, and go straight through. * Continue for a further 1.4 km through Almonte. The road wiggles a bit and changes its name from Ottawa St., to Main St.,to AlmonteSt. * At the next traffic lights at the junction with County Road 15 (a PetroCanada Station is on your right), turn to the right and take County Road 15 towards Arnprior. * Go 3.2 km to the Clayton Road and turn left. There are also Mill of Kintail signs that mark this turn. * Go 1.3 km to Concession 8 and turn right. Again follow the Mill of Kintail signs. * Go past the Mill of Kintail and over the Indian River bridge which is 2.0 km from the Clayton Road. * Continue past the bridge for 0.8 km to a junction at the Bennies Corner Road. * Turn right and go 0.2 km, and the gate should be on your right. There is a sign that reads simply "FLO". ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
Re: Easter Observing?
--- In OAFs@y..., "Bruce McGlashan" <mcglashanb2@h...> wrote:
Count me in too! I have to go to FLO to search for an errantHi Bruce! Yes, if it's a GO for at least some of us as posted at 6:30pm later today, we'll see you there! Good luck with that finder cap! EZ to lose, by the way, as I've lost 2 in only 4 years. Rol |
|
Re: Easter Observing?
Bruce McGlashan
Count me in too! I have to go to FLO to search for an errant lenscap, so
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I'll be arriving at 19:30-19:45. I have the combination. See you all there! Bruce McGlashan -----Original Message-----
From: r.prevost@... <r.prevost@...> To: OAFs@... <OAFs@...> Date: April 15, 2001 10:30 Subject: [OAFs] Easter Observing? Am I mistaken, or does it actually say a simple "clear" in the weather |
|
Re: Observing Report, April 13
--- In OAFs@y..., "Matt Weeks" <mweeks@i...> wrote:
I have compiled all of the posts around our recent excellent nightSounds like a good idea Matt! Makes it much easier to share and read later without having to sift through all the messages. I'll eventually try to do the same with the Beginner's Corner Series. By the way, anyone can write something for Beginner's Corner, I hope you all already realize. Newbies tend to like to read practical observing stuff for amateur observers, as it sometimes can saves people months of learning by "trial and error". Much better to learn by "trial and success" I'd imagine! ;-) Photonman |
|
Easter FLO a probable go...
Great, Richard and Matt!
I see lurking clouds in the West on the weather maps, so would like to post a final "GO - NOGO" call at about 6:30pm on this group. But it certainly looks quite promising thus far. Good way to celebrate Easter, too. Matt, I believe you haven't been there yet, so if we do go, you may have to meet us at FLO instead of the petro-can as Richard and I will likely arrive at FLO around 8:15pm Al Seaman has just recently posted updated instructions on how to get there to this group. If it is a go, I will mention the message # for you and you might print it out for yourself. The first time I went, I got there with text instructions only. The gate, while we are there, would be left closed but unlocked. You'd close it behind you but leave it unlocked if you come in. I'll post more for you if it's a go. Later, Roland |
|
Re: Easter Observing?
Matt Weeks
Roland,
I may be able to join you at FLO tonight. I have a family dinner to attend. I am generally home by 8:30, so that means I could leave by about 9pm. I would only stay for a couple of hours as I must work tomorrow. I can not promise anything though. I will check when I get home to see if you have gone out or not. Matt |
|
Re: Easter Observing?
Richard Harding
Hi Rol!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
After what we have been through the last few nights, I am in need of some soothing photons!! Judith says go for it so....... if you are on, I would meet you at the petro can at about 8:00? Richard Return-Path: <sentto-2911285-446-987345031-rharding=iosphere.net@...> |
|
Observing Report, April 13
Matt Weeks
Hello all,
I have compiled all of the posts around our recent excellent night at Mikes place. My goal is to be able to easily read them on some cloudy night in the future. I thought you all may enjoy this as well. Please ignore the first link, it leads to a deleted file. Maybe a moderator could delete it for me? Matt |
|
Small world - Mike Wirth's new neighbours
Joe and Marlene, are our old neighbours (well, still our neighbours
for the rest of the month). What are the odds? Joe had wondered what that building with the framework on one end was for and Marlene has expressed an interest in looking through a scope sometime... (and I hope Brady doesn't bark as much out there as she does here). They're good neighbours. Rob |
|
Easter Observing?
Am I mistaken, or does it actually say a simple "clear" in the weather
forecast for tonight? Just wondering if the Easter Bunny just gave observers a gift or what... Here's a cut and paste from Env. Canada (10am) version. Ottawa-Hull Cornwall Smiths Falls-frontenac-Lanark. Today.. Sunny with cloudy periods. High near 12. Tonight.. Clear. Wind northeast 20 km/h. Low near minus one. So, I have plugged my power supply into the wall and I am considering FLO possibilities for tonite. On this particular occasion, I was thinking that maybe I'd prefer to use my own scope and not necessarily set up the FLO's 16" one. Also, there is a neat 10" dob available in the "clubhouse", if that's not already in use by someone else. We're doing the family celebration stuff for lunch today, so it turns out I'm potentially free to observe this evening. Others might not be free on a holiday weekend, so I understand. Just in case tho', I'll be checking back here around 3:30pm to see if there might be any takers. Either Way: Happy Bunny Day! Photonman |
to navigate to use esc to dismiss