Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Sometimes we¡¯d say as long as there isn¡¯t active precipitation we will be there. It might devolve into a lecture and static display, but we¡¯ll be there.?
reconsidering that for LLT nights. As an organizer cancellations are a doggie downer.?
--
?
?
Alan Sheiness
Trail 53 Observatory, Lyme CT
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Too close for me to tell so I¡¯m going to be optimistic and say we¡¯re on. Feeling like we may luck out ?
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
HI All,
I'm still monitoring the weather, the forecast seems to change every 3 hours.?
I'll update this thread later this afternoon, shortly after 3PM.
Right now the National Weather Service forecast is not great:
Blue graph is percent cloud cover,
Green Bar graph is percent chance of rain
Red Bar Graph is percent chance of thunder
Purple is wind
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
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Sorry I couldn¡¯t make it. We didn¡¯t get back until almost 8. I was hoping we¡¯d have a meeting/cookout at Waterford again this summer. I really enjoyed it last year. The breeze kept the bugs away and it¡¯s a beautiful spot.?
On May 15, 2025 at 10:30?PM -0400, GEORGE BLAHUN via groups.io <ks1u@...>, wrote:
Thanks, Gerry. I guess my right hand was faster than my left when typing. Yes, 7:50pm was the sign-off time.
George
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Thanks, Gerry. I guess my right hand was faster than my left when typing. Yes, 7:50pm was the sign-off time.
George
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Good job George. I did notice that we discussed all that in record time, less than a minute, since the start and end times were both 7:05 pm. Thought I might have heard someone say 7:50 as Max seconded motion to adjourn. :-) Gerry
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I did not take detailed minutes for the TAAS meeting held on Zoom which began at about 7:05pm on Tuesday May 15th, but did take general notes which I will share here.
There were six members present, Gerry, John, Max, Lee and myself. Among the topics discussed was the impending observing session scheduled by SAS for this Saturday the 17th. It look likely, due to weather conditions, the session will be cancelled but the official proclamation will be done tomorrow after the latest weather forecast. The following SAS session is scheduled for July 26.
We discussed the next Hammonasset session on May 31st and also decided that those present were OK with the August meeting/picnic being held at Waterford Beach Park Pavilion.
Gerry and I discussed the latest paper on the Double Slit experiment which indicated that dark photons may be a viable solution to the interference pattern as opposed to the classical wave function. As an actual physicist, Gerry had some valuable insight into the short paper and I¡¯m sure more information will be forthcoming from the researchers.
I thanked Lee for updating the website and Lee added that he hopes it generates additional club members.
Jeff said that his wife, a climate scientist, confirmed my anecdotally based suggestion that New England skies have become more challenging for viewing in the evenings due to the increased water vapor in the atmosphere. The group also discussed the massive number of satellites including Star Link, that are polluting those rare clear evenings.
Jeff also mentioned his latest refractor project and indicatd he will start a construcion topic on our groups.io <> site where we can give advice and offer surplus items he may find useful in his build. John offered some suggestions as did other participants.
I have to apologize to the group as I was wearing my noise cancelling headphones when a phone call came in and voice mail left, which I suspect was broadcast over the Zoom meeting. You can¡¯t choose your family or when they call, but next time I¡¯ll ditch the phone from my desk.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded by John and Max at 7:05 pm.
If I have overlooked anything significant, please feel free to offer additions or corrections. Thanks to all who attended and thank you to Gerry for setting up the meeting for Zoom.
George
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Homemade Mount - Older Version
In tonight's TAAS meeting,? Jeff Dunn was expressing interest in making a mount on the "cheap."? I suggested tracking with an EQ mount for his 6" Refractor project.? I have 2 photos here. My entirely photogenic Astro-Physics Mach 1 on their Eagle Pier with their 92 mm Stowaway in the foreground sporting a Baader Planetarium Herschel Wedge.
In the background is Dick's older generation tripod and tracking EQ mount for his 10" Classical Cassegrain. One with and without the scope. It should help identify some of the components w/o the scope on it.? At least the gear is highlighted as is the tripod.
I'll try and find something with just the mount and the Refractor for you.
Taken at Cherry Springs Star Party in Couldersport, PA in 2023.
John Sillasen?
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SeeStar Flat Calibration is Finally Here!
For those who have the Seestar S50 or S30, there is a new update that has been released.? Flat calibration is now in the menu under Expert mode. Flats are absolutely required to remove any artifacts that may be on the glass surfaces? - whether on the sensor or the scopes glass, a Flat image, taken with a couple of layers of white cloth such as a pillow case or T- shirt, undershirt etc.
60 second exposures in Equatorial mode absolutely require Flats!? These intelligent telescopes are getting up to real imaging trains work flow now!
The Space Koala YouTube channel has a short (17 minute) how to video to make the work easier.
For those who really want to get the most out of their investment,? this is the way to go. Plus it only adds about 2 minutes to your work flow. Seriously - just 2 minutes.
John Sillasen?
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Re: TAAS May Meeting Thursday.
Hi Mark,
?
I don¡¯t think there is a rain date for Hammonasset event.
?
Laurie
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TOMORROW NIGHT: Exoplanet NSN Webinar
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From: Night Sky Network <nightskynetwork@...>
Date: May 14, 2025 at 3:13:52?PM PDT
To: debskifennell1617@...
Subject: TOMORROW NIGHT: Exoplanet NSN Webinar
Reply-To: nightskyinfo@...
?Deb:
Placing Worlds and Suns in Context with Dr. Eric Mamajek
Join the NASA Night Sky Network on Thursday, May 15, at 6:00 PM Pacific Time (9:00 PM Eastern)?along with Dr. Eric Mamajek, where we¡¯ll discuss what we know about planets beyond our solar system and how to discover them.
Zoom Webinar Registration:?
NSN Members can register for this webinar using the following link. Once registered, you will receive an automatic reminder shortly before the webinar begins. Please register with your club's full name (preferred) rather than
initials or abbreviations.?
For best results: update and restart your Zoom software before the session begins. The webinar registration link will give you access to the live video webinar, as well as a backup call-in number and code just in case your computer
experiences connection issues.?
YouTube Livestream:?
The talk will also be streamed live at the YouTube link below, and saved for future viewing. Please note: questions submitted via the Zoom Q&A feature will have priority over YouTube chat.
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Further Information:
Upcoming Webinars:
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All Previous and Upcoming Webinars are found on the?NSN's YouTube Channel:
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Mark:
Thanks for that reminder. I¡¯ve been distracted this week with the arrival of my geodesic dome shell and ICCF blocks, and forgot about it. I¡¯ll try to get to Avery Point with binoculars Mon or Tue.
George
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Re: TAAS May Meeting Thursday.
You caught me,Max.?
May meeting suggested agenda:
- Somebody take minutes.
- Thanks to Lee for website update.
- Conn College observatory update? (Leslie)
- Recent news that K2-18b life detection announcement may have been noisy data.
- Recent news that historic double slit experiments on wave particle duality can be explained by dark photons.
- Shoreline Astronomy Society star Party at Salt Meadow May 17?? Future dates?(Jeff)
- Lyme Land Trust observing May 23, June 20
- Hammonasset May 31, (June 1st rain date)
- Stars to Stem dates. Also May 31st, beginner astronomy. June 6, laser light show.? (Leslie)
- August Picnic Meeting, Aug. 21, same place ?
- Treasurers Report
- Show and Tell
Thanks, George for running this and the June meeting.
Mark
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BTW, TODAY is the day Omega Centauri is highest in the sky and best possibility to see from Avery Point. Omega Cen will be 1.4 degrees above the horizon. ?
Bummer about the weather,
maybe Monday or Tuesday. ??
It will be 6.3 degrees high in Las Vegas here tonight. ?(Bortle 9)
Mark.?
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Peer reviewed white paper via text message ?
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Sometimes I forget my wife is a climate scientist ? Without bothering her about it right now I do recall from her past discussions with colleagues about the increase in precipitation over time in New England due to anthropogenic forcing. I¡¯ll have to ask her about cloud cover at night.?
light pollution seems to be ever increasing. I really should try and be a better dark sky advocate.
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
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Re: TAAS May Meeting Thursday.
Zoom link for tomorrow's TAAS meeting attached below.
?
Gerry
?
Topic: TAAS May Meeting
Time: May 15, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87595584036?pwd=EqHP97uBJhJ3bgeTORf4vAr3XdPSEq.1
Meeting ID: 875 9558 4036
Passcode: 373240
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Jeff:
Although New England has never been in the same class as, say, Arizona, it wasn¡¯t always like this here. I¡¯ve been observing since I was in grade school and every scheduled astronomical observing session scheduled by the schools I attended was clear enough to go on, during the 1950s and 60s. I know this may be anecdotal with a little luck involved, but I believe this is due to climate change. I am certain I had more nights to observe in the 60s than I do now and the light pollution was dramatically less. My home in Quaker Hill was a dark as Salem is now throughout the 50¡¯s and most of the 60s.
George
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
I feel like for Astronomers East of the Mississippi this hope, endurance, and faith that a clear night will happen is baked into the hobby.
The general public doesn't necessarily get it and I think that the idea that our hobby requires perseverance, even under ideal conditions, isn't well understood.
At least it won't be for lack of effort on our part :)?
Here's hoping that the 23rd and 31st have better weather for Trail 53 Observatory/Meigs Point Nature Center Family Astro Night.?
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
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Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Alan:
I empathize with your aversion to cancelation. The only thing worse is showing up under cloudy skies and explaining to people in-person why our expensive telescopes can¡¯t see through the clouds.
George
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Alan Sheiness
Deb Fennell
Mark Strollo