Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Thanks George!
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
|
Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Jeff:
My current thinking is that if conditions are possible I will bring my Fujinon 10x70 binoculars on a tripod instead of my refractor. If it turns out to be unexpectedly spectacular I¡¯ll bring the refractor. If it turns completely dismal, I¡¯ll stay home.
George
|
Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Thanks George totally appreciate that.
The plan at this moment is to set up and be prepared. If by 9 PM we are still clouded out we¡¯ll pack it in.?
I¡¯ll remain behind in that case to let any latecomers know since I live very close to the park.?
For those of you who have to travel a distance I will not be offended if you choose to stay home.
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
|
Hey Lee,
?
That's a cool photo!? I've never before seen the Horsehead/Flame with the Running Man and Orion nebulae all in the same shot.? Too bad they're of so dissimilar brightness levels that they're impossible to all expose correctly in the same image.? I'm sure that can be corrected using masks in an app such as Photoshop, but it would be a ton of work.? Regardless, really cool!
?
Jerry
?
|
Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Jeff:
If conditions look promising I will drive out. If they continue as expected with poor seeing and transparency with wet ground and high humidity, I won¡¯t be. It takes a good effort to pack , unpack and set up and with my refractor unless conditions are at least average, the views are poor.
George
|
|
|
Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Use your gut, trust your gut, and in the end communicate. Someday perhaps we or our successors will have a dedicated facility with very nearby indoor presentation space :)
On Friday, May 16, 2025 at 06:23:31 PM EDT, Jeffrey Dunn via groups.io <jeffreyj.dunn@...> wrote:
Thanks Alan,
Its a bit of a bind to be in, however,?
I feel like if I cancel it will clear up. ?If it isn¡¯t ideal we can abandon ship after a good faith effort.
?
A club member just texted me to remind me that Donahues is right next door if things go south ?for those who want to partake. An option or plan B if you will, but not a requirement.
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
-- ?
?
Alan Sheiness
Trail 53 Observatory, Lyme CT
|
Does anyone have a Pole Hedge Trimmer I can borrow for a day? I have ONE small tree that I need to trim.
|
Re: SAS - Salt Meadow Public Star Party Update
Thanks Alan,
Its a bit of a bind to be in, however,?
I feel like if I cancel it will clear up. ?If it isn¡¯t ideal we can abandon ship after a good faith effort.
?
A club member just texted me to remind me that Donahues is right next door if things go south ?for those who want to partake. An option or plan B if you will, but not a requirement.
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
|
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
|
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/
|
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/
|
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
|
Thanks, Gerry. I guess my right hand was faster than my left when typing. Yes, 7:50pm was the sign-off time.
George
|
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
|
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
|
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?
|
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?
|
Re: TAAS May Meeting Thursday.
Hi Mark,
?
I don¡¯t think there is a rain date for Hammonasset event.
?
Laurie
|
TOMORROW NIGHT: Exoplanet NSN Webinar
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
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.
?
Further Information:
Upcoming Webinars:
- June?- NO WEBINAR!?
- July 22?-?
- August 6 -?
All Previous and Upcoming Webinars are found on the?NSN's YouTube Channel:
Follow us on?Facebook,?X?(formally?Twitter)?and?Instagram?at the username?@NightSkyNetwork?for the latest NSN news and outreach photos. You can also use the hashtags?#NightSkyNetwork?and?#AstronomyOutreach?on
your social media platforms for a chance to be featured!
?
?(NSN)?member clubs are dedicated to bringing the wonders of space and NASA science to folks across the USA.NSN program participation provides clubs with?and?to
assist in their public outreach.?
?
The NASA Night Sky Network is managed by the?.?The ASP is a 501c3 non-profit organization advancing science literacy through
astronomy.?
UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION:
You are receiving this Email notification from the Night Sky Network as a member of your local astronomy club. To change your preferences for receiving the Night Sky Network Newsletter, log into the Night Sky Network website and select "My Profile".
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club/taas2242/roster/self/edit/
For assistance, please contact nightskyinfo@....
|
Alan Sheiness
Lee P.
Deb Fennell