Category: General
Asteroid discovery, 1980-2010
This is a very cool data visualization of the recent advances in astronomy technology. Note that the number of discoveries doubles every 2 years between 1997 and 2003; in 6 years, the […]
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP maintenance update – coming back together
I gave Takahashi America a week off of NJP updates. When I called them today for an update, they said that the part that’s in Japan is complete and in transit back […]
Astro knowledge / General / Observing Reports
Quelling nonbelievers
It has been preternaturally clear in Northern California this winter. It was cloudy when we returned from Christmas (rained for most of the drive). It stayed cloudy until the Saturday morning when […]
ATM / Gear / General / Observing Reports / Telescope
Trixie rebuild 2011 – first light
With the OTA all together, I spent some time collimating. With Cheshire collimation complete, I tried the autocollimator again. I totally lucked out! The two images that you are supposed to line […]
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP repair update
It’s the waiting that gets you. The RA axis has been received in Japan. No further update on price or ETA yet. It’s been really clear out lately. sigh.
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP repair progress
As I suspected, the RA axis of 04026 had to be sent to Tokyo to get a new reticle installed (and hopefully aligned this time). I expect it’ll take a week for […]
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP in Texas, early update
The NJP arrived at Takahashi America in TX on Friday afternoon. After not hearing from them by today (4 working days later), I gave them a call. They are hard at work […]
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP on the road
I shipped off 04026 today to Texas. It should be there by Thursday. The hopes of Ad Astra Observatory go with you, little NJP. Be well.
Gear / General / Maintenance / Mount
NJP Polar Scope repair — Preamble
The polar alignment scope in my NJP has never been accurate. It’s been off since I got the mount, and there are a couple of other things that I wonder about, too; […]
Astro knowledge / General / Observing Reports
Planetary re-discovery
I was up very very early, walking the dogs. Champ asked to go out around 4:30. It was a very cold (around 20°) but crisp and clear night. The crescent new-minus-3-days moon […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
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Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.