MOST RECENT
Prosthetic limb for the mount
The NJP doesn’t like high northern latitudes. Because of the way the altitude axis is adjusted, if you live north of about 40º latitude, you start being unable to adjust the mount […]
Trying to get back under the stars
It’s been a long time since I’ve had the telescope out. I’ve considered selling all the gear and picking up some other hobby. Between spotty access to clear skies, a new latitude […]
A historic grab
The International Space Station reached out and grabbed the Dragon capsule today, one of the final steps in making the Dragon the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the station. The things […]
Astro knowledge / General / Observing Reports / Solar System Photography
Transient orbital effects
I have to say that, as a rule, I’m generally not into transient astronomical phenomena. The fact that I can observe and photograph the same, unchanging objects year after year is very […]
On the horizon
It’s been clear and cold here for the past 3 nights. I went out two nights ago, and found out that I can see Alpha Columbae down near the horizon. A Col […]
Observatory 2.0 – converging on a solution
OK, so I measured the yard, and it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to get the “peekaboo” view between the house and the shop, at least not for a […]
Musing on the possibility of Observatory 2.0
Seattle weather is not really what I remembered. From past memory, I recall Seattle weather being solid rain and clouds from October 15 (how many times have I picked a skimpy Halloween […]
Lunar Eclipse 2011
I woke The B up to see the lunar eclipse this morning. It’s the last one before 2014. Moon was looking good high in the west (it was much farther north than […]
Clouds, but not always
I’ve been “busy doing other things” this summer, so I haven’t really spent much time under the stars. After the “one rainy day” in late August, it was HOT and sunny (and […]
Astro knowledge / General / Observing Reports
Seattle weather
After a couple weeks of fairly clear weather (that is, without any measurable precipitation), it rained on Monday afternoon, and was cloudy all night. It was clear again by Tuesday night, and […]
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 […]
MOST COMMENTED
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.