Observing time: 1910 to 2120
Attendance and scope
Mike Powel- 6 inch refractor about 5 feet long with go to capability.
Peter Jenson- 12 inch dob with a handheld go to device.
Doug and Karen- ? it was too dark to see their scope, but I could hear some motors whirring away in that direction.
Myself- 20x80 binos with tripod.
Conditions
4 degrees Celsius, slight wind, some high clouds to west and south. Viewing conditions not very good as there was turbulence at high levels which made things shimmer and hazy.
Highlight of the night
Observed ISS at 2033 from NW to E in binos. Could make out solar panels. It disappeared when it got to the Big Dipper.
Observed Iridium Flare at 2042. "Its like someone turned on a flashlight up there" according to Peter. It came from the NW and went to the SW. Flared for maybe 5 seconds.
On my own with binos.
Searched for Comet Lulin by the dim eye of Taurus the Bull. Compared to March 10 observing there appears to be one 'star' moving to the NW. It may be Lulin(Not confirmed).
Observed M42,M43, M45, M44, Calwell 14 N of Cassiopeia (Mike confirmed), Saturn, Mars, M31 and did scan for M objects south of Orion and scanned between Mars and Saturn for asteroid Vesta.
With Mikes scope.
Calwell 14, M81, M82, M31, M42, M36, M37, M38, M46, M35, M103, Saturn and Titan, and Mars. All the Messier objects except 42 and 43 (Nebula's) and 31, 81, 82 (galaxies), were star clusters. M103 was so tiny that it was not recognizable as a cluster. It looked like a tiny dipper.
Saturn's rings were very impressive as was Mars.
With Peters scope.
M81, M82, M42, and M43. Peter showed me how to use his go to device. Very cool! Simply input desired object from stored list, then look though eyepiece and light on the inside points in the direction of the desired object. When you locate it a bunch of lights light up. Very easy to use.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Observing at Prince of Wales
Observing at Prince of Wales
5 March/2010
from 1950hrs to 2030hrs.
-4 degrees C clear, slight wind
20*80 binoculars with tripod
Observed M42, Alderberan for comet Lulin, M45, M31, Saturn, Mars, M44.
Seen a shooting star with smoke trail low in the sky due south at 2020. Seen two satelites pass in front of M45. One going south the other going north at 2006 and 2008.
Could make out rings of Saturn slightly. Both Mars and Saturn were reddish.
Great night for observing!
5 March/2010
from 1950hrs to 2030hrs.
-4 degrees C clear, slight wind
20*80 binoculars with tripod
Observed M42, Alderberan for comet Lulin, M45, M31, Saturn, Mars, M44.
Seen a shooting star with smoke trail low in the sky due south at 2020. Seen two satelites pass in front of M45. One going south the other going north at 2006 and 2008.
Could make out rings of Saturn slightly. Both Mars and Saturn were reddish.
Great night for observing!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Fusion Theory
Yesterday, I was watching daily planet and they were talking about where science is in regards to accomplishing fusion. They said that fusion is attainable, but not controllable. A Hydrogen Bomb is an example of fusion, only it is completely out of control. The Sun is powered by fusion.
Fusion is when there is enough pressure squeezing (center of the sun) Hydrogen atoms fuse together and become helium. The resulting energy blast is way more than the energy it took to squeeze the two hydrogen atoms together. This, if controlled, would open up a new world of possibilities.
The program was showing a new breakthrough in a method of concentrating lasers into a tiny place where they hope to ignite fusion.
As far as I can tell, when fusion occurs, energy (squeezing force) changes elements of matter from one form to another. If this power could be harnessed, I think it would be possible to actually make anything you want from a bunch of hydrogen. IE. food replicators like on Star Trek. The technology is not there yet, but, in theory it might be possible. Just a thought...
Fusion is when there is enough pressure squeezing (center of the sun) Hydrogen atoms fuse together and become helium. The resulting energy blast is way more than the energy it took to squeeze the two hydrogen atoms together. This, if controlled, would open up a new world of possibilities.
The program was showing a new breakthrough in a method of concentrating lasers into a tiny place where they hope to ignite fusion.
As far as I can tell, when fusion occurs, energy (squeezing force) changes elements of matter from one form to another. If this power could be harnessed, I think it would be possible to actually make anything you want from a bunch of hydrogen. IE. food replicators like on Star Trek. The technology is not there yet, but, in theory it might be possible. Just a thought...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Mars
Mars Pics taken 8Jan/10 at 0700hrs at Irving Nature Park, Saint John, NB
Mars was due west half way up in the sky. It was very easy to spot as it appeared as a bright red star in the west.
I find planets are very hard to get a good shot with the hand mount. They shake around no matter how much I hold it still. It does make for some interesting abstract art. lol
Telescope Pics
Top Left: Bay of Fundy with city lights. Top Right: Scope pointing at Mars to the west. Bottom 2 pics: Scope pointing at Moon. Pic on right the light above the scope is a ship in the Bay of Fundy.
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