How to safely view the Sun with your telescope!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Solar Max Series 4 of 4 (Last Video)
We have come to the last day of the Solar Max Video Series on my blog and I hope you have enjoyed it. On this video you'll learn more about the 4 satellite fleet that was mentioned at the end of video 3.
In 2001, SoHo became a useless space junk and this video will take you through the drama of it. Despite being frozen solid for three months it was revived. As you enjoy these amazing images in the video remember they are REAL and not computer generated.
Travel around the world on this video to learn about the cultural importance of the sun.
I really liked the Solar Plane in the video that I've seen before. I really feel that we humans have only begun to tap into the energy of the sun. Studying and learning more about the sun will hopefully lead to cleaner energy.
As with videos 2 and 3 you'll have to click the link and go to YouTube to view the next video in the series: Solar Max video 4 of 4... enjoy!
Next Solar Max info from TelLieVision1 on Youtube:
The last solar maximum was in 2001, and the next one has been predicted for Dikpati's forecast puts Solar Max at 2012. On March 10, 2006 NASA researchers announced that the next cycle would be the strongest since the historic maximum in 1859 in which the northern lights could be seen as far south as Rome, approximately 42° north of the equator. This projection was based on research done by Mausumi Dikpati of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and David Hathaway of the National Space Science & Technology Center (NSSTC). As of May 2009, NOAA predicts the Solar maximum for cycle 24 will be below average.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Solar Max Series 3 of 4
I truly hope you have enjoyed the last two videos in this four part series.
The video that I'm linking to today takes an in depth look at SoHo and the Trace satellite.
As we approach solar maximum it is interesting to consider our reliance on the satellite network and the impact the next solar maximum will have on this network. We have had 2,000 more satellites launched in space since the last solar maximum. This video will also explore the varying solar cycles and the impact they have.
On this video it is interesting about the to hear the singing of the Sun!??!! (A possible up coming blog about that... I'm interested in learning more).
As with the last video I can't post this one into my blog so you will have to go to the YouTube site to watch this excellent video. Link to Solar Max Video 3 of 4
Come back and post a comment about what a you think about the possibility of a super-flare hitting us and what such a super-flare would do to the ozone and the satellite network and society as we know it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Solar Max Series Day 2 of 4
I'm sorry to report that I cannot post the second video directly from YouTube because embedding has been disabled. Not all is lost, please visit the YouTube video by following this link: Solar Max 2 of 4 (9 minutes long)
When watching this video I wonder what life would be like if the "Early Church" accepted Galileo's findings rather than ignoring them... would there have been the division we have today or would there be harmony between faith and scientific thought?
Make sure you come back here to post your comments!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Solar Max Series Day 1 or 4
If you have been following my blog lately you will know that I do a lot of videos. For a while I have felt bad that they are just videos and I haven't had time to type my own materials. But occasionally there is a video that comes along that is so good that it really makes you take notice. The next four days I'll be posting such videos. If you are an astronomer that follows the Sun you'll know that 2010 has been a very active year so far. Looks like we are heading to Solar Maximum.
The Sun is a wonderful object to study safely (more on that later until then AVOID looking at the sun with your telescope/binoculars/camera, etc!) I found this video on YouTube and I decided to do a four day series on my blog about it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. The more I hear about global warming the more I wonder that role the Sun plays in all of it. The Sun is the closest star we have and it is also very well studied compared to other stars, but in my mind there are still many things that we don't know about the Sun.
I hope you enjoy this 10 minute video about the sun and I hope it inspires you to think about the Sun a little more.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Aperture Mask
Well I got around to making an aperture mask for my 16" Meade Lightbridge. It really helps with viewing details on planets. Rick and I made the mask our Sunday telescope making project. We usually do some telescope making project about once a month. As you can see the masks has an opening for the secondary screws, this is really just because the screws are up above the secondary spider mount. The secondary blocks out any light that comes in the center hole. This mask vastly improves the details Mars by taking out the diffraction lines and central obstruction that normally isn't an issue with Deep sky objects. Also stopping the aperture down allows image to not be washed out. I spent about 2 hours looking at Mars and the moon tonight with and without the mask. I seem to like it!
I decided that I'd mount some Velcro on the top of my rocker box to hold the mask when it isn't in use
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Getting Started in Astronomical Outreach - Video 4
Happy Valentine's Day!
Here is today's outreach video:
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Getting Started in Astronomical Outreach
Some encouragement of you to go out to and teach someone with that new telescope you got for Christmas. If you are interesting in volunteering contact your local astronomical group to see what events are coming up.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
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