I have not entered my observing sessions for several months. Now, with a {dome and a refractor}, and a { deck and a dob}; it will take a bit to catch up. ...
20482
InQ
inqlaing
Dec 17, 2006 2:00 pm
Between obligations to kids and all the clouds, I needed an alternative I could do at home at a moments notice, did not require a drive and 15 minutes of...
20483
lknoll1234
Dec 17, 2006 3:29 pm
Apparently there is an El Nino oscillation taking place right now that started earlier in the fall. Depending on their strength, they can significantly affect...
20484
lknoll1234
Dec 17, 2006 7:28 pm
InQ: Hmmm, I somehow equate this with counting ants on the farm, or the timed durations of slimy slug trails to canculate their mean velocity. Thanks, for the...
20485
lknoll1234
Dec 20, 2006 2:52 am
Can any of you Ottawa astronomy 'old-timers' (I'm trying to think of the politically correct term here ... ah! 'experienced' astronomers) remember years where...
20486
Albert Saikaley
albertsaikaley
Dec 20, 2006 3:26 am
Len, I did a lot of visual observing back in 89-95...I rarely remember being shutout during new moon. But it's that's a while back... since shelving my ...
20487
L.Knoll
lknoll1234
Dec 20, 2006 3:59 am
Hello Albert: Thanks for the good news ... how can things get any worse, right? I'll just keep on with my indoors projects, getting everything ready for when...
20488
Attilla Danko
attilladanko
Dec 20, 2006 5:32 am
Starfest 1997 was clear every night for the whole week. I remember it well since it was the first starfest to which I had brough my 25". I remember never...
20489
Douglas B. George
maximccd
Dec 20, 2006 6:42 am
... No, but we usually get more clear weather than *this*. Some years are better than others, of course, but this seems pretty bad. Mind you, it's not...
20490
lknoll1234
Dec 20, 2006 10:24 pm
I would love to camp out at Starfest with my Kendrick observatory tent and all the other scopes. When is the next Starfest? Cheers, Leonard ... it ... sunday. ...
20491
Attilla Danko
attilladanko
Dec 20, 2006 10:47 pm
I dont think they've annouced the exact dates. But they hold it each year in augst near the new moon. http://www.nyaa-starfest.com/starfest/ -ad ... -- attilla...
20492
lknoll1234
Dec 20, 2006 10:56 pm
OK, I'm replying to my own message here. I suppose this is the Internet equivalent of talking to one's self. What can I say. I found the Starfest home page ......
20493
Joe Silverman
joe1silverman
Dec 20, 2006 11:23 pm
The first time I went observing was in 1997. I had rented an orange Celestron 5" SCT from the Montreal Centre and went camping with my wife at Long Sault near...
20494
L.Knoll
lknoll1234
Dec 21, 2006 12:20 am
Joe: That camping experience sounds idyllic. I hope I can do something similar someday. I've often thought about packing all my gear into a canoe on Joeperry...
20495
lknoll1234
Dec 21, 2006 12:32 am
I got hold of someone and they said it will be ~March before they start taking online reservations. - Leonard ... remember ... 25". I ... always ... think ... ...
20496
Rolf and Linda
lindy5050
Dec 21, 2006 1:37 am
... June 1970 was clear nearly every night. Any November is usually the worst. 1988 was one of the clearest years. The past year has been pretty bad. -Rolf...
20497
lknoll1234
Dec 21, 2006 5:17 am
Hello Rolf: June 1970? How in the world can you remember that specifically? I'm suddenly feeling very old and forgetful now. This was supposed to cheer me up....
20498
Rolf and Linda
lindy5050
Dec 21, 2006 5:20 pm
... That's easy. I made drawings of Jupiter that year and I have a drawing from nearly every night of June 1970. I also recall that many nights of that month...
20499
Rolf and Linda
lindy5050
Dec 21, 2006 10:31 pm
There were very favourable passes of ISS and the Shuttle tonight. First spotted was the Shuttle, just after 5 o'clock. I tried to follow it with an alt-az...
20500
lknoll1234
Dec 22, 2006 2:31 am
I was talking to Bill Schaubs at work today and he says he no longer cares whether anyone meets him or not. He figures if they see people coming and going at...
20501
Attilla Danko
attilladanko
Dec 22, 2006 2:58 am
... I've got that fantasy too....
20502
L.Knoll
lknoll1234
Dec 22, 2006 3:25 am
I've been thinking that's exactly how the 'astro-communities' got started down in New Mexico (or wherever). It all had to start with a life dream and a natural...
20503
lknoll1234
Dec 22, 2006 6:16 pm
Is there any place in the Ottawa area that sells a decent quality pair? - Leonard...
20504
lknoll1234
Dec 22, 2006 7:40 pm
On the twelfth month of cloud-i-ness, My mem-O-ries were clear, Twelve mossies biting, Eleven cameras blooming, Ten fingers frozen, Nine batteries dead, Eight...
20505
Attilla Danko
attilladanko
Dec 23, 2006 1:58 pm
... Definitely. You'll get more observing in....
20506
lknoll1234
Dec 24, 2006 6:11 pm
Does any place sell portable wind shelters? I'm thinking along the lines of a stand-up 'curtain' of sorts with pegs at the bottom of the support poles to...
20507
lknoll1234
Dec 25, 2006 12:26 am
Here I am replying to myself again. :) Wind breaks ... http://www.darkskypanels.com/panel.htm - Leonard ... be...
20508
lknoll1234
Dec 29, 2006 1:54 am
I went to both places between 18:30 and 19:20. This is my report: The moon was bright (*real* bright). The End Seriously, transparency was in the toilet and...
20509
Bill Wagstaff
carontario
Dec 29, 2006 2:33 am
Thanks for the report, Len. I had contemplated going out tonight, but figured the conditions not to be worth the effort. I'll try a bit of binocular observing...
20510
lknoll1234
Dec 29, 2006 5:01 am
Hi Bill: Actually, for all my comments about being a fair-weather astronomer I think I could have stayed out for 5 or so hours with proper clothing since...
