Hey Rob,
The weather isn't looking very good for this weekend, I may not be leaving town
to observe with SAS under the present forecast. Lets see what the happens with
conditions here as far as YRSP goes. If you decide to cancel and would like me
to contact the Park Staff I would be happy to do that for you.
Daryl

Stargazers,

We had an excellent talk last night by R.J. Bodkin on IRVE II. Wow! What a
fascinating experiment. I especially enjoyed getting the background from an
actual participant and researcher engineer. I only wish that the weather hadn't
scared so many of you away. We only had about nine of us in the Planetarium. The
talk was filled with conversations on mission details, movies, and R.J.'s unique
perspective. Awesome.

Thank you, R.J. We really enjoyed the presentation. Thank you, Scott, for
facilitating. Thank you, George, for yet another night of running the
Planetarium.

I can't wait until IRVE II and IRVE IV. I'm thinking road trips to Wallops
again.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Stargazers,

I was reading Astronomy's October issue and read about a focusing mask for
astroimaging. It's called a Bahtinov Mask. Focus-Mask has a web site with free
templates so that you can even make your own:
http://www.focus-mask.com/index.html

I created a Focusing Mask folder if you want to add your favorite Hartmann Mask
link or other sources in the Links section:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/vpas/links/Focusing_Masks_001258071112/

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Stargazers,

This is a very nice video from one of the preeminent research
scientists in Solar System Dynamics and Planetary Science, Don
Yoemans. He's also a great person. I was fortunate to work with him a
few years ago. I loved interacting with him and his team. It was
really fun and very educational. Yet, another joy in working for NASA.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/deepimpact/science/dyeomans.cfm

For all of you that like astrology, magic, ouija boards, tarrot cards,
aleins, flying saucers, and other things that have no connection with
facts and the scientific method involving truth or evidence, check out
this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJYUBneSfYc

I like evidence and science. I loved the video, too. When people ask
you about 2012 and all that crap, just send them a link to Don's
video. Thank you, Don.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Stargazers,

Judy, Ian, and I met up with about a couple of dozen AstroBuddies for
a very pleasant night. We arrived early enough to order and enjoy our
beverages and dinners. Judy just had a bowl of crab and corn soup. Ian
had a huge bowl of some pasta variant with extra course of meat or
sandwich or something. I was too engrossed with my fish and chips with
coleslaw. Yummy, yummy. I do prefer the beverages draft.

Carlos talked about Cosmology, Dark Energy, and Dark Matter for about
an hour and a half with several discussion points throughout. It was
very impressive without even a video projector or mic. He did an
excellent job. I still need to learn the fundamentals of Cosmology.
The event was very interactive. Thank you, Dr. Carlos Salgado, and the
Pub Scientist facilitators for such a fun and informative evening out.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

For all who have seen the movie... America, F**k Yeah!

Well, I tried the photo tripod idea long ago and was not satisfied with the
stability aspect--worried that my little "Red Turkey" was going to take a tumble
when I bumped it one night.  The idea with my little kit-bash is that it would
have real support.

Plan to finish this tomorrow; if we get some clear skies this weekend I'll bring
it to Riverview or VLM.

Tom E.

Hey Tom,

Yeah, the Astroscan tripod is very flimsy, but it's only a simple plastic tripod
without any type of head. It has a 1/4 x 20 thread sticking out that the
Astroscan base threads onto. Any photo tripod would do. Actually, probably do
better than original equipment in this case.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, "Thomas" <thomas.l.epps.civ@...> wrote:
>
> Bird;
> Glad you are enjoying your Astroscan!  My niece (near Seattle) reports that
she has been putting serious mileage on hers, so for her XMas gift this year I
am McGyvering a tripod rig for it.  Take a look at the mounting for the Meade
DS-2000; the mount attaches to the tripod with an assembly that fits an
Astroscan's mount almost perfectly!  The only problem is that the DS-2000's
tripod is an ultra-flimsy construct made of proto-matter that wobbles when you
so much as breathe on it.  My answer; replace the wobbly 'pod with the rigid
tripod that came with my old CG-5 all those millennia ago!  I'll let you know
how it works...
>
> Here's a link to a DS-2000 tripod on ebay...I think you'll need to reconstruct
it a tad!
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/Meade-Astroscan-DS-2000-adjustable-telescope-tripod-NEW_W0QQ\
itemZ230397799406QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a4c76bee
>
> Regards;
>
> Tom E.
> Astroscan Junkie
>

Bird;
Glad you are enjoying your Astroscan!  My niece (near Seattle) reports that she
has been putting serious mileage on hers, so for her XMas gift this year I am
McGyvering a tripod rig for it.  Take a look at the mounting for the Meade
DS-2000; the mount attaches to the tripod with an assembly that fits an
Astroscan's mount almost perfectly!  The only problem is that the DS-2000's
tripod is an ultra-flimsy construct made of proto-matter that wobbles when you
so much as breathe on it.  My answer; replace the wobbly 'pod with the rigid
tripod that came with my old CG-5 all those millennia ago!  I'll let you know
how it works...

Here's a link to a DS-2000 tripod on ebay...I think you'll need to reconstruct
it a tad!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Meade-Astroscan-DS-2000-adjustable-telescope-tripod-NEW_W0QQ\
itemZ230397799406QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a4c76bee

Regards;

Tom E.
Astroscan Junkie

Sorry Bird,
I found out last night that Kevin is going to help present some planning info
tonight about some proposed Buckroe area development.  I think I will go listen.
Enjoy the food and conversation.
George
--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, Bird Taylor <lawrencewtaylor3@...> wrote:
>
> Hey George,
>
> Judy and I would love to ride with you if the offer is still open. If
> not, you can ride with us. Ian is going to try and meet us there, too.
> When and where do you want us to meet you?
>
> Clear Dark Skies,
> Bird
>

Hey George,

Judy and I would love to ride with you if the offer is still open. If
not, you can ride with us. Ian is going to try and meet us there, too.
When and where do you want us to meet you?

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Hey Emily,

Urban myth. Check out this perspective:
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

Makes a good story, though.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, Emily wiggans <horsetrotter94@...> wrote:
>
>
> For those of you unfamiliar with MLIA, it means "my life is average" and it's
become sort of a funny thing to post on facebook and there are websites
specifically for these jokes. I found a good one, I think:
>
> Today, I read that when NASA first started sending astronauts in space
> they discovered that ball point pens didn't work in zero gravity. They
> spent a decade and 12 billion dollars to develop a pen that would write
> in zero gravity, upside down, under water, on any surface and
> tempatures that reached 300 degrees below zero. The Russians used a
> pencil. MLIA
> :)
>
> Emily Wiggans
>
>
>
>
>  EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
> Join me
>

Solargazers,

Nada. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Zippo. Nothing. Zot. Blank.
Nondescript. Featureless. Shall I go on?

Clear Bright Skies,
Bird