Image of the day

Captured by
Erwin Forbragd

M33 in Triangulum

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Thomas Dey

January 26, 2016 12:45 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

How can I check if my Astromart email/inbox is wor

Posted By Thomas Dey
I tried to send a Test Message to HERBERT HAEUSLER and it bounced. (image of my screen attached). I've also found the AMart Messaging confusing, because I only see my Inbox but can't see Sent etc. It Seems confugured identically to my home email, but none of the click-on options seem to work. Therefore I rarely use it, other than to respond to others. Tom Dey (Thomas Dey)

February 13, 2016 02:56 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Gravity Waves Detected

Posted By Thomas Dey
It's an IMMENSE deal! The signature of two black holes merging 1+ Billion LY away (and ago). And said signature lasting for only a few minutes --- very Very COOL! I believe two independent interferometers cross-confirmed the event. It also amuses/pleases me that Einstein predicted this effect/signature like a hundred years ago. And ironically, that he got his Nobel Prize for the Photoelectric Effect ... because scientists of the time thought Relativity was nifty --- but not THAT nifty...

February 14, 2016 10:33 PM Forum: After Dark

Viewing the CRAB PULSAR

Posted By Thomas Dey
Update: It's been too cloudy or cold to look again, but seems the Pulsar is more like mag (Mv) 16.5 rather than 16. What puzzles me is that it should be easier to see (with this good 29-inch!) than I experienced. Now I'm thinking I may not have used enough power: The nebula itself must be washing down the stars, not unlike trying to see the central star in the Ring --- should be easy but the nebl renders it tough! Next chance, I'll go up in power --- from 256 to 416 YIKES! That's most always too much mag for resolution - but should improve the star/background contrast because the pulsar looks like a DOT ... a miniscule DOT at 256x. The only way I can get more mag with the Night Vision is to use a Barlow --- so will try that too. (The effective NV mag was a Very low 131x) Tom

February 18, 2016 04:02 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Astronomy Equipment for Sale

Posted By Thomas Dey
My condolences on your husband's passing. By Far an assist from the local astronomy club would be the best route. If they are an established NFP org, you will have the confidence, connections and expertise available and probably at least hassle, little/no cost.

February 19, 2016 05:33 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Multiple telescope roll off question

Posted By Thomas Dey
Hi Larry, Saw your new thread few days ago so will weigh in couple of thoughts. My "small" home made dome (TM #18 picture attached) served well for decades. I side-saddled multiple scopes or cameras for imagery and that eventually got out of hand. So I set a couple of small piers just outside with attached equatorial heads. OTAs (stored in the dome) easy to carry out and use; electricity and other stuff right there in the dome. So I had the advantage of multiple set-ups with the amenities still close at hand. It was a compromise that worked nicely at minimal added cost. That dome was 12-ft; I eventually build a nearly identical 24-ft. Twice as big but ten times the expense and effort. I'm guessing roll-offs are more graceful when it comes to scaling up though. Tom Dey

February 21, 2016 12:02 AM Forum: Landscape Photography

Lake Michigan a February day and 60 degrees !

Posted By Thomas Dey
Cool! (?) I'm to the E of Erie / S of Ontario and we normally get hammered with lake effect blizzards from both. But this season ... so far blissful almost spring-like all winter. Does Michigan normally freeze down there or not? Toady got up to 56 here. If this is Global Warming --- we should all be demanding even MORE of it!

February 29, 2016 05:23 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Areal shot of my rig

Posted By Thomas Dey
Hi Dave, Wow - the layout of your facility looks heavenly! I love pics of observatories. did you use a drone for the photodoc? Your DS images are also spectacular. Tom

March 5, 2016 07:57 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Never Was A Pause In GW...

Posted By Thomas Dey
Venus is Hot; Mars is Cold. And humans aren't to blame --- but the Venusians and Martians are ~RIP~ cwy

March 5, 2016 08:00 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Latest On Sea Level Rise

Posted By Thomas Dey
On the Bright side - Let's just say the glass is more than half full of excess water - "Gone Fishing" 8)

March 13, 2016 03:14 AM Forum: After Dark

Viewing the CRAB PULSAR

Posted By Thomas Dey
UPDATE: Last Night - I added a high-end Optical Chopper to the scope and tried to strobe the 1st (known) harmonic to no avail. Also added a (custom) Barlow and various filters to keep the chopper source from getting to the Night Vision. The chopper is super-duper (Thor Labs) that I can trick into providing accurate freq to (far better than .01 Hz?) AND phase to around a milirad. And I can tune freq and phase on the fly! It even tells me when it is freq and phase locked. But the display is backlit blue and squirts out everywhere - so I wrapped the control box in black velvet. All this atop a 12-step warehouse ladder in the dark in the dome at the eyepiece with that spinning chopper like a meat-slicer a few inches from my face! I'll try more. but this ain't easy or cheap --- probably why I'm trying it. I'm guessing it won't be 'till late summer before I succeed --- or not at all. Worth the try though. Done enough to convince myself that no one has actually SEEN the Pulsar flickering unless they are chopping at a professional, VERY BIG scope. It indeed would be very easy to confuse Scintillation (in the atmosphere, eye and especially the Gen 3) with true strobing. So I'm not claiming success yet. Nevertheless happy that I can at least SEE the pulsar (as a dot) and that I am at least trying the near-impossible... Tom

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search