Posts Made By: Matthew Gauthier

Couldn't really find a good area to post this, so I'm putting it here. Maybe there should be a "find an astro buddy" forum?

Just looking to see if there is anyone in the Columbus/Albany area of Georgia... Anywhere in the SW part of the state. I know there are plenty of great people in the Atlanta and Macon area, but I know there HAS to be some other folks in the SW part of the state other than me.

Clear skies!

If you have a dark site and enjoy just looking up and gawking at the milky way, go with a roll off roof. I live in a very dark location and often make the mistake of looking up and I quickly become lost in the wonder above. I say mistake because I often have things planned out to look at for the evening but that all ends as soon as I see that sky above. I wouldn't trade the sky-wide view I have with my roll off roof for any dome...

Is your link still working? Must just be me since everyone else is seeing it, but none of your images or links would load on my computer.

My building is 10x12 and it would have been nice to have a control room but I feel like that's to small for it. How'd you manage to squeeze one in 8x12?

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

I saw it last night as the sun was very low in the sky. The sun had a nice orange look to it due to the crap in the air and the spot was very easy to see.

Today I broke out my cheap mylar cardboard filter I got from thousand oaks a few years ago and took a look at the sun. The spot is quite easy to make out with the naked eye. Hopefully when it gets near the limb there will be lots of cool prominances for people to post pictures of.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

Tom,

I have no idea what kind of pier you're trying to make, but Dans Pier Plates work very well. I have on in my observatory. It's attached to a 12" concrete pier, worked great.

http://www.pierplates.com/

that's the page for his site. I have some pictures of mine during construction if you want to look. Good luck.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

Larry,

Looks really nice. I also enjoy "how many astronomy items can you see in this picture". I counted 6, but I'm sure there's more.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

I have a very small plastic cabinet that's like this. While it's pretty sturdy when assembled, the roof is an major part of what gives the building strength. Without the roof it the walls will start to fall over in even the lightest wind.

Just something to consider. I know some people use these, but I'm sure they use something to hold the walls rigid when the roof is off.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

Odds are good there never was a scope. Sad but true.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/

Sarah,

I think you might be better off going with an lower power eyepiece until you have found saturn. Go with the wider field of view to help you find it. Keep at it, you'll find it.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/
"Where all the stars come out at night"

It's been cloudy, and I've been under the weather so I haven't been out lately to look at the comet. A walk outside tonight showed that it was quite clear so I decided to go out for a few minutes even though I know I'd hear about going out in the cool air while sick from my other half.

The comet is quite easy to see with the naked eye right now, no need for avereted vision. Best I could compare it to is the Beehive cluster only much more compact. I could not make out any indication of a tail with the naked eye.

10x50 binos showed a circular fuzzball again with no sign of a tail. I almost felt like I was looking at a much dimmer M22 than a comet.

The 15x80 binos showed a coma that looked pretty circular to me, perhaps with just the faintest hint of some elongation on one side.

Looking with the 14"SCT showed a pinpoint core which is quite bright. The coma seemed to be quiet even and has a nice nearly 3 dimentional shape to it. Through the 14" it sure looked like I was directly above a mountian looking down. The core is the top of a mountian with all of the other material forming the 'sides' of the mountian.

Matthew
http://www.deerrunobservatory.com/