Articles

It's the old story about the tortoise and the hare, replayed with computerized telescope controllers.

How my fascination with astronomy led me to the another love of my life.

Read a report from an Astromarter who went to Mt. Saint Helens to observe the show and got caught up in some exciting events.

Rick Shaffer tells you tales of nights when, if you weren't still breathing, you'd SWEAR the atmosphere wasn't there!

For all you Ortho fans out there.

In this edition of his weekly column, you can find out what happens when Rick Shaffer forgets to "take his medicine"....

When is Bigger Big enough? Or...Why my bigger scope shows me wonderful views of my closet.

In this edition of his coulumn, Rick Shaffer muses about what SciFi writers have projected for "Our Future", as well as puts a "wet blanket" on some cherished visions....

Real observing is more than just using your eyes-it involves your and heart as well!!!

Ever have that one experience that can change your life forever? With everything available to Amateur Astronomers these days, it's easy to forget what's important in our lives. And this experience relates just such an occasion.

I bet you thought you'd tried everything. Here are a few pointers that really improve visual planetary observing on bright planets...

In this installment of "Wild Card", telescope designer Rick Shaffer gets out his slide-rule and takes you through the arcane world of "P2V", "RMS", and how they relate to the "Strehl Ratio", the new "Gold Standard" for describing an optic's performance in imaging a star.

Instead of a story about a practical joke, Rick Shaffer makes some serious suggestions about how we ought to be thinking about SETI, CETI, and rocks falling from the sky. Just for a little variety, there's more about the exit pupil, plus some "shameless commerce"!

Moon exploration via a two wheeled observatory

In this edition of his column, Rick Shaffer takes you to a corn field in Ohio. And, the reference to a "Big Ear" doesn't refer to prize winning ear of corn!