Backyard planetaries, TV76, 9/13/2004

(kowen) wrote in message om...

I'd prefer not using a filter if I didn't have to also-that coming
from an amateur photographer's point of view-keep the view clean.

I don't think that's the right way to look at it. Think of a filter
as a scientific tool; it allows you to distinguish between fluorescence
and normal black-body radiation.

Raccoons are cute but they can have attitude-and rabies.
I'm not crazy about running into one of those...

Yeah, but you're most likely to run into raccoons right near your
house, and those are also the ones most likely to cause problems.
They thrive on civilization; we've got tons of them here in Cambridge,
one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S. Not that they have
much trouble in the wild either. But truly wild ones will stay away
from you; it's the semi-domestic ones that cause trouble.

- Tony Flanders

Tony Flanders wrote:

(kowen) wrote in message om...


I'd prefer not using a filter if I didn't have to also-that coming
from an amateur photographer's point of view-keep the view clean.


I don't think that's the right way to look at it. Think of a filter
as a scientific tool; it allows you to distinguish between fluorescence
and normal black-body radiation.



Yup -- and the telescope is just another tool also.

Plus "amateur photographers" often use filters, too.

Phil

(kowen) wrote in message om...
Florian,

I found your post interesting.
I live out in the country, no city light pollution, but do have a
streetlight- 350 ft to the east, a closer flood on top of a post-about
65 ft. east, and a neighbor's backyard flood, about 500 ft N/NE.

Kerry,

Mark here, also in SE LA (Ivan, whew!).

I think if you approach your neighbors in a friendly manner, offer to
do the work yourself, and talk with them about where they really do
need the light from the floods to go, you could get them masked off so
that it doesn't shine towards you or up into the sky as much. This
might give you another mag or half mag of visibility. You know, like
talking to a neighbor about a tree in their yard which is growing into
yours.

Offer to let them come look through your scope. I've found that folks
tend to be more receptive to such concerns after they've had a gander
at Jupiter or Saturn. The moon's also good. Don't try a faint fuzzy,
go for the dramatic.

As far as the streetlight goes, you could do a guerilla operation and
mask it so that it doesn't shine up and towards you, but still does
illuminate the street.

By the way, where are you in LA? I'm in New Orleans, and am about to
join the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society, which looks like a good
group:

http://www.pasnola.org/

Clear skies,

-Mark Ensley

Tony Flanders wrote:
"I don't think that's the right way to look at it. Think of a filter
as a scientific tool; it allows you to distinguish between
fluorescence and normal black-body radiation."

A good way to think about it. If it enhances the view I'm all for it.
photography, most of my best shots did not employ a filter. The
right lighting/time of day also helps .

"Yeah, but you're most likely to run into raccoons right near your
house...They thrive on civilization; we've got tons of them here in
Cambridge...semi-domestic ones that cause trouble."

You said a mouth full. And they like to challenge you-sit up on their
hind legs and glare at you. They will come in our garage, eat catfood
if there's any left-over, wash their hands in the water dish,
generally root through the garage/turn a few things upside down...We
have a post in the middle of the garage-it took one raccoon all of 2
seconds to scale it and go across the rafter into the attic-they are
fast. I saw a grandpa/ma sized raccoon this past winter (I had the
C102/CG5) going across the yard behind the firestation-big one-I
looked at him as in "butt out"-he shot me the glare. If that's as bad
as it gets, life is good. G.

And I thought the we had most of 'em down here...

Regards,
Kerry

Mark,
I'm in Lafourche Parish, an hour and say 20 minutes from where PAS
meets. I just joined, familiar with posts at SAA & PAS forums from
Barry Simon, Remy Bosio, Jamie, and others, as I've tuned into their
forums for the past 2.5 years, off & on. I will probably make the
October 1st meeting (unless it is rescheduled). I don't think there
are many women in the group-not surprised. I have a cousin in Metarie
that has a telescope, don't think she is a member-very busy teacher,
very involved with school.

I'm not a big mixer, but may try to get to DSRG (mentioned in an above
post). Are you familiar with that, thinking of going? You know, on
9/11 I ordered the XT8 classic-be nice if FedEx deliver's today,
Saturday, which I believe they did with my XT4.5. I had to egg-on
Ivan with that scope order. Thank God it headed north at the last
minute. I thought if Bob, Margaret, etc. are wrong-look out for
us...That was a nail-biter. It is hard to fathom that most people,
especially elderly out here don't consider leaving-didn't even board
up their windows-I know I was ready to G E T T H E H E C K O U T
....

Someone is cutting the back field again so I may just wheel my scope/s
to the back, see how that is. I thought I read about using laser
pointers/collimators pointed at the sensor or a small light up on a
stick to keep lights out until observing is over...

Write to me off-group Mark, address above.

Regards,
Kerry