Smoky sunset through palms; How much does the light from the sun weigh? Hooray, found region containing AAVSO target XZ Tau!; Trying out a gyro stablized camera mount

Greetings from Palmia Observatory


Well, the Santa Ana winds and fires have complicated some observing opportunities and packing for our upcoming trip to AAVSO annual meeting at Lowell Observatory is taking up more time.  But this post has some astrophysics and a quick observation to see if the variable star XZ Tau could be located.

NIghtfall event in Borrego Springs; Metallic Monsters? What is the diameter of Mars? Clouds and more clouds but some Milky Way images

Greetings from Palmia Observatory


Well we have been offsite this week to attend the Nightfall star party in Borrego Springs.  We had hoped for some clear dark desert skies, but as most astronomers know you often have to put up with clouds.

Planet formation as seen by spectral distribution; AAVSO to help Chandra Observatory with stellar outburst observations; Nightfall in Borrego Springs

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

The angular momentum problem described in the previous post is just one of the interesting physics concepts of planet formation.  This post continues the discussion on planet formation and describes how the evolution of proto disks can be tracked and identified.  In addition, we will discuss AAVSO and Chandra collaboration and travelling to the Nightfall star party in Borrego Springs.

The Angular Momenntum Problem and origin of Solar Systems; Time out to party! Resident Astronomer Peggy comes under spell of nighttime visitor

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well this week is Halloween so you have to be careful if you are out late at night trying to observe some deep space sky.  So, while we spent some time partying, I also read more about solar system formation and the problem of angular momentum, so let's get into that topic first.

"Supersymmetry" by Kane; CSULB and UCI Physics colloquia with Professor Lyra explains planet formation with dead zone and Professor Porter takes on gamma ray background modelling

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well this week has not had any astronomical observing and has been tied up with some physics colloquia on planet formation and gamma ray backgrounds and revisited a book on supersymmetry.