Poor weather for observing, Bob Buchheim book "The Sky is your limit", adn the big bang "lithium problem"

Greetings from Palmia Observatory,

Well, it's been a week and no photos.  The weather has not been cooperating.  It's been warm and clear during the day and then cloudy at night.  Some observatory location we have here.  Should have gone to Anza.  Yes, I could have gone out for some solar observing, but I'm still dithering about the focus problem.  I'm now of the opinion for solar images, I should set the camera to display only red pixels, not black and white.  Remember last time I could get better focus with black and white on the camera LCD.  But, it seems that since the original camera image can only have red wavelengths, I should be ahead by. Only using red pixels and not rely on whatever the camera does when it converts to black,and white.  We will see.

First Light with new 127 mm refractor and solar image

Well, we had a successful first light image with the new scope, but first a meeting announcement especially for those folks in OC.  This Friday the 13th meeting of OCA will have Dr. Gorjian, CalTech, speaking on Lifting the Cosmic Vale:  Spitzer observations from our own backyard to the edge of the universe.  It should be great if you dare to be out and about on Friday 13

By the way if any folks want to meet for dinner, Resident Astronomer Peggy and I have been trying various restaurants arund the Orange Circle.   This time we will be at

Well, the old 8 inch Celestron scope has been traded in and I'm still waiting to pick up my new 127 mm Explore Scientific scope.  In the meantime, I switched from optical observing to radio observing and assembled my radio "eggbeater" antenna that promises to ease the pain of trying to point my Yagi antenna at a satellite and track its path while twiddling my receiver knobs for the best reception.  This alternate antenna design is more

Where are you going to be in August 2017? Start your eclipse planning, see you in Casper at Astrocon 2017, some videos in lieu of photos (poor weather)

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

So, where are you going to be in August 2017?

Well, we asked the same question and Peggy recommended, and I agreed, we should be at Astrocon 2017 in Casper, Wyoming.  Why you ask?  Well, the astronomy conference coincides with a total solar eclipse and it sounds like fun to do both.  The eclipse path, with 100% obscuration, is a swath across the U.S., including Casper, with the best viewing in southern Illinois and Kentucky.  We could show up at Peggy's brothers home in southern Illinois, but that is a long drive and