Greetings and Happy New Year from Palmia Observatory
Well this is the last day of this year and as we get ready to begin a new part of our journey around amateur astronomy and physicist wannabe activities, I am remembering where we were just a year ago on this journey. It is interesting to look back and see what was going on a year ago, but before that let us
Observing with Street Lights
Dark sky sites not always necessary to see the Milky Way (This image was taken ouside of a B&B in Julian, CA)
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
The Caldwell Objects; Quiet Sun Image; New physicist blog sites and Palmia Observatory website statistics; More Algol observing times; See you at the 229th AAS meeting in Dallas
Greetings from Palmia Observatory
Hooray! We finally gathered five light curve data points as part of our ongoing Algol eclipse study. You will recall that several of the recent posts have outlined the nature of the Algol eclipse and of our various attempts to prepare and gather data. Well finally, it all came together; or at least we have five data points just as the light from Algol went from normal magnitude to just about eclipse minima. Some of the details of collecting this data and analysis tools will now be discussed.
Hooray! We finally gathered five light curve data points as part of our ongoing Algol eclipse study. You will recall that several of the recent posts have outlined the nature of the Algol eclipse and of our various attempts to prepare and gather data. Well finally, it all came together; or at least we have five data points just as the light from Algol went from normal magnitude to just about eclipse minima. Some of the details of collecting this data and analysis tools will now be discussed.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Astronomer just barely captures image of Algol during eclipse minimum; Christmas Lights? Bah humbug! Typical Algol Light Curve; Happy Holidays!
Greetings from Palmia Observatory
Well, finally the Algol minima occurred on a night with clear weather. Yes, the forecast was for poor observing, mostly due to high winds and wind gusts, but we were relatively protected here at the observatory, and we set up to do some observing and then experienced a couple of problems including
Well, finally the Algol minima occurred on a night with clear weather. Yes, the forecast was for poor observing, mostly due to high winds and wind gusts, but we were relatively protected here at the observatory, and we set up to do some observing and then experienced a couple of problems including
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Weather cancels more observing sessions; Are you ready for Python? Funny astronomy fails; Is time positive or negative? Revised Algol observation plan
Greetings from Palmia Observatory
This week the weather has just been terrible for most observing opportunities. The planned observing of the light curve for eclipsing binary star Algol was itself eclipsed by clouds and rain. The OCA black star canyon party was also cancelled, not because of clouds on Saturday, but
This week the weather has just been terrible for most observing opportunities. The planned observing of the light curve for eclipsing binary star Algol was itself eclipsed by clouds and rain. The OCA black star canyon party was also cancelled, not because of clouds on Saturday, but
Monday, December 12, 2016
Weather looks bad for Dec 15, but Black Star maybe ok on Saturday; Aim for Dec 18 to capture Algol minimum instead; 28 year anniversary
Greetings from Palmia Observatory,
Well, the weather this week is not cooperating at all for doing any nighttime (or daytime) observing, unless you are an amateur meteorologist. Look at the ScopeNights app forecast below and see just how bad it is supposed to be. Yes, the weather might change, but
Well, the weather this week is not cooperating at all for doing any nighttime (or daytime) observing, unless you are an amateur meteorologist. Look at the ScopeNights app forecast below and see just how bad it is supposed to be. Yes, the weather might change, but
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Recognition of flaw in Algol minima observing plan; Adapting Algol observations to new observing location; Comments from the Searching for Life Workshop
Greetings from Palmia Observatory
Well this week has already been very busy with trying to get ready for the December 15 Algol eclipse measurement and with the ongoing workshops and meetings. We will have a few comments to say about the Searching for Life though Space and Time Workshop and other ongoing calendar events in a moment, but first lets look into the recognition of a near fatal flaw in the
Well this week has already been very busy with trying to get ready for the December 15 Algol eclipse measurement and with the ongoing workshops and meetings. We will have a few comments to say about the Searching for Life though Space and Time Workshop and other ongoing calendar events in a moment, but first lets look into the recognition of a near fatal flaw in the
Thursday, December 1, 2016
What is on your calendar for December 15? Sterile neutrinos at the physics colloquia; Getting ready for eclipsing Algol and light curve measurement
Greetings from Palmia Observatory
So, what is on your calendar for December 15? For me, I've already penciled in the night for observing and measuring the magnitude minima for the eclipsing binary star, commonly named Algol. The last post from November 28 described how the visual magnitude would dip from 2.1 to 3.4 for several hours during the eclipse before returning to the normal 2.1, and this happens every 2.87 days.
So, what is on your calendar for December 15? For me, I've already penciled in the night for observing and measuring the magnitude minima for the eclipsing binary star, commonly named Algol. The last post from November 28 described how the visual magnitude would dip from 2.1 to 3.4 for several hours during the eclipse before returning to the normal 2.1, and this happens every 2.87 days.
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