Amateur radio astronomers plan annual meeting in Greenbank, VA, July, Planning for May 9 Lunar Eclipse, Evaluating new 600mm lens, and for fun A Capella Science video

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well the weather this week has been pretty bad for us local amateurs.  It makes me want to start observing in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum.  Hey, I know, we could take up amateur radio astronomy.  If you want to consider the transition then you should check out the upcoming radio amateur astronomers annual meeting in GreenBank, WV, July 10-13.  It takes place at the National Radio Astronomical Observatory there and just being able to visit that

Thinking about gravity waves and working through the rubber ruler paradox and three hydrogen alpha images of the sun

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well the skies this week have been overcast and cloudy but with some stars poking through.  So, I mostly did some catching up on theoretical understanding of gravitational waves, but did manage to get the solar scope out and took a few photos of the sun.

I've been trying to understand how gravity waves impact matter that happens to be in their path and you will remember that last time I said I was skeptical that we could hear

The APS meeting in Salt Lake City, meeting up with relatives in my college town, and thanks to Dr Karole who found a reference to a vocoder that makes Stephen Hawking sing and SAS meeting announcement

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well, I've been offsite this week at the American Physical Society April Meeting in Salt Lake City.  I missed the other observatory staff including Resident Astronomer, Peggy and Astronomer  Assistants Danny, Ruby and Willow.  They missed me too, I guess, and Willow did not have much of an appetite until I returned.  Anyway I was able to meet up some of the

After vacationing in Key West, met Dr Janna Levin at Science Salon, Coursera Big History Course, Physics Today article showing solar element abundances, and just for phone another Symphony of Science video with Stephan Hawking singing

Greetings from Palmia Observatory,

Well, this week has been busy getting back on my diet following the calorie and alcohol binge from vacation in party capital Key West, FL. It was a bit raining and cloudy there just like it has been here this week, although the skies here are starting to get very clear.  Nonetheless, I spent most of this week inside.

Resident Astronomer Peggy and I signed up for the Science Salon in Altadena.  These salons are a lot of fun and end with book signings and wine and hors d'oeuvres.  Wow, I never thought I would be attending salons, but they are a lot fun.  The salon was held in Harmonica Playing and Steam Punk aficionado, David's fabulous home, with great views overlooking the city below.  Thanks David.  We met up there with Math Whiz, Dave and we all heard astrophysics professor Janna Levin talk about her new book, "Black hole blues and other songs from outer space".  I had previously read her earlier book, "How the universe got its spots" and can

Vacationing in Florida and touring Thomas Edison's summer house and sadly Dr Gary can't make APS meeting in SLC

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well, we are out of the observatory having a fun time in sunny Florida so we haven't set up the scope or tripod at all.  We've been enjoying the hospitality of Packed up and Moved to Florida, Bill and Bene.  We've been enjoying the warm weather and sun and have one photo we wanted to share and that is of the approach of sunset from our harbor cruise.  We weren't quite able to see the actual