tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.comments2023-12-27T05:22:24.378-05:00SimostronomyBig Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08315391586724045202noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-8454538419863051232015-05-22T09:55:24.556-04:002015-05-22T09:55:24.556-04:00Thank you for posting this. I've just run int...Thank you for posting this. I've just run into my house after being dive-bombed by 4 birds as I tried to mow my lawn. It was...disconcerting, to say the least, and more like downright frightening. You've at least explained WHY they're doing what they're doing, so I feel somewhat comforted that this isn't a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-10887325349442686022015-02-05T22:54:26.721-05:002015-02-05T22:54:26.721-05:00Your article made me laugh multiple times my frien...Your article made me laugh multiple times my friend. I to suffer from everything you mentioned. It's good to know I'm not alone!<br /><br />-Clear Skies Vince<br />http://www.astrobin.com/users/VincentLupo/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13111763601623488630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-85516071563031653072015-02-05T22:54:09.229-05:002015-02-05T22:54:09.229-05:00Your article made me laugh multiple times my frien...Your article made me laugh multiple times my friend. I to suffer from everything you mentioned. It's good to know I'm not alone!<br /><br />-Clear Skies Vince<br />http://www.astrobin.com/users/VincentLupo/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13111763601623488630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-54696881497394359652015-01-16T09:10:30.421-05:002015-01-16T09:10:30.421-05:00Isaac Asimov, in one of his non-fiction books (on ...Isaac Asimov, in one of his non-fiction books (on Astronomy, I think) in the 1960s, also mentioned that the Sun is a variable star.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03970291687764476199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-39879086199318885302015-01-16T00:20:01.890-05:002015-01-16T00:20:01.890-05:00Thanks for the interesting post. I used your phot...Thanks for the interesting post. I used your photo of Ms. Mayall in a local history piece from the area where she grew up, and I credited and linked to the source. Thank you. If there's a problem with this usage let me know and I'll take it down immediately. Thank you.Mike Dixonhttp://www.cecilcounty.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-47909863501487836442014-08-05T21:22:42.813-04:002014-08-05T21:22:42.813-04:00I have a hypothesis that the quasars owe much of t...I have a hypothesis that the quasars owe much of their appearance to refractive lensing of the light from an opposite jet by a huge lens of gas WITHIN the quasar in http://charles_w.tripod.com/quasar.html . If this hypothesis is valid it follows that quasars viewed in a small telescope should look brighter relative to nearby stars than when viewed by large telescopes. If you know of any references that would demonstrate this, please let me know. If quasars are powered by a huge mass and have a jet they have to look different than they actually are. AGNs should also have their image distorted.<br /> Astronomers present as if the big bang and expanding galaxies were an established fact. But actually there is no evidence that we are at the center of the Universe and the galaxies are all moving away from us other than the assumption that the cosmological red shift is a Doppler shift. There is an alternate discussion of the cause of the red shift as an interaction of the photons with atoms passed in space in http://charles_w.tripod.com/red.html . <br /> Astronomers speak of a "young Universe". It was, of course, younger than it is now when distant stars shone. However, there is no chance at all that the Universe was as young as astronomers say when the light from those distant stars was created even if the big bang hypothesis were valid. It took the light over 13 billion years to arrive here, so it is obvious that the atoms emitting it took well over 13 billion years to get out there in that case. It does not make any difference if the atoms traveled out there from a spot near here or the ether is expanding, well over 13 billion years would have had to go by, so by now the Universe could be well over 30 billion years old in the unlikely event that there was a big bang.<br /><br /> Sincerely, Charles WeberAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05069711348500228292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-50472591005583129162014-05-25T22:37:34.285-04:002014-05-25T22:37:34.285-04:00I was wondering why there was no chatter about thi...I was wondering why there was no chatter about this the next morning. Cloudy here, so I didn't even stay awake. Thanks for the update.Mindynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-48445223601653315892014-05-25T17:44:24.721-04:002014-05-25T17:44:24.721-04:00I caught a single meteor trail with a wide angle D...I caught a single meteor trail with a wide angle DSLR on Friday night. Much too faint to be seen with the naked eye. Reading your article about the shower was much more interesting that watching the shower. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-9308189810696135052014-05-04T15:15:10.237-04:002014-05-04T15:15:10.237-04:00Wow! What a blast from the past! Nice page, Mike! ...Wow! What a blast from the past! Nice page, Mike! ---- Glenn Christensen (CST) ---- hot_wings61@hotmail.comCSThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02896631904192023008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-66706412133497967392013-12-31T23:44:52.915-05:002013-12-31T23:44:52.915-05:00Very nice article. Double stars are always special...Very nice article. Double stars are always special and attractive. I have not spent much time to look at these stars closely. Will try your favorite double star sometime.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/exploring-universe" rel="nofollow">www.squidoo.com/exploring-universe</a><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/my-fascination-for-stars" rel="nofollow">www.squidoo.com/my-fascination-for stars</a><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/naked-eye-astronomy" rel="nofollow">www.squidoo.com/naked-eye-astronomy</a>Indian Women's Fashionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11420528627863127914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-9817966578724894702013-09-17T13:10:48.718-04:002013-09-17T13:10:48.718-04:00What a wonderful essay, and a lovely tribute to Mr...What a wonderful essay, and a lovely tribute to Mr. Peltier. I learned about Peltier from reading Edwin Way Teale's "American Seasons" series, where the Peltier observatory figured into two of the volumes: The autumn volume describes Edwin and Nellie Teale's 1952 trip to Delphos, but except for their pleasant visit with the Peltiers, it is a bust due to overcast skies., but several years later (1962), on the winter trip, the Teales visit the Peltiers again and finally get to view stars through the famous telescopes. I have wanted to read Peltier's memoirs for a long time--and after reading your post, I'm more determined than ever to locate copies. Also, I'd like to visit Delphos, myself, someday--just to rest there for a while, and think. I understand the town has a historical marker and memorial sundial for him.<br /><br />And yes, congratulations on winning the award named for him! You seem to possess exactly the kind of passion that award was designed to recognize.Julianna Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277727700915648607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-65455388828984332622013-09-16T01:07:24.094-04:002013-09-16T01:07:24.094-04:00He will always be remembered by the younger genera...He will always be remembered by the younger generation, RPI<br />Peter <br />KampalaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-46687835102222444292013-09-14T00:04:51.392-04:002013-09-14T00:04:51.392-04:00Albert has been a great friend and mentor for almo...Albert has been a great friend and mentor for almost 45 years. It is hard imagine what life is going to be like without him around to consult with.<br />I vividly remember the first time I met him. He had 'Lesbet' out in the driveway of his home, and after I introduced myself, he handed me a chart and said "VW Hydri is still bright. Make an estimate." I learned a great deal that evening; not the least that my observing skills needed a lot of work. After I recognised the field stars I could barely even see the variable! The sky was about 80% low cumulus and with the light pollution from Nelson, I was amazed that he could even find the field in such conditions. Apart from all that, he was about the nicest human being I have ever met.Rodney Austinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-28804231353607515922013-09-12T23:05:55.819-04:002013-09-12T23:05:55.819-04:00Excellent interview Mike. One of the great observ...Excellent interview Mike. One of the great observers ever.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312554438831626254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-11608066873421765472013-09-12T07:06:50.913-04:002013-09-12T07:06:50.913-04:00Miss you already Albert.
What a wonderful man.
R.I...Miss you already Albert.<br />What a wonderful man.<br />R.I.PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-31798078400076846152013-08-29T00:27:28.051-04:002013-08-29T00:27:28.051-04:00Somebody "must" post this comment ! -- I...Somebody "must" post this comment ! -- If you want to learn about stellar evolution, and you are an amateur astronomer, or an arm chair astronomer ... Head to the Web page of the AAVSO ( American Association of Varriable Star Observers ) -- Scroll to the bottom of the home page: Start reading the links under "variable stars" - Strap in - It's a great ride !!<br />-- Thanks for the review Mike Simonsen.<br />Walt "Doc" FaheyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289115859852714429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-80076035146499500372013-05-29T06:02:56.217-04:002013-05-29T06:02:56.217-04:00Certainly the longest fade I can recall. It starte...Certainly the longest fade I can recall. It started on June 23rd 2007, and was not seen again until March and April 2013 when it was recovered at around 11m.1. I thought that it was finally returning to normal, but when I imaged it on May 28th., 2013, I could find any trace of it, even with a ten second exposure at 1,600ASA. I was subsequenly informed that it had faded to 12m.6, so it was beyond the range of my equipment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-69472218657555942272013-03-28T13:15:29.610-04:002013-03-28T13:15:29.610-04:00Hi Gary,
I think the main thing is that I enjoy th...Hi Gary,<br />I think the main thing is that I enjoy the things in the night sky that are dynamic. I like to see the Universe changing and evolving in real time in front of my eyes- Mars rotating on its axis, belts and festoons on Jupiter changing shape and colors, the Galilean satellites orbiting the gas giant, eclipses, occultations and variable stars. After you've seen the really showy deep sky objects you can either embark on a journey to eek out fainter and fainter wisps of ghostly gray nebulae or galaxies with ever larger telescopes, or you can settle in to viewing the same twenty objects and showing them to your buddies over and over again, or you can get into the expensive and potentially maddening pursuit of imaging. OR- you can learn about variable stars and how amateurs can contribute to science by submitting careful observations to AAVSO or another organization like it. Me, I always knew variable stars would be the end game for me once i knew my way around the sky and a telescope. I was inspired by all those Patrick Moore books I read from the public library as a kid. <br />What do I keep doing it? Most of us start doing it to contribute to science, but the ones who stay with it stay because, believe it or not, it's FUN! It's also addictive, as Leslie Peltier noted in 'Starlight Nights'--"I feel it my duty to warn any others who may show signs of star susceptibility that they approach the observing of variable stars with the utmost caution. It is easy to become an addict and, as usual, the longer the indulgence is continued the more difficult it becomes to make a clean break and go back to a normal life."Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08315391586724045202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-82825108086458476562013-03-23T12:34:10.074-04:002013-03-23T12:34:10.074-04:00I've never been able to get excited about vari...I've never been able to get excited about variable stars. A couple of the guys in my local astronomy club are big into it and regularly contribute their observations to the AAVSO (one even married an AAVSO employee!). Yes, I know it's an area of astronomy where amateurs can contribute real science to the field. I like the grandeur of the night sky and the swirls of stars and gas it contains. So. Mike, what inspired your interest in variables and why have you stuck with it over so many years?Gary Nugenthttp://www.nightskyobserver.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-82989371185506273362013-03-04T10:29:52.623-05:002013-03-04T10:29:52.623-05:00Agreeing with all the posters regarding the flatne...Agreeing with all the posters regarding the flatness of the earth. The simple fact that they are dividing 360 by 12 shows that they were aware of the circular nature. No doubt, that very anciently, it was not understood that seeing a group of stars set beyond the horizon was not "falling to earth" and hours later again rising in the opposite horizon was not "rising from the underworld", but that is how the mythos originated. Thus Set opposed Horus-rizing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-62229698032832094902013-02-20T12:36:41.170-05:002013-02-20T12:36:41.170-05:00Hey Mike, I am one of those who started with R Le...Hey Mike, I am one of those who started with R Leo on 6 May 2011. I used my Oberwerk 15x70 binoculars. This is THE instrument for visual variable star observing. Thanks for all you do for the AAVSO, and congratulations on 82,000 observations. Not too many more until 100 Grand!<br /><br />Jerry Hubbell - HGRAJerry Hubbellhttp://www.explorescientific.com/jerry_hubbell/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-63097543510282747642013-02-16T10:32:31.131-05:002013-02-16T10:32:31.131-05:00unfortunetly, they ended their service, there is o...unfortunetly, they ended their service, there is one more of the same service.<br />http://www.smstospace.tk<br /><br />brilliant!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-16046542580779030172013-02-11T18:42:51.859-05:002013-02-11T18:42:51.859-05:00Nice, Mike.
My two cents - "...[I] couldn’t ...Nice, Mike.<br /><br />My two cents - "...[I] couldn’t tell how big the triangle I was looking for was going to be in my eyepiece or finder." That, in one sentence, is the key navigational problem for new telescopic VS observers.<br /><br />PetePeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01178334823606003416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-18078969412921127272012-11-06T06:45:17.326-05:002012-11-06T06:45:17.326-05:00Check out the new program here:
http://www.aavso.o...Check out the new program here:<br />http://www.aavso.org/aavso-binocular-programBig Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08315391586724045202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1028287563520537999.post-14203712054239047112012-11-06T06:42:22.596-05:002012-11-06T06:42:22.596-05:00It still surprises and saddens me that this one pi...It still surprises and saddens me that this one piece is the most viewed article on my blog, years after it was written, and the majority of you find it online because you still believe in this baloney. I'm not going to argue with you. I don't take it that seriously. Astrology is for entertainment purposes only.Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08315391586724045202noreply@blogger.com