Hello SJAA Members and Friends,
Friday saw another excellent installment of Mark Wagner's beginner astronomy classes. I'd like to ask that if you attended the class, please fill out the survey below. This is just an experiment to start to gather feedback about SJAA programs, but the information will be reviewed by the board and used to help guide future events. And of course, responses are anonymous and will be held in strictest confidence.
Thank you in advance.
Rob Jaworski
06 February 2013
25 January 2013
Solar Peak
The Sun's Hot Right Now!
Observe The Sun Safely - Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
Sun Spot Number Graph
Last Updated 25 Jan 2013 13:03 UT
Plus Two Great Shot of Sun From SJAA Member Robert Devall
Click These Photos To Enlarge ! !
Observer Regularly And Enjoy
23 January 2013
FixIt Program Report Jan 2013
Ed Wong's monthly report from the Telescope FixIt Program
January 2013
The FixIt program had a very successful and busy session for Jan. 2013. Thanks for those who came out to help, Dave, Phil, Dwayne, Carl (I'm sorry if I missed anybody, short term memory isn't what it used to be) The Houge Park hall was buzzing with activity from opening to closing.
We had 2 people bring in Newtonian scopes on equatorial mounts. One needed help on learning how to use the goto function and the other one needed help assembling the scope and mount that he had bought from Orion. I helped him assemble the scope and mount and showed him how to use. I did see him bring it out to the Star Party at HP so it's good to see him using it and helping out at the star parties.
Phil and Dave had a chance to look at the recently donated Meade LX6 SCT and confirmed the declination motor does indeed work – I believe it is the clock driven azimuth motor that does not. This old LX6 will require someone with specialized skills and the luck of obtaining parts that most likely are no longer available to be able to repair it. Even so, I don’t think it is in the best interest of the club to expend the time and energy to do so. The front collector plate does have a haze which could possible be cleaned but is best left to the buyer to do so. As Dave has said before, what is unique and desirable about this scope is that it is a F6.3. Dave and I did a star test on the scope last Fri. night after the star party and confirmed that visually the scope is good.
We also finished putting the locking hasps on the 2 bookcases that Dave and I put together over the Christmas break. So the SJAA library is ready to go!!!
January 2013
The FixIt program had a very successful and busy session for Jan. 2013. Thanks for those who came out to help, Dave, Phil, Dwayne, Carl (I'm sorry if I missed anybody, short term memory isn't what it used to be) The Houge Park hall was buzzing with activity from opening to closing.
We had 2 people bring in Newtonian scopes on equatorial mounts. One needed help on learning how to use the goto function and the other one needed help assembling the scope and mount that he had bought from Orion. I helped him assemble the scope and mount and showed him how to use. I did see him bring it out to the Star Party at HP so it's good to see him using it and helping out at the star parties.
Phil and Dave had a chance to look at the recently donated Meade LX6 SCT and confirmed the declination motor does indeed work – I believe it is the clock driven azimuth motor that does not. This old LX6 will require someone with specialized skills and the luck of obtaining parts that most likely are no longer available to be able to repair it. Even so, I don’t think it is in the best interest of the club to expend the time and energy to do so. The front collector plate does have a haze which could possible be cleaned but is best left to the buyer to do so. As Dave has said before, what is unique and desirable about this scope is that it is a F6.3. Dave and I did a star test on the scope last Fri. night after the star party and confirmed that visually the scope is good.
We also finished putting the locking hasps on the 2 bookcases that Dave and I put together over the Christmas break. So the SJAA library is ready to go!!!
22 January 2013
SJAA Classifieds Page
SJAA is proud to announce a new benefit for it's members. We are now providing a listing service to assist you in selling your astro gear.
All you have to do is provide me with a picture (or pictures) of the item, a description (a lot of detail is best), a price you are asking, the terms of the sale (cash only, etc), and how you wish to be contacted.
We will then post this information up on our Member For Sale Listing page (link on the right side of this page). Please notify me should you want to make changes or remove the item.
And don't forget to check out the items the club is selling via the links on the right.
Clear skies,
Dave Ittner
sjaamentor@gmail.com
All you have to do is provide me with a picture (or pictures) of the item, a description (a lot of detail is best), a price you are asking, the terms of the sale (cash only, etc), and how you wish to be contacted.
We will then post this information up on our Member For Sale Listing page (link on the right side of this page). Please notify me should you want to make changes or remove the item.
And don't forget to check out the items the club is selling via the links on the right.
Clear skies,
Dave Ittner
sjaamentor@gmail.com
16 January 2013
Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures
The Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures at
FOOTHILL COLLEGE are back after a year of remodeling! Sponsored by NASA,
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, SETI and the Foothill Astro.
Dept., the public gets to hear from Nobel Laureates and the top
researchers of our 11 dimensional universe we now call home. To get on
the mailing list for up-coming lectures follow this link:
13 January 2013
El Sol de Milo 01-13-13
Observe The Sun Safely - Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
Solar Programs are held 1st Sunday of every Month 2:00-4:00 PM at Houge Park weather permitting
El Sol de Milo
El Sol is "stellar" right now. The sunspot group at center is 1x with
solar glasses (so get your money's worth and check it out). The discerning eye will note it does not look like a point but spread out
diminishing to upper left (from a non-telescope CA perspective).
.jpg)
In h-alpha or standard filter the group is wicked with notable plage, pillage and turmoil.
Flares are kicker - the 6 O'clock is a looper - angled toward earth - so drapes onto the solar sphere from our perspective... 2 large prototypical loops are at 4 oclock and further up. Flares are all around the sun with most extending 6 white dwarf diameters (ie earth diameters) from the photosphere - the "surface" of the sun.
Here's a earlier capture of the Sunspot using a highly affordable eyepiece projection system.
Credit: Malika Carter
.jpg)
Flares are kicker - the 6 O'clock is a looper - angled toward earth - so drapes onto the solar sphere from our perspective... 2 large prototypical loops are at 4 oclock and further up. Flares are all around the sun with most extending 6 white dwarf diameters (ie earth diameters) from the photosphere - the "surface" of the sun.
Taking an off axis shot with your point and shoot can give you better sunspot contrast & detail:
Stellar views!
Dedicated Astronomers
Dedicated Astronomers hang out till all hours of the night in freezing weather ....
A very frosty XT8 OTA at Rancho Canada del Oro Saturday January 12th. Temperatures dropped to well below freezing.
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