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Re: Camera Concepts

 

Thanks for sharing the video link.
Re: Camera Concepts

 

Hunter Outten is a meteorologist on a local Delaware TV station and an advanced astrophographer. He's getting a new star party together in his area. I hope he makes it back to ECSP. ?I invited Jeff Norwood back just to chill out with the old ECSP folks, and new members as well.
Re: Camera Concepts

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I can¡¯t believe Hunter is in his 30¡¯s.? It doesn¡¯t just make us feel old ¨C it proves we ARE old, Kent. LOL

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That was a cool video. As a veteran of both the Coinjock ECSPs and almost as many DelMarVa Stargazes (and No Frills) it was a walk down memory lane.

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Good to see Jeff again. I¡¯ve not seen him since the 2013 Texas Star Party. (He and I had a similar reminisce then, only without the recording!)

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Ted

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Kent Blackwell via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 11:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BackBayAstro] Camera Concepts

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This is fun link Hunter Outen did at this year's NEAF in NY. Huter was 15 or 16 when he and C.J. Wood used to come to ECSP. Thanks, Ray M for sending the link. I was fortunate to have Camera Concepts come to ECSP several years. Owner Jeff Norwood said it wasn't his biggest star party for sales, but it certainly was the most fun!

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Everyone has grown up now. Well, except for yours truly.?

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Kent Blackwell

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Re: Trailer for sale

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Stu I feel your pain. Good luck with the sale.
Cheers
Ian


On May 4, 2025, at 8:38?AM, Stu Beaber via groups.io <wd4sel@...> wrote:

?
I have not been as active?as I used to be here lately and I'm getting on in age too. Anyways, I still have my observatory at home.

?So if I might...please see my ad# 408458 under "Observatories" on?? "a 6'x12'x7' tall trailer optimized for?astrophotography"?

Stu Beaber
Camera Concepts

 

This is fun link Hunter Outen did at this year's NEAF in NY. Huter was 15 or 16 when he and C.J. Wood used to come to ECSP. Thanks, Ray M for sending the link. I was fortunate to have Camera Concepts come to ECSP several years. Owner Jeff Norwood said it wasn't his biggest star party for sales, but it certainly was the most fun!
?
Everyone has grown up now. Well, except for yours truly.?
?
Kent Blackwell
?
?
Trailer for sale

 

I have not been as active?as I used to be here lately and I'm getting on in age too. Anyways, I still have my observatory at home.

?So if I might...please see my ad# 408458 under "Observatories" on?? "a 6'x12'x7' tall trailer optimized for?astrophotography"?

Stu Beaber
Re: Struve 1825

 

The TMB 100/800 is unique, indeed. Not only does the dew cap retract but also the focus tube completely collapses inside the main tube. This rather long extension tube can be collapsed, allowing use of binocular eyepieces but more importantly it fits in a case suitable for airline carryon travel. Unfortunately, the telescope is rather heavy.
Re: Struve 1825

 

Yes the TMB scope is one of the best objectives ever made, LOMO optics form Russia. It was a unique design with glass that is unobtanium now.

Thomas Back passed from the scene way too early. His optics were top of the line. Your TMB80 is probably the best optics I've seen. I was lucky to have owned one of his scopes and was fortunate enough to have used, once, an 8 inch TMB refractor. It took three of us to get it on the mount if I remember correctly. Wish I had more time on that one.

The 4 inch is in many ways an ideal size for a refractor. Capable of serious work but does not require a semi truck to move. It does it all mostly. 3 inch are fun. Five and above is getting big so the 4 is a nice perfect size.

On Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 06:34:20 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:


This is a pretty double, easy to find because it's next to Arcturus. I dragged out my old TMB 100/800 4" f/8 refractor, made by the late. Thomas M. Back.

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Struve 1825

4.4"

This lovely pair are only 1¡ã from Arcturus. The 6.4 magnitude primary is orange and the tiny magnitude secondary is 8.4. I haven¡¯t used the TMV 100/800 in a long time. Wow the optics are simply wonderful. I saw equal to fraction rings on both sides of focus. Absolutely no difference.
Struve 1825

 
Edited

This is a pretty double, easy to find because it's next to Arcturus. I dragged out my old TMB 100/800 4" f/8 refractor, made by the late Thomas M. Back.

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Struve 1825

4.4"

This lovely pair are only 1¡ã from Arcturus. The 6.4 magnitude primary is orange, and the tiny 8.4 magnitude secondary is blue. I haven¡¯t used the TMB 100/800 in a long time. Wow the optics are simply wonderful. I saw equal to fraction rings on both sides of focus. Absolutely no difference.

IMG_5885.jpeg

Zoom Link for Tonight's BBAA Meeting 5-1-25

 

Here is the link for those who wish to attend tonight's BBAA meeting (5-1-25) remotely.?
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Richard Roberts is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BBAA Meeting
Time: May 1, 2025 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
? ? ? ? Every month on the First Thu, until Apr 2, 2026, 12 occurrence(s)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYrcuCsrzIqGtbq0KWBV25JEbU6csIcs3G6/ics?icsToken=DFk-HLauKyGcr-Q0gQAALAAAAJ1npNNO89wj_ae69w2DioE4b0bTDTwA_vxRgLIzctc93Y-YTe_WWOrdWidam3sgQCTSGYLbafJnwH9TIzAwMDAwMQ
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82659419002?pwd=TJ96jGZPb3q2rk4rBhncVaCeAam0g5.1
Meeting ID: 826 5941 9002
Passcode: 471443
---
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Double Stars

 

I was exhausted yesterday after cutting down a tree and pulling weeds, so I rolled out the 5" refractor for a quick observing session.

I have a challenge. The star 35 Coma Berenices is a pretty double star, with a widely separated gold primary and a blue secondary. But wait, the 4th magnitude primary has a 7th magnitude companion only 1.2" apart, making it a triple star.

See my notes below. Can you see the close pair, and if so, what telescope? I've seen it before at very high power with my TMB 100/800 (4"). I wonder if it can be done with as small as an 80mm refractor?

List: 25/04/30 Takahashi TSA-120

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Jupiter

(Planet in Taurus)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 8:38:56?PM

Comment: Using the 5mm Pentax at 180x and an 80A blue filter I was barely able to see the GRS as is heading towards the western limb.

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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HD 100070

(Double Star in Crater)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 8:55:12?PM

Comment: Struve 9072

9.8"

I could only see the 10th magnitude secondary with averted vision

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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HD 100245

(Double Star in Leo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 8:58:14?PM

Comment: Struve 1548

11"

An easily split pair of 8.6 and 9.8 magnitude stars

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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HR 4484

(Double Star in Virgo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:03:41?PM

Comment: Struve 1560

4.8"

Very challenging to see the secondary. The primary is 6.2 magnitude and the secondary is 9.4.

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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HD 103047

(Double Star in Virgo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:07:01?PM

Comment: Struve 1575

30"

A wide pair of blue stars

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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88 Leonis

(Double Star in Leo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:15:09?PM

Comment: Struve 1547

15"

Blue-white 6th magnitude primary and a 9th magnitude blue secondary

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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90 Leonis

(Double Star in Leo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:16:47?PM

Comment: Struve 1552

3.4" & 20"

Very nice triple star. A & B, 3.4" separation. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 8

Transparency: 8

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93 Leonis

(Variable Double Star in Leo)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:22:10?PM

Comment: No Struve number

77"

Widely separated pair. The 4.5 magnitude primary is yellow and the 9th magnitude secondary is blue.

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 9

Transparency: 8

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2 Comae Berenices

(Double Star in Coma Berenices)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:25:15?PM

Comment: Struve 1596

3.4"

Close pair of stars. The primary is pale yellow and the secondary is light blue

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 9

Transparency: 8

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35 Comae Berenices

(Double Star in Coma Berenices)

Observed: Apr 30, 2025 at 9:30:04?PM

Comment: A beautiful gold primary and a blue secondary. SkySafari shows a 1.2" companion, but I could not see it. I saw it with this same telescope in 2021 using a Vixen HR 2.0mm at 450x. Taking my own advice, I tried the 2.0mm and sure enough I saw the tiny blue companion. Checking my notes again I've split this tight pair a dozen or so times before. The smallest telescope was my TMB 100/800 amd a Takahashi TSA-102, so I know a 4" refractor is capable.

Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 17.4 75¡ã H 72%

Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 7mm Pentax

Seeing: 9

Transparency: 8

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BBAA May 2025 Update

 

Good evening, folks! May is (literally) just around the corner, so I wanted to share the month's news and heads-up!
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This week, we will have our monthly club meeting at TCC Virginia Beach's Science Building.? We will be joined (by Zoom) by Dr. Charles Law, a NASA Hubble Fellowship Sagan Fellow at the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Virginia.? Dr. Law will be sharing some of his work on astrochemistry, specifically in stellar and planetary formation.? I hope you all share my enthusiasm in what promises to be a great topic!
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Upcoming Club and Outreach Events:
- 1 May (7:30pm):? Club Meeting at TCC Virginia Beach Science Building
- 3 May (11:00am):? Astronomy Day at the Churchland Library
- 6 May (6:00pm):? Boardwalk Astronomy #1 at near the 24th St Stage
- 8 May (8:30pm):? Garden Stars at Norfolk Botanical Gardens
- 10 May (10am):? Saturday SUNday at Elizabeth River Park
- 16 May (8:00pm):? Cornwatch at Cornland Park
- 17 May (10:00am): Astronomy Day at Portsmouth Public Library
- 17 May (8:00pm):? Skywatch at Northwest River Park
- 23 May (8:00pm):? Cornwatch at Cornland Park
- 24 May (8:00pm):? Nightwatch at Chippokes State Park
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Upcoming Astronomical Events:
- 6 May:? Eta Aquariids peak, Saturn achieves equinox (with edge-on rings)
- 15 May: Double Shadow Transit of Jupiter
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Between Saturday SUNday and the two Library Astronomy day events, it's a convenient time to have had so much solar activity.? Let's hope it continues!
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Eyes up and clear skies!
?
Jeremy
My comments for a short but fun observing session last night

 

Nothing special here - just thought I'd share that I got out last night and hoping to get out again tonight.? No mosquitos and low humidity - a pretty enjoyable evening.
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Re: The Sun April 29, 2025

 

That Takahashi is a monster.


On Tue, Apr 29, 2025 at 11:01?AM Kent Blackwell via <kent=[email protected]> wrote:
There's a huge sunspot on the eastern limb of the sun, so it'll be visible several days. There's surprisingly little difference in detail on the sun between these two telescopes. One is a bit easier to carry on cruises!
Takahashi TOA 150 on an Astro-Physics mount vs Williams Optics MN 66mm on a Manfrotto BeeFree aluminum tripod. I've found aluminum has less vibration than carbon fiber.
Re: The Sun April 29, 2025

 

Uncle Kent be rollin in clover

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:02:23 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:


There's a huge sunspot on the eastern limb of the sun, so it'll be visible several days. There's surprisingly little difference in detail on the sun between these two telescopes. One is a bit easier to carry on cruises!
Takahashi TOA 150 on an Astro-Physics mount vs Williams Optics MN 66mm on a Manfrotto BeeFree aluminum tripod. I've found aluminum has less vibration than carbon fiber.
The Sun April 29, 2025

 

There's a huge sunspot on the eastern limb of the sun, so it'll be visible several days. There's surprisingly little difference in detail on the sun between these two telescopes. One is a bit easier to carry on cruises!
Takahashi TOA 150 on an Astro-Physics mount vs Williams Optics MN 66mm on a Manfrotto BeeFree aluminum tripod. I've found aluminum has less vibration than carbon fiber.

IMG_5818.jpeg
IMG_5806.jpeg

Re: YRSP: potential May date change - feedback requested

 

Last call ... no replies nor direct messages. Please let me know by COB Tuesday if Friday, 30 May works. If no replies, I will cancel the May session on Wednesday.
Re: Huge Solar prominence today 4/27

 

Thanks Jeremy,
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Not many big sun spots, but 6 or 7 "smaller" ones.? But under H-Alpha! lots of activity.? BTW, take a look at the Sun tornadoes that were capture on the spaceweather.com website.

Re: Telescope and Mount Recommendation

 

Thanks for the information Patrick.
Re: Huge Solar prominence today 4/27

 

--sigh-- guess it is time to pick an H-alpha scope...

Great picture, Jeff.? Anything corresponding visible in white light, or just the h-alpha activity?


On Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 2:46 PM Jeffrey Thornton via <jeff7500=[email protected]> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

Anyone with a H-Alpha scope. Look at the 6 o'clock position and you will see a huge looping prominence. I am attaching a cell phone photo that was taken through the Coronado PST.

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