April 10, 2008
Silence under the Stars: Connecting with the Universe
"Silence under the Stars:Connecting with the Universe" is a new program of free, public observing at Driftway Observatory introduces two changes in the way we approach the universe. First, we will start each observing period with a period of...
September 29, 2007
A new visual intimacy – with the universe and others
To understand my enthusiastic reaction to a new, tiny, and inexpensive 2.5-inch LCD video monitor, you have to understand my fundamental goal – helping people connect with the universe. In doing that I have been very suspicious of putting too...
September 19, 2007
Video, sketching, observing and education
My focus of late has been on how to best integrate video astronomy into my educational programs - and personal observing - so I retain the sense of intimacy - the connections - with the night sky. I'm skeptical of...
August 31, 2007
Do you see what I see?
Do you see what I see? That's not a rhetorical question. I really wish someone could give me an answer, but at the same time I'm not sure there is an answer. What I have experienced feels like an extraordinary...
July 18, 2007
Serendipitous indeed!
My "Serendipitous Sidewalk Astronomy" episode last night At Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary turned out to be serendipitous for me as well. I like to call what I'm trying to do "planned serendipity.' I understand the contradiction in terms, but the...
July 14, 2007
The Perseids August 12, Allens Pond
PERSEIDS UPDATE - MONDAY - AUGUST 13 - 8 PM - As we saw it! Spaceweather,com, which receives reports from around the world. wrote of this year's shower: "Meteor rates were lower than expected, but in recompense the display was...
June 27, 2007
To track, or not to track, THAT is the question
Well, it's my question, at least for the moment. Last night I did another test run to the Audubon sanctuary, thinking about the type of public programs I might do there and at Horseneck campground. This time I brought an...
June 26, 2007
A symbiotic southern exposure, new gigs, and some sidewalk astronomy
I've spent a little time lately exploring nearby sites that would give me the good southern exposure I lack at Driftway Observatory. Yesterday I found one that's near perfect, ended up doing a little sidewalk astronomy in the process, and...
April 26, 2007
Prime Time - a new venture
What really has me excited now is the pending start of a new venture - a year-long program called:"Prime Time: Observing Through the Astronmical year. " It's promoted on the Free Public Programs page, but the essentials are a small...
April 22, 2007
Observing for the blind? We have a lot to learn!
Remember the observing for the blind project? It happened last night. Or rather, it didn’t happen. We were there. Roughly 1,000 people were there. The clouds were there, but we got decent looks at Venus, the Moon, Saturn, and an...
April 06, 2007
You gotta be kidding - observing for the blind?
Astronmical observing for the blind? Does that sound like a cruel joke to you? It did to me when I first heard it and before I gave it much thought. Yet a few weeks from now I hope to be...
March 30, 2007
It's a full moon! Should you get out there with the werewolves?
The full moon bothers a lot of amateur astronomers and I used to just plain hate it. First, I read too many horror comic books while sitting in the barbershop as a kid, so werewolves do bother me – but...
March 28, 2007
Seeing through clouds? Nope. But clouds don’t stop crowds.
I wrote earlier about seeing through clouds with the video camera. Perhaps that post created some misimpressions. Last night I found myself part of a small group trying of ASSNE members to share a slice of the universe with about...
March 23, 2007
Cubs, the moon, M42, Video, Saturn - parents. . . it all adds up
Had a delightful time observing with three Cub Scouts and their mothers the other night. This is a group that began their four-session observing program last fall and is just now finishing up. It's amazing how cloudy nights, holidays, bitter...
March 03, 2007
Simple scopes, simple joys - and Nova Scorpii too
Nova Scorpii - I put it at about 6.8 this morning - but I was using familiar comparison stars that weren't that good for this purpose. All I'm sure of is that it has dropped significantly from my previous observation...
March 02, 2007
Enrolling now - new, year-long observing program
On April 3, 2007 a new , year-long observing program begins. I'll accept up to eight adults into this program which will meet twice a month and include a mix of lessons, reading, discussions and hands-on/ eyes-on observing. If interested, contact me ASAP at
gstone@umassd.edu. If you know someone else who might be interested, please send this to them.
October 31, 2006
Messier, mystery, and SWAN and Halloween
Updates: Double-trouble Mystery solved!?! Comet SWAN, toodling through Hercules on its way back out from the sun, presented a wonderful opportunity for education – but then it got zapped by space aliens! Well, maybe not aliens, but help me out...
July 02, 2006
Going beyond "wow!"
I was asked to deliver the "mesage" - sermon - at Allen's Neck Friends Meeting Sunday on the broad subject of space. I wrote it out - then delivered as much of it as I could in an informal manner,...
May 29, 2006
Marginal is good enough, but . . .
Well the Clear Sky Clock can be wrong! It was calling for pretty close to ideal viewing conditions between 9 and midnight last night and they turned out to be marginal at best. As I waited for four visitor’s to...
May 24, 2006
Even the best laid plans sometimes go right ;-)
Shortly after 7 am yesterday I sent out a notice to the group planning to visit that night saying “this is going to be an iffy day - right now I expect it to be mostly clear this morning,...
May 23, 2006
Twinkle, twinkle little nuclear explosion
I had a father and his10-year-old son come for their first visit to the Observatory yesterday and this time I think I started them off right. I’ve learned a lot during this first year of public observing sessions and...
March 06, 2006
A lesson in context and framing
Lesson for me, that is, so I can better represent the universe to 8-year-olds. If you were wondering – ok, I know you weren’t – that’s what I was doing at 4 am this morning either huddled in the observatory,...
January 28, 2006
Do you see what I see!
The Orion Nebula as only Hubble can see it - the image is another reality in itself. “The day you teach the child the name of the bird, the child will never see that bird again.” J. Krishnamurti One...
December 12, 2005
A morning romp with the Orion 6XT IntelliScope
Shortcuts for this entry: Finder issues and then there's the vertical stop Not Microsoft The Beehive Eskimo Saturn M35 M3 and M51 Scope facts just for the record Hey Scotty, Give me warp .3! Sorry sir, the best we can...
December 04, 2005
Rethinking and refining equipment choices
I’ve had enough experience with visitors at the observatory to now refine my equipment choices and develop a pattern for the sessions. First, I want to make sure each session at the Observatory involves some naked eye observing, some...
Triple, quadruple, and gang - but not in that order
Topics, this post: Pleiades Beta Monoceros Sigma Orionis 4.5-inch Orion Dob Stars tend to hang out together and observing stars that are close to one another offers some special opportunities to make comparisons. On the mornings of December 3 and...
November 26, 2005
Cold, cloudy, and confusing – but that’s OK ;-)
Double-star learning opportunity handout – to be read before observing session – and/or after.Download file Double-star field notes document with stars suitable for fall to early winter. Download file Well, I'm learning. I'm learning that my expectations for youth...
November 20, 2005
Now this is nice!
Westport Shorelines, a weekly covering the area, devoted two-thirds of their front page this week to an article about Driftway Obseervatory. A good deal of that space was taken by a wonderful picture of one of the Webelo Scouts using...
November 17, 2005
Observing books, Websites and purchasing resources
Books and web sites to go along with that first telescope purchase. (Note: this ia handout used to supplement talk/demo on purchasing a first telescope.) Magazines Sky and Telescope - http://skyandtelescope.com/ They publish Sky and Telescope magazine, a standard with...
Buying your first scope
Note: This is a handout for a talk/demonstration given at the Westport Library November 17, 2005. As such,it is intended as supplementary notes - not a complete article. Six links to a good observing experience Most telescopes do an adequate...
Earliest evening start times for public observing sessions
Please note: We change the earliest start times every 15 days based on when true darkness begins We can start half an hour earlier if the target is the moon or bright planets Times for March 11 - November 4...
November 15, 2005
Calendar Nov 14-21 2005
11/14/05 Monday Date 5:15 pm Earliest Lunar and Planetary Observing time 5:45 pm Earliest Star and Deep Sky Object observing time 13 days waxing Age of the Moon Special notes: Mars remains close and presents a disc of about 18...
November 08, 2005
Confusion reigns!
Plans go awry! ! Fireflies appear! Success! If I had to write the headlines for last night’s first session under the stars with the Webelo Scouts from New Bedford, they would read like the above. I had great plans –...
November 05, 2005
Guided tours - a public program example
Guided tours are shaped to the times and specific wants and needs of the individuals. During the tour participants pack in quite a few experiences - and hear a lot of facts - in a very short time. Because of...
October 29, 2005
Purchasing the right first telescope
Almost 50 years ago I bought my first telescope and I made the same mistake then that most people are still making today because unfortunately, there are still a lot of poor choices screaming for attention in local discount stores....
October 28, 2005
Switching gears - a blog and an experiential education program
In the past month or so I've made a major switch from lone observing to developing an observing program designed to share my equipment, experience, and knowledge with interested adults and youth. To that end I've been developing a flexible...
