Rapt in Awe http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/ A journal of my journey through this universe. en-us 2005-12-12T16:49:31-05:00 A morning romp with the Orion 6XT IntelliScope http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/12/a_morning_romp.html 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... Equipment Greg Stone 2005-12-12T16:49:31-05:00 Can you see? Do you see? http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/12/can_you_see_do.html No . . . that is not it . . .just my childish dabbling in Photoshop . . . Some time last spring I had one of those wonderful experiences at the eyepiece where lots of things – meditation,... Meditative Observations Greg Stone 2005-12-09T10:57:25-05:00 Of dogs, and queens and brighter things http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/12/of_dogs_and_q.html Jump to: Messier 47 - an open cluster Why visual observing Saturn NGC 2392 - the "Eskimo" Well, even I, with my lousy hearing, can hear myself crunch-crunch-crunch to the observatory on a morning like this. It is 3 am,... Observations Greg Stone 2005-12-05T18:14:50-05:00 Rethinking and refining equipment choices http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/12/rethinking_and.html 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... Equipment Greg Stone 2005-12-04T11:03:16-05:00 Triple, quadruple, and gang - but not in that order http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/12/triple_quadrupl.html 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... Observations Greg Stone 2005-12-04T10:23:31-05:00 Cold, cloudy, and confusing – but that’s OK ;-) http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/cold_cloudy_and.html 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... Observations Greg Stone 2005-11-26T13:14:28-05:00 Doubles? No trouble! http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/doubles_no_trou.html I observed several double stars last night with various telescopes in the process of developing an exercise – an experience - focused on doubles for the public programs. This particular exercise is designed to help them start to develop several... Observations Greg Stone 2005-11-24T02:45:15-05:00 Slithering Sea Serpents of Serenity http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/slithering_sea.html OK, I want to talk about those "serpents" eventually, but there's so much more I find pouring out as my observing experiences set off chains of mini-mind events. Observing is such a delight – and I'm so bloody lazy... Observations Greg Stone 2005-11-22T18:27:26-05:00 Now this is nice! http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/now_this_is_nic.html 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... Public programs Greg Stone 2005-11-20T08:35:37-05:00 37 and a nice crisis http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/37_and_a_nice_c.html I got up this morning at about 2 am pretty much assuming the moon was too bright for any interesting viewing, so I hardly looked out - but I did go to the Astronomy Picture of the Day site and... Observations Greg Stone 2005-11-18T05:08:11-05:00 Observing books, Websites and purchasing resources http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/observing_books.html 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... Public programs Greg Stone 2005-11-17T11:35:23-05:00 Buying your first scope http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/buying_your_fir.html 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... Public programs Greg Stone 2005-11-17T05:32:46-05:00 Earliest evening start times for public observing sessions http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/earliest_evenin.html 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 April-October assume Daylight Savings is... Public programs Greg Stone 2005-11-17T04:42:10-05:00 Calendar Nov 14-21 2005 http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/calendar_nov_14.html 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... Greg Stone 2005-11-15T19:53:40-05:00 Confusion reigns! http://www.giveyoujoy.net/awe/archives/2005/11/confusion_reign.html 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 –... Public programs Greg Stone 2005-11-08T10:00:16-05:00