Space Forum / Amateur Astronomy / January 2006

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=19437
It is interesting to note that as fast as Stardust is travelling. it sure
doesn't hold a candle to meteorites. If I saw a meteor travelling like that
I would have to conclude it probably isn't one but could be.  some 90% of

I have a possible opportunity to give a talk on astronomy to a local 5th
grade science class.  I hope to get them outside at night to look through my
scope.  Evidently they only have the barest instruction in astronomy.
Does anyone know of  something like a Power Point ...

Very sad news from London -- the closing of a planetarium.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2017210,00.html
Mike Simmons

It appears that the Celestron CGE mount uses the same dimensions for
counterweight shaft and toe saver as the Losmandy mounts (1.25"
diameter, 3/8"-16 threads).  At least one person with a Celestron CGE
tells me that the shaft is 1.24" diameter.  Does anyone with a Celestron

Last week the user who donated "Galactica" to me ( it's getting used a lot
too ) sent me two of those head lamps that can be either white light or red
light to use when I'm in the dark for personal viewing, and today from
another user I got a box with a bunch of back issures of ...

The discovery of a new galaxy orbiting Andromeda gives a boost to the
leading theory of galaxy formation, say astronomers in Europe and the United
States. The new galaxy, named Andromeda X, is the dimmest satellite galaxy
ever seen around Andromeda. For the full story, including a

Saturn and the Beehive looked stunning together last night in a
wide-field view.  Unfortunately I'm not a photographer.  Has anyone
got good photos of this scene?

Honestly, I know very little about this filed of astronomy, and that's
why I really need your help.  My research involves an new instrument
that is supposed to point the center of the sun disk to measure solar
beam at a certain spectrum.  Since our instrument has a 1-degree field

Anyone know if there is a table or method to determine the _predominate
wavelength_ emited by a star by spectral class. I would like to add a
column to the following table showing the predominate wavelength of
light emitted.  For example, the Sun predominately emits yellow light.

Anyone has ever tried this one ? about same price as LX200GPS 8" but
twice as much light in the tube. tripod seems weak though.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=19437
Watch the re-entry

HI Gang:
But, I'm mightily impressed by the William Optics refractors, a
Fluorite 80 and a Fluorite 66, that showed up on Chaos Manor South's
front porch (for review). I'm impressed by the build quality, which

Can anyone comment on the 50mm 2" optilux sold by Orion (#08510)
also, I want to be sure i understand this correctly, this longer fl
ep will help me in discerning more detail in objects like M31, right?
AS i understand it it increases contrast and brightness? I am planning

The nebula discowered by amateur astronomer Jay McNeil two years ago
http://wkaa.net/gallery/mcneil/m78Lrgb
appears to have disappeared or faded substantially. I did not detect
it at all in a 4 min CCD image taken with a 6" Mak on 2005-12-25

I hardly ever notice floaters, but when I tried a binoviewer for the
first time, they were very prominent. I thought the trend was the
opposite, binoviewers making floaters less noticable, but for me the
opposite was true. Has this happened to anyone else?