St. Anselm’s Troop 13 took its annual trip to Boy Scout camp Ten Mile River during week 2 of the summer camp season.  I was signed up to be an astronomy counselor and loaded the car with numerous props to use as enrichment items with whomever was doing the normal classes.  What I didn’t quite …

Ten Mile RiverRead More

This has been the rainiest June I can remember.  While I’ve really been too busy to have much time to get out under the stars (such as they are here in Brooklyn), even when I did have time it has rarely been possible. We’re now on the road for a trip west of the Mississippi …

Rain, Rain, Go AwayRead More

We will be trying (attempt number 6!) to hold a stargazing session in Shore Road Park. The moon will be in the first quarter phase, and Saturn will be high in the south after sunset. Because sunset comes so late this time of year, we won’t be able to start until about 8:45, although the …

Rain Date – Stargazing at Shore Road ParkRead More

The announcement should have been made earlier today, and was if you were in class, that we’ll be meeting Saturday evening due to weather.  Tonight is supposed to be cloudy and hazy, but tomorrow promises at least clear spots to do stargazing.  Or at least moongazing.  So, same time and location, just one day later. …

Stargazing at Shore Road ParkRead More

We will be trying, once again, to have a stargazing time in Shore Road Park (see map below). This is the rain date for yesterday’s outing, but the weather is not looking very good at this point. Since the sun sets later now, we can’t start until 8:30. TV Turnoff week occurs this year duing …

TV Turnoff Week Stargazing – Rain DateRead More

We returned last night, tired but happy from this year’s NEAF conference.  The vendor turn out was good and overall attendance appeared good, too, although it was  little hard to tell from our perspective.  We spent most of the two days in the children’s area helping with the various activities including a comet demonstration (followed …

NEAF and NEAIC: Until Next YearRead More

Apr 21, 5:15pm — I’m going to plan on going to the park at around 8:30 unless it is completely overcast.  But I do not expect the weather to be suitable for viewing at all.  Please use your common sense and have a look at the sky.  If you can only see clouds, or if …

TV Turnoff Week StargazingRead More

J-P Metsainio is giving a talk on his techniques for using narrow-band imaging to produce very sharp high contrast color images.  The technique appears to be a very clever application of the idea of using lower resolution in the color channels and blurring the noise (to reduce grain). The critical first step in his technique …

NEAIC: Tonal MappingRead More

Well, I’ve made it to NEAIC (again).  This year promises to be better than ever with an opening talk by Tony Hallas discussing CCD Noise (I’m sitting here listening to him now).  Vendors have contributed some very nice goodies for Friday’s raffle (and some of the vendors aren’t even here). Tonight there is a remote …

NEAIC In Progress!Read More