Posts Made By: Paul Hyndman

Wanna' know what's more fun than a PST?!?

Have I got your attention? )

Our club (Astronomical Society of New Haven) just received something that has already proved to be three times more fun than a PST...

(uhhh, that is to say we just received three PSTs!)

These are primarily intended for use as a part of our "Cosmic Cultures" school outreach programs, but...

We decided to make two available for members to borrow (up to 2 weeks at a time) while keeping at least one at the
observatory/classroom for the said school programs. Well, they've only been here a few weeks but are already a resounding hit! Members are even trying their hands at capturing images (methinks they are
hooked!) As soon as a PST comes back, someone else is clamoring for it (we have to start a sign-up sheet)!

Those of you who belong to astro-clubs and/or do astronomy outreach programs may want to consider purchasing several and setting up a similar loaner program within your own groups. I should mention that
we have another sub-angstrom solar filter setup that has languished for years without being borrowed... too complicated to use is the main complaint. That's certainly not so with the PST!

Cheers,

Paul

PS: I have no connections with Coronado or Meade, I just love to share this stuff with friends!

Aloha!

I was quite intrigued with a unique process J. -P. Metsavainio shared in this month's Sky and Telescope... lunar reprojection! Simply stated, an image of the moon is plonked onto a sphere which can be rotated to unfurl the details held in the limbs.

Using a digital darkroom allows the process to be done quickly without need of (physical) spherical screens and additional image gathering.

(The teaser):



Here's a quick page I tossed together with the way-cool results of my "first flight" (see how many features you can correctly identify, then enlist the aid of an atlas!):

http://www.astro-nut.com/lunar-3Dgibbous.html

Cheers,

Paul


--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---

Shhhh.. don't tell (I don't want to get in trouble!), but here's a pic of what lies under the protective covers of a PST.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS (lest you void your warranty and let out the magic!)

I normally wouldn't dare post the pic, but since the Coronado gang is away for a few days, what the heck!


Cheers (and happy new years!)

Paul

PS: Pay particular note to the innovative focusing mechanism!

Hi All,

My apologies to those who are offended by posting this to the equipment forum (I am doing so as it has some of the highest Astromart trafic).

I've placed an antique (1796) Leather Book on the Astromart auction block, from which the entire proceeds will be donated to the UNICEF tsunami relief fund.

You can view the details at: auction_id=854

Among other topics, this 946 page book contains an astronomical part by James Ferguson, F.R.S. to which have been added the late Discoveries of Dr. Hershell and other eminent Astronomers.

Cheers,

Paul Hyndman

--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---

Aloha,

Once more foiled by the weather and work, I find the need to scavenge through my astro-files (lest I do something as productive as house or yardwork... yeech!) So without further ado, I present my latest diversion... er, work: a different type of 3D rendering of the moon, an anaglyph!

This was made using a combination of the 3D transform process as shown in February's S&T (and in my previous image), but with a twist: Callipygian 3D editing software was used to further transform it into an anaglyph rendering. Uhhh, translation: get out your Red left/ Green Right 3D glasses kids (or use eyepiece filters), and check this puppy out.

Move your head to the right, left, up, or down and watch the moon rotate... it's guaranteed to make your knees shake and palms sweat, by golly gee!

Use your key to toggle the view to/from full screen mode:

http://www.astro-nut.com/lunar-gibbous3D.html

Cheers,

Paul

Aloha,

Once more foiled by the weather and work, I find the need to scavenge through my astro-files (lest I do something as productive as house or yardwork... yeech!) So without further ado, I present my latest diversion... er, work: a different type of 3D rendering of the moon, an anaglyph!

This was made using a combination of the 3D transform process as shown in February's S&T (and in my previous image), but with a twist: Callipygian 3D editing software was used to further transform it into an anaglyph rendering. Uhhh, translation: get out your Red left/ Green Right 3D glasses kids (or use eyepiece filters), and check this puppy out.

Move your head to the right, left, up, or down and watch the moon rotate... it's guaranteed to make your knees shake and palms sweat, by golly gee!

Use your F11 key to toggle the view to/from full screen mode:

http://www.astro-nut.com/lunar-gibbous3D.html

Cheers,

Paul

After enjoying the superb 3D solar images my fellow solar-geeks have been working on, and having a ball myself while working on a 3D moon, I decided to move on to the sun myself (me, biased towards the sun?!?)

Rather than present it as a floating smooth orb, I decided to incorporate a few other nuances: prominences and "hairy limbs" are in attendance while filaments are flung away from the surface... after all, that's what they do, no?

As with the lunar image, you will need Red left/Green right 3D glasses or eyepiece filters to view the effect. Red/Blue may work, but not as dramatically and the image not appear fully focused. Without further ado, here be da' image:

http://www.astro-nut.com/sun-ha-3d.html

Cheers,

Paul

PS: Special thanks to fellow solar-geeks Andy M, Greg P, Hiram V, David K and the rest of the gang here who are helping to explore this new frontier.

I've been trying to refine some 3D processing techniques, and rather than present it as a floating smooth orb, I decided to incorporate a few other nuances in this solar H-a image. Prominences and "hairy limbs" are in attendance while filaments are flung away from the surface... after all, that's what they do, no?

You will need Red left/Green right 3D glasses or eyepiece filters to view the effect. Red/Blue may work, but not as dramatically and the image not appear fully focused. Without further ado, here be da' image:

http://www.astro-nut.com/sun-ha-3d.html

Cheers,

Paul

PS: Special thanks to fellow solar-geeks Andy M, Greg P, Hiram V, David K and the rest of the gang who are helping to explore this new frontier.

Hi All,

My apologies to those who are offended by posting this to the equipment forum... I am doing so as it has some of the highest Astromart trafic.

The auction for the 1796 leather book w/astro-references that I've placed on the Astromart block will be closing today at 12:07 PM.

The entire proceeds will be donated to the UNICEF tsunami relief fund, and free shipping will be included, worldwide.

You can view the details at:

https://www.astromart.com/auctions/details.asp?auction_id=854

Among other topics, this 946 page book contains an astronomical part by James Ferguson, F.R.S. to which have been added the late Discoveries of Dr. Hershell (sic) and other eminent Astronomers.

Those with good feedback ratings may make the payment out directly to UNICEF USA (or their own country of origin)

Cheers,

Paul Hyndman

--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---

Energy Rejection Filter -> Objective -> tunable etalon -> focusing prism -> Blocking Filter -> EP

The full view:

http://www.coronadofilters.com/cgi/display_info.cgi?file=edito_34.dat

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---