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Posts Made By: Thomas Dey

November 9, 2016 05:16 PM Forum: Politics

Couldnt resist

Posted By Thomas Dey
I can see it now on Craigslist: "Extra-Long Custom Drapes for sale. Perfect for large colonial. BNIB. $250,000 firm."

November 11, 2016 02:14 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Thor's Helmet

Posted By Thomas Dey
Wow - Stunning!

November 11, 2016 03:34 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy ESO 351-30

Posted By Thomas Dey
Breathtaking! Brings back memories seeking dwarfs visible from my latitude (42N). Good dark skies, big rich field scope, no filters was best. And knowing what to look for and expect (very large, very dim and Very subtle) Textbook example is the "Draco Dwarf" so easy to Not notice. I believe astronomers are concluding that there is indeed a population bridging the globulars and galaxies. So no coincidence that these do appear as giant diffuse globulars.

November 17, 2016 03:39 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Can't reach a seller!

Posted By Thomas Dey
That happened to me a couple of years ago. The problem was on MY end, not Astromart or the seller. It turned out that my email service (Roadrunner through Time Warner Cable in upstate NY) had inexplicably sent all .gov incoming to hidden junk folder. I went in and had to explicitly allow .gov. Then everything is fine. All I can figure is that the Democrats didn't want me corresponding with my Republican friends. Anyway, prudent to check your hidden folders. Tom Dey

November 18, 2016 11:49 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Biggest Oil Discovery In USA

Posted By Thomas Dey
Excellent, go for it! Home-grown is always best.

November 22, 2016 11:37 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Gold Star Family Booed

Posted By Thomas Dey
This relates: I attended a workshop at my alma mater, the University of Rochester, NY. To get acquainted, we were each asked to say a few intro words regarding our background and reason for being there. I mentioned that I had three degrees from the University, had served in the military, my son in the Army Reserves and my daughter on active duty flying combat in the Middle East. Even in this Small, intimate class... I heard soto voce sighs and boos?! And during the 5 days, it was patently clear that the teacher, to put it mildly, disliked me! Our campuses have been taken over by hostile, intolerant, left wing crazies!

November 22, 2016 07:04 PM Forum: A Day in the Life of the Administrator

My favorite all time

Posted By Thomas Dey
Hah! We mathematicians call that the "null operator." Civilians use the shorthand “Duh!” Well, until next time, CONTINUE; STOP; END

November 23, 2016 05:11 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Single Piston Auto Engine

Posted By Thomas Dey
That's cool! [suspension/shocks in wheel ~spokes~] so the rest of the vehicle can be much simpler. Not obvious that would "increase efficiency" though. Seems failure modes could be quite catastrophic? Tom

November 26, 2016 03:29 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

FINALLY GOT AN ASTROSCAN

Posted By Thomas Dey
UPPDATE: I just cut a deal on another used one! Should arrive within a week? Come Hell or High Water, one way or another... I'm determined to wind up with a "good" one! Stubborn that way. Tom

December 2, 2016 07:58 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M1 Crab nebula from Chile

Posted By Thomas Dey
Yes indeed! I like the way the Neutron Star Pulsar is cleanly separated from the brighter "companion." The sep is a few arc-sec, but challenging to try to squeeze a little radiometer stop in there. I've been trying to chop/strobe the Pulsar with no luck yet, but building the (bigger) 36-inch scope now to get more photons, and am also building a customized "instrumentation" focuser that will allow me to get the chopper blade closer to the focal plane, for best modulation. I of course hope to literally see it blinking, but will certainly settle for a radiometer trace that reveals the telltale ~30Hz and 1st harmonic up. The presence of the companion helps ID the pulsar, but will also make it challenging to mask only it for radiometry. I'm not going to give up until I succeed of die off. The vis modulation was 1st confirmed with a 36-inch scope... on a mountain... Tom

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