Image of the day

Captured by
Erwin Forbragd

Horsehead Nebula

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Robert Provin

February 5, 2013 01:28 AM Forum: Camping and Outdoors

Moonlight Manor

Posted By Robert Provin

John Love said:

I just got the new "Moonlight Manor" for starparties and camping. How many other Casita owners are out there? I see them at Okie-Tex and ESP.

John
CCD-Freak
Hi John,
Not a Casita owner, but close...a Scamp! We always take it camping and star gazing. -Robert

February 5, 2013 01:29 AM Forum: Camping and Outdoors

Moonlight Manor

Posted By Robert Provin

Here's another shot....at night. -Robert

February 10, 2013 01:48 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Real reason for these snow storms!

Posted By Robert Provin

Roland Christen said:

Hi All,

I have heard all kinds of wakky reasons for the latest mega-storm Nemo, including climate change, solar flares, groundhogs losing their edge, etc etc.

Here is the real reason: Ever since George (our intrepid customer service professional here at AP) came here from Maine, he has been busy building his dream roll-off roof observatory. And of course the minute he finishes it, we had a series of storm disasters including Sandy and now Nemo!! Pure coincidence? I think NOT! Once you begin to aim serious glass skyward, no telling what can happen. After all, ever hear of the Butterfly Effect and how it spawns tornados?

For more than 4 years, we here in the Midwest have had snowmobile-less winters. I have seen ski shops go out of business because of lack of snow. On top of that, my daughter recently sold all her snowmobiles and traded them for jetskis, and of course what happens - it snows like it's never going to stop. I have four 305F3.8 R-H tube assemblies sitting here and I cannot test them in my observatory because the snow is just piled up on the roof and against the door, plus it is snowing non-stop, and probably will until April! (see attached photo)

I tell you, it is high time for George to issue a sincere apology for this mess we are in. Somebody has to take the blame and it might as well be George - along with Howard who helped him finish the observatory ... and Robert who also lent a hand!

Rolando

enough with the white stuff.
Rolando, I know all about "serious glass" and weather, and while George et al. may be to blame, I think it more likely it be your daughter who is at fault. Reason; I like George and what he is doing. -Robert, who didn't lend a hand.

February 20, 2013 09:10 PM Forum: Politics

Obama Is Raging Against a Budget Crisis He Created

Posted By Robert Provin

Another angle on the sequester spending cuts:

http://factcheck.org/2013/02/the-obamaquester/#.USU6go57m9A

March 16, 2013 07:29 PM Forum: Comets

Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon Setting

Posted By Robert Provin

Very nice image. Thank you Dave!

March 30, 2013 12:56 AM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

What no consensus?

Posted By Robert Provin

Charles R Genovese, Jr MD said:

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021513-644725-geoscientists-engineers-dont-believe-in-climate-change.htm?ven=OutBrainCP

There is another point of view:
http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm
http://tigger.uic.edu/%7Epdoran/012009_Doran_final.pdf

March 30, 2013 04:06 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

hiatus in rising temperatures has climate scientists puzzled

Posted By Robert Provin

It seems Whitehouse has misrepresented Hansen's work in the article posted above, see:
http://www.desmogblog.com/david-whitehouse

Also, here is some information regarding The Global Warming Policy Foundation:
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/Media/Commentary/2011/May/global-warming-policy-foundation-webpage.aspx

April 22, 2013 02:15 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Ioptron Skytracker Help

Posted By Robert Provin

Just put polaris on the inner ring in line with beta or gamma Ursa Minor. So looking through the alignment scope with one eye, and at the sky with the other, in a straight line, center cross, Polaris on inner circle, beta or gamma Ursa Minor. To say it in another way, just put Polaris on the inner circle at the same angle as beta or gamma Ursa Minor is in the sky. Beta Ursa Minor is a bit more precise, but either way, it will be more that good enough for tracking camera lenses for short exposers (< 10 min.). This takes into account the inverted image in the alignment scope. If any one can think of a better way without gadgets, let me know.

Robert

April 26, 2013 08:04 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

What no consensus?

Posted By Robert Provin

A new paper titled "Quantifying the Consensus on Anthropogenic Global Warming in the Scientific Literature" will be published online in Environmental Research Letters in about two weeks. This paper will look at the more than 12,000 papers published in peer review journals over the last 21 years. I will post the URL when available. Should be interesting to see what the "consensus" actually looks like.

May 4, 2013 06:55 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

hiatus in rising temperatures has climate scientists puzzled

Posted By Robert Provin

Here is what peer review science says about the "global warming slowdown".

http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/7/4/044035/article