I have not added an entry to my blog for almost 18 months. I will do a better job posting for everyone.

I've been completing one Astronomical League Observing Program after another. The latest one being the Alternate Constellations Observing Program. This program included some thought exercises. I had trouble with one because it was to advance the North Celestial Pole 13,000 year and make Vega the NCP. I created a small ball into a celestial sphere, plotting stars on it as they are now but then having the sky rotate around Vega.

I had difficulty imaging this foreign looking sky and only after much coaching from the programs' coordinator did I finally understand this new looking sky and could complete the thought exercises.

The next Observing Programs I will tackle is the Spectroscopy and Lunar Evolution. I am making a sewing needle solar spectrum generator. I purchased spectral glasses and will try to get a picture of the solar spectra this weekend. As for the Lunar Evolution program, New Moon is soon and the first observations is on the surface of a 3-day old moon. I'll get my first sketches then.

I've always wanted a larger telescope. I had friends who sold their 16-inch telescopes to others when I had previously expressed a desire to purchase their telescope if they ever sold it. Well, a couple of Saturdays ago, the Denver Astronomical Society had an auction and I bought a 16-inch telescope. I get to pick it up next week. It is still a functional telescope and I am hoping the optics are good. I want to use it for observational astronomy. It will also be more portable and take less time to setup in the fiend than my current telescope does.

I plan to change the traditional solid tubed telescope into a truss-style Dobsonian telescope. I plan to make it so I can easily get it in and out of my Prius.

Everyone take care and be safe.

Headed to Clayton Lake State Park

During the 3rd quarter to new moon weeks at the end of February, 2019, I am headed to Clayton Lake State Park in northern New Mexico for a couple of nights of observing. I plan to stay at the Super 8 in Clayton and observe till moon rise for the two nights. I have 331 more Herschel 2500 objects to view to complete looking at all 2502 objects, real and unknown. I hope to bag a few more during this trip.

Starting another Astronomical League Observing Program

As you might guess from looking at all the Astronomical League Observing Program awards I have received, I really like these Observing Programs (OP). One thing is they provide list after list of things to observe. All I need to do is to find an Observing Program I want to explore and voila...I have a list of objects to look at.

I have completed all but 4 of these OPs. One of the remaining OPs that I would like to complete is the Occultation OP (https://www.astroleague.org/content/occultation-observing-program). In looking at what is needed to capture accurate timing of these events, I was thinking it would cost me several hundreds of dollars in imaging equipment. To my rescue is a group of IOTA Occultation watchers that have used imaging equipment. So I am looking at starting this OP soon, with the help of these great people.

For accurate timing of the event, I was directed to an app called "Occult Flash Tag" which at a prescribed time, directs a flash of light down the optical path of my telescope and is recorded on the video capture. Once I process my video on a video processing program, I can get accurate timings and report my occultation events based on the time of this flash recorded on the video.

By asking for help and asking enough questions, I have what I need to start this OP at a very little out of pocket expense. I'm looking forward to now completing this program someday.

New Book Available

After many years of procrastination, I finally created my first book, Exploring Amateur Astronomy, Goal Oriented Observing. This book describes a process I've created and evolved over the years that centers on setting goals which then drives my desire to see more celestial objects. It is the impetus to get me out observing. For more information or to purchase my book on Amazon, visit my web page at http://www.mikehotka.com/SnowberryObservatory.html.