It's spring time! Time to get all your camera gear in order and ready for your ourdoor activites. Notice any Crocus flowers around? This one popped up today in my front yard. I took it as a sure sign of spring, and a good chance to check out some camera lenses that I haven't used in a while. Blow the dust off. Wipe them down, and made sure there is a smooth turning of … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2009
Goodnight Venus, see you in the morning
Well, we had a good run at Venus for the past several months watching it slowly change its phase and sink into the west just after sunset. Last week while I was out checking the Internation Space Station I managed to get a shot of the second planet closest to the sun. The planet is named after the Roman goddess of love. It is the brightest natural object in the night sky, … [Read more...]
International Space Station frame grab
Well, I finally had some time to look at the video that I had shot last week of the International Space Station. It was taken with my Vixen ED100 (900mm) refractor. This was my first attempt at hand tracking and video recording the ISS through a Meade Electronic Eyepiece. The results are below. A lot less than I expected that I would get. But, after doing a some research … [Read more...]
Chasing Geosynchronous Satellites
A few weeks ago one of the members of our astronomy club posted a picture that he had taken of several Geosynchronous Satellites that he had recently had taken. After firing off a quick e-mail to my Satellite Samuri Leo Taylor, I managed to get enough information to take a shot at it myself. Last night (March 15th) after photographing the ISS cross overhead, I was primed to … [Read more...]
Police Identify Electrocution Victim at Connecticut Science Center
Hartford police identified the man who was killed on Friday March 13th at the Connecticut Science Center as 21 year old Chad O'Brien of Coventry, Connecticut. O'Brien was working on the 5th floor of the Science Center on an air conditioning and heating system at the time of his injury. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. … [Read more...]
Shuttle Launch – ISS – Satellites
It was a great astronomy night for me tonight up here in the woods of Marlborough. Temps were in the high 40's with no clouds, and no wind. My viewing sight (I was hoping) was perfect to try to see the Space Shuttle about 8 minutes after it lifted off. I got word that a few did see it, but they were down state near the shore. I tried but no luck. I was rewarded at about 8:22 … [Read more...]
Smithsonian traveling exhibition
Check this out! The Worcester Art Museum will host the new Smithsonian traveling exhibition Beyond: Visions of Planetary Landscapes. The exhibit paints a rarely seen and mesmerizing portrait of our solar system’s diverse worlds and their moons. The exhibition opens at the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts on March 29. Beyond will remain on view through May 24 … [Read more...]
Geez, I knew I forgot to do something
This was the scene that I went to yesterday on I-84 in the westbound lane 3/4 of a mile from exit 63. A spectacular accident in which a dump truck driver forgot to lower the dump body after leaving a construction site in Manchester just off of the highway, at 9:30am Wednesday March 4th. The driver was in the cab of his truck until Vernon firefighters brought in a ladder … [Read more...]
Leitner Planetarium is a huge success
As part of the Leitner Family Observatory at Yale University, the new planetarium which just opened to the public in January, already has had great success. Over the past several weeks just about every show has been filled, and the reviews are "out of this world". Located at 355 Prospect Street in New Haven, the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium is open every Tuesday … [Read more...]