Built in 1989, this 10 inch Newtonian has a
foam core board tube.Click here for more
on my telescopes and astrophotos
foam core board tube.Click here for more
on my telescopes and astrophotos
This is the invention of which I am most proud. A modified John Herschel Binocular
telescope, patented it in 1991.
Astronomy magazine lauded it as one of the best binocular views of the sky at the
Telescope Makers Convention in that year.
By the way, wood is one of the best materials for a telescope tube,because of its thermal
properties.
telescope, patented it in 1991.
Astronomy magazine lauded it as one of the best binocular views of the sky at the
Telescope Makers Convention in that year.
By the way, wood is one of the best materials for a telescope tube,because of its thermal
properties.
In 2006,
I bought this
14" RCX400,
built a pier
using cement,
rebar and
cinder blocks.
A simple
umbrella here
helps prevent
the heat build
up during the
day.
I bought this
14" RCX400,
built a pier
using cement,
rebar and
cinder blocks.
A simple
umbrella here
helps prevent
the heat build
up during the
day.
I teamed up with Dr. Russell Genet, and his astronomy classes
for projects worthy of such a high tech scope. I soon became
interested in EXOPLANETS, which are planets around other
stars, outside of our solar system (EXO). Those mini eclipses
of the parent star can be measured by the CCD technology that
is now available to amateur astronomers. Here is my first
successful light curve of an exoplanet WASP 1b (right chart). I
later discovered that there were no filters installed on the filter
wheel that I was using. Furthermore, an unpredictable flare
star event was discovered in the same tiny field of view, only
arcminutes from WASP 1b (see below chart and text panel)!
for projects worthy of such a high tech scope. I soon became
interested in EXOPLANETS, which are planets around other
stars, outside of our solar system (EXO). Those mini eclipses
of the parent star can be measured by the CCD technology that
is now available to amateur astronomers. Here is my first
successful light curve of an exoplanet WASP 1b (right chart). I
later discovered that there were no filters installed on the filter
wheel that I was using. Furthermore, an unpredictable flare
star event was discovered in the same tiny field of view, only
arcminutes from WASP 1b (see below chart and text panel)!
Observatories in four states simultaneously measured this
exoplanet transit. One of them, Bruce Gary, whose
exoplanet website monitors exoplanet observations
around the world, discovered that a flare star had
occurred near WASP 1 during our observations.
Cindy Foote, a prolific exoplanet observer in Utah,
informed me of this event and combined my star flare light
curve (red) with hers (blue) (Left chart) , showing the
spike during the star's flare. The curves' fit is perfect. The
fact that four observatories had recorded this event made
the 10-15-2007 data solid, the star flare as well as the
WASP 1 b transit. .
The fourth observatory was Dark Ridge Observatory (Tom
Smith, director), who is now heading APASS project:
AAVSO Photometric All Sky Survey, Click here for details.
exoplanet transit. One of them, Bruce Gary, whose
exoplanet website monitors exoplanet observations
around the world, discovered that a flare star had
occurred near WASP 1 during our observations.
Cindy Foote, a prolific exoplanet observer in Utah,
informed me of this event and combined my star flare light
curve (red) with hers (blue) (Left chart) , showing the
spike during the star's flare. The curves' fit is perfect. The
fact that four observatories had recorded this event made
the 10-15-2007 data solid, the star flare as well as the
WASP 1 b transit. .
The fourth observatory was Dark Ridge Observatory (Tom
Smith, director), who is now heading APASS project:
AAVSO Photometric All Sky Survey, Click here for details.
If you are interested in linking up with what's happening in space and astronomy, there is no better place
to start than the Central Coast Astronomical Society, by clicking here
to start than the Central Coast Astronomical Society, by clicking here
| Click here to go to the Central Coast Astronomical Society's website. It is full of great information and links to other astronomical organizations and to NASA |
