OK, I realize it’s been a while since I posted. I started this blog with the good intentions of posting something once a week, and I have failed. Why? Because I’ve got so many projects going on, and first on that list is finding a full-time job.
I’m happy to share with you a list of the other things I’ve been working on, to let you know I’m not dead, and to serve as my to-do list for new articles on the blog. The list isn’t in any order so please keep coming back, or subscribe via RSS, and feel free to prod me with a comment or email if you think I need it.
- Binary star discovery – In December Marek Kozubal (Clay Center Observatory) Glenn Meurer (ATMoB) and I were the only people on earth to view the occultation by Ekard. We’re pretty sure that the light curves show a double star where none has been reported before.
- Completed - Self-Contained Occultation REcorder (SCORE) – This is my new rig to capture occultation data. It features a PC164CEX video camera, BlackBox GPS Video Overlay, Digital Video Recorder, Video Amplifier and 7″ LCD screen. It’s totally self-powered with a 9AH battery, and fits into a briefcase weighing about 12 pounds.
- 1929 South Bend 9×36 Lathe restoration – OK, not strictly astronomy, but a new and necessary addition to my shop for making astronomy accessories. This expands my capabilities immensly, and coupled with the Clausing mill, band saw, 6 grinders and sanders and 2 overflowing Craftsman tool boxes , gives me some great capabilities.
- 1996 Paramount GT1100 upgrade – Our club had a prototype telescope pointing mount made by those geniuses at <Software Bisque>. It’s the grandfather of the famous Paramount ME used throughout the world for precision telescope pointing and tracking. Well over the past 8 months I’ve been upgrading and testing the entire electro-mechanical system, replacing unreliable (it WAS a prototype) and underpowered components with the latest and greatest from the Bisque boys.
