The Temporality of Astronomical Paperwork
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Instruction Manual
INSTRUCTION MANUAL Table of Contents 1. Setting up the EQM-35 mount .................................................. 1 1.1 Setting Up the tripod ................................................................................... 1 1.2 Attaching the mount ..................................................................................... 1 1.3 Attaching the accessory tray ....................................................................... 1 1.4 Installing the Counterweights ..................................................................... 2 1.5 Installing slow-motion control handles ..................................................... 2 1.6 Installing electrical components ................................................................. 3 1.7 Installing optional accessories to turn the EQM-35 PRO into the EQM-35 PRO light photographic traveling version ............................................ 4 1.8 Installing optional accessories to turn the EQM-35 PRO into the EQM-35 PRO super light photographic traveling version ................................ 5 2. Moving and balancing the EQM-35 mount ............................. 6 2.1 Balancing the mount: ................................................................................... 6 2.2 Orienting the mount before starting (polar aligning): ............................. 7 2.3 Pointing the telescope with the EQM-35 mount ...................................... 8 3. Use of the polar scope (precise polar aligning) .................. 12 3.1. Aligning procedure for the northern hemisphere: -
Respicite Astra: a Historic Journey in Astronomy Through Books
0 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books RReessppiicciittee AAssttrraa A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books The Astronomiicall Sociiety of Mallta The Natiionall Liibrary of Mallta The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 1 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Respicite Astra A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Exhibition held between 25 September – 18 October 2010-09-21 at the National Library, Valletta, Malta on the occasion of Notte Bianca 2010 Introductory Text Mr Victor Farrugia Captions Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer – Pgs 23-24, 57 Mr Alexander Pace – Pgs 25-26, 58, 63, 70 Prof Frank Ventura – Pgs 4, 6-13, 15-18, 21, 27-31, 33, 35-38, 40, 42- 43, 45-48, 50-56, 60-62, 65-69, 72-76, 80, 85, 87, 93 Acknowledgements The Committee of the Astronomical Society of Malta would like to acknowledge the following persons for their kind and generous help in setting up this Exhibition at the Main Hall of the National Library starting on 25th September 2010 during the Notte Bianca event: Mr Fabio Agius (MaltaPost Philatelic Archives) Ms C Michelle Buhagiar (National Library of Malta) Ms Maroma Camilleri National Library of Malta) Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer (Personal capacity) Victor Farrugia (Astronomical Society of Malta) Mr Alexander Pace (Astronomical Society of Malta) Arch Alexei Pace (Astronomical Society of Malta) Ms Joanne Sciberras (National Library of Malta) Mr Tony Tanti (Astronomical Society of Malta) Prof Frank Ventura (University of Malta) Staff of the National Library of Malta Front Image Great Orion Nebula by Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer Production The Astronomical Society of Malta P.O. -
As the Dome of Twilight Sinks Below The
As the dome of twilight sinks below the horizon, a mechanical corps de ballet starts a slow-motion pirouette with each dancer keeping the unblinking eye of a telescope locked on a single spot in the heavens. Shutters open and ancient photons, ending a journey that may have started before the earth was born, collide with sensors that store an electron to mark that photon's arrival. With the dance in motion the directors sit back to watch the show; another imaging session has begun... Image by Marcus Stevens A Full and Proper Kit An introduction to the gear of astro-photography The young recruit is silly – 'e thinks o' suicide; 'E's lost his gutter-devil; 'e 'asn't got 'is pride; But day by day they kicks him, which 'elps 'im on a bit, Till 'e finds 'isself one mornin' with a full an' proper kit. Rudyard Kipling Like the young recruit in Kipling's poem 'The 'Eathen', a deep-sky imaging beginner starts with little in the way of equipment or skill. With 'older' imagers urging him onward, providing him with the benefit of the mistakes that they had made during their journey and allowing him access to the equipment they've built or collected, the newcomer gains the 'equipment' he needs, be it gear or skills, to excel at the art. At that time he has acquired a 'full and proper kit' and ceases to be a recruit. This paper is a discussion of hardware, software, methods and actions that a newcomer might find useful. It is not meant to be an in-depth discussion of all forms of astro-photography; that would take many books and more knowledge than I have available. -
A Newly-Discovered Accurate Early Drawing of M51, the Whirlpool Nebula
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage , 11(2), 107-115 (2008). A NEWLY-DISCOVERED ACCURATE EARLY DRAWING OF M51, THE WHIRLPOOL NEBULA William Tobin 6 rue Saint Louis, 56000 Vannes, France. E-mail: [email protected] and J.B. Holberg Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1541 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: We have discovered a lost drawing of M51, the nebula in which spiral structure was first discovered by Lord Rosse. The drawing was made in April 1862 by Jean Chacornac at the Paris Observatory using Léon Foucault’s newly-completed 80-cm silvered-glass reflecting telescope. Comparison with modern images shows that Chacornac’s drawing was more accurate with respect to gross structure and showed fainter details than any other nineteenth century drawing, although its superiority would not have been apparent at the time without nebular photography to provide a standard against which to judge drawing quality. M51 is now known as the Whirlpool Nebula, but the astronomical appropriation of ‘whirlpool’ predates Rosse’s discovery. Keywords: reflecting telescopes, nebulae, spiral structure, Léon Foucault, Lord Rosse, M51, Whirlpool Nebula 1 REFLECTING TELESCOPES AND SPIRAL STRUCTURE The French physicist Léon Foucault (1819–1868) is the father of the reflecting telescope in its modern form, with large, optically-perfect, metallized glass or ceramic mirrors. Foucault achieved this breakthrough while working as ‘physicist’ at the Paris Observatory in the late 1850s. The largest telescope that he built (Foucault, 1862) had a silvered-glass, f/5.6 primary mirror of 80-cm diameter in a Newtonian configura- tion (see Figure 1). -
The Mystery and Majesty
The mystery and majesty Nearly 40 years after THE SPACE AGE BLASTED off when the Soviet Union launched the Voyager 2 visited Uranus world’s first artificial satellite in 1957. Since then, humanity has explored our cosmic and Neptune, scientists are backyard with vigor — and yet two planets have fallen to the planetary probe wayside. eager for new expeditions. In the 63 years since Sputnik, humanity has only visited Neptune and Uranus once BY JOEL DAVIS — when Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in January 1986 and Neptune in August 1989 40 ASTRONOMY • DECEMBER 2020 of the ICE GIANTS — and even that wasn’t entirely pre- interstellar mission, more than a dozen pro- In 1781, Uranus became the first planet planned. The unmitigated success of posals have been offered for return missions ever discovered using a telescope. Nearly 200 years later, Voyager 2 Voyager 1 and 2 on their original mission to one or both ice giants. So far, none have became the first spacecraft to visit to explore Jupiter and Saturn earned the made it past the proposal stage due to lack Uranus and Neptune, in 1986 and 1989 respectively. NASA/JPL twin spacecrafts further missions in our of substantial scientific interest. Effectively, solar system and beyond, with Neptune and the planetary research community has been Uranus acting as the last stops on a Grand giving the ice giants the cold shoulder. Tour of the outer solar system. But recently, exoplanet data began In the 31 years since Voyager 2 left the revealing the abundance of icy exoplanets Neptune system in 1989 and began its in our galaxy “and new questions about WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 41 With a rotation axis tilted more than 90 degrees compared to its orbital plane, Neptune likewise has a highly tilted rotation axis and tilted magnetic axis. -
To Photographing the Planets, Stars, Nebulae, & Galaxies
Astrophotography Primer Your FREE Guide to photographing the planets, stars, nebulae, & galaxies. eeBook.inddBook.indd 1 33/30/11/30/11 33:01:01 PPMM Astrophotography Primer Akira Fujii Everyone loves to look at pictures of the universe beyond our planet — Astronomy Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov) is one of the most popular websites ever. And many people have probably wondered what it would take to capture photos like that with their own cameras. The good news is that astrophotography can be incredibly easy and inexpensive. Even point-and- shoot cameras and cell phones can capture breathtaking skyscapes, as long as you pick appropriate subjects. On the other hand, astrophotography can also be incredibly demanding. Close-ups of tiny, faint nebulae, and galaxies require expensive equipment and lots of time, patience, and skill. Between those extremes, there’s a huge amount that you can do with a digital SLR or a simple webcam. The key to astrophotography is to have realistic expectations, and to pick subjects that are appropriate to your equipment — and vice versa. To help you do that, we’ve collected four articles from the 2010 issue of SkyWatch, Sky & Telescope’s annual magazine. Every issue of SkyWatch includes a how-to guide to astrophotography and visual observing as well as a summary of the year’s best astronomical events. You can order the latest issue at SkyandTelescope.com/skywatch. In the last analysis, astrophotography is an art form. It requires the same skills as regular photography: visualization, planning, framing, experimentation, and a bit of luck. -
2014 Stellafane Convention
2014 Stellafane Convention The 79th Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers on Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont 43° 16’ 41” North Latitude, 72° 31’ 10” West Longitude Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27, 2014 “For it is true that astronomy, from a popular standpoint, is handicapped THE STELLAFANE CLUBHOUSE by the inability of the average workman to own an expensive astronomical The clubhouse was designed by Porter and constructed by the members. The telescope. It is also true that if an amateur starts out to build a telescope just pink color may simply have been that of donated paint, but it has been hal- for fun, he will find before his labors are over that he has become seriously lowed by long tradition. Although interested in the wonderful mechanism of our universe. And finally there is it’s now a tight fit with today’s larg- understandably the stimulus of being able to unlock the mysteries of er membership roster, the Spring- the heavens by a tool fashioned by one’s own hand.” field Telescope Makers still hold —Russell W. Porter, Founder of Stellafane, March, 1923 meetings at Stellafane. The origi- nal site, including the clubhouse SOME STELLAFANE HISTORY and the Porter Turret Telescope, In 1920, when a decent astronomical telescope was far beyond the average was designated a National Historic worker’s means, Russell W. Porter offered to help a group of Springfield ma- Landmark in 1989. Photo is from chine tool factory workers build their own. Together, they ground, polished, 1930s. and figured mirrors, completed their telescopes, and began using them, soon THE PORTER TURRET TELESCOPE becoming thoroughly captivated by amateur astronomy. -
Orion Atlas EQ-G Equatorial Mount Instruction Manual
INSTRUCTION MANUAL Francais ➊Pour obtenir le manuel d'utilisation complet, ™ veuillez vous rendre sur le site Web OrionTe- Orion Atlas EQ-G lescopes.eu/fr et saisir la référence du produit dans la barre de recherche. Equatorial GoTo Mount ➋Cliquez ensuite sur le lien du manuel d’utilisation du produit sur la page de descrip- tion du produit. #9996 Deutsche ➊Wenn Sie das vollständige Handbuch ein- sehen möchten, wechseln Sie zu OrionTelescopes.de, und geben Sie in der Suchleiste die Artikelnummer der Orion-Kamera ein. ➋Klicken Sie anschließend auf der Seite mit den Produktdetails auf den Link des entspre- chenden Produkthandbuches. Español ➊Para ver el manual completo, visite OrionTelescopes.eu y escriba el número de artículo del producto en la barra de búsqueda. ➋A continuación, haga clic en el enlace al manual del producto de la página de detalle del producto. Italiano ➊ Per accedere al manuale completo, visitare il sito Web OrionTelescopes.eu. Immettere the product item number nella barra di ricerca ➋ Fare quindi clic sul collegamento al manuale del prodotto nella pagina delle informazioni sul prodotto. Corporate Offices: 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA Toll Free USA & Canada: (800) 447-1001 International: +1(831) 763-7000 Customer Support: [email protected] AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY Copyright © 2020 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars. All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars. IN 279 Rev. F 09/20 Saddle Dovetail mounting bar Saddle clamp knobs Declination setting circle Dec clutch lever Front opening Drive panel Right Ascension setting circle Counter weight shaft lock lever R. -
Ioptron's New ZEQ25GT Mount
Test Report S & T Test Report For more information about Sky & Telescope magazine or to subscribe visit SkyandTelescope.com or phone --. Dennis di Cicco iOptron’s New ZEQ25GT Mount There’s more to this equatorial Go To mount than just a radical new design. ZEQGT U.S. price: from (as tested: , including tripod, polar-alignment scope, carrying case, and tripod bag) iOptron F Gill St., Woburn, MA ; ioptron.com; -- Tipping the scales at only ½ pounds ( kg) without the counterweight shaft, the ZEQGT is compact and very portable. The pivoting counterweight shaft clears the tripod legs when the mount is set for low latitudes all the way to the equator. ALL PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED ©2014 New Track Media, LLC. Reprinted with permission from Sky & Telescope. SKY & TELESCOPE • March 2014 S&T Test Report S if I’m wrong, but I can’t recall a company ever off ering a wider variety of telescope mounts than iOptron currently does. From small and midweight alt-azimuth designs to a range of German equatorials, the company has the biggest selec- tion of Go To mounts available today. Although iOptron’s lineup stops short of the massive “observatory” equatorials used by elite astrophotographers, its off erings fully cover the workhorse needs of amateur astronomy. I’ve spent decades using portable equipment everywhere from my driveway to the Australian Outback, and there’s never been SEAN WALKER SEAN an occasion when I wouldn’t have been well served by one S&T: of the mounts currently available from iOptron. Above: Mentioned in the text, iOptron’s CEM (seen here at its One of the company’s newest Go To equatorials is the unveiling last November at the Arizona Science & Astronomy Expo) ZEQGT. -
02. Solar System (2001) 9/4/01 12:28 PM Page 2
01. Solar System Cover 9/4/01 12:18 PM Page 1 National Aeronautics and Educational Product Space Administration Educators Grades K–12 LS-2001-08-002-HQ Solar System Lithograph Set for Space Science This set contains the following lithographs: • Our Solar System • Moon • Saturn • Our Star—The Sun • Mars • Uranus • Mercury • Asteroids • Neptune • Venus • Jupiter • Pluto and Charon • Earth • Moons of Jupiter • Comets 01. Solar System Cover 9/4/01 12:18 PM Page 2 NASA’s Central Operation of Resources for Educators Regional Educator Resource Centers offer more educators access (CORE) was established for the national and international distribution of to NASA educational materials. NASA has formed partnerships with universities, NASA-produced educational materials in audiovisual format. Educators can museums, and other educational institutions to serve as regional ERCs in many obtain a catalog and an order form by one of the following methods: States. A complete list of regional ERCs is available through CORE, or electroni- cally via NASA Spacelink at http://spacelink.nasa.gov/ercn NASA CORE Lorain County Joint Vocational School NASA’s Education Home Page serves as a cyber-gateway to informa- 15181 Route 58 South tion regarding educational programs and services offered by NASA for the Oberlin, OH 44074-9799 American education community. This high-level directory of information provides Toll-free Ordering Line: 1-866-776-CORE specific details and points of contact for all of NASA’s educational efforts, Field Toll-free FAX Line: 1-866-775-1460 Center offices, and points of presence within each State. Visit this resource at the E-mail: [email protected] following address: http://education.nasa.gov Home Page: http://core.nasa.gov NASA Spacelink is one of NASA’s electronic resources specifically devel- Educator Resource Center Network (ERCN) oped for the educational community. -
User Manual Nomenclature
GERMAN TYPE EQUATORIAL MOUNT (FM 51/52 - FM 100/102 - FM150) USER MANUAL NOMENCLATURE WORM DRIVE TIGHTENING SCREW DECLINATION AXIS FIXING CLUTCH DECLINATION AXIS MANUAL KNOB DECLINATION AXIS CONTROL PLUG POLAR SCOPE PEEP PLATFORM HOLE POLAR AXIS CONTROL PLUG ALTITUDE MOUNTING SCREW AZIMUT SETTING SCREW POLAR AXIS MANUAL KNOB AZIMUT FIXING SCREW POLAR AXIS FIXING CLUTCH HOW TO SET UP? Installing telescopes and counterweights. Balancing the system. After placing the mount on the column, the optics have to be put on the platform. Make sure that the weight of the telscope is constantly and gradually increased on the mount. A good idea here could be placing a counterweight on the counterweight axis, as near as possible to the root of the axis and then mounting the telescope. When mounting several telescopes the above described procedure applies with one counterweight followed by one telescope and so on. After that first try balancing the polar axis by moving the counterweight. Use additional counterweights if necessary. The next step is balancing the declination axis by adjusting the tubering (not included). The excentricity of the counterweight previously installed can enhance this procedure. As the boreholes on the counterweights are not symmetrical, by rotating the counterweight around the axis one can finetune the balance of the declination axis. Continue with this procedure until both axes of the system are balanced. Alignment 1. ALIGNMENT USING A POLAR TELESCOPE Alignment is most easily done with the help of a polar telescope. Insert the polar telescope in the polar telescope slot of the mount (a connecting adapter might be needed due to possible incompatibility with some polar telescopes). -
Advanced Series Advanced Series GT
AAddvvaanncceedd SSeerriieess AAddvvaanncceedd SSeerriieess GGGTTT INSTRUCTION MANUAL C80ED-R ● C100ED-R INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................ ............4 Warning...................................................................................................................................................... 4 ASSEMBLY .................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Setting up the Tripod.................................................................................................................................. 6 Attaching the Equatorial Mount ................................................................................................................. 6 Attaching the Center Leg Brace ................................................................................................................. 7 Installing the Counterweight Bar................................................................................................................ 7 Installing the Counterweight ...................................................................................................................... 8 Attaching the Hand Control Holder............................................................................................................ 8 Attaching the Slow Motion Knobs ............................................................................................................