For those who receive S&T digitally, it looks like their recent update to their iPad app fixed the problem they've been having with only part of the magazine downloading for the first week or so that each issue has been available. I just downloaded the new issue and it came through fine. Speaking of S&T, I see they've just released a new app for identifying the Jovian satellites. Has anyone here tried it out yet? I use Software Bisque's Gas Giants app for that purpose but may check out S&T's offering as well. patrick Sent from my iPad
I assume you mean the Galilean satellites? Or does the S&T app ID every single one of them (assuming you have a monster telescope, and even then you can't see them all)? I haven't checked it out. For the old-fashioned among us who would rather hold a book than a smartphone or tablet, the Observer's Handbook lists times of the Galilean satellite's phenomenon (transits, eclipses, etc.) that makes ID pretty easy. On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 5:14 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
Speaking of S&T, I see they've just released a new app for identifying the Jovian satellites. Has anyone here tried it out yet? I use Software Bisque's Gas Giants app for that purpose but may check out S&T's offering as well.
On 22 Jan 2013, at 17:37, Chuck Hards wrote:
I assume you mean the Galilean satellites? Or does the S&T app ID every single one of them (assuming you have a monster telescope, and even then you can't see them all)? I haven't checked it out.
I have not downloaded it yet so I don't know which they ID. With today's larger telescope it would be handy if they showed more than just the Galiliean.
For the old-fashioned among us who would rather hold a book than a smartphone or tablet, the Observer's Handbook lists times of the Galilean satellite's phenomenon (transits, eclipses, etc.) that makes ID pretty easy.
You sound like me back when I was first introduced to astroimaging. Didn't like it at all. I thought it was like looking at a pixelated picture on TV. "I'll stick with film!", I used to say. And now look at what's in my observatory. While my poor, forlorn darkroom sits spotless, tidy...and unused for years. I agree that paper still has a place for some things. Though that list is shrinking. But I love the ability to pull out my iPad or MacBook right there at the scope and instantly show folks at the telescope an annotated diagram of what they are looking at at that very moment. And by sliding my finger across the screen to show how the satellites move over time. That's so much better (at least for me) than opening a book and mentally trying to first determine what is where and then trying to convey verbally to the observers what they are seeing. But, I suppose that it wont be long before even that seems quaint. By then one will look in the eyepiece to see the image live and then with the push of a button have tiny text and arrows appear indicating the names of each of the satellites being observed. Heck, with that you could even have it say "watch here" and moments later see one of the satellites come out of eclipse right where the arrow was pointing. Ok, time to open the observatory. If the past several nights are any indication, I've got maybe an hour or two before the gunk gets too thick to get good data through. patrick
Jeez, Patrick, I'm not a Luddite. I was just pointing-out that an old-fashioned alternative exists to the app, and many already have it in their observing kits. Just about the time I got my emulsion-based astrophotography setup complete, the digital revolution kicked-in. After accumulating gear for some ten years on the installment plan, it was suddenly obsolete. Unlike you, I didn't resist the digital conversion on technical grounds. It was purely ecconomic. The past few years I've been putting my digital arsenal together. A few years ago I got a modern mount, autoguider, and a nice, hi-resolution dedicated astro-camera. The last piece of equipment I need will be obtained in the next 60 days, then I'm fully ready to begin "hi-end" astroimaging. This year will see me staring at a laptop screen in the dark, accumulating frames to be assebled and processed later. It's going to be fun as I sample various objects and techniques- I'm not sure just what "favorite" targets or specific goals will pop-up. At this point, I'm just as likely to become a "nature photographer" as a "data-taker". I want to try it all and see where my interests lean before heading down a particular path predominantly. So, I'm not resisting the techinical changes as much as just being discerning about what I haul out with me. There's already a lot more gear than I used to haul back in the good old days. I'm also looking seriously at DSLR imaging so I can avoid hauling out the laptop. But I'm diving into the deep end right off the bat just for the sake of experience. There is also a difference in motivation between us. You like to showcase astronomy to the Great Unwashed and for that, having the techie visual aids certainly might help grab a few more-especially today's youth who are growing-up wired. I don't mind outreach (did a lot of it in the old days, I can't begin to count the number of star parties, sun parties, slide shows and talks I put on at area schools back in the '70's and early '80's), but these days I'm less active in that aspect. Always glad to let folks take a look and do my best at explaining, but I figure they need to do a bit of homework after I've given them a kick-start. If they just say "wow" after the star-party but drop it once on their own, well, that's their choice. There are a lot of fish in the river, we can't catch them all. There's a reasonable chance that one day I'll have all the cool apps, but for now, I only find one useful enough to load onto my smartphone. SkEye. I prefer it to the Google sky map. We'll see what else gets added, if anything, as time goes by. My 79 cents. ;-) On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 6:28 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 22 Jan 2013, at 17:37, Chuck Hards wrote:
You sound like me back when I was first introduced to astroimaging. Didn't like it at all. I thought it was like looking at a pixelated picture on TV. "I'll stick with film!", I used to say. And now look at what's in my observatory. While my poor, forlorn darkroom sits spotless, tidy...and unused for years.
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Chuck Hards -
Patrick Wiggins