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stolenfeather

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Everything posted by stolenfeather

  1. I was at the Kennedy Space Center last Tuesday. My husband and I saw it being ready for launch. I took many pictures and a video. Unfortunately, I have to find the time to edit the files! I will probably tend to this over the weekend when time becomes more flexible. Isabelle
  2. I read on reviews that the rings of Saturn could be seen well but I'll have to make my own opinion soon. Thanks Pat!
  3. I understand completely since I also share your excitement when seeing Saturn! Keep the passion flowing! I sometimes wish that someone lived closer to me that shared this genuine excitement! I really need to participate in a stargazing party one day! Isabelle
  4. stolenfeather

    It arrived!

    First, let me just say that I am never ordering from this company again. They said that the item was "in stock" yet I waited for 7 weeks. Sigh,...but today, IT ARRIVED! :hello2: The Orion Starblast 4.5" Altazimuth Reflector Tabletop Telescope is definitely not as grandiose and my 10" Sky-Watcher but for my camping excursions,.. it shall do quite well! It came with 17mm and 6 mm Explorer II eyepieces and a Starry Night Software. Nice little program but when one uses Stellarium,.. who needs anything else right? A review? That will have to wait for now. I am about to take the plane for a well deserved vacation and the skies will be cloudy till then. So for now,... it definitely LOOKS like it will deliver on those hot summer nights! :) Anyone out there tried one of these before? What should I expect? Isabelle
  5. Thanks Paul. I'm looking forward to blogging about my trip to the Kennedy Space Center. I'm going to have a blast! Isabelle
  6. New equipment frustrations,.. oh man Have I ever been down that road! Now,.. I know that when you capture that "master shot" these problems will all be a thing of the past. Can't wait till your next image! Isabelle
  7. I'm still waiting for my chance to catch the ISS. Viewing from the bathroom,.. I must admit that I've never tried that! Isabelle
  8. stolenfeather

    WARM FUZZIES

    April 25th, 2011 It was -16°C (3.2 ºF) outside so I knew that I didn't have to worry about frostbite. I was also well aware that the weather station was predicting rain for the rest of the week and I was leaving on vacation on Friday. Yeah,.. It was to be my last time outside with my telescope for a good three weeks. I didn't even think twice about it. Even if I had classes to teach the very next morning, even if I knew that it would take some time for darkness to fall,.. I brought my telescope out for some star gazing. I decided to set my sights on the constellation Leo since it seems that all one has to do in this sector of space is sneeze and one stumbles on a galaxy. I stumbled on two right away: M 95 and 96 (both spiral galaxies found over 30 million light years from where I was standing). I looked away from my eyepiece when I spotted them since a strong emotion overtook me. It's not that I hadn't seen galaxies before, it's also not because they were overly interesting,.. it was because I could see them. When I am struck with an MS relapse, my eyesight becomes blurry and remains as such for many weeks. Recovery is slow. Many times I wonder, "Is it becoming better?" or "Am I just getting used to it?",... To strain through blurriness to see what stands in front of me is one thing. To see perfectly and become excited in discovering something blurry through an eyepiece is quite another. I saw two. Nah,... they weren't blurry,... let's just call them for what they are: WARM FUZZIES. Since I was clearly able to see them, I can now officially declare that my vision has returned (no matter what my doctor says when I see him this summer). One doesn't need eyesight to have vision right? Before calling it a night I took a small detour to see my dazzling neighbour that had remained silent up till then. Saturn showed its rings proudly when I finally settled on its face. I guess we both were sharing the same tune that night: YOU CRAZY DIAMOND!
  9. stolenfeather

    WARM FUZZIES

    April 25th, 2011 It was -16°C (3.2 ºF) outside so I knew that I didn't have to worry about frostbite. I was also well aware that the weather station was predicting rain for the rest of the week and I was leaving on vacation on Friday. Yeah,.. It was to be my last time outside with my telescope for a good three weeks. I didn't even think twice about it. Even if I had classes to teach the very next morning, even if I knew that it would take some time for darkness to fall,.. I brought my telescope out for some star gazing. I decided to set my sights on the constellation Leo since it seems that all one has to do in this sector of space is sneeze and one stumbles on a galaxy. I stumbled on two right away: M 95 and 96 (both spiral galaxies found over 30 million light years from where I was standing). I looked away from my eyepiece when I spotted them since a strong emotion overtook me. It's not that I hadn't seen galaxies before, it's also not because they were overly interesting,.. it was because I could see them. When I am struck with an MS relapse, my eyesight becomes blurry and remains as such for many weeks. Recovery is slow. Many times I wonder, "Is it becoming better?" or "Am I just getting used to it?",... To strain through blurriness to see what stands in front of me is one thing. To see perfectly and become excited in discovering something blurry through an eyepiece is quite another. I saw two. Nah,... they weren't blurry,... let's just call them for what they are: WARM FUZZIES. Since I was clearly able to see them, I can now officially declare that my vision has returned (no matter what my doctor says when I see him this summer). One doesn't need eyesight to have vision right? Before calling it a night I took a small detour to see my dazzling neighbour that had remained silent up till then. Saturn showed its rings proudly when I finally settled on its face. I guess we both were sharing the same tune that night: YOU CRAZY DIAMOND!
  10. The updates have to be done regularly with that plug-in but now it works fine. Does it show that I'm technologically challenged. Good thing that my telescope only has mirros and lenses to worry about. Oh man,.. then there's collimation! :) Isabelle
  11. Never mind,.. never mind,.. i just figured it out! Isabelle
  12. That's the problem actually. I have the recent version of Stellarium but can't find the button to pinpoint it's direction. Can you help me? Isabelle
  13. I have to admit in never seeing the ISS. :(
  14. I was thinking the same thing the other day,.. The only people I know that are remotely interested come over to my house. look through my eyepiece expecting to see what they have witnessed in National Geographic magazines and say, "That's it?" They just don't get it. :( When my students in my science classes (grades7-9) come though, it's a completely different story! Isabelle
  15. Telescope delays? I can surely empathize! My second telescope to use for the summer since it is more portable still hasn't arrived and it's been 7 weeks. I did the only thing I could think of,.. cancel my order. I'm sure others will be more willing to have business with me. Great round-up of your night there and much success in capturing the Messier objects the way you did. I have read many books but the learning process only deepens with time outside as you have seen. A dobsonian? Now that's a wonderful decision,.. it makes you appreciate the night sky even more! Isabelle I don't have a 12" but a 10" myself:
  16. stolenfeather

    saturn 1st

    Very nice shot and surely one to be proud of! Isabelle
  17. You had a very successful night there Andrew and pack quite an instrument! Stellarium is quite the window to many opportunities out there isn't it? Isabelle
  18. Yes, the lazy summer mights does grant us an easier time with the cold but robs us of prime viewing. First of all we have to wait longer for those perfect ink-black skies to come around and then,.. the stars are simply not as sharp. I have to say in summer's defense though,.. I don't suffer any frost bite in July! Isabelle
  19. Congratulations on a successful night. Using a Barlow will make quite a difference! I'm not that knowledgeable about photographer but as a viewer,.. it's awesome! Isabelle
  20. One small step at a time Jim. A good night is a ggos night. I wish you many others. Isabelle
  21. Saturn will make very outing worthwhile no matter how many times you have seen it before! Congrats on finally having a successful time out there (in between clouds). Clear skies Patrick,.. clear skies! Isabelle
  22. My students and I have done many outings together with my scope but it looks like we'll have to wait for a good night. It will come,.. It will come,.. Isabelle
  23. One of the reasons I don't have much time with the scope these days is waiting for inky blackness in the north. This means going to sleep at later hours and I have a class of teenagers to teach the next day. For now, stargazing is reserved for the weekends. I wish the clouds knew that. So far,.. it hasn't been very good. Isabelle
  24. Eerily beautiful Tibbs! I love it! Isabelle
  25. stolenfeather

    buy an xt8i??

    I guess it all depends what you want to do with it. The fact that it is computerized will make this scope very practical (although I like to manually star hop myself) but Orion is a great company so you shouldn't be too anxious about your purchase. However, I have never used a computerized scope myself so can't help you as much as you need. For this I'm sorry. Posting this question on equipment help might generate more helpful information. I wish you clear skies and hope your scope is the right one for you. Isabelle
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