Helen
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Posts posted by Helen
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35 minutes ago, andrew s said:
Thanks @Helen, largely as I would have guessed. Any ideas on what actions are being considered?
Regards Andrew
Thanks both. We're hoping to up the number of respondents, particularly from under represented groups so that the stats can be more robust. (We're well over 400 in total now though.)
Then we're looking at the detail, and going to work on follow up with participants. Lots of the national organisations are keen to be involved (RAS, BAA, SPA, Fed of Astro societies), so hopefully we can have some debate about action, guidelines, codes of conduct etc.
For me, I think once we identify the barriers, understand how people feel, we can perhaps start lots of small actions which could cumulate to positive change. Some positives might also come from covid - online meetings more accessible etc...
At the moment I'm encouraged that people are talking about it, recognising that some action is needed, and being prepared to be part of taking it forward.
Hopefully we'll make a difference!
Helen
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Hello All 🙂
Thanks to those who have completed the survey so far. We've just published some interim analysis - it makes interesting reading. This is the start of the process though, and we've been encouraged by the number of people willing to work together to try to improve things.
We're publishing a slightly longer version next week at the Europlanet Science Congress, so I'll post up a link to that idc too.
Thanks
Helen
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This is a really well done AR app -
JFK Moonshot'. I had fun! Well worth a free download. I can see this being added to my rocket workshops for schools!
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1 hour ago, JeremyS said:
Or there is this: https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=165467
But you'd need to add your own handle 🙂
Harder to justify that one as I have a rather nice WO123FLT LZOS as my main scope in the observatory.... If I was going for something for the obs I'd be tempted by a 150 esprit...
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If only Damien Peach came with it.....
It would go on the Mesu instead of the C11, but I was looking for something portable as my south horizon is obscured so planets from the obs are challenging... Might be cool for 67P return though 👀-
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I'm just wndering how are you getting on with the scope Andrew? My paper is nearly ready for submission (well the deadline is very close 🤣) so to encourage me during the final push on it and the 3 conference submissions I need to complete by Monday, I'm thinking about the reward .... Mewlon 🤔?
Thanks
Helen
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I'd avoid the official tripod for two reasons - it's not particularly rigid, and it doesn't fold down very small for travel (won't go in a suitcase). The other one you've linked to at FLO is very robust indeed, but is heavy, takes up a lot of space and you wouldn't contemplate travelling with it.
So a standard photo tripod would seem to meet your needs better.
WEX has some tripod offers this weekend. How about this? https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-aluminium-tripod-1682338/ £169 reduced to £99 but 30% extra off today! So £69 😁 less than half price!!!
Helen
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I'm currently reading this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parallax-Measure-Alan-W-Hirshfeld-ebook/dp/B00633W6L4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1598867267&refinements=p_27%3AAlan+W.+Hirshfeld&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Alan+W.+Hirshfeld which you will undoubtedly find interesting and useful! It includes some details of methodology and the formula you asked about.
Best wishes for the write up 🙂
Helen
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Grant is on now with some lovely live views 😎
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Looks good Grant - heading there now 😎
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Hello Michele, and welcome to SGL 😊
I remember visiting Ulm a long time ago 🙂. We were touring Germany, and as my husband loves cathedrals we had to visit Ulm, and the world's tallest spire. I remember climbing the spire before breakfast! Hard work, but the views were fantastic 😎
Helen
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I thought I'd flag up this competition/showcase - good fun to try with the kids/grandkids or to do yourself?
https://www.europlanet-society.org/inspiredbyotherworlds-arts-contest/
Enjoy!
Helen
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14 hours ago, old_eyes said:
Just to say that I am hugely enjoying this series. My thanks to everyone involved; mods and speakers. I have not been able to make most of the live broadcasts, because of family obligations, but I have followed up with many of them on YouTube. Excellent and valuable stuff
That's great to hear 🙂
Helen
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I think you need this 😉
Or if you want data from some large scopes then the LCO archive is open access https://lco.global/documentation/data/archive/
Have fun!
Helen
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It will be great to be involved in the Ariel Mission - great student project too!
If anyone fancies a bit of fun while learning how to detect exoplanets try this https://agentexoplanet.lco.global - for 'kids' of all ages!! 😉
Helen
PS The Comet Interceptor Mission will launch on the same rocket, and there might be some amateur involvement in that one too!
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Sometimes little additions make a big difference. Here's one of mine. The short extension means the scope doesn't hit the tripod. My handset is in a case with a loop on it, so the red hook gives me somewhere convenient to hang it 😁. Best bits though - the hook is the right shape to allow easy on/off but better still the strap rotates around the pillar so you can make it convenient wherever direction you're observing. 😎
(Is it sad I'm excited about a strap 🙄)
Other than that - ugh boots, duvet jacket, neck ruff, grippy gloves, handwarmer (I easily get cold!!)
Or for solar imaging my Think tank pixel sunshield - while initially seemed expensive it has survived frequent use, folding and unfolding/travelling for over 12 years
Helen
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I tried some quick planetary imaging while away last week. Getting the planet on a small chip planetary cam using the Tak 100 was a bit challenging and I ended up juggling an eyepiece and camera. So when this popped up on FLO's front page I thought it could save some faffing (and lower risk of dropping something!).
Typical Baader design and build quality. It is lighter and small than I thought it might be, although at the moment its the bare box and will need attachments for connecting eyepieces, cameras etc.
It is of course raining... so it might be some time before it sees first light 🥺
Helen
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I escaped.... am about to test the camera, but I proved last night that it responds to flashes, but didn't seem to capture anything else (so sadly no lightning) 🥺 Am about to google how to set up and focus a watec....
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5 minutes ago, aderyn said:
Perhaps that was the same light show we could see to the east around dusk - very impressive. No rain yet, the occasional very bright meteor, quite a lot of patchy cloud and another light show to the south.
Hope your camera copes!
Louise
Thanks Louise - the lightshow was amazing! Now just torrential rain - thankfully it eased slightly so I have escaped from the Obs (phew). The camera will have to wait until tomorrow (I've left the power on for now as it has a dew heater and hoping that might help!)
Helen
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The meteor camera is getting properly baptised 🥺. Not sure it will survive!!!
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10 minutes ago, Jonk said:
Photos or it didn’t happen! 😆
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I've been trying to get my meteor cam working - thought it might do double duty tonight!!! But.... came to check the laptop its connected to, which is iin the Obs, just at the wrong moment and am now stranded (unless I want to get completely soaked!!) Earlier on the light show was amazing with little rain, now its the reverse.
Helen
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10 minutes ago, dannybgoode said:
For imaging where you have to put the long/lat data in some vaguely hidden field (and depending on the software in different formats) and where accurate time is more important then for the sake of £15 for a GPS dongle it is a useful addition, particularly if you go out and about with your imaging rig. Note also this thread was started in 2012 when the availability of small cheap GPS devices was more limited so the arguments against have shifted
Yes, this (2012) was when the first cheap GPS dongles (non-astro specific) started being available, so they were a bit of a game changer... I think the one I got was around £20
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It would go on the Mesu instead of the C11, but I was looking for something portable as my south horizon is obscured so planets from the obs are challenging... Might be cool for 67P return though 
Broadening the involvement in amateur astronomy - help please!
in The Astro Lounge
Posted
Thanks John, yes I think time, money (weather!!) all score highly with all of us!
The majority of amateur astronomers are white, male and over 35 (mostly over 55), so the main barriers cited will reflect the barriers for them (just because more of them filled in the form). And if there's something we can help with with these (eg SGL helping with experience, online sessions which are recorded so can be played at a convenient time, loan schemes) then growing the total pool of astronomers is fantastic. What we also want to investigate though is the extent to which the barriers may be different for different groups - and that's where a more granular analysis of the data will come in. As a simple example, I as a lone female would be much more wary about going out to a dark place with a group of males I don't know well! So safety is a bigger barrier for me than for most men probably.
If there is a similar level of interest in astronomy and science amongst different demographs, but the participation is skewed, then something is awry. The stats in the survey which show how welcome people feel are for me the nub of the problem - most astronomers clearly think they are welcoming to certain groups, but people in those groups don't feel welcomed. That's an understanding/perception issue, which hopefully we can all do something about.
Helen