JeremyS

Just back from Leakey, Texas, ca 60 miles from the Mexican border. Beautiful Texas Hill Country, with the bluebonnets and other wild flowers in full bloom. The day before was perfect and eclipse day dawned clear. Then cloud came in, but there were gaps. Caught 1st, 2nd and 3rd contact. I was observing visually with my Tak FC 76DCU and Canon IS bins. What a super event! we stayed in a cabin on a ranch. You can see it in my crude iPhone shot. It was extremely well appointed. The hosts were gracious and they even put on an impromptu Texas BBQ afterwards.

Nice handle John 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Good to see the late Maurice Gavin, CCD and spectroscopy pioneer

That was a favourite haunt of mine from the 70s until they closed

I’m just waiting for the cuckoo to pop out for a look 👍🏻

I certainly like your style, Nigella 👍🏻😊 I might have to dig out my observing dinner suit for the occasion 🤔

Interesting read. You don’t see sink areas in that state these days 🤣

I hope you get much enjoyment from it John. It’s as nice to look as as through, I suspect

Looks amazing John. And the wooden tripod is just the part. Was that supplied with it? First light after 30 years, though? Where’s it been in the meantime?

In Violation of the Prime Directive: Simulating detriments to Delta-Quadrant civilizations from the starship Voyager's impact on planetary rings https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.20268

Preprint on ArXiv today may give heart to those looking for Vulcan during the eclipse next week: “Vulcan: Retreading a Tired Hypothesis with the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse”, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.20281 If anyone is successful, might I suggest sending a description to the same journal? 😊

Nice set up 👍🏻

I wouldn’t be too sure about that John. Looks like Lundin is wiping off the evidence with his hankie. I hope it’s a clean one 🤔

I popped into the RAS library this week and viewed one of Caroline Herschel’s observing log books from the 1780s

This one: https://www.cameracentreuk.com/think-tank-airport-accelerator-camera-backpack Have a look at Matthew’s review: http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2015/05/17/think-tank-photo-airport-essentials-backpack-review/ it’s been all over the world with me

I use one of these (available in other guises): https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ovl-eyepieces/hyperflex-72mm-215mm-eyepiece.html

@Stu the whole point of musical chairs is that when the music stops, you remove a chair. Not add one!

Super setup. All you need now is a backpack

SS III is poorly constructed. The based of mine broke off soon after first use and needed glue. SS V much better engineered but bulky. I find no real advantage over a proper finderscope - a straight through inverted one for preference.

Still no group photo? 🤔

Splendid sketches. Really lifelike 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Pics or it didn’t happen 😊

Just seen your pic for tonight: snap! Looks like we both grabbed and went 😊

An evening with the Tak FC 76DCU