Here is a good article to read about the GLP and is use.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38692291/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/
Mark
Archive for the 'News' Category
I can see Grouse Mountain from my back lawn, and it beckons to me, so I decided to ride up the service road from the top of Mountain Highway while the weather was sunny but cold. I decided to go to the extra trouble of adding a camera to my overloaded Roach pack I use with a water bladder for hydration.
The ride up was remarkable for a few reasons: It was very quiet up there, save a few workers fixing the road after it presumable had a lot of traffic on it for the installation of a wind turbine to generate power for the ski operation.
Once past all that, not a soul to be found. I found the going tough for a while, as the bare road gave way to snow with two rutted tracks with bare earth an
d ice in them. It got easier, though slow, once I reached an altitude where the snow cover was complete and very hard. In the middle of the road were a number of tracks, including larger ones I think came from a cougar.
I took a few photos going up but I came across something I don’t see very often out in the west, even in the winter.
Sundogs are a from a group of atmospheric phenomenon derived from the reflection/refraction of light through ice crystals. Last year, I saw a frost pillar that was remarkable for its sheer vertical size.
The weather was cold and very dry, so the ski hill was running its snow-making equipment full-bore, letting the ice pile up.
I always assumed that making snow this way resulted in the formation of ice droplets with little crystalline structure. The size and brilliance of the sundog is quite something in person.
Here is a great article on the BC Hydro web site that shows we are not along in the challenge of dealing with LPA.
http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/astronomers_big_on.html
The CBC is carrying a news story about the Thirty Meter Telescope, designed (in part by RASC member Craig Breckenridge) at Dynamic Structures in Coquitlam:
Here is the link to subcribe to the AOMO communication list.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/aomo/
or send an email to rascaomo@yahoo.com and the moderator will invite you to join. You do not have to be a member of yahoo in order to be a member of the email list.
Home Depot is carrying a International Dark-Sky Association approved out door wall mounted light fixture. The price is 39.98. Can use up to a 100w bulb and has a motion sensor built in.
I installed the light, replacing my globe style one and it took about 10 minutes. I also installed a Philips 40 W Amber light bulb.
I still have light on my steps when needed and it has made a huge difference on the light trespass in the back yard. Check it out and lets support the Home Depot on this product.
Mark Eburne
More info
It is made by Hampton Bay, made in China and the upc is 4633589006.
Not all Home Depots had them in stock and not all were promoting the International Dark Sky Association with the marketing material up at some stores.
By posting on the web site and having people talking to Home Depot we will get more awareness, step one of the big picture
Mark Eburne
Light Pollution Abatement
RASC Vancouver
Attention All Members
I have recently accepted the role of Chair, LPA RASC Vancouver. I have been a member of RASC for about four years and have been actively involved in the AOMO here in Maple Ridge. As an amateur astronomer, the night sky is very important to me and I am looking forward to helping preserve and improve the dark skies we have.
As you all are aware, light glare, light trespass and light pollution here in the lower mainland and in the City of Vancouver, in particular, is a large problem. These problems have a direct impact to us as amateur and professional astronomers. From the basic enjoyment of the night sky to having a debilitating impact on imaging or severely hindering any kind of scientific research being done, light pollution needs to be managed and ultimately reduced for all to enjoy.
Not only does light pollution impact the astronomy community but it has negative impact on other areas within the community including health and wellness of the public, wildlife, crime, safety and energy consumption to name a few.
In the past, there have been many successes in communities all across the country and around the world that have been able to directly impact the issue of light pollution in a positive way. Through City Ordinances and By-Laws that deal directly with sources of the problem, light pollution can be and has been noticeably reduced. It is my belief that the willingness to do something about light pollution is never far away but we must harness that willingness to effect positive change around us.
Efforts here in Vancouver by Vic Baker, Past Chair, have made a solid impact in awareness to the public. Congratulations to Vic and all of the supporting members that have been working directly and indirectly on this ongoing project.
To keep the momentum moving forward, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my plan that would assist in the management and reduction of light pollution in the City of Vancouver and surrounding areas. Clearly, any change will come from efforts of many individuals working together collectively towards one goal.
To achieve this goal, I will assemble a committee of not only astronomers but of other members of the public who are impacted and who would benefit from light pollution abatement. Amongst those on this committee, I would like to see representation from the City of Vancouver representing the change processes as well as industry representation for lighting products and services. I also hope to see individuals that have had success in other communities in dealing with light pollution abatement.
From this committee will come a Strategic Plan that establishes goals, objectives and action plans that everyone can be part of and get involved in with.
The plan will be focused around:
· public awareness and education;
· the measurement of current status and future results ;
· a process to work closely with the City of Vancouver to support current and future avenues in dealing with light pollution abatement; and
· create a model for others to use
I feel safe in saying that we all have a passion to manage and reduce light pollution and I feel very strongly that it can be done. Using a collective efforts approach will be impactful and efficient to meet the challenges ahead.
As I start to assemble the committee, I would like to hear your thoughts on what you feel would be helpful in achieving our goals of managing and reducing light pollution.
If you would like to participate on the committee, please let me know as soon as possible. Also if you know of anyone who you feel would be a great committee member, please pass on this invitation to contact me.
I can be reached on my cell phone at 604 649 8356 and email at meburne@telus.net.
Thank you
Mark Eburne
Chair, Light Pollution Abatement
RASC, Vancouver
Moon and Venus through a double-paned window
I managed to get outside for a few minutes tonight to get a shot of the moon and Venus forming a close conjunction. Here is a photo!
Click for full size.
This set of posts is about the TV Lens we were generously given by CTV to make into scopes.
Myself excluded, most people with these will need to make a tripod, and some kind of mount, probably a fork mount for sake of simplicity.
I recently acquired a planer as well as a second table saw that I can keep in Vancouver, so I have enough tools to build parts for people without such tools for the cost of material.
The tripods can be made of 2 X 6 lumber cut at an angle for legs, two pieces of plywood glued together for the mating plate. Door hinges can be used for the tops of the legs and a chain connected to eye bolts to prevent the tripod from collapsing.
The fork is a special problem. Mine is made out of a piece of aluminum tubing rectangular in cross-section. To make the U shape, I cut 22.5 degree wedges of material out, bent it to shape and had it welded by Pro-Tec Marine Welding in North Vancouver for $140. I didn’t cut through completely, but left the cut so that one side of material was still there and with enough room between the cuts so that when they were brought together, a proper weld with filler rod could be done. Mine ended up being not quite parallel but close enough I can probably cold-set them.
One problem with this lens is where the focus comes to. I think it may be too close to the last lens element to make for a convenient position, so I think some kind of negative lens element is needed to add some back focus distance.
