: By Dave HuestisToday’s column is a departure from my monthly highlights of upcoming astronomical events. February’s lack of spectacular phenomena influenced my decision to recap last Augusts' solar eclipse. However, this story is more about the journey to the path of totality than it is about the eclipse itself.
: By Tom ThibaultYet another business trip! This time I needed to take a quick jaunt west to Phoenix, AZ. I was to test a design concept at one location and visit a number of other stores while in the area. Here was the plan: fly down Wednesday afternoon, get car and into hotel by 7:00, eat, hook up to the internet, and call it a day. Work all next day and catch a flight back real early the next morning. Not much time for the ordinary to turn into the extraordinary—at least that’s what I thought.
: By Tom ThibaultThe following is an account of the trip my wife Lisa and I made to witness the launch of STS-134. Our itinerary included a visit to my parents in Largo, next to Tampa, for a few days, followed by four days in Cocoa Beach. I purchased our tickets to Kennedy Space Center as well as a bus tour to view STS-134 on launch pad 39A, one of the gateways to the stars.
: By Tom ThibaultThe month of August this year required that I take an 11 day business trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, to review the progress of a number of construction projects under way for the company. My wife Lisa, who has never shown a great interest in my work, for some reason insisted she accompany me on this grueling trip. This trip I intended to spend a little more time in Hawaii than the last, which involved two days in San Francisco, three days in Honolulu, and ending with two days in LA. During that trip it was all work and no play. This visit I made a point of including some personal time of which astronomy would be part of the agenda.
: By Tom ThibaultMy advice to all considering a cruise is to bring with you either large pair of binoculars or a small aperture telescope. One would think conditions on the ship would provide both enhancements and some challenges for viewing. The dark sites achieved at sea are fantastic with slight interference from the ship lighting. The low elevation and the possibility of a thin fog that may arise depending on water verses air temp are the main challenges. The other perceived issue most would think is the movement of the ship on water, but my experience on both cruises has shown this not to be significant obstacle due to the ships size and calm seas. On both cruises we had balcony suites, nothing like having the view of the sea 24/7. It’s nice to have an early morning coffee, a late night drink or to just get away by your selves for a while. It also provides a great observing platform after the sun has set and skies have darkened.
: By Steve HubbardWith it’s incredible 40-inch refractor, Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay Wisconsin has long been on my list of “those places that I’d love to visit, but just haven’t been able to make it to yet.”
At the end of September 2009, I and Dan Lorraine, Jack Szelka, Joe Sarandrea, Jim Hendrickson, Glenn Jackson and John Briggs of The Skyscrapers Inc. amateur astronomy society of Rhode Island got the chance to not only visit Yerkes, but had the rare opportunity of a night of exclusive observing with the 40-inch.
