If I remember correctly, you live near Detroit. I don't know of any clubs out there, but I know Kalamazoo has a great club called KAS short for the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society
You can also find info on local astronomy clubs at Go Astronomy
Amateur Astronomy and the Pipe Smoker
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If I remember correctly, you live near Detroit. I don't know of any clubs out there, but I know Kalamazoo has a great club called KAS short for the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society
You can also find info on local astronomy clubs at Go Astronomy
Astronomy seems to be popular.
In fact, it's looking up.
In fact, it's looking up.
Also, MSU in East Lansing has an observatory that used to be open.to the public and had some cool laser and music shows. It makes a unique date night.
Fair warning, the seats are comfy and nap inducing.
I’ve been an amateur astronomer all my life. I’ve ground my own mirrors, built my own scopes, been president of the local club, observed all the Messiers, The Herschel 400, tons of other stuff, the whole 9 yards. I’ve never run out of new things to see and never will.
Sadly most people don’t even have a clue about all the incredible sights you can see naked eye or with a pair of binos.
I have a 25” Obsession and an old LX-200, but I never plug it in. Too much fun starhopping to find the faint fuzzies. Spend an hour tracking down something at the ragged limit. Satisfying.
If you can go to a really dark site and see your shadow cast on the ground by the Milky Way itself you’ll never be the same again. Worth the trip.
The important thing is to get out and observe, no matter what you’re using.
Sadly most people don’t even have a clue about all the incredible sights you can see naked eye or with a pair of binos.
I have a 25” Obsession and an old LX-200, but I never plug it in. Too much fun starhopping to find the faint fuzzies. Spend an hour tracking down something at the ragged limit. Satisfying.
If you can go to a really dark site and see your shadow cast on the ground by the Milky Way itself you’ll never be the same again. Worth the trip.
The important thing is to get out and observe, no matter what you’re using.
My late friend, Willy, had a 5" telescope with an equatorial mount. There's generally too much light pollution in Brooklyn to see much of anything. But, years ago, we took a drive along the Belt Parkway to an area where he used to fly kites. We set up the telescope where there weren't too many parkway lights and we saw Jupiter and four of its moons in a straight line. It was an amazing experience seeing that with just glass. When I was a kid, the sky looked black and I could see a lot of stars. Now the sky is sort of a plum colour at night.
I only recently saw my first meteor shower about a month ago at the PA house; we saw about twelve in ten minutes around 4:00 a.m. The skies are a lot darker than in Brooklyn. I could see getting a telescope for PA.
I only recently saw my first meteor shower about a month ago at the PA house; we saw about twelve in ten minutes around 4:00 a.m. The skies are a lot darker than in Brooklyn. I could see getting a telescope for PA.
Perfect... you're right up the road. If you're interested in KAS, Richard Bell is the fella to talk to.
I find it fascinating entertainment. Although for the moment I'm content with a pair of binoculars, when I go to the mountains for a walk.
I think the best part of the earth being flat is, you get to see the whole universe better.
I have no astronomy gear but I love astronomy. An opportunity to smoke my pipe while observing the heavens.
Nonsense. If the earth ? was truly flat…. then cats would’ve knocked everything off of it by now.
Light pollution is a real limitation for us town dwellers. Good street lights cancel about half the Milky Way. Coming in for a landing on a flight to Chicago really illustrates the point, with the aura of city lights reaching up to about 30,000 feet. Saw a pretty good array on a dark night on eastern Long Island, when the winery cat came up and caressed my trouser cuff. I'd like a moderately cool night on the desert for a real look-see.
You raise a good point and much more research will have to be done on this hypothesis. I’m assuming that the reason for cats not being able to knock everything off this flat earth, is because cats naturally fear water, all the continents are surrounded by water, therefore, keeping the balance of life.
On a semi serious note...
On October 14th, 2023 a Annual Solar Eclipse will occur and on April 8th, 2024 the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will occur. These will most likely be the last solar eclipses to traverse the United States in our lifetimes.
I'm considering going to Roswell for the 2023 occurrence. Would anyone be interested in a group trip? We could smoke our pipes together under the darkness of day and check out all the uniqueness that is Roswell. We could even commission one of the forums resident artists to make us a "Smoking in the Dark" eclipse t-shirt!
I'd also be willing to open up my property to anyone who wants to observe & smoke a pipe during the 2024 occurrence.
Thoughts?
On October 14th, 2023 a Annual Solar Eclipse will occur and on April 8th, 2024 the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will occur. These will most likely be the last solar eclipses to traverse the United States in our lifetimes.
I'm considering going to Roswell for the 2023 occurrence. Would anyone be interested in a group trip? We could smoke our pipes together under the darkness of day and check out all the uniqueness that is Roswell. We could even commission one of the forums resident artists to make us a "Smoking in the Dark" eclipse t-shirt!
I'd also be willing to open up my property to anyone who wants to observe & smoke a pipe during the 2024 occurrence.
Thoughts?
That would be pretty awesome to go to Texas to see that, smoke a pipe, and eat BBQ during the darkness.
Do you have any resources you could recommend? Books, websites, videos, podcasts, etc?
I have to admit, I watched the flat earthier documentary and found it interesting how someone could think that. I love science and sure it’s full of theories but the idea that the earth is flat blows my mind. I think flat earthier’s should spend more time trying to explain what’s on the underside then that the top is flat.