Minutes

(Scroll down for last meeting's minutes..)

CLUB TO-DO LIST
(updated 4/29/09 - Dan)

Ongoing:  

  • Public outreach : IYA 2009 : Get more people involved.
    –        Light pollution awareness and sky quality monitoring
    –    Take light pollution survey of campus (?)

Maintenance:

  • Fix Dome Shutter motor (again). (new problem ?) We installed a new fuse holder, but it was still blowing the fuses. Turns out the fuses were not rated high enough. only 2amps, we need something at least 3, probably 6-7 "slo-blow")

  • Clean eyepieces

  • Align the finder scope on main telescope

  •  Re-Balance telescope (??? - sometime in next few years if necessary)

 Imaging:

  • Take pretty pictures
    –        Get guiding working <= needs to be researched, and may require connection of camera to control computer  (we are using the feature built in ACE, but do not know if it is working/ how well it works)
    –        Get auto-focusing working
    –        Figure out how to properly use focal reducer
    –        Implement Hubble style image correction algorithm

  • Buy Luminance Filter and possibly Sulfur Filter. (currently have no money)

Projects

  • Get brass refractor operational on Astrola pier
    - Build new focusing assembly and knobs
    - Purchase or build mounting brackets for Astola Pier

  • Scale model of solar system. Talk to Dave if you are interested in working on this.

  • Restore 12.5” dobsonian back to usable condition <= may be good portable telescope

Long Term

  • Work with administration to plan for the Science center expansion (at least 5-10 years away)

  • Work with administration on Handicap Accessibility (done, but waiting for final budgetary approvals)
     

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Rob shows websites:

Google Mars
youdecide.hubblesite.org : vote to decide next object Hubble will image- open  until around March 1, images released in April

Schenectady Museum emails Jon Cassidy, Heidi Newberg.
allowing listing of Hirsch Obs as affiliate and/or collaborator for potential Motorola grants applied for by Schenectady Museum/ Suits/Bueche Planetarium

Motorola foundation for grants "support of programs that inspire and cultivate the next generation"
Sch. Museum also asked to cooperate with Hirsch Obs for educational programs, middle school students/teachers

watched video "Antarctic Search for Meteorites" - by ANSMET

Comet Lulin
brightest Feb 24-5; propose opening Obs  whole week to get traffic

Dave demos the PST:
borrowed from a friend in Schenectady; can use it for GM week observing; should have our own (Coronado Solarmax 60) approved and delivered by then, be able to host one live-view, one for general audiences via DSI on laptop can screw into a tripod mount.
internally mounted solar filter. It has a tuning mechanism, in this case, a black ring which is twisted.
unique solar spotting scope / finder mechanism

regarding RAS' own Coronado scope:
awaiting E-board approval of expenditure
should come later today, be ordered and arrive in around 2 weeks


..... 

stuff that was done..

  • Re-align telescope (Fixed using Zero Encoders feature of ACE)

  • Fix Dome Shutter Motor (Fixed by Rob 4/1/08)

  • Fix bad spot on dome rotation track (Fixed by Rob 4/3/08)

  • Install backup power supply  (installed, powers telescope and computers)

  •  Clean out dome control computer (remove dust, etc)   (not necessary)

  • Weather station? (probably needs new battery) (Fixed: new CR123 Battery 10/10/08

......

Wednesday, September 27, 2007

Jonathan Cassidy discussed repairing and rebuilding some of the telescopes.

The Original 12" (12.5"?) f/5 Newtonian telescope needs electrical wiring to run the tracking motor. A few people volunteered to help with that. Note: some parts (wire nuts, etc) may have to be procured, these should be available from the shops/labs in the engineering center. Once it is ready, it can be carefully rolled out onto the roof for use. It is a very robust, well made telescope, probably weights on the order of 1000lbs.

Also, the Colter 14in telescope may need a new tube assembly. a truss tube dobsonian mount was suggested by Jonathan. There is one other dobsonian reflector which may also make a good traveling telescope.

We discussed plans for having the observatory open Friday and Saturday for Family Weekend (AKA Fall Fest) October 19-21. It appears from the website they are already planning for us on Friday and Solar Observing on Saturday. We may do an open house week through to the next weekend.

People offered to give short presentations of areas of interest or recent news related to astronomy. I plan on presenting a few news stories of note next meeting, in particular updates on the Mars rovers/ info on Mars in lieu of observing Mars later in the semester.

Observatory training should be available on Thursday evenings starting around 8:30pm when the TAs meet. (Dan and Saadia + 2 graduate students) Note: it is best to call the observatory phone ( 518 276-6090 to check if you plan on coming).

-Dan Elton


Wednesday September 12, 2007


*Introductions:

*RAS Officers:
Elizabeth Frank--President
Andrew Nixon--Vice President
Saadia Safir--Secretary/Treasurer
Dan Elton--Program Chair
Dan Elton, Andrew Nixon--Webmasters

Also, honorary members:  Johnathon Cassidy ad Dave Hubriki.
Both are non-RPI members who help out during events such as Public
Observing on Friday Nights.  Both are extremely helpful and are very
knowledgeable about astronomy and observing.

*Introduction, General Club information, Events, etc*

One of the functions of RAS is to help run the observatory along with
the Physics Department.  We help keep it in use, help with its upkeep,
and will buy new equipment and other telescope accessories.

Every Friday night (except for a period that starts sometimes in
November and lasts until sometimes in February) we hold Public Observing
on Friday nights.  The observatory is open to everyone during this
time.  We'll have students from RPI as well as people from Troy and the
surrounding area, younger children as well as adults.   Dave and
Johnathon are generally there and work with the telescopes on the roof.
Feel free to come; also, as we'll need more people to become familiar
with the telescopes and observatory, so come by to help out and learn.
Also, on cloudy nights, Johnathon and Dave hold activities in one of the
classrooms, so there's something for cloudy nights as well.

We also hold Children's Night once a year.  This is similar to Public
Observing, but directed towards younger children.  We use the telescopes
and set up astronomy related activities for the children.  Last year we
had things like using playdough to demonsrate the scale of the objects
in our solar system and UV senstivie beads to make necklaces and
bracelets with.  Children's Night is generally held in the spring, but
we can consider doing it this semester as well, since it was very
successful last year.

Last spring, we also had an Open Observatory Week where the observatory
was open to everyone on every clear night that week.  We wanted to let
the community know about the recent refurbishments that had been done to
the 16-inch telescope and the dome.  This is also something we may
consider doing this semester, to advertise the observatory to people on
campus and the surrounding area and to encourage them to come up and let
them know that it is something that is available to them.

Another idea for events are star parties.  These are generally held by
astronomy-enthusiasts and are held in areas that are less
light-polluted.  Many are held at Grafton Park which is relatively
nearby.  RAS has gone to them in the past but not in a while.  If there
is enough interest, it would be a neat thing to organize as well.  We
could consider holding an RPI night, just for RPI members or just attend
a general star party.

*Ways to get involved in RAS:*

Help out with events.  Come by and see how Public Observing is run, so
you can help out in the future.  We always want to have people around
who are familiar with the observatory and willing to help run things and
keep them going.

Also, events like Children's Night and Open Observatory Week generally
bring a lot of people to the observatory.  Any extra help to run things,
answer questions, and hold activities would be wonderful.

Also, think of ideas!  Let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions
for possible events and activities or anything related to the club at all.

Help out with the RAS website (astro.union.rpi.edu) or the observatory's
site (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/phys/observatory/index.html).  If you have
any experience or expertise with website design and have something to
add to ours or would like to help keep it updated, mention it.
*
Access to the Observatory:*

We will be holding some training to allow those interested to learn
about using the 16-inch telescope and the other observatory equipment.
Once members take the quiz, they are put onto the key list and are able
to access the observatory whenever they want.   Finding a time to go to
the observatory will be a bit difficult since the Observational
Astronomy and Earth and Sky classes have labs on Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday nights, but we'll figure something out and keep you posted.

*Dues: *

Dues are $5.00 per semester and $10.00 for the year.  You can charge to
your student account if you'd like, but you are only allowed to do that
for charges of $10.00 or more.

-Saadia Saffir