By the 1970s amateur astronomers realized that the Sun it located right in a “Messier object gap” around the dates of Vernal Equinox (Spring) in late March. This means all 110 Messier objects are on “either side” or “north” of the Sun and available for observation throughout the night — if an observer worked fast enough. Hence, the phrase “Messier Marathon” was invented to describe the all-night attempt.
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PUNCH was successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California! The Mission Operations Center [MOC] at SwRI-Boulder successfully contacted all four spacecraft after launch. Initial indications are that all are healthy and are in Safe-Sun Point mode with the solar arrays deployed! The MOC team will be doing further health and performance assessments via additional passes …
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The NASA payload will include the PUNCH mission that contains three Tele Vue Optical Lens Assemblies.
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The Nagler Type 7 series was developed as a natural extension of our highly regarded, 85°, limited edition Apollo 11 eyepiece. However, the series can also be thought of as an extension of the long eye relief Nagler Type 4 concept.
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The Air-Chair (TAC-1003) might look like a typical imported drum throne — but you won’t find an equivalent in any music store! We’ve sourced parts from the U.S. and Taiwan and machined mating parts to create a custom observing stool that’s easy to use, comfortable, and most importantly, has the durability to standup to the elements in the observing field.
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Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) did not become a daylight comet as some had predicted — nevertheless the dirty-snowball put on a fine show in the twilight skies.
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2024 Oct 2nd Eclipse Livestream!
The clock is winding down on 2024 with just three months left. But our clockwork universe has many astronomical events in store for us stargazers.
Increased solar activity around “solar max” can contribute to more frequent and intense sunspots, flares, coronal mass ejections, and intensified auroras at lower latitudes, offering stunning visual displays. All “good news” for amateur observers!
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This August, my wife Judi and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Stellafane convention in Vermont, a tradition we’ve kept alive since the 1950s
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We’re in the middle of 2024 already (quo tempore fugit!) making this a good time for a retrospective look at our most popular blogs of 2023. Que the harp music …
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