Holiday Present for the Observatory December 15, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Observatory.Tags: EIU, Observatory, spectra
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The end of the semester is here and the physics students are completing their projects for their third semester senior advanced lab. The third semester is an independent project (read: “give them enough rope to hang themselves”). This semester Alicia made a nice present for the observatory’s spectrometer. A Calibration source.
Alicia and her Project
The spectrometer and camera are sort of dumb. When we take a picture of a star’s spectra the camera assigns a spectral line to a column of pixels on the camera, but it doesn’t know the wavelength corresponding to that column. What Alicia made is a combination Mercury-Neon lamp, that feeds the light through a fiber optic wire directly into the spectrometer. The Mercury for the blue end and Neon for the red end of the spectra. We then take a picture of the combination Hg-Ne spectra (whose wavelengths are known) and the computer uses those lines to assign the wavelengths to each column of pixels, thus calibrating it .
We ‘ll now be able to do this from the nice warm control room. No more trudging up to the telescope at 2:00AM, in below zero weather to shine a Hg lamp and take a calibration spectra!
30″ telescope arrives at EIU! November 15, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: Observatory, EIU, telescope
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On Thursday we got delivery of the 30″ Ritchey-Chrétien from New Mexico. The poor scope had been hit by lightning, and had been out of service for some time. But because of the work of Bob Holmes from we were able to acquire it with the University of Chicago and through Argonne National Labs. Now on to the renovations!
Dave Linton, Bob Holmes, John Pratte, and Jim Conwell inspecting the first of four pieces of the 30" telescope mount
After we moved the four pieces to a lab, we will strip off and test the motors and the electronics to see the full extent of the lightning damage. I’ll then supervise the students on the cleanup of the mount, getting rid of the rust and re-painting it. Don’t worry guys, the optics are already out…I may be a theoretical physicist buteven I know sandpaper and mirrors don’t mix.
Moving the 4 pieces through the doors was at times "interesting"
The mount in pieces on the lab floor...now the work begins
Ninad Ilic holding the 30" mirror cell
The students are eagar to get started, and when fully assembled the telescope will look like this :
Credit: UC Berkeley
New Home for ARI (Astronomical Research Institute) November 11, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: ARI, Observatory
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ARI (Astronomical Research Institute) has a new home! The new location is about twelve miles outside of Charleston, Illinois. It is a darker location, and the telescopes should be able to see objects that are about .7 magnitudes dimmer. Last month was the wettest October since 1942, and after several weeks of delays , and a couple of cranes stuck in the mud, the 32″ telescope was moved. pictures below: (Photos by J Conwell)
getting ready to lift out the 32" mount
Up and Out
John Pratte walking the telescope to the trailer
Bob Holmes, Director of ARI, preparing the 32" mount for transport
Away it goes to its new home
Bob Holmes guiding it into the new observatory
Snug in its new home, just add optics and start tracking asteroids
HAUNTED OBSERVATORY TONIGHT! October 30, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: EIU, Observatory
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Come see what REAL mad scientists do! Rain or shine. We either look at the stars or we will use the lightning for reanimation. Either way it’s mad science! 8:00 PM at the observatory, look for the ring of Jack O Lanterns around the observatory. Others just have zombies…
BEFORE
After the successful Transplant....Pumpkin-Head !
Open House for Parents Weekend! October 2, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: EIU, Observatory
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Tonight at 9:30 PM. Rain or Shine, we will look at the full moon and Jupiter, it’s clear. If it’s cloudy we will still be having tours of the observatory.
Mt Wilson time-lapse film looking East September 5, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: Mt Wilson, Observatory
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This clip is from Professor Mike Brown professor of planetary science at Caltech. A time lapse view from the Mt Wilson Towercam looking East into the fires from last night. It looks very much like lava flows in Hawaii. The bright object rising near the end of the clip is Venus.
Mt. Wilson back on line and OK ….for now. September 5, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: Mt Wilson, Observatory
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The internet connection that was put out by the backfires (lit to burn up fuel around Mt Wilson) was back up on Friday afternoon.
Mt Wilson 9/5/09
As a result of the events of the last week, Mt Wilson is going to be sorely pressed for resources to take care of cleanup and further preparation and mitigation activities. If you are interested in helping out with the process of transitioning back to normal operations, They would welcome your tax-deductible donation in any amount. Donations can be sent to: The Mount Wilson Institute, Fire Recovery Program, P.O. Box 1909, Atlanta, GA 30301-1909.
More news can be had at http://www.mtwilson.edu/fire.php
EIU Observatory on WTHI TV September 3, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Observatory.Tags: EIU, Observatory, WTHI
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Last Thursday we got a nice little television spot on WTHI TV, Terra Haute , Indiana.
So if you have never been to the observatory just look at this little mini tour with Bob Gacki (president of the Astronomy Club) and myself.
Fire Threatens Mt. Wilson Observatory & JPL August 30, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, Observatory.Tags: "Station Fire", Mt Wilson, Observatory
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( JPL in the Foreground, Photo: Dave Bullock (eecue))
Dave Bullock’s site is at http://davebullock.com/
The Station Fire is close to historic Mt. Wilson Observatory. The staff has been evacuated and updates are hard to get with the situation in flux. Below are some links that can give more information on this changing situation.
Dr. Pamela Gay’s (Starstyder): news and past fires at observatories
Planetary Society (Emily Lawdawalla) News and Links
UPDATE , Los Angeles Times, Mount Wilson:
10:20 a.m (PDT)., 8/30/09: Fire is two miles away from Mt. Wilson, site of a number of important communications towers and an observatory. Ground crews are cutting back vegetation and brush in the area in order to arrest the fire’s progress in that area.
Observatory Open House Tonight August 28, 2009
Posted by jcconwell in Astronomy, IYA 2009, Observatory.Tags: EIU, International Year of Astronomy, IYA 2009, Observatory
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Rain or Shine! Come look at or through the 16″ telescope tonight. Weather permitting we will observe Jupiter (the best time this year) and the moon. We start at 8:30 PM
EIU Observatory
