Mars

JohnFP · Post by **JohnFP** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:51 pm

Take that unused collimator, put it in a cardboard tube a little longer the the FL, place a small 1/2" square front surface mirror at the focal length suspended by two crossing wires at a 45 degree angle to the collimator, cut a hole for the reflection to come out of the cardboard tube at the front surface mirror and mount an eye piece at that hole such that it can move in and out and go look at mars tonight. If it's clear out tonight I may do it with my 12 1/2" collimator.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20071214/ ... inesbright

DJ Mathson · Post by **DJ Mathson** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:09 am

Good idea.

Yes, Mars is very beautiful right now. Very bright. I was just out watching Mars, Venus and Saturn. Saturn is fantastic with its rings. It is like "Wow, it is really out there. It is not just an image in a book. This strange object is really out there in the sky, and I can see it for myself." Fascinating. I also got to see a bright meteor burning up in different colours. It is a pity that less and less people are able to see the night sky due to light fog. Here in the city I live it is still possible though to see the cloud from comet 17P/Holmes. It´s been interesting to follow its development.

Colin Kaminski · Post by **Colin Kaminski** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:06 pm

The loss of our skys was gradual to our society. I don't think the average person realizes how beautiful the night sky is. Anytime you get to talk to anyone about street lighting make sure to suggest the posibility of going to a low light polution model. If you can fly above your town and see any point sources of light then your towns lighting can be improved. Perhaps eventually we will win our skys back. Where I live you can no longer see the milkyway in town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_glow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pollution

If you have not seen your shadow by the milkyway you have never been to a dark location. It is quite stunning.

Colin Kaminski · Post by **Colin Kaminski** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:24 pm

Here is some more good information:

Acceptable light fixture designs:

http://www.co.cochise.az.us/P&Z/light%20pollution.pdf

An example lighting code for a city:

http://www.co.cochise.az.us/P&Z/2005%20 ... -13-06.pdf

And of course the Internation Dark Sky Association:

http://www.nextrionet.com/mc/page.do?orgId=idsa

What the sky could look like: