Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Comet Lulin over Los Angeles, Feb 3rd - will be brightest around Feb 24th

The Comet Lulin is getting brighter, and the public may soon be able to enjoy a view of the phenomenon without specialized telescopes.

Exposed for 20 minutes on February 03, 2009, 4:59 AM, 152mm f5, Canon Rebel
See also next three shots in photostream.

Comet Lulin's closest approach will be on February 24th, 2009

Mag 16 stars are easily seen in this shot, processed for "Light Pollution Reduction"

Read the news about at:
www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=comet+lulin&btnG=Go... and news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=comet%20lulin&um=1&a...
.
Dark sky view at antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090207.html

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

30 inch f/12 Refractor by John Wall

How does it work? See www.nightskies.net/zerochromat/products/index.html and patent below.


The inventors have found that, if a negative lens is interposed between the field lens and the corrective positive lenses, it becomes possible to greatly shorten the optical train,

Accordingly, the invention provides an optical train comprising: a positive objective lens; a field lens, located at or close to the focus of said objective lens; one or more lenses, together forming a positive lens array, located beyond the focus of the said objective lens; and characterised by the provision of at least one negative lens, interposed between said field lens and said positive lens array.

The positive lens array is preferably arranged to correct for chromatic aberration, as described below.

The field lens - to gather off-axis rays - may be mounted at the focal plane of the objective lens. However, in this case, any imperfections in the field lens, or dust and the like located on the surface of the field lens, will come into focus, and adversely affect the image quality. Therefore, it is preferable that the field lens is not located precisely at the focal point, but wherein the said field lens and the focal point of the said objective lens is less than 5% of the focal length of the said objective lens.

More preferably, the distance between the said field lens and the focal point of the said objective lens is less than 1% of the focal length of the said objective lens.
www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2006123124&IA=GB20060...
----------------
The Hanwell Observatory also has a 30 inch f/6 reflector
myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hanwellobservatory/30_inch.htm#30inch

ps - The Crayford Focuser was invented by English amateur John Wall

Friday, February 13, 2009

Windows 7 Beta - an education

*** Windows 7 Beta - an education ***

Attention span for Win7 ran out, driver nightmare and I don't want to mess my machine up by swapping hardware, but it was a fun two days learning 2/13/09

----- My bookmarks ---------
http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-2000/making-bootable-isos/60987.html
http://www.allbootdisks.com/iso.html
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/12/23/illustrative-guide-to-create-bootable-iso-image-from-vista-win-image-files/
.. from my email http://runwin7fromusb.blogspot.com/2009/01/windows-7-free-activation-keys.html
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/removable-media-drives/341778-how-burn-bootable-iso-file.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ Win Beta 7
List of Windows 7 Secrets http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx
Windows 7 Networking http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-networking/ , http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-networking/2510-windows-networking-fixed-w7-xp.html
Is it really impossible for MS to use old WinXP drivers in the new OS ? http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-hardware/2798-drivers-general.html
Windows 7 with Hardware report, Testing 'older' parallel, USB. http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?showtopic=21932 no go for parallel printer..
alot (if not all) of these driver/hardware/software issues will be fixed by final release
Windows 7 Beta (7022 and 7032) http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4712592/Microsoft_Windows_7_Beta(Build_7032.0.x86fre.winmain.090115-1850 Comments
Windows 7 - impressions https://geekswithblogs.net/lvega/archive/2009/01/09/128507.aspx
Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha4 vs. Windows 7 Beta http://blog.ibeentoubuntu.com/2009/02/ubuntu-904-alpha4-vs-windows-7-beta.html (Linux)
Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Files and Settings http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457074.aspx

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Comet Lulin over Los Angeles, Feb 3rd

Exposed for 20 minutes on February 03, 2009, 4:59 AM, 152mm f5, Canon Rebel
See also next three shots in photostream.

Comet Lulin's closest approach will be on February 24th, 2009

Mag 16 stars are easily seen in this shot, processed for "Light Pollution Reduction"

Read the news about at:
www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=comet+lulin&btnG=Go... and news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=comet%20lulin&um=1&a...
.

keywords:
Comet Lulin edhiker

Thursday, January 29, 2009

New Comet Lulin over Los Angeles 1/28/09

Comet Lulin will make its closest approach to Earth on February 24, and while it will probably be hard to see with the naked eye, astronomers think the "fresh" new comet has the potential to brighten rapidly. The icy body has the potential to do something unexpected. Comet Lulin is arriving from the far reaches of the solar system on a nearly parabolic orbit, as if it come from infinity.
The comet's orbit is in nearly the same plane as Earth's but is traveling in the opposite direction. This causes Lulin to appear to move unusually fast and display a rare anti-tail—an optical effect that creates a secondary "tail" pointing toward the sun.
Pictures from non light polluted sites already showing Lulin's rare anti-tail.
www.ruppel.darkhorizons.org/IMAGES/N3_false_color_012409.jpg
As seen from Griffith Observatory tomsastroblog.com/?p=2760#

More can be found on Google www.google.com/search?sa=N&tab=nw&q=Comet%20Lulin

This image is a stack (using Deep Sky Stacker ( DSS )) of nine 47 second exposures, ISO 800. My location is light polluted Los Angeles city.
exposures using a Canon 75-300mm lens at 300mm.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Comet Kushida over Los Angeles, closeup view

Comet Kushida over Los Angeles, closeup view
also at http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2866027/Main/2866027

Taken with 530mm lens at f7 on 1/16/09

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Griffith Park Maps


IMG_5573_Q70_Per
Originally uploaded by edhiker
http://edhiker.googlepages.com/gpmap05_se.jpg

http://edhiker.googlepages.com/gpmap05_ne.jpg

gpark.html4k
gpmap.html3k
gpmap03_sw.jpg297k
gpmap05_ne.jpg231k
gpmap05_nw.jpg235k
gpmap05_se.jpg241k
gpmap05_sw.jpg255k
gpmap32.jpg826k


Old links
http://edhiker.googlepages.com/edhiker_links.html

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Yahoo is Watching YOU !


Yahoo is Watching YOU !
Originally uploaded by edhiker
If you belong to ANY Yahoo Groups - be aware that Yahoo is now using
"Web Beacons" to track every Yahoo Group user. It's similar to
cookies, but allows Yahoo to record every website and every group you
visit, even when you're not connected to Yahoo. Look at their updated
privacy statement at: Privacy
http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/details.html
About half-way down the page, in the section on *cookies*, you will
see a link that says *WEB BEACONS*. Click on the phrase "Web Beacons."
On the page that opens, on the left find a box entitled "Opt-Out." In
that section find "opt-out of interest-matched advertising" link that
will let you "opt-out" of their snooping. Click it and then click the
opt-out button on the next page. Note that Yahoo's invasion of your
privacy - and your ability to opt-out of it - is not user-specific. It
is MACHINE specific. That means you will have to opt-out on every
computer (and browser) you use.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Springfield Telescope with Big Finder

Schmidt-Cassegrain Springfield Telescope

I'm thinking of making the ultimate user friendly telescope, fixed eyepiece and capable of having the observer in a warmed room.
It's amazing how close the final picture below is to my idea, goes to show how few ideas are really new.
Drawing fodder is below.


http://www.celestron.com/c2/images/files/technologies/starbright_xlt/tube_dia.gif
Optical layout of a Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope. A mirror will be placed near the center of gravity, directing the light path out the side, like the blue drawing below.


http://i.pbase.com/o6/22/675522/1/86448511.SfbXbEsU.IMG_7745.jpg


http://www.solarworlds.co.uk/images/about_sct.jpg


Below from http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Board/atm/Number/856685/page/2/view/collapsed/sb/7/o/all/fpart/3
"What I was looking at was an exact replica of the famous "Springfield Telescope" built by a gentleman who was a retired machinist. I handed him some money and asked that he send me a copy of Porter's original "blueprint". He did and I set about to model the device in one of today's more respected 3D solid modeling softwares: SolidWorks. - Art Bianconi Member # 15558
Total Posts 4659 Homepage http://www.vortexgenerator.net Occupation Mechanical Designer/Engineer
Attachment
(from edhiker) The project is to use a optical layout about like the above, but use a 8 to14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope mounted as a Springfield.

Book - Unusual Telescopes By Peter L. Manly, pictures below from the book.




Notes which document taking apart a C11 = http://www.rothritter.com/C11_Project/


Ed 11/18/08

Friday, December 26, 2008


Star Tracking Camera Mount
Originally uploaded by edhiker
Star Tracking Camera Mount, an astrotracker telescope mount used astrophotography



I'm happy with this astro tracking camera mount. Viewfinder use and tilt framing is easy. See previous photos for components ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3131095207/ ).

This astrotracker will be used for wide field astrophotography. Two screws allow installation of original Newtonian telescope linked below.

Teflon bearing drive using clock motor was homemade about 40 years ago, still works good. Originally used for 6" F3.8 scope www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/14436002/ also seen at www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/14436035/sizes/o

Click on photo for other related photos showing how and why this was made. (Flickr URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3132751114/)

Friday, December 12, 2008

Moonset, Friday Morning 12/12/08 - Largest full moon in 15 years today

A full moon, closer and larger than it has been in 15 years will occur Friday evening.

Moon is setting below storm clouds in Los Angeles, snow is due.

Stories about: news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&ncl=127964999...

Got out of bed 1 minute before this was taken, an unplanned photo! No time for a tripod.

The moon is also further up in the sky than the summer sun (82º high tonight). The combination of height and size is most likely once in a lifetime. Be sure to take a look around midnight.

Sometimes the moon is not our friend, the peak of the Geminids, is predicted to occur late Saturday and early Sunday, Dec. 13-14. Bright moonlight will flood the sky.

IMG_5064_Moonset_Rain_Due - camera hand held

Moonset, Friday Morning 12/12/08 - Largest full moon in 15 years today

MSM Charting for the stock market Bottom line: not as good as the Yahoo original *** example http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=5d&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=Clim_UP_2-5,sptn,ivac,dwsn,iig,ryaay,vmw,avct,stx1- Ticker symbols not on chart, important time saver when multiple comparisons are called up (see Yahoo original charts)2- No way to stop pop-up box next to cursor. 3- Needs Earnings data as a "key developments" field.4- Your server is slow.----------------------------------The basic chart design is good, but in view of the above problems, Yahoo (original) charts will be used most of the time.Ed

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Eye vs Digital Camera - Hot mirrors, KG3, KG5 filters

We see red better during the day. Your camera has a filter that mostly blocks wavelengths longer than about 650nm (deep red).

Most cameras now are using hot mirrors, multi-layer interference coatings that give a sharper cutoff. KG5 glass was used more in the past, note date on www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/IRfilterchart.htm (looks like a KG5). See www.lifepixel.com/ir-tutorials/canon-20d-digi tal-infrared... for how easy a camera can be converted to take IR pictures. My nephew just bought a Canon 50DH from Hutech (clear glass instead of cut filter). Great camera! Why Canon doesn't offer such a camera themselves for the scientific community and hobbyists is a real mystery.
------
Below are some curves for filters used to modify the camera's response to the longer wavelengths that silicon is most sensitive to:
Most likely a "hot mirror", typ curve at: www.k3pgp.org/ccd/filter/hotmirror0.gif
www.optical-filters.com/bg18.html BG18
www.optical-filters.com/bg38.html BG38
www.uqgoptics.com/pdf/Schott%20KG1.pdf KG1
www.uqgoptics.com/pdf/Schott%20KG3.pdf KG3
www.uqgoptics.com/pdf/Schott%20KG5.pdf KG5
echeng.com/photo/infrared/filter-data.html Red and IR Wratten filters

Main plot at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3023085085

key words: IR eye response light silicon camera infrared 50DH edhiker

Monday, October 13, 2008

Fire from Ed's kitchen door, 10/13/08


http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/2938356918/

Monday, September 08, 2008

Edhiker Bookmarks and Links ( a test of Blog site)

http://edhiker.50webs.com/hike19/ Grizzly Flats and some othrers - Brint (these from F:\sites_070423\edhiker3)
http://edhiker.50webs.com/hike14/ Pinos and Hike around Mt Wilson
http://edhiker.50webs.com/Hike18_RockyPeak/ Rocky Peak area Hike
http://edhiker.50webs.com/fair/ L A County Fair 2004
http://edhiker.50webs.com/hike16/ O'Melveny Park and misc
http://edhiker.50webs.com/venice/ Venice and beach 2004
http://edhiker.50webs.com/perseid/ Mt Pinos Hike with Rob, Alan Scope platforms - Steve Kennedy
http://edhiker.50webs.com/paint/ Ed's house gets painted, Aug 2004
http://edhiker.50webs.com/scopes/ Telescope making pictures, a few local shots with small scopes
http://edhiker.50webs.com/2005_Las_Vegas/ Mike - Harris - Ed 2005 -a few iamges not uploaded

http://edhiker.50webs.com/bestwebsites.html

http://edhiker.50webs.com/BookmarksStared.html

http://edhiker.50webs.com/edhiker_links.html

http://edhiker.50webs.com/edphoton_index.htm

http://edhiker.50webs.com/Photography_Web.html

http://edhiker.50webs.com/edhikes.htm

http://edhiker.50webs.com/ProstateCancer.html

NEW - http://edhiker.50webs.com/eds_computer_blog.html

NEW - http://edhiker.50webs.com/test_portfolios.html

--------- At Google --------------
http://edhiker.googlepages.com/index.html http://edhiker.googlepages.com/ redirect
http://edhiker1.googlepages.com/index.html http://edhiker1.googlepages.com/
http://edhiker2.googlepages.com/index.html http://edhiker2.googlepages.com/
http://edhiker3.googlepages.com/index.html http://edhiker3.googlepages.com/
http://edhiker4.googlepages.com/index.html http://edhiker4.googlepages.com/

http://edhiker.googlepages.com = My Time Warner page with redirect to the below

http://edhiker.googlepages.com/index.html

http://edhiker.googlepages.com/ProstateCancer.html pcapage pcapages

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

A bad virus is going around, spread by CAMERA MEMORY CARDS, a first symptom is:

Show hidden files and folders Doesn’t Work, and seems to be NO SOLUTION !
See pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/2426426388/

Edhiker's backups had also become infected by this rapidly self replicating virus. Just inserting an infected flash drive in a computer system may infect all attached drives(format C: no work here), and then hides its tracks. Put one of those cards in another computer... you get the message. Took a day of hard work to solve it.
It's called Trojan-PSW.Win32.OnlineGames .... see www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=204791985 and http://www.rising-global.com/Published/InformationCenter/DailyVirusReport/2007-09-04/20070904103244.htm

This virus makes copies of itself on all drives, including Flash / Removable Drives in order to propagate itself. - Checks if an update is available after install and upon reboot of the computer www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=18228 . If a newer version is available, downloads and installs it from 1A123.com, in Beijing. If you are using flash drives or CDs which you don't know are safe, hold the shift key down while inserting them, this disables autorun.

More - "High risks are typically installed without user interaction through security exploits, and can severely compromise system security. Such risks may open illicit network connections, use polymorphic tactics to self-mutate, disable security software, modify system files, and install additional malware. These risks may also collect and transmit personally identifiable information (PII) without your consent and severely degrade the performance and stability of your computer."

Lessons: *** Treat all USB media and CAMERA MEMORY CARDS as if they could be infected - Don't loan them ***
Run anti-virus at all times - Treat all new software as if it's infected, one of my malware items was called "Comcast toolbar" http://www.topix.com/forum/city/everett-wa/TM7UV18VAQI2J2HN2

Some of the TROJAN-VIRUS-PSW-ONLINE-GAMES file names (aka PWS-LegMir.gen.k ) for me were: (added XXXX's)
C:\Autorun.XXXXinf
C:\WINDOWS\system32\kavo.XXXXexe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\kavo0.XXXXdll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\kavo1.XXXXdll
D:\Autorun.XXXXinf
E:\Autorun.XXXXinf
BQK.XXXXBAT may be on all drives - SHOWED UP on 4/21/08 after got "clean" system
ZZ.XXXXEXE see http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/2409559906/ (lost its target)
"mtlhieej.XXXXcmd"
"o.XXXXexe"
8eehyc0.XXXXsys
U.XXXX.cmd
tgtighg.XXXXcmd
mtlhieej.XXXXcnd
co.XXXXcom
vt6e.XXXXcom
1A123.XXXXcom (domain name)
Most files except autorun were about 115KB long.

In my case the virus went unnoticed until it was in all restore points, then got worse. The desktop shortcuts were missing one morning - my twelve hour fix it day. If I had not made a record of the error at http://www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/2409559906/ the solution may have been lost forever.

Scans by AVG, ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Housecall, Kaspersky Online Scanner, and PCPitstop did not clear the virus. My feeling is that the good live AV programs will prevent infestation, but will not clear them if allowed to get established.
The final and more brutal solution is outlined at: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/TROJAN-VIRUS-PSW-ONLINE-GAMES-Infection-PC-Help-t188801.html
Even after the above solution, I had to delete about 10 Registry values "bqk.bat"

Bolow are, in my opinion, the best AV products.
Free 30-Day Trial of NOD32 Antivirus http://www.eset.com/download/index.php
AVG Free 30 day trial at http://www.grisoft.com/ww.home-and-office-security
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition seems to be a new item, see site for what is missing
Kaspersky trial at http://www.kaspersky.com/trials

Avoiding Spyware and Virus Infected Files via P2P Sites (The general usage is to download music files to be played on iPods) .... and about Keygen Virus

How to avoid infecting your storage device - and system (don't double click, but shift)... MORE , MORE

Related reading #1 #2 #3

Fighting viruses in Vista http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2159348,00.asp

Some reading - Changing threats, changing solutions: http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=204791996


Edhiker

Friday, March 21, 2008

Rebate Scam at Frys ~ "Two weeks" in small print, way down the form

Rebate Scam at Frys ~ "Two weeks" in small print, way down the form
California rebate law
22735. A company that offers a consumer rebate shall allow a
minimum of 30 days from the date the consumer purchases the product,
or becomes eligible for the rebate pursuant to subdivision (b) of
Section 22736, for the consumer to submit the rebate request.
22736. A company shall mail the rebate check or transmit the
rebate funds to the consumer or fulfill the terms of the rebate offer
within the same number of days provided to the consumer to submit
the rebate request pursuant to Section 22735, but in no event later
than 60 days from either of the following events as applicable:
(a) Upon receipt of a consumer rebate request meeting the terms
and conditions of the rebate offer, to the extent permitted by this
chapter and as disclosed at the time of purchase.
----------------
This also nullifies Frys 30 day return policy, as the UPC code has to be removed in about two weeks. No phone number, even after asked for.My email to them:
Invoice Date: 11/23/07
> Invoice No.: 15266982
> Promotion Code:
> Tracking No.: NONE
> I sent this in a timely manner with several others (have received those).
> You say that it was postmarked late. What is the post mark date that you
> recorded? What is your phone number?
----------
Rebate was refused and no phone number was given.
Original (with the fine print ) was required to be sent.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Comet Holmes visits Mirfak - Photo by Ed Johnson, Los Angeles, California


Comet Holmes visits Mirfak
Originally uploaded by edhiker
For no apparent reason, it erupted from a very dim magnitude 17 to about magnitude 2½. Within a day its starlike nucleus had expanded into a perfectly round, bright little disk in binoculars and telescopes. It looked like no comet ever seen" , S&T www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog


Enhanced version of
www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/2040198939

Canon RAW 9572-82 (11) 1600 30s
Comet_Holmes_Up_Levels_SlightGC_Cr 11/16/07

Monday, November 19, 2007

All night Comet Holmes visits Mirfak

This is a full frame jpg ride-along to a series of RAWs - will do more to this capture when I have time. Note light clouds in lower right. Low clouds covered some of Los Angeles light pollution, just under my level of 2200'.

Why did Comet Holmes brighten by a factor of a million - the puzzle is discussed at
www.skyandtelescope.com/news/11372856.html

Map of area around comet and Mirfak is at : media.skyandtelescope.com/images/Holmes_findr_640px.jpg

About the star Mirfak - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91_Persei
MIRFAK (Alpha Persei). Perseus, the ancient hero who rescued Andromeda.

Telescope setup is at www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/35109522/

Comet_Holmes_CRW_9584jpg_C ..... Friday, November 16, 2007 10:58 PM

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

All night Comet - seen by eye at 8pm and 6am 10/30/07

All night Comet - seen by eye at 8pm and 6am 10/30/07

See adjacent pictures and links.

Increased brightness by a factor of one million this week, going from magnitude 17 to 2. This makes it visible to the unaided eye as well as binoculars and telescopes, offering a unique viewing opportunity for sky watchers.

Where to look = www.spaceweather.com/images2007/24oct07/skymap_north_holm...

Comet Holmes, at a distance of 151 million miles is a remarkable sight even under city lights. www.space.com/spacewatch/071023-comet-holmes-update.html How many naked eye comets have you seen at this distance?

IMG_9518-CG_Cr_Comet........... 15 second shot, ISO 400, 750mm

Uploaded by edhiker on 29 Oct 07, 10.08PM PDT.