The first and last quarter moon. It looks like half, why is it called a quarter?
The reason is that he percentage is named in the context of the complete cycle of the moon. New moon is zero. First quarter is 25%. Full is 50% (that’s the key). And last quarter is 75%.
The terminology of of “first quarter” and “last quarter” are in terms of the entire lunar cycle.
I am not one to complain about weather. I like “bad” weather. Rain, wind, snow (not here of cours, but it is welcome), whatever. Interesting weather is fun. But when now since December 15 we have had continuous at best high clouds weather, I am getting exasperated. If it was raining, I’d be happy, but it is dry and it is mostly clear, but these damn high clouds are preventing any imaging!
So much for my whining. Here it was 78 degrees today and I am whining about the weather. I should not complain too much. I did get some nice first quarter moon shots.
First quarter moon is a good subject. Next post.
FOXNews.com – U.S. & World – Israeli PM Ariel Sharon Suffers ‘Significant’ Stroke
This is major news. I would bet that Sharon is done for as a leader in Israel. God willing, he will survive, but the recovery period will likely extend trough the upcoming campaign.
He has been pivotal to Israel’s current effective response to the Palestinians — what happens now?
First, the debacle. “So what” I said, “if the tag says ‘no user serviceable parts.’ I can replace batteries, can’t I?” These statements came as I looked at my now defunct Belkin 900maH UPSs. So I ordered batteries, and proceeded to install them. On reassembly, a few contacts touched, we had a few sparks, no big deal. Discretion being the better part of valor, however, led me to moving the UPS to the garage before I plugged it into the AC power. That was a good thing.
Smoke. Sparks. Quickly, I pulled the plug. So they weren’t kidding about the problems with user servicing. Perhaps the need to bend the case to replace the batteries should have tipped me off.
So here I am with two new 7aH sealed lead-acid batteries. I then I check the old ones with my multi-meter and they seem fine. They took a charge, anyway.
Off to B&B Hardware and Marvac Electronics for parts. The real find was at B&B (of course). A 14 watt halogen floodlight. Just the thing to provide good, bright light to make flats! So the project is this. Build a holder for the batteries and the light. The light will shine against a white surface and from there to the white towel that I use for flats.
OK, why 12 volt-based? Because I have the batteries. It will be portable, low tempurature, low risk. I think. We’ll see.
Attila Danko, of the Clear Sky Clocks has a cool new product. It is called “Tonight’s Sky” and is a tool to help you plan a night’s observing. You enter your location, the date and two parameters: one for difficulty and the other for type of object, and it generates a list. Try it out!
The LA Times gets taken by a buried internet hoax! Guess it fit too well with their twisted world view.
So 60 minutes after it looked beautifully clear, it was completely cloudy. So it is a good thing I didn’t spend the time to do a set-up of the equipment.
Welcome to the Observatorio de la Ballona weblog. This is the first post. It may be the last.
Tonight, like last night, turned clear after it was cloudy. It was really cloudy at 6:30 tonight. I went out at 9:15, and it was clear. If I had known, I would have opened the observatory and got some imaging in. And this is a night when I don’t have to get up until 7am the next day. These won’t last long. And yes, it is too late at 9:30 to start when I have to be conscious tomorrow AM.