Cassiopeia Observatory

Links

Updated: 22 February 2021

Selected Cassiopeia Observatory Reports

Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction 6' 22"
Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction 6' 09" Daytime Observing
Bighorn Fire reports 2020 (Jun-Jul 2020)
IU Asteroid Program, Asteroid Delores (Owings)
SpaceX Starlink satellites (Nov 2019)
Transit of Mercury (2019)
SpaceX Starlink satellites (May 2019)
Local School Model Rocket Program
SpaceX Falcon Heavy upper stage rocket burn
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch
Total Solar Eclipse - 21 August 2017
Observing Stars in Andromeda Galaxy with 12" Telescope
Transit of Mercury (2016)
Meade 12" LX600 Checkout and First Light!
Final Session with Meade 8" LX200-ACF Telescope
IDA Dark Sky Defender Award 2015
Einstein Cross with 8" Telescope and DSLR
Callisto Occults/Eclipses Europa
Jupiter Moons Io-Ganymede Occultation and Eclipse
ISS-Sun Transit
Partial Solar Eclipse
New Personal Record: 13h48m Moon
ISS-Moon Transit
G1 and G2 Globular Clusters in M31 Andromeda Galaxy
NGC206, G76, C107 in M31 Andromeda Galaxy
Quasar 3C273, HST-Moon Transit, (and more)
Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) & Crescent Moon
18 Hour Old Moon
Occultation of Venus
Transit of Venus
Solar Eclipse
Cassiopeia Observatory Weather Station
50 Yr Old Edmund 3" Scope, iPhone, & Total Lunar Eclipse
Kitt Peak and Cassiopeia Observatories
First Light!!!

Tips

Adding the "Sun as Asteroid"
Satellite Tracking
Simple LX200-ACF Counterweight
Homemade Eyepiece Tray
Finderscope Crosshair Replacement
Solar Filter Mask/Holder

Astrophotography Tips

"Beginner Digital Astrophotography" slides (web version)
"Beginner Digital Astrophotography" slides (PDF, 23MB)
How I Do Astrophotography
Astrophotography Types
DSLR Telephoto Lens Solar Filter
Homemade iPhone Afocal Astrophotography Adapter
"Hat Trick" Method
Astrophotography Tips

SkyShed POD Articles, Tips, and Add-Ons

Road to Oracle Observatory
SkyShed POD Assembly Notes (from assembly video)
Arrival
Assembly
Making of Cassiopeia Observatory (video)
Carpet Installation
First Light
Leak Detective
Leak Work
Pivot Seals (image only)
Some Add-Ons
Pivot and Dome Gap Mitigation
Door Handle Add-On
Simple POD Light Shield
Dome Wheel Fix
Opening Cassiopeia Observatory (video)
monoPOD Camera Mount
Dome Dimple Fix (before)
Dome Dimple Fix (after)
Dome Wheel Modification
POD Roller Desk
POD iPad Platform
POD Zenith Table (PZT)
POD Door Hinge Fix
SkyShed POD Air Conditioner

Interviews, Newspaper Articles, & Published Works

Explore Alliance dark sites discussion
Celebrating IU Alumni Contributions
The Art of Science
Clearer Skies Bring Opportunities For Stargazing
Check out the night sky during IDSW
Arizona during International Dark Sky Week
Smartphone Astrophotography talk video
International Dark Sky Places talk video
2nd Arizona Dark Sky Star Party talk video
Planetary Society LightSail 2 satellite photo
Starry, starry nights shine in Pinal
Video about 1st Arizona Dark Sky Star Party participation
Mountain Vista kids learn it’s not just rocket science
My Interview with "The Mac Observer"
My Interview with "Rosie on the House" (7 AM segments)
Mountain Vista fourth graders viewing the night skies
Astronomer visits Mt. Vista School
Dark Sky Places: A Bright Idea
Oracle State Park to host eclipse talk, star party
How to photograph the Great American Eclipse with your iPhone
A Universe of Images (Emmy Nominated PBS TV story)
Where are the 'darkest' places in Arizona?
Oracle State Park celebrates Dark Sky designation, new director
Report on Oracle State Park IDA IDSP Celebration
Arizona State Parks Press Release
Korean delegation, IDA pay visit to Oracle State Park
iPhone Astrophotography
Arizona State Parks Press Release: Oracle State Park
Arizona Republic story on OSP IDSP Designation
Tucson News Now video story on OSP IDSP Designation
Arizona Daily Star story on OSP IDSP Designation
IDA Press Release: Oracle State Park
Arizona Daily Star article: Oracle State Park
Arizona State Parks Press Release
San Manuel Miner: Oracle Dark Skies Committee
The Mac Observer: "FaceTime with Saturn"
PicStop Interview
Newspaper Interviews/Articles, Sky & Telescope article
Using the Meade ETX (book)
Astronomy with Small Telescopes (book chapter)

Some of My Other Astronomy Web Pages

Edmund Scientific Telescopes Memorial Page
Oracle Dark Skies Committee
Light Pollution articles
Lighting Hall of Shame
Some Thoughts on Light Pollution and Light Nuisance
Visits to Other Observatories (03/30/20)
Cassiopeia Constellation Guide
Observational Guides and References
Initial 8" LX200-ACF Reports
Astronomy Themed OTR
Weasner's Mighty ETX Site
LX90 Site (no longer updated)
LXD55/75 Site (no longer updated)
Equipment Theft
Memorial Web Pages

My Other Pages

My Home Page
Family Home Page
Live Oracle Webcam (weather at Cassiopeia Observatory)

Some Documents

Revolution Imager settings (PDF)
Revolution Imager settings (Excel)
FOV Measurements spreadsheet (Excel)
Report: Partial Solar Eclipse 20 July 1963 (PDF)

Some Other Astronomy Sites

A Better Red-Light Filter for Your iPhone
Photographing Space
Polar Alignment by Iterating on One Star and Polaris
Drift Polar Alignment Method
Excellent Collimation Article by Thierry Legault
Meade Instruments
Oceanside Photo and Telescope
Southern Stars
LX200GPS Discussion Group
SkyShed POD Discussion Group
SkyShed POD
(purchase a POD via this link & support Cassiopeia Observatory)

How To Choose The Right White Balance For Night Skies
Sky Brightness Nomogram
SQM reading to Magnitude converter
Catching the Light
The New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness
Nightscape Photography with Digital Cameras
Amateur Astrophotography E-Magazine
Sky and Telescope
International Dark-Sky Association
Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers
American Association of Variable Star Observers
The Half-Astrophysicist Blog

NOTE: I do not respond to unsolicited requests to add web sites to this page.