The Dutch Observatory

It has been busy since the last meeting at Charlie Elliott. We had several solar and night star parties for some schools and the website needed updating. So I just am getting the time to process the last image which I have not published yet. Here Mars from the evening of April 15th under fairly good conditions while it still was just over 8 arcsec. in size.

I’ve been wrestling with my images over the last few weeks.  Made a lot of them but could not get them focused right.  Finally, I  believe I got it resolved or at least it is a lot better.  Last night made some images of Mars and Saturn. Mars is now just over 8 arc seconds, the same size it was early last November.  A lot of clouds over Tharsis extending into Amazonis

Well, I started my new pier for observing at home.  The nightly ordeal of setting up is taking its toll!  I ordered a 6  7/8″ diameter steel pipe and a top and bottom steel plate all 1/4″ thick.  They did arrive on March 26th.  I took them to S&K in Covington for holes to be drilled and tapped and fo be welded together.  They did a fantastic job and yesterday Dan an I picked it up and dropped it off at the powdercoat paint shop.  On Monday it should be ready!   Can’t wait to bring it home and start digging the 2′x2′x2′ hole for the concrete base.