Search Results for 'Join'

[Kevin Gurney]

Has anyone tried to join this recently? I have tried to register at least twice now with no response… Perhaps I am blacklisted!

Kevin

[Andy Wilson]

Hi John (and anyone else who is following this thread).

We have identified the problem. It was related to family membership where the first person to join the BAA is not the person who currently pays the subscription. We will be requesting a change to our systems to cope with this scenario. In the interim we can get around it for any affected members. I will be running a check later in the week to see if there are any other members who may be affected.

Kind regards,

Andy

[Andy Wilson]

Hi John,

First of all my apologies that you are experiencing problems with your renewal.

That is clearly not right. I am just starting some testing to try to identify the problem but please bear with me as I will only have intermittent access to the BAA systems for the next couple of days.

I can see one thing that might explain it to do with joint membership and a shared email address. The system should be able to cope with this, but I suspect it does not. I will email you about this separately so we can try out a few things without posting every detail on the forum.

Kind regards,

Andy Wilson

BAA Systems Administrator and Web Content Editor

[Kevin Gurney]

I thought I would ask this in a separate thread as its a matter of principle and nothing to do with tweaking the kit.

So, with the Alpy, we are enjoined to take the spectrum of a nearby reference star (typically in MILES database) and use this to obtain an instrument response (IR). I can see this works for low resolution, because it makes sense to talk about the  continuum response  (smooth curve, ignoring line features). However, with high resolution, its quite often the case that the bulk of the spectrum is a line feature (I am thinking of Vega’s Ha line, for example).

So, how do we define the continuum respone in this case? And should we be trying to replicate the IR calibration step using a companion reference spectrum, as per low res (Alpy etc)?  Could you get away with some stock spectra you have taken at different air-masses? Or just rectify the spectrum and obviate the problem at source, as it were?

Cheers

Kevin

[Dr Richard John McKim]

The Moment magazine now carries a short interview with me about George. The magazine now gives details of the lecture, which I have added below:

Peterborough’s Astronomer
Tues 23 Oct, 7.30-9pm
Peterborough Cathedral Visitor Centre
Tickets: £5
To book: 01733 355315, http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/events
George Alcock was a prolific Peterborough-based amateur astronomer, commemorated by a memorial tablet in Peterborough Cathedral. Join Dr Richard McKim – a member of the British Astronomical Association – for an illustrated talk about Alcock’s life and work.
 

[Andy Wilson]

Videos are now available to view online of the BAA Summer meeting – Exploring Solar Systems Near and Far: 

https://britastro.org/video/13861

And the joint meeting of the BAA and AAVSO on Variable Stars:

https://britastro.org/video/13862

They may be accessed via the above links, or by selecting Events and then Videos of meetings from the website menus.

Thanks to Dominic Ford for his hard work in getting all 27 meeting videos processed and uploaded within a week of the meeting.

Andy Wilson

BAA Systems Administrator and Web Content Editor

[Dr Andrew Smith]

I attended the joint BAA/AAVSO meeting stream and enjoyed a wide range of stimulating input. Made some new contacts and generally had an excellent time.

Regards Andrew

[Robin Leadbeater]

I see the author of AIP4WIN is jointly presenting a poster paper at the BAA/AAVSO meeting this weekend. Not sure if he is attending in person though

Robin

[Andy Wilson]

Please note there is only 1 week left to book places on the BAA Summer Meeting and the joint BAA-AAVSO Meeting on Variable Stars. We need to give the final numbers of attendees to the University of Warwick by the end of next week so you will need book in the next few days if you wish to attend. Please follow the below links for more details.

BAA Summer Meeting

BAA-AAVSO Joint Meeting on Variable Stars

Andy Wilson

BAA Systems Administrator and Web Content Editor

[Callum Potter]

I am sad to report today the news that Maurice Gavin passed away this morning after a short period of illness.

Maurice joined the BAA initially in 1950 and re-joined in 1971. He was a member of Council for many years and President 1995 – 1996..

He will be well remembered for his experimental and pionieering approach to observing, developing spectrograhps, home-constructed observatories and his videos of meetings and observing sessions. He was very engaged on internet forums where he was usually known as Nytecam.

He will be sorely missed.

Callum

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[Dr Paul Leyland]

Phil Charles, a recently retired professional astronomer with an interest in X-ray transients and a long-time friend of mine, drew my attention to MAXI J1820+070 which is presently in outburst and has been for an unusually long time.  Kevin Hills and Joan Genebriera have been providing me with photometry data.  I’m about to buy Joan’s observatory in La Palma later this month, all being well.

The object is roughly 13th magnitude and is expected to vary by 0.2 magnitude with a period of somewhere between 2 and 8 hours, that being a plausible orbital period for a star in close orbit around a black hole.  Present data is noisy and, because of the limited visibility of Ophiuchus at this time of year, is only for a couple of hours or so each night.

We would welcome more data to tie down the behaviour of these rather unusual objects.  Please contact me for more information if you wish to join in.  My role is to be the principal point of contact and to perform the initial analysis.

If you prefer email, I’m paul @ leyland . vispa . com

Thanks,

Paul

[Ian Kahler]

Thanks  for  your input James. I have a  5 inch refractor that is missing a tripod right now, so I use binoculars to look around at this time. I live  in Seattle WA, USA, and  the  Seattle  astronomy society is … according to the  research I have on them…. a  rather  good  club. I may join, but I am terrible  in social situations so it is  not a  priority for  me. I have  always  been interested  in the  history and  advancement of  astronomy, so what I really need to do is  stop charging around  like  the bull in a  china  shop,  haha and pick a  direction. Once  again, thx for your  input.

[Ian Kahler]

Hello Everyone

Let me  start with the  word…. overwhelmed. Yes  I am feeling like  I have  been let loose  in a  candy store… except the  candy is  the overwhelming amount of information available on SO many aspects or areas of  astronomical principals, or  phenomena.

Do any of  you guys feel like  this sometimes??? I walked away from astronomy several years ago, and  all but gave up on the  science. Yet at the back of  my mind… in some  dusty corner… I was aware of this inescapable curious little  monster that wanted  me  to come  back. I have  always been interested in binary and multiple stars, and  stars clusters, but lately; since  joining the BAA, and buying the  first of a  series of  books entitled, Annals of  the deep sky, I feel like  my poor old  brain is  just going to explode.

What do you guys do?? Do you focus on, or find yourself drawn to one  particular aspect of  astronomy? Do you find yourself spinning out of  control with a need to absorb everything? Or is it common to encompass everything?

I need to establish a  pattern and  stick with it… right now  I find myself feeling overwhelmed and  wanting to find  SOMEWHERE to start. What I DO like  about this new  series of books  is  that they choose  one  constellation  and  focus on EVERYTHING of  interest in that constellation. SO perhaps  this  is  the  direction I should  pursue. Perhaps  I just answered my own question…. what are your  thoughts? Why do some of us focus on a  particular area of this amazing and  complex science… and  how do you do it???

Ian 

[Andy Wilson]

It is now just 2 months until the BAA Summer meeting on Exploring Solar Systems – Near and Far. We have a great line up expert speakers from the professional community covering topics from our Solar System to Exoplanets.

We are making the most of the University of Warwick venue by holding the 2-day joint BAA-AAVSO meeting on campus that same weekend. Full details are given on the meeting book page, noting the Summer meeting is at the top, with the BAA-AAVSO meeting beneath.

https://www.britastro.org/node/10727

You can book the meeting via the BAA online shop:

https://britastro.org/node/11997

Andy

[Mr Jack Martin]

Alun,

The belt is fairly taught to turn the collimator with a Velcro layer wrap around for grip.

The white screws are slackened off 1/2 turn or so from tight to prevent side movement.

The belt is not joined.

I have adjusted both again and will see how it works tonight, and will report back.

Regards,

Jack

Essex UK

[Alun Halsey]

 Jack

 Not had this happen with either motor (Skywatcher or JMI) so not sure what has gone wrong to cause the double lines. Clutching a few straws here, seems there could be the possibility that distortion is somehow introduced between the collimator body and its support. How tight have you got the tension on the belt? Only need a small amount,just enough to allow belt to grip the collimator body and turn it but feels slack if you pinch belt either side of the cog. Have you used the white screws in the support to alleviate any possible side to side movement, lastly did you have to join the belt, if so have you watched the lines as the belt turns and noted where the join is (being as the belt will be slightly thicker in the region of the joint tension on collimator body will increase slightly).

  Hope you get it sorted!

    Regards

      Alun

[Ian Kahler]

Hi everyone,

I wasn’t really sure  where  to post this  topic, so I figured  I would start here.

I just joined the BAA recently and  I am enjoying myself  looking around  at all the  different member  pages  and  sections.

I was wondering…. how  many of  you really enjoy researching / studying double  and  multiple  star systems…. such as  double  stars and  open clusters?  I have a  5 inch refractor but I have  not used  it for a few  years  now  because  I basically suck at finding anything with it. So now; having given up taking my scope outside,  I find  myself   at my computer studying the HUGE lists  of  data related  to this  phenomenon. I even like  to draw my own scale  maps  of  some  of  the more  complex and  amazing open clusters. I use a  combo of  programs such as  Stellarium, Cartes de Ceil, and  megastar V5 on my computer, I have the  3  volume millennium star atlas, as  well as good  ole Burnhams handbook [started out with that one years  ago]. Also have Star Clusters from Willman-Bell inc and the  Arp Atlas of  Peculiar Galaxies. I plan on buying the  new Uranometria 2000 all sky version with the  field guide soon.

Clear Skies

Ian Kahler

[David Boyd]

The full programme of talks at the BAA/AAVSO joint meeting on variable stars at Warwick University in July is now available at https://britastro.org/summer2018.

There is still an opportunity to present a poster at the meeting by contacting Roger Pickard at roger.pickard@sky.com.

David

[Alun Halsey]

 Jack,

    That belt looks ideal for the job. To join my belt I made sure that each end was in the middle of a tooth to ensure ample area to bond, slid a length of heat shrink tube on belt then used Araldite rapid (sets in 5mins) to glue the joint. Held the belt in place until glue held but was still slightly tacky then slid tubing in place over joint and added heat to shrink ensuring a good strong bond 🙂

  Regards

   Alun

[Alun Halsey]

 Hello Jack,

 Thank you.

 I got my belt out of an old printer I’d broken up, being a large loop of the stuff I just cut it to the length I wanted then re-joined the ends using Araldite and heat shrink tube.  I should think these guys will have what you are looking for though

  https://www.robotshop.com/uk/gears-belts-pulleys-tracks-sprockets-chains.html

 An update:- A couple of findings,the motor and belts work as planned. No need for gear wheels on neither the collimator nor the micrometer spindle. No fear of belt slipping off the collimator due to lip on the end and both focus motors and micrometer have rubber tap washers on the ends to stop belt slipping off. I am planning on changing the Skywatcher focus motor as it is a bit on the  bulky side and now the Lhires will not go back into its supplied case, because of this I am looking at purchasing a much smaller JMI focus motor so as that the box covering the motor now can be done away with. I did state in my last message that there was some shift when operating the focus motor but realised afterwards that there is the same amount of shift when operated manually and also the lock screws need to be adjusted just loose enough to allow the collimator to turn but enough pressure to stop it tilting toward the motor. Same again with the belt, there is hardly any pressure against the collimator and motor, just enough to allow belt to keep contact without slipping . 

   Regards

     Alun