Astronomy field Trips

Also take a look at past years for interesting images and projects.I like to call my Images "Now & Laters"Observe Now and Share Later.Check back often as I work on projects in the observatory

Mind's Eye Observatory in the Press Click Here   

FacebookTwitterInstagram

Total Solar Eclipse


2024 Upstate New YorkThe Sun was almost at the top of its cycle maximum as well.The next total solar eclipse in America will be 2000 and Minds Eye Observatory will be in the path here in Florida.That is if i am still in Florida.




In the shadow now
Image taken 10 seconds after the first showing  how fast the shadow came over us!
The required selfie in the shadow!


Holmdel Horn Antenna

Bell Telephone Laboratories in

Holmdel, New Jersey,  2023


Constructed in 1959 to support the Echo project. A microwave horn antenna that went on to discover cosmic microwave background radiation. Its operation with the work of Penzias and Wilson was awarded a Nobel prize for Physics.





The Jansky Monument

Bell Telephone Laboratories in

Holmdel, New Jersey, 2023 

 

Badlands Observatory

Quinn, South Dakota    2021

Minor Planet Center "MPC" Site code 918

plus code 85MVXVR9+8P

 Ron Dyvig is the founder and builder and operates the private observatory with Teresa Hofer.



On our summer family vacation to South Dakota we got a personal invitation to "talk shop" at the Badlands Observatory and meet Ron Dyvig & Teresa Hofer as they renovated and prepare their facility for public shows and tours. It was such fun to meet like minded people and share. I could have talked for hours. Oh yeah, I did! We had too much to share in such a short visit.

The Observatory has been Given discovery credit for 25 main belt asteroids; one of them officially named after the State of South Dakota. Additionally they have collaborated with Universities and students in research over the years . They are now focusing on adding Public outreach and education via programs at the observatory for the public. If you go to visit The South Dakota Black Hills and Badlands which I highly recommend, don't miss the opportunity to observe at the Observatory and soak in the exceptional dark skies.

https://www.badlandsobservatory.com/blog-trips-around-the-sun/blog-post-title-four-jncx5-4jhs4

https://www.badlandsobservatory.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_Observatory

Teresa, Ron and Myself

The 26" F4.8 Reflector with hand figured mirror by Ron

Friction drive equatorial fork mount with PC-TCS drive

Ashley, Terry, Cheryl and Jack

in the Dome

Asteroid "South Dakota"

# 26715

Oh yeah! It's dark out here! in the Badlands



Radio Telescope in progress at the observatory



Pikes Peak Observatory

Elevation 14,115  Colorado 2020 

Under Construction

http://www.pikespeakobservatory.org/


P P O
Highway to the clouds!
Almost there
The end of the timber line.
Half way stop. Quacking Aspen
Summit selfie
Under difficultconstruction 2020
Famous High altitude doughnut
No driving mistakes allowed!
A little hard to breath here
Historic original summit house

Palomar Mountain Observatory

Hale 200" telescope

California 2019

https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/homepage.html

Beautiful day to be on the mountain. Sailplanes going over as we walked up the hill.
The walk up the hill!
Art deco dome
Such a work of art the dome is.
The famous horseshoe mount
The upper cage where the astronomer would sit at prime focus to take images in the past. Biter cold to say the least.
Humm. Is wearing a GreenbankT-shirt disrespectful.?
The instrument platform is used for the camera now.
The Polar axis.
The mirror cell.

Royal Observatory

Greenwich, England

2018

https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory

The path to the Observatory through a beautiful park. 360 view

Humm, there's that Greenbank t-shirt again. Quick trip across the pond maybe. Not hardly.

Standing on the prime meridian feeling a little split personality going on.
Time ball. Does this seem familiar? Used to signal time to ships in the Thames for setting the ships navigation clock. Just like times square!  The same technique was used at the Naval Observatory to the ships in the potomac.
View from the observatory deck looking toward the thames river.
Transit scope doors
Transit scope

GreenBank Observatory

Greenbank, West Virginia

2017

https://greenbankobservatory.org/

Beautiful day for a trip through the mountains.
Looks small from here. Not! No close up pictures allowed unless you have film!
Wow. It worked as well. I had to let the kids give it a try! No cellular service allowed around these parts. This area is in the quiet zone for radio astronomy.
Hiding scope
Early receiver used at the observatory.
A little afternoon weather moving in with some very intense lightning that followed.

Lowell Observatory

Mars Hill

Flagstaff Arizona 2016

https://lowell.edu/


Welcome to Mars Hill!
The rotunda
Inside the Rotunda for a lecture.
The Rotunda center light.
The Clark refractor looking nice after its restoration since my last visit. A Sears  mail order frying pan aperture cover still being used!
The business end of the Pluto scope. The images were taken on glass plates with the holder seen in this picture. All images were hand guided requiring much patience and dedication in sub 0 temperatures.
The Pluto scope used by Clyde Tombaugh in finding Pluto and more.
Percival Lowell's tome

University of Florida

Teaching Observatory

Gainesville, Florida 2017

https://astro.ufl.edu/research/telescopes/campus-teaching-observatory/


Florida Astronomy Teaching Observatory was originally located on a small hill south of the University Police Station overlooking what is now the Medical Center. 
Established in 1956 to house an historic 8-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope donated by a wealthy Chicago architect, Richard Schmidt to the University of  Florida.
By the late 1960’s the university decided to build a Centrex telephone system building on this side. Consequently, the Observatory was moved to its present location south of the Reitz Union about 1970. 

Florida Institute of Technology

Palm Bay, Florida 2016


Jack with the Observatory in the background

Jack at Public lecture night at the Institute of which I have attended many.
ORTEGA TELESCOPE0.8-M 

Sunspot Observatory

Sunspot, New Mexico 2000


Nearby private observatories.
The opticalinstrument table
Alamogordo, New Mexico from above
OpticalTable in use.

Apache Point

Sunspot, New Mexico 2000

https://www.apo.nmsu.edu/


Kitt Peak Observatory

Tucson, Arizona 2000

Operated by the National Science foundation.

The mountain is leased to the "Long Eye`s" from the generous Tohono O'odham Nation.

https://www.noao.edu/kpno/

Lowell Observatory

Mars Hill

Flagstaff, Arizona 2000

https://lowell.edu/

McDonald Observatory

Fort Davis, Texas

https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors



FacebookTwitterInstagram