Descartes and Tycho

Repairing the LX200 Classic Hand Controller Keypad

My instructions for repairing the LX200 Classic keypad are here.

Maybe I Already Have One Of Those Government Jobs and Don't Know It

Came across this lovely nugget while formatting a set of instructions:
"Located under the Software section, the 2550-Series software is titled 2500-Series Locator PC Tool..."

I Gotta Get One Of Those Government Jobs

"The vehicle will ship at the conclusion of the pre-ship activities."
-- U.S. Air Force Captain Elizabeth Aptekar, spokesperson for the X34B project referring to the shipment date of the X34B.

Story here.

Another Modest Proposal

Forgive the divergence, but I'm still reeling from hours and hours of Deadliest Catch last weekend, and I have an idea.

The guys working these boats use, forgive me, salty language, and Discovery channel does a lot of bleeping. Fair enough, it is a family channel after all, even if it is on cable. But I am an adult not offended by hearing grown men saying they're "not catching shit." In other words, I'd like my reality programming to more accurately reflect reality.

For quite a while now, we've had a technology available called Second Audio Program (SAP), which allows a second audio track for a television program. You've probably seen "En Espanol on SAP" or something like that before. Why not have Discovery broadcast an uncensored version of the audio via SAP, and let me choose whether I want to hear the bleeps or not?

M100, A Galaxy in Coma Berenices

As promised, here is a larger shot of M100 (right) and NGC 4312 (left). I didn't label them, but you can also see NGC 4328, 4323, 4322 and 4427 around M100. The 5-minute subs might have been ambitious--there was a little drift from, I'm assuming, mirror shift in the LX200.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 24 x 5 minutes
Camera: Modified Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: Meade 10" LX200, Meade f/6.3 focal reducer
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: Short Tube 80, Meade DSI
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

Only 10 Galaxies

Not quite as rich in galaxies, but still pretty good. First time I've shot 10-minute subs, and they came out OK. A very nice night on the back side of a cool front. M99 and M100 are the two big ones here, and each deserves a closer look in the big scope soon.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 12 x 10 minutes
Camera: Modified Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm APO refractor, AT field flattener (new!)
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: Meade LX200 @ f/5, Meade DSI
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

At Least 19 Galaxies

Trying out my new Astro-Tech field flattener in the AT80EDT. Look! Round stars out to the corners! I only got about an hour before the clouds rolled back in, so here's an abbreviated look at Markarian's Chain.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 7 x 6 minutes
Camera: Modified Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm APO refractor, AT field flattener (new!)
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: Meade LX200 @ f/5, Meade DSI
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

Tilt-Shift

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

100% real--not miniatures. Very cool.

Central Texas Air Show

Photos from the Central Texas Air Show in Temple are here.

Why It's A Bad Idea To Fuck With The President

White House Photo/Pete Souza

See that dude on the left? That's Reggie Love, personal assistant to the president. Also known as The Guy Who Gets Stuff Done, if you know what I mean.

Priceless

I finally found the picture I was looking for.

This is the Perfect Time to Panic!

Looking at photos of people wearing surgical masks to avoid catching swine flu I wonder, how many regularly wear their seat belts?

The picture I still want to see is of someone with a mask around their neck smoking a cigarette.

Venus and the Moon-We Mean It This Time

Watch the full-size animation here.

Venus slides behind the Moon just after sunrise Wednesday morning in this series of photos from the Heritage Park Observatory in Cedar Park, Texas.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 39 frames
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT
Scope: Meade LX200 10"
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: none
Filter: None
Software: Nebulosity, Photoshop

LKY Ranch BBQ and Spring Frolic

The 24th Annual LKY Ranch BBQ & Spring Frolic is now history. For the first time ever, the day was marked by rain. Between midnight last night and this morning, the rain gauge went up nearly five inches, with another inch still to come during the day. The turnout was lower than usual, but not the enthusiasm. As Linda explained to a person on the phone this morning, "Haven't you ever heard of a hurricane party?"

The good news is it quit raining for good about 1:30, and it was actually pretty pleasant on the porches.

Photos here.

Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza is much smaller than it appears in the photos. KInda macabre watching people posing, smiling, on the Xs in the street marking the gunshots.

Rat's Nest

I am amazed every time I pick up the telephone that it actually works.

Gift Suggestion

I totally want to try this stuff out.

The Tiger Cubs Visit News 8 Austin

Pictures here.

Born a Moose

Every Friday, a man in Newfoundland fired up the barbie in the yard and cooked up a big moose steak. This was very annoying to his neighbours, who, being Catholic, were forbidden meat. They talked to the Priest, who, in turn, talked to the epicure. To the surprise of all, he agreed to become Catholic. On the day of his Confirmation, the Priest anointed him with the Holy Water, and said: "A Methodist you were born, a Methodist you were raised. You are now a Catholic."

THEN, they told him about meatless Fridays.

The next week, his neighbours were again assailed with the heavenly, but naughty aroma of charring moose meat. The Priest was immediately called, and went to the backslider's home. As he rounded the corner of the house, he beheld his new convert sprinkling barbie sauce on the steak.

Saying: "A moose you were born, a moose you were raised. You are now a codfish."