The Sunspotter

Palomar · 2003-11-08 16:07:10

*I saw an advertisement for "The Sunspotter" in Astronomy magazine last evening. Wow. And it only costs $300.00. That's an average of $400.00 less than a special solar filter for a telescope (which average around $700.00).

I'm considering purchasing it. We gets loads of sunshine where I live; it'd definitely get put to good use. And I'd love to keep track of sunspot activity.

Does anyone here own one, or personally know someone who does?

--Cindy

Christina · 2003-11-09 02:34:25

Sorry, no, although it looks very good. (and daylight astronomy might be the way forward here, given all the light pollution around)

Free Spirit · 2003-11-09 03:54:16

Since civilization feels it must put a streetlight wherever it can, I wish they'd use red lights to reduce the effects. I brought up light pollution the other day and just got laughed at. Non-star gazers just don't realize that beautiful part of nature they're destroying.

Christina · 2003-11-09 05:48:55

Well, not until they get a big black out like New York did.

My contacts there were stunned at the night sky, once they could finally see it.

Palomar · 2003-11-09 22:29:31

*Hi Christina: As regards solar (daytime) astronomy, it's definitely something I want to pursue. Thank goodness more affordable and safer technology is coming about. But of course the night sky has much more to offer.

Hi Free Spirit: Light pollution...I know. There is 1 streetlight right behind my home (I can almost touch it if I lean over our rock-wall fence), and another streetlight at the end of our cul-de-sac, perhaps 250 feet away. Added to that, all neighbors in the cul-de-sac (5 homes besides ours) except 1 have multi-outdoor lighting...and at least 2 of them have the damned porch/lawn lights on at night, often for no apparent reason (they aren't outdoors, there is no activity in the cul-de-sac, etc.).

People who aren't interested in astronomy aren't aware and don't care. And that's most people, it seems.

I've found ways to block the artificial light to my best advantage, i.e. standing at a certain angle to my house with small leafy trees blocking much of the light. Our neighbors to the left finally did us a favor -- years ago they planted a tight-knit row of small Italian evergreens, which effectively blocks the nuisance their nearly-ever-constant porch lights create.

Ah well.

--Cindy

Free Spirit · 2003-11-11 00:43:10

There's more than a few people in my neighborhood who also like to glare whole colonies of lights all night long. If security is the reason for the lighting, they'd do everyone a favor if they'd use lights tripped by motion detectors.

George H · 2003-11-21 10:00:45

Nifty Little Device
*I saw an advertisement for "The Sunspotter" in Astronomy magazine last evening. Wow. And it only costs $300.00. That's an average of $400.00 less than a special solar filter for a telescope (which average around $700.00).
I'm considering purchasing it. We gets loads of sunshine where I live; it'd definitely get put to good use. And I'd love to keep track of sunspot activity.
Does anyone here own one, or personally know someone who does?
--Cindy

Hey, Cindy, so cool! You going to get one? EBay might have good, used for sale, check it

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Like you lots, sweet girl!!

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#1 2003-11-08 16:07:10

Re: The Sunspotter

#2 2003-11-09 02:34:25

Re: The Sunspotter

#3 2003-11-09 03:54:16

Re: The Sunspotter

#4 2003-11-09 05:48:55

Re: The Sunspotter

#5 2003-11-09 22:29:31

Re: The Sunspotter

#6 2003-11-11 00:43:10

Re: The Sunspotter

#7 2003-11-21 10:00:45

Re: The Sunspotter

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