Great Weather At Last !!

Well, after six weeks of terrible weather, Mother Nature has finally smartened up. As much as I'd like to be out at the observing site, I have already committed myself to shucking corn for the world record. I do, however, think I may just do a little personal observing tonight and maybe some imaging of Saturn. Tomorrow looks just as likely to be nice and clear and I quite possibly will be out at the site. Yippie for good weather!!
I can't wait to have something to post about.

TEC Astronomy Camera, Full Cycle

Here you can see a full cycle of the TEC cooling. The temperature range is quite significant, but I'm working on it.

Assistance Needed to Convert Older Webcamera to Long Exposure Astronomy Camera

I'm hopeful there is someone who may be able to assist me in any way in converting this camera. I also need the drivers as well. I am also under the assumtion that this camera is from the UK. I have been researching modifications by Steve Chambers and others, but the camera selections are extremely limited. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cooled Astro Camera: Model 001

This is my first attempt at building a thermoelectricaly cooled astronomy camera. The main components consist of an unmodified webcam (aside from being removed from the factory casing), a standard digital home thermostat, a thermoelectric coupler scavenged from a portable 12 volt cooler and a mid size project box. So far as I can tell the thermostat is only capable of reading as low as 5.5 degrees Celsius, but I do know it can get colder than that since I had frost form on the camera during one test. Can't wait to start on Model 002.

Club Observing Session for Tonight

So far so good on the forcast for tonight. For those who are able to make it out for a little star gazing tonight, I will be there around sunset to start setting up. There will be a thin 5 day old cresent Moon to view along with the planets Mars and Saturn to enjoy. Hopefuly I can have a glitch free evening this time.

Apparent Cloudy Skies for Friday Night/Solar Eclipse Sunday, May 20th

After having looked at the usual websites to make a guestimation on tonight's weather, it would appear to me that tonight will most likely be too clouded over for any real decent sky watching. It may clear late tonight for those that can observe from home. I am hopeful that tomorrow night will be clear. There will be on a good note this Sunday the 20th, an annular solar eclipse (where the Moon doesn't completely block out the Sun). The partial eclipse starts at approximately 5pm and ends at 7:23pm. This event should be well seen in both Abbotsford and Chilliwack. *REMEMBER: IT IS NOT SAFE TO VIEW THE SUN WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATE FILTER SUCH AS WELDERS GOGGLES OR ACTUAL SOLAR VIEWING PRODUCTS.* (This months issue of "Sky News" does contain a pair of Solar Glasses that are safe for this particular viewing without a telescope or binoculars.) I hope everyone gets a chance to see it.

Invite by Fraser Valley Astronomers Society.

Tonight I have accepted an ivitation to McDonald Park, observing site of the Fraser Valley Atronomers Society. I encourage others to come out for a look-see.