On September 6th I attended a 3 hour Quick STARt class taught by Dave Ittner at the Houge Park clubhouse in San Jose. He covered many fundamental aspects of astronomy that were enlightening as well as essential for a beginner in amateur astronomy.
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Blog Archives
Solar Eclipse at Green Island in Australia on Nov. 14, 2012
by 
Frank Geefay
Frank GeefayAuthor: Frank Geefay
My wife and I went on a tour of Australia in November 2012 with MWT Associates, Inc. (Melita Wade Thorpe) Melitatrips Travel specializing and Astronomical tours. This is our 4th tour with them and actually the least enjoyable because it was one of the largest tours they had ever put on and coordination had something to be desired.
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Posted in Blog, Solar, Trip Reports
Tags: Australia, camcorder, camera, Green Island, solar eclips, video, YouTube
Tags: Australia, camcorder, camera, Green Island, solar eclips, video, YouTube
August 4th Solar Sunday 2013
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter! Solar Programs are held 1st Sunday of every Month 2:00-4:00 PM at Houge Park weather permitting
Counting The Spots:
Today the International Sunspot Number (SN) was 76 based on 24 stations whie NOAA’s,
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General Meeting – July 2013 – Movie Night
by Frank Geefay
Frank GeefayMovie Night was a hit! Double feature, popcorn (all you can eat!), lemonade and other refreshments made for a wonderful evening.
The SJAA recently took possession of a brand new, larger, wall mounted projection screen and it was being mounted at the front of the room.
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Posted in Blog, General Meeting
Tags: Forbidden Planet, Houge Park, movie, new projector screen, snacks, Star Wars IV
Tags: Forbidden Planet, Houge Park, movie, new projector screen, snacks, Star Wars IV
Grand Canyon Star Party
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
I expected that the highlight of my June trip to Arizona would be to attend two nights of the 23rd Annual Grand Canyon Star Party at the South Rim.
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Posted in Blog, Trip Reports
Tags: amateur sstronomers, Arizona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Mather Point, Mercury, Saturn, South Rim, star gazing, Star Party, telescope, Venus
Tags: amateur sstronomers, Arizona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Mather Point, Mercury, Saturn, South Rim, star gazing, Star Party, telescope, Venus
Meteor Crater, Winslow, AZ
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Below are photos of Meteor Crater, Winslow, Arizona from my visit in June 2013. The crater is located about 40 miles southeast of Flagstaff. It was formed when an estimated 45 meter meteorite hit about 50,000 years ago.
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Solar GSSP Tidings
by Frank Geefay
Frank GeefayBehemoth sunspot AR1785 is undergoing a metamorphasis, changing shape by the hour as it turns toward Earth. This movie from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the action on July 6-7:
And Here’s a Pic from Michael Packer 80mm Refractor + Standard Solar filter using a hand held LX5 at the Eyepiece.
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Lowell Observatory, Mars Hill, Flagstaff, Arizona
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Below are photos of the historic telescopes of Lowell Observatory , Mars Hill, Flagstaff, Arizona, elevation 7,200 feet, from my visit in June 2013. The first photo is of the Clark Telescope ,
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Posted in Blog, Trip Reports
Tags: Clark Telescope, Clyde Tombaugh, discovery of Pluto, Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory, Pluto, public viewing, refractor, telescope
Tags: Clark Telescope, Clyde Tombaugh, discovery of Pluto, Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory, Pluto, public viewing, refractor, telescope
Solar Row + Cal K
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Solar Scope Row and Calcium K!
Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
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Second Peak!
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Today’s Sun Spot Count 212 (NOAA
Today’s Sunspot Number beats the peak average at the last cycle. And it is a must check out! Even in an 80mm with standard solar filter.
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Hellacious Sun
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
May 1st Sun
The Sun kicked off May (and its surface) a hellacious sized flair. Several active regions and a very dark sunspot are aimed at a planet just found to have a core temp 1000 degrees hotter than previously measured.
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Astronomy Day at SJ MLK Public Library
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Nice day for sunspots, solar flares, and Astronomy Day at the San Jose Martin Luther King Public Library. The volunteers Isaac, Teruo, Keith, Michael and Kevin made this event a success so thanks to all! But a huge thanks to the Library and staffers Deborah and Judith who helped make this stellar educational day happen!
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Posted in Blog, Solar
Tags: Astronomy Day, binoculars, booth, Martin Luther King Public Library, San Jose, solar flares, telescope
Tags: Astronomy Day, binoculars, booth, Martin Luther King Public Library, San Jose, solar flares, telescope
Cupertino’s Earth Day
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Cloudy Day At Earth Day Still Saw The Sun
From 11 to 3:30 we had about four 10-20 minute viewing sessions where we offered the public good views of a very active Sun.
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Posted in Blog, Solar
Tags: Cupertino, prominence, public viewing, solar disk, sun, sunspots, volunteers
Tags: Cupertino, prominence, public viewing, solar disk, sun, sunspots, volunteers
Polar Solar Weekend!
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Public Solar Viewing Saturday & Sunday April 6th & 7th:
Sat 11 – 3PM: Cupertino’s Earth Day @ Cupertino Civic Center
CLICK HERE FOR EARTH DAY FLYER
Sun 2 –
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Posted in Announcements, Blog, Solar
Tags: NASA, polar filament eruption, solar eruption, solar flare
Tags: NASA, polar filament eruption, solar eruption, solar flare
Comet L4 PANSTARRS
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
YES PANSTARRS is Still Visible In Silicon Valley!
Use Binoculars – Use a smart phone astroapp if you got one.
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Packer at m.packer@yahoo.com
How to view L4 PANSTARRS
http://astrobob.areavoices.com
PanSTARRS is high enough to see in Silicon Valley.
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Solar Sunday Report Feb 10th
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
Solar Sunday Report February 10th, 2013
Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
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Solar Peak
by Frank Geefay
Frank Geefay
The Sun’s Hot Right Now!
Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
Sun Spot Number Graph
Last Updated 25 Jan 2013 13:03 UT
Plus Two Great Shot of Sun From SJAA Member Robert Devall
Click These Photos To Enlarge !
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