Rick's Blog

The Surly Buddhist

Binoviewing the Universe 2008-05-10 (Astronomy)
WOW! Okay, I've been buying a few things for my telescope lately - a f/6.3 focal reducer to aid in taking CCD images, and now I've finally taken delivery of my William Optics binoviewer. Since 1978, I've been using my one good eye (the left on... [more]

Journey To Mars via Cheltenham Badlands! 2008-04-21 (Astronomy)
On the weekend, the wife and I packed up the family and went on a mini-vacation to a large hotel in a nearby city (Mississauga). We had a great time swimming in the pool, using the water slide, playing ping pong, and visiting the airport where a 747 ... [more]

Half Moon Rising 2008-04-13 (Astronomy)
Well, I finally got my telescope out for a decent session tonight. After purchasing a special lens called a Focal Reducer/Field Corrector, I eagerly waited for the skies to clear so I could test drive my latest item. This lens corrects some optical i... [more]

One World (Not Three) 2008-04-01 (Philosophy)
A couple of random thoughts for the tail end of All Fools day. First, I've "discovered" the music of the Beatles. You know, that sappy pop band that's been around for like... ever? The band that changed... um... everything? Well, I've never paid them... [more]

The Essence of Astronomy 2008-03-19 (Astronomy)
Over the last few weeks, I've been scheming and working to get some additional astronomy equipment into my clutches for the upcoming warm weather. I've got a reasonably large telescope, and I'm always looking for ways to improve my observing experien... [more]

Fun Under The Stars 2008-03-06 (Astronomy)
I had the amazing opportunity to visit my son's Wolf Cub troop last night and teach them about the basics of astronomy. They learned things like how to use a star wheel, some stories about constellations, how the Moon creates tides on Earth, as well ... [more]

Buran Space Shuttle 2008-02-10 (Technology)
In late 2006, I worked for Oxford University Press as a free-lance author and contributor to their book The Oxford Companion to World Exploration. My article was on the Soviet shuttle program of the 1980's and is included in Volume 2 of the b... [more]

Eli Comes Of Age 2008-02-04 (Sports)
Well, if you didn't already know it, I've been a New York Giants fan since before the turn of the century. I remember watching Superbowl 25 in 1991 with all my friends as the Giants beat the Bills by one point - off of Norwood's missed field goal. In... [more]