http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml The Blog of Rick Towns! en-us Copyright 2008 deepskies.com 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 one) for... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=55 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 Jumbo ... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=54 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 issues ... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=53 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 much ... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=52 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 experience. Li... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=51 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 as the... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=50 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 book se... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=49 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST 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 that ... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=48 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Well, another year has come and gone. And I say "farewell" to 2007 - it was a year of many struggles in my life, and a fair amount of stress. Of course, being the good Buddhist I am, I fully acknowledge that all the struggling and stress was of my own doin... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=41 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST Letter from Rick to Fat Rick; Dear Fat Rick, I have some bad news for you. I've decided to let you die. For almost 20 years you've kept me warm and safe, insulating me with gooey cholesterol and fatty deposits. A famous doctor once sa... http://www.deepskies.com/blog.cfml?BlogID=40 rick@deepskies.com (Rick Towns) Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST