[Plamadude30k]

Yes, cheap. Very cheap.

Also, did you guys know that when it was commissioned, they used Subaru for eyepiece observing for a few nights? Mind=blown.

[Plamadude30k]

Ah, the moon, the optical astronomer’s bane.
Here’s my moon shot:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8AEUFNwpo5JKO_88psvw6A?feat=directlink
Taken using a 24″ telescope. Miniscule, I know. Everything seems small after Subaru and Keck.

[Plamadude30k]

Which one’s you?

I’m this one:

In back of me from left to right:
IRTF (3 meter), CFHT (4 meter), Gemini North (8 meter), UH 88″, UKIRT (4 meter).

While I was visiting, I talked to the guy who will probably be my thesis advisor. He wants to get me started observing on Keck right away. I’m a little excited.

EDIT: and, yes, Rav, you’re welcome to come stay with me.

[Plamadude30k]

Thanks, Kestrana, that would be most appreciated.

[Plamadude30k]

I’m with Rav, I’ll probably need somebody to OBO for me-I’ll either be in a lecture or at a professor’s house when the contest goes live. There’s a small chance I may be able to post, however. Let’s say that if I don’t post by an hour after the contest goes up on TF, somebody will probably have to OBO for me. Anybody willing?

Here’s the code for the entries if anyone is willing:

Sunrise Silhouette
This was taken early one morning on the Catalina Highway north of Tucson. I normally don’t like seeing sunrise (I like sleeping instead), but the gentleness of this one called to me, so I had to stop my car. 1/3, Pops.

Electric Candles in the Dark
Taken in a ridiculous hotel in Banff, Canada-it’s actually a castle. My brother and I spent a whole evening just exploring the castle. This scene in particular called to me-it was so atmospheric. 2/3, Pops.

Black Hawaiian Lava and a Tidepool
Taken a few years ago at Christmas. At that time, I had no idea I might be living here in a couple years! 3/3, Pops.

[Plamadude30k]

Orionid, you just made all the points I’ve been making to everybody I know, but way better than I’ve been doing. I guess actual knowledge instead of wild speculation pays off sometimes.

//just reading through the car analogy again-it’s so appropriate to the situation, it’s almost unnerving.

[Plamadude30k]

//The moment, however, would be a little sweeter if we knew Corsec was okay in Japan, though. 🙁

Agreed, completely agreed. I was really worried all that night that it happened, since I’m flying out to Hawaii on Tuesday-I was wondering what to do if the Honolulu airport was underwater. I guess that’s something to watch out for when I’m living out there.

But yeah, I’m glad LeicaLens is okay, and I hope corsec is alright. Anybody heard from him?

[Plamadude30k]

I know voting is still open, but it looks like this might be my first win. I’m kinda relieved-it looked for a while like I was going to be cursed to only get 3rd place at best. I did have a slight advantage in materials and access, however :).

[Plamadude30k]

I wonder if we could call a telescope FARK. Farking Awesome Reflector, better than Keck.

I support this, especially if we put it on Mauna Kea, either on the upper row or the summit proper, to make sure it’s slightly higher than Keck.

The problem with that is that the TMT (thirty-meter-telescope) is already supposed to be going there. Mauna Kea is getting crowded! I guess there still must be some space, though.

[Plamadude30k]

Oh, you thought the VLT was funny? There’s a few proposals out there for really big telescopes going by the names of ELT (Extremely Large Telescope), and the OWL (OverWhelmingly Large telescope). Sounds like a joke, I know, but they’re serious. I wonder if we could call a telescope FARK. Farking Awesome Reflector, better than Keck.

[Plamadude30k]

I’ve honestly no idea. It’s right at the entrance to “Beyond the Solar System” in the museum though if you are ever there. I think it’s more a generic display.

Fairly certain it is Gemini (well, one of the Gemini-as the name suggests, there are two). When you’re an observational astronomer, you get to know the big scopes pretty well. LBT. MMT. Gemini North/South. Magellan. Subaru. GTC. Keck. SALT/HET (which are pretty much the same, but look different from the outside). And, of course, my favorite, the aptly named Very Large Telescope (VLT). What you got there sure looks like one of the Gemini domes. I’ll bring back a picture to compare next week.

[Plamadude30k]

I was thinking of using a sunrise silhouette as well. Sounds like that might be a popular type of image for this theme. I thought I had nothing until I sat down and had a think about it last night. Now I’ve got a few solid entries. I may have to ask somebody to post OBO for me, however, as I don’t know where I’ll be or if I’ll have internet access when the contest rolls around.

[Plamadude30k]

Hah! Mine’s only a model though…

Also, is that a model of the Gemini telescope in the foreground there? I’ll be seeing the real one next week!

[Plamadude30k]

Hey, kestrana, I think we have the same galaxy!

[Plamadude30k]

If those are just the bees, I’m sunk.

I highly doubt that. You never know what the voters will go for. I certainly don’t.

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