Live from Burbank CA - The Losmandy Podcast Ep 07

Welcome to Episode 7 of The Losmandy Podcast, talking about astronomy, astronomical gear and tips, and try to trick you into wasting another 50 minutes.
This episode is a meaty one for Gemini owners- we talk Gemini features, Gemini Telescope.net features you may not know about, and we talk J2000, JNow, Epochs and (bonus) Age of Aquarius
PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE. HIT THAT NOTIFY BELL!
Tea Time with Tanya - Getting the family interested in Science!
Observatory Talk with Brian - it doesn't get easier with more expensive equipment, the problems just change. Bringing up the CDK20 in Atacama, Chile
Lightning round for Gemini 2 questions and Gemini Telescope.net
J2000 and JNOW: why can't we just have one? Brian talks precession of the equinoxes, J2000 catalogs, and 2050 will be the next big one
LINKS AND THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Galactic Lucky Charms www.target.com/p/lucky-charms...
Table of Elements cards www.amazon.com/Theodore-Gray-...
Sega Toys Homestar Flux home planetarium www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Constellation flash cards (not covered but very cool) www.amazon.com/CARDDIA-The-88...
Obstech remote hosting services in Chile obstech.cl/
ASCOM Platform: ascom-standards.org/
Precession of Earth video (not covered but great illustration) • Precession of the earth
#gotastronomy #backyardastronomy #astronomy #astrophotography #telescopes #universe #deepsky #planets #solar #burbank #losmandy #astroimaging #gemini2 #observatory #ccd #cmos

[@robmatson1575]

Hi Brian and Tanya: relative to the constellation boundaries currently accepted by astronomers, we are still in the Age of Pisces since the sun is still in Pisces at the date/time of the vernal equinox. That will continue to be true for several more centuries. Eventually the Pisces/Aquarius boundary will be crossed, but not in our lifetimes. Astrologers likely dismiss the astronomical community's boundaries for the zodiacal constellations (which each span different angular lengths of the ecliptic) in favor of 12 equally sized ones.

[@johnadastra1754]

For anyone visiting the SW USA, there is a beautiful pictorial on the breast of the Hoover Dam which shows the precession of the celestial North Pole as it moves through the constellations. It is artfully depicted with marble or granite inlaid with brass and was obviously placed there in the 1930's when the dam was built. The dam and (the remains of) Lake Meade are just a short drive from Las Vegas if you ever go there :).

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

I went there and it was very impressive but it was dayrime. Bummer

[@kenkolen]

Thanks for the heads up, I grabbed two of the Lenovo Mini PC's

[@brianvalente]

nice! let us know how it goes

[@kenkolen]

@@brianvalente will do. Did you read the comment about the Star Party?

[@brianvalente]

@@kenkolen yep, just now :)

[@wanderingquestions7501]

* When will the PemPro instructional come out?
It would be helpful to provide a outline of the video topics and time stamps so one could goto the topic of interest

[@gerrysmith5462]

Please get Brian a headset-mounted boom mic. His voice is soft and it fades in and out as he looks away from his desk mic. Tanya, on the other hand projects!

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

Y'all are welcome to my neck of the woods. If you wanna see New Orleans and experience the locals hangouts then call me. I'll show you what tourons don't know! Here's a hint.. locals don't go near Bourbon street. It's a dump. Uptown and Esplanade are the best downtown areas. But plenty other areas. Jazz fest is this October. Elvis Costello is playing. I'm there!

[@kenkolen]

Would you guys consider setting up a vendor booth at the Winter Star Party next Feb 2021?

[@brianvalente]

oh nice! drop a line to tanya at the shop and let her know the details :)

[@georgeshoup4046]

Good tips on the Gemini. The G2 capabilities are amazing. I like the G2 much better than the Celestron Goto systems.
I also liked Brian's explanation of the Epoch Catalogues and how catalogue updates make their way into the G2.

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

I think I'm gonna drop the Stellarvue 40mm Refractor on my G11g. .99 Strehl
I think I'm gonna buy the pink shirt for Issac at Stellarvue