Archaeoastronomy Global Archeoastronomy Richard Loose, HELSTF, WSMR February 27, 2004 : 32 mins. As archeoastronomy becomes more accepted as a legitimate scientific study, more information is becoming available to the general public. Evidence of an ancient tradition of astronomical knowledge is present on all continents of the globe where people have lived. Pueblo Indian Skywatching Michael Zelik, Physics and Astronomy, UNM March 21, 2005 : 38 mins. The astronomy of the historic Pueblos and its origin as a scheduling tool for religious ceremonies involve two separate but intertwined cycles: seasonal sunwatching and lunarphase counting. With the background of historic practices as a guide, selected sites in the Four Corners area are examined to evaluate their possible astronomical uses and practices. Astrophotography Webcam Autoguiding Steve Barkes, ASLCNM July 22, 2005 : 38 mins. Steve discusses the need for autoguiding and the use of low-cost web cameras to be used as autoguiders. Details are provided on the common errors associated with astronomical mounts, how they can be measured and corrected using economical hardware and software. Astrophotography Using Digital SLR Cameras Dave Dockery, ASLCNM September 24, 2004 : 33 mins. Dave gives a version of his excellent workshop covering the basics of astro-imaging using DSLR cameras including; mounting hardware, filters, compensation for poor H-alpha response, focusing techniques, and a brief demonstration of Images Plus - image processing software designed for commercial digital camera astrophotographers. CCD Astrophotography on a Budget: Meade DSI Camera Series Dave Dockery, ASLCNM September 22, 2006 : 47 mins. It’s historically been expensive to get started in astronomical CCD imaging and this has kept many prospective astrophotographers from taking the plunge. However, recent advancements in sensors and passive cooling technology, coupled with reduced manufacturing costs have made it possible for a few companies to release truly affordable imaging systems geared toward the beginning CCD astrophotographer. High Resolution Lunar Imaging: Preparation, Workflow and Results Tony Gondola, ASLCNM November 16, 2007 : 35 mins. Tony presents a very impressive summary of his recent work in digital post-processing techniques, combining hundreds of progressive scan, high-frequency scans (60 frames/sec) into a very stable image that can then be sharpened to image qualities better than could be produced by any professional observatory just a few decades ago. Building a Personal Observatory Four Member-constructed Observatories Jerry Gaber, Bob James, George Hatfield, Bill Stein, ASLCNM August 25, 2006 : 61 mins. Four new observatories have been built by members of the ASLC during the last year, and you must be impressed by the quality of what has been accomplished. The step-by-step construction of these four new observatories has been photographically documented and narrated by the club members. Fred Builds a Very Attractive Roll-off Observatory Fred Pilcher, ASLCNM October 26, 2007 : 32 mins. Fred begins his presentation with the three rules that were emphasized in last year's "Four Member-constructed Observatories": (i) Plan, plan, plan, (ii) seal, seal, seal, and (iii) keep the neighbors happy. In a series of very nice photographs, Fred documents in detail the construction of his new roll-off observatory just 30 feet away from his house, while commenting on the architectural integration of the observatory with both his house and the neighborhood as a whole. Community Outreach 2009: The International Year of Astronomy Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first use of a telescope 2.5 mins. In the year 2009, the world will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy as it commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the skies, and Kepler’s publication of Astronomia Nova. The Fine Art of Shaping a Successful Stargazer Nils Allen, ASLCNM January 26, 2007 : 40 mins. Nils has been especially proactive in educational outreach activities for the Society, running the "Beginners Corner" and "Telescope Clinics." In this talk, he outlines those points he emphasizes in guiding newbie astronomers towards becoming successful. Sharing The Night Sky: The Star Party Guide John York, York Allergy Clinic, El Paso June 24, 2005 : 32 mins. Ever wanted a handy way to know what’s up between 4 am and astronomical twilight on a particular morning? Has anyone ever asked you where the astronauts landed when you were showing them the moon? And lastly, you’d like to cruise through a few lunar points of interest and observe some of those features you read about a while back in Sky and Telescope, but where did you put that issue? History The Clyde W. Tombaugh Papers: Preserving the History of Astronomy Melissa Gottwald, Library Archivist, NMSU February 18, 2004 : 26 mins. The Clyde W. Tombaugh Papers were donated to the library by his widow Patsy and their two children, Annette and Alden, in 2001. The papers consist of approximately 150 linear feet of material, including correspondence with prominent astronomers and space scientists such as Wernher von Braun and Carl Sagan. Recollections of a Legend (audio only/MP3 format) Walter Haas, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers February 22, 2008 33 mins. Walter shares his unique insights from a lifetime of pursuing solar system astronomy, including his recollections of his life-long friendship with Clyde Tombaugh and his pivotal role in the founding of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers. My Life After the Comet Alan Hale, Southwest Institute for Space Research November 22, 2003 : 31 mins. "Considering that the last time I spoke to the Las Cruces society was in the midst of the Hale-Bopp era, perhaps this is an appropriate TItle. In particular, I'd like to discuss some of the comet/NEO work I'm doing, as well as the science diplomacy activities I've been involved in, including the Earthrise Project that I'm in the midst of getting underway." Exploration Through Competition Joshua Neubert, X Prize Foundation January 27, 2006 : 34 mins. On October 4th, 2004, the X PRIZE captured world headlines when Mojave Aerospace led by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen built and flew the world’s first private spacecraft to the edge of space to win the $10 million ANSARI X PRIZE. Because of the dramatic nature of the achievement, the X PRIZE Foundation is now widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through the use of competitions. Palomar: My Time With The Big Eye David Williams, Cloudcroft, NM November 22, 2008 : 38 mins. David grew up with the Palomar Observatory as a boy and eventually became a night operator of the telescopes. He provides an especially detailed knowledge of the facility, accompanied by a very clear explanation of its construction, design and operation. Planetary Astronomy Cassini and Huygens at the Saturn System Reta Beebe, Astronomy, NMSU March 25, 2005 : 54 mins. The international Cassini-Huygens spacecraft arrived at Saturn last June and entered into orbit around the ringed planet. In December and January, the Huygens probe separated from Cassini and parachuted to the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. More recently the Cassini spacecraft has had close encounters with another moon, Enceladus. Tombaugh and Pluto Update & How Is a NASA Planetary Mission Formulated? Reta Beebe, Astronomy, NMSU January 25, 2008 : 50 mins. Reta discusses the structure of the National Academy of Science and its role in determining NASA’s Solar System Exploration Program. Dr. Beebe's research has involved interpretation of data from the NASA Planetary Exploration program. She has worked on Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini data and used the Hubble Space Telescope for a Jupiter/Saturn observing program early in the mission. Planets Around Other Stars Heidi Hammel, Space Science Institute [a lecture specifically designed for middle-school girls] April 20, 2006 : 43 mins. This lecture is different from the standard ASLCNM lectures. It was a public lecture given to middle school children, sponsored by the National Science Foundation's ADVANCE program, a program specificially designed to enthuse and excite young girls into considering careers in mathematics, science and engineering. Supernovae and Black Holes Understanding Close-Binary Evolution: New Results from Observations of Cataclysmic Variables Tom Harrison, Astronomy, NMSU September 23, 2005 : 32 mins. Recent infrared spectroscopy has shown that normal cataclysmic variables do not follow the evolutionary history proposed by theorists. Strangely, cataclysmic variables with highly magnetic primaries do. There is no obvious explanation for this difference. I will talk about how normal stars (like the Sun) evolve, and how this evolution changes when you put a star in a binary system. The Accelerating Universe and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Supernova Search Jon Holtzman, Astronomy, NMSU February 23, 2007 : 50 mins. In the last decade, astronomers have accumulated data that indicates that the expansion of the Universe has been accelerating. Jon reviews some of the data that has led to this unexpected conclusion. In addition, Jon describes an ongoing project using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) telescope at Apache Point Observatory that is contributing to this issue. Seven Ways A Black Hole Can Kill You Phil Plait, Sonoma State University March 23, 2005 : 51 mins. This talk is about, well, seven ways a black hole can kill you. It has lots of fun and gruesome ideas about all the ways a black hole can ruin your day. It's based on solid science, but uses humor to teach about what black holes are and how they work. White Dwarf Binaries: LISA, X-rays and SN Ia Ashley J. Ruiter, Astronomy, NMSU June 22, 2007 : 32 mins. Ashley outlines her intentions for her doctoral dissertation project, which are in effect three projects, all of which center around white dwarf binary systems in the hope of detecting gravitational waves. The idea of gravity waves is now a century old, a consequence of Einstein's space-time theory, but we've yet to detect any hint that they truly exist. Supernova! Bert Stevens, ASLCNM July 28, 2006 : 37 mins. Everyone has heard about supernovas, but do you know what causes them? This month’s talk will discuss the supernova and how it comes at the end of the star’s life, generating one of the most cataclysmic explosions in the universe. We will explore what happens in the heart of a giant star just before it goes supernova. Telescope Design Everything You Wanted To Know About Optical Quality But Were Afraid To Ask Tony Gondola, ASLCNM May 23, 2008 : 38 mins. A detailed overview of the various metrics of the optical qualities that affect a mirrored surface is presented. This overview includes a very clear exposition of the characteristics that the metrics are measuring, as well as the nature of defects that they don't measure. New Telescope Designs for Advanced Amateurs: What's New in the Last Decade or Two? Tom Krajci, Cloudcroft, NM February 22, 2008 : 33 mins. Tom presents detailed design criteria for several popular telescope designs that are capable of being manufactured by the amateur himself but which will provide him with significantly advanced capabilities at potentially much lower costs than commercially available equipment. Palomar: My Time With The Big Eye David Williams, Cloudcroft, NM November 22, 2008 : 38 mins. David grew up with the Palomar Observatory as a boy and eventually became a night operator of the telescopes. He provides an especially detailed knowledge of the facility, accompanied by a very clear explanation of its construction, design and operation.

NOTES ON USAGE

The QCShow Process