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Showing posts with the label tools

Calibrating a Laser

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In order to keep my astronomy gear at the highest quality possible, I need all sorts of specialized tools.  The more specialized my gear gets, the more specialized my tools need to be.  That being said, one of the most common tasks an astronomer needs at a high level of proficiency is the task of collimating optics. Lenses comprising a lens group need to be square to each other...  lens groups need to be square to the focuser...  and mirrors, if your telescope has any, need to be perfectly aligned so the light focuses at one sharp point after reflecting off of two mirrors.  The solar spectroheliograph I am building also needs each of its four optical elements to be aligned perfectly with respect to each other.  Astronomy isn't just about looking at the sky.  Your gear needs to be properly maintained otherwise your observing sessions will be less-than-stellar (pun intended).  Of course, I'm also not your typical backyard astronomer who is just looking for some "gee whiz&quo

Sketch to Reality

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I have a library of notebooks scattered throughout the house but, mostly, on a bookshelf in our bedroom. I'm always carrying one of these notebooks so I can jot down ideas and to sketch these ideas. These notebooks are filled with sketches, lists and sometimes inane musings. Since my illness developed about 18 years ago, my mind can be a bit scattered so I found that a notebook was my friend when it comes to organizing my thoughts and remembering these thoughts. I started having difficulty remembering things and, cognitively, I was struggling with a lot of small projects. My notebooks were and have been a powerful tool in helping me accomplish a lot of projects in recent years. Truth be told, I've always kept notebooks filled with my sketches and ideas. I have notebooks from decades ago filled with sketches and notes of home improvement projects and jobs, boats, airplanes, aerospace concepts, and homes I've designed and built. Back then, these notebooks were just a p

Cell Phones As Tools

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I truly love technological advances. What's not to love about the ability to use new, more effective tools to organize and streamline our lives or to make certain tasks easier to accomplish?  Even home entertainment is far better today with affordable, large screen, high-definition televisions, impressive surround sound and digital streaming media. It is always great to move forward and to improve our lives through technological advances. Cell phones are a part of these important technological advances. We all probably agree that today's cell phones provide us with some amazing and effective tools and, for these very reasons, I've owned a personal cellphone for more than 15 years and I'll continue to own a cell phone. I've used cell phones manufactured by Motorola, Nokia, Blackberry, LG, ZTE and now Samsung. There is no doubt that my current Samsung Galaxy cell phone is the best phone and mobile tool I've ever used and I really love how well it works