Tag Archives: parker

From the Program Chair

Kate Otto, Program Chair AAAP’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. in Peyton Hall. Member Rex Parker , PhD. (Indiana University, 1985, Biochemistry) will present “Galaxies, Comets, and Pixels from the High Desert” in … Continue reading

Posted in November 2013, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Some of the Best of 20 Years in the AAAP

The bounds of space and time are not what they once seemed, thanks to more than 150 AAAP-sponsored lectures over the past two decades. We’ve had the privilege to meet, marvel, and question some of the leading scientists in the … Continue reading

Posted in May 2013, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Home Observatory – Dream to Reality

By Rex Parker I know that I’m not alone in longing for a home observatory. A permanent set up, ready to power on, impress your friends, bring the stars home! Over the past dozen years my heavy “portable” mount has … Continue reading

Posted in October 2012, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | 2 Comments

First Light with Stellar Spectroscopy

by Rex Parker Spectroscopy has always been an interesting and appealing branch of optics and chemistry ever since I made my first diffraction grating spectroscope for a junior-high science fair project. Of course spectroscopy has many scientific applications today, especially … Continue reading

Posted in December 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Tour of the Famed Yerkes Observatory

by Rex Parker An astronomy field trip to spice up the summer family visit back in the home state… destination: merely the birthplace of modern astrophysics! I was bound for Yerkes Observatory, home to the world’s largest refracting telescope, the … Continue reading

Posted in October 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Losmandy Mount Donated to AAAP

by Rex Parker In March the club was the recipient of a generous donation by Bob Wolf, amateur astronomer and recent AAAP member. Bob donated a Losmandy G-11 Gemini Go-To mount.  This is a “portable” German equatorial design similar to … Continue reading

Posted in April 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spring Time is for Galaxies

by Rex Parker With the passing of the equinox it’s time to start searching for the great sweep of galaxies in Leo and Virgo.  This is absolutely the best time of year for observing galaxies both visually and astrophotographically.  In … Continue reading

Posted in April 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Deep-Sky Planner

by Rex Parker If you have been thinking about ways to improve your observing skills and get more out of the precious hours you spend under the stars, here’s something you might want to try.  A few astronomy computer programs … Continue reading

Posted in March 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Minimum of Algol by CCD Photometry

by Rex Parker, AAAP Variable stars are not getting the attention they deserve in the AAAP these days!  Deep sky objects, planets & exo-planets, and intergalactic large scale structure are the hot topics.  Even double stars get more telescope time … Continue reading

Posted in December 2010, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | 2 Comments