My Sunspot Observation 13 September 2005

 

UPDATED OCT 07

 Photo by Julie Smersh.

 

Enormous Sunspot…Anyone see it?  The Sketches are a record of my observations of the sun from our Garden Rosentangle. I used my 26 year old Questar 3.5 Classic Maksutov telescope at F14  with an 16 mm EFL Brandon eyepiece (80x) for most observations and (130x) for some details. A full aperature Questar solar filter was used. Two 10 minute sketches were composited for more detail added by the second –  including changes seen in the half hour. The composite detail sketch  below was scanned and enhanced in Photoshop. North is up and importantly I left the image you see REVERSED as I saw it in the Questar. For The actual visual orientation flip it keeping north up.

 

Place: Seattle Washington

Time: 1:20 to 1:30 PM and 1:50 to 2:00 PM PDT 13 September 2005

Weather/Seeing: Warm, Clear, Very Stable, intermittently excellent (especially for that time of day)

Sketch original size: Area shown below is 4" x 6" (Details, location of spots on solar disc  and notes are on 8" x 10" Paper)

Mount: A friend gifted me a Questar Tri-Stand pier that was used for extremely steady views. Thanks Tim.

 

Note #1: This image was different from any online observatory image available at the time. THIS WAS A VERY LARGE SUNSPOT and the only one I noticed on the visible solar surface. The Solar filter makes the image look yellow/orange and fairly bright and contrasty. Granulation and finer detail than I could draw quickly was seen at the higher power unusual for midday.

Note #2 added 18 Sep 05: The Sunspot was apparently as large as the planet Neptune per article I reviewed last night at 3 AM at Space.com - could not sleep! It is now near the rim of our Sun. The photos I have now seen have many of the features/details I drew but don’t capture the bright areas at all nor the beauty of contrast and crispness. The 80 Power Brandon was the BEST eyepiece and I tried many today to check that out!

 

 

Unterendingen in Northern Switzerland nr Endingen

I had hoped to visit Unterendingen this fall. Near Endingen in the northern part of Switzerland it is not far from the black forest area. I visited this town in August of 1966. I was driving a VW on a dirt road and the residents were suprised to see an auto. It is part of my heritage as my ancesters on my father’s side resided here in this tiny hilltop town (smaller then) in the Alps. Keller and Meyers were the dominants names in the school directory and so many people looked like my grandfather (with attached earlobes) including the Bergermeister! Last year they cellebrated their centennial and kindly sent me a CD with hundreds of photos taken over the 100 years. See Pics of the two towns below.

Lake Wenatchee – Our Favorite Destination

LAKE WENATCHEE has been one of my favorite destination places since I arrived in the Northwest 42 years ago to attend the University of Washington. Since then I have done everything there but buy property. Swimming, xcountry skiing, camping, boating, birding, hiking, friendly people,  and FISHING – you can find year round recreation. But, what I cherish most is that glorious night sky! On August nights under the Perseid Meteor Shower it is a magical place. If the bright summer Milky Way could turn off you would not be able to see your hands in front of you. I have hauled my home made 17.5 inch diameter F4.5 mirrored Dobsonian Telescope down to the State Park Beach so that the young and curious (of all ages) could climb a ladder and look through its huge eyepiece. The telescope gathers so much light that one could witness a ‘shooting star’ every 10 seconds in a field of view only the size of the moon. I think they were dazzled beyond any previous dream they might have had about the heavens – and what a light bucket of a telescope could do. They would try and stay up most of the night. PICTURES: Last week my sons and I launched our modest boat early in the morning from the State Park. We cruised to the west end of the lake for a long hot comfortable light breezy day and spent time on the sand bar island at the mouth of the White River. Later, the trusted afternoon west breeze chops at the clear water to throw the sun’s crisp light up and around us, as if the wind and sun were bound as mates splashing and tossing themselves at us….Well, with convection and a strong venturi between the steep mountain slopes they really are!  The pictures tell some of the story. (Click on LAKE WENATCHEE above to go to their fine website)

Colman Pool in Seattle – Best of a Past Era, Present

In the Northern Countries around the world outdoor public salt water pools were popular along the coasts decades ago. Because of costs and other factors these pools are now rare indeed. Through private donations Seattle is fortunate to have preserved a recreation of the best kind for future generations in rehabilitating the 50 meter Colman ‘Salt Water’ Pool. The location is directly on Puget Sound in Lincoln Park, a 1/3rd mile easy walk from parking. The water temperature is kept to 84 degrees. My boys and I go there whenever we can. The aerial is from my Google Earth Plus and the image off the high dive is of Cameron, my youngest. Only wish it was open year round! Our last visit in early September we experienced a lightning storm which we waited out. It cleared and we had the pool to ourserlves for 2 hours while viewing a 5 mile high cumulous nimbus monster cloud in the convergence zone on the sound. Commercial jets flew under it’s top at 30K feet altitude directly overhead and were dwarfed. Great Day. Looks like a hot spell coming up this week. See you there!

Clear Sky Clocks – Washington

The image below is an overlay of a Dark Sky Map onto Google Earth Plus. It shows the amenity of dark sky Lake Wenatchee presently has compared to Cle Elum which I also found to be very dark. Their sky will be gone soon with development. Look north to Winthrop & Twisp – a very dark area but yellow in town. I would choose Lake Wenatchee for stars via wide angle binoculars or telescope (not a stable sky for high powers and planetary viewing). Lake Wenatchee is a Milky Way place and one of the last in the NW. If you want to see an hourly updated webcam from a home at the northwest end of the lake go to a webcam site    http://home.comcast.net/~rmakela/jpeg/     look to the left side under outdoor links and click on CLEAR SKY CLOCK, Just below the Chart see nifty links…click Light Pollution Map, takes you to ISO bars similar to the picture attached w/ crosshairs in middle of the lake. To make the overlay you must first download Google Earth. Its free. You can add many layers like this and adjust for transparency of overlay.

Google Earth Plus: You can fly anywhere and in cities the resolution is 1 meter per pixel. The overlay was made transparent. I can zoom in to a house or out to the globe, see mountains in relief at any angle you like. Lake Wenatchee is not imaged at  high res as are larger cities and special places. Note the oblique arial. Areas in Black, Blue or Green ISO are wonderful dark skys – especially compared to SEATTLE!. See the legend provided under the Light Pollution Map.

The Poetry of Norman Lundin

Norman Lundin – Artist

A lifetime of study is expressed in his latest paintings  

I am a witness to an artist and composer that has realized greatness through a lifetime of intense study expressed in his latest best work. You may choose to agree. Powerfull sensitivities toward light in the landscape combined with his studies of interior light modulation says volumes about this man’s world class talent. His compositions are flawless which allows one to move beyond the window of the canvas to a place in time. He speaks to me emotionally as no other poet can. There is intense life and energy in his sunlight applied to every corner of his carefully orchestrated statements. I was privileged to have been instructed by Norman in the 60s. Since then I have watched his work steadily grow in complexity and bloom. I eagerly await a show of his work at our neighborhood Francine Seders Gallery where much of his work is stored and available!  You might enjoy seeing his recent exhibition ‘Views Out A Window and Other Paintings’ at the Koplin Del Rio Gallery in West Hollywood. Click on ‘VIEW THE ART’ when you get there. You might want to look at his ‘RESUME’ as well. http://www.koplindelrio.com/lundin/lundin.html

PS: Write me your thoughts if you would be so kind. Sincerely, Randy

 

A Seattle Daylight Star Grazing

A Celestial Delight on Sunday Night:

On the 17^th of July, an exceptional evening in Seattle, at about half an hour before sunset I trained my old C8 and Questar 3,5 telescopes on the moon just above a towering Mt. Rainier. This was a clear, stable, and transparent rich blue sky – a northerly breeze provided unlimited visibility. From our upper porch that commands a 360 degree view of the sky my sons and I enjoyed what looked like a fly over of the moon by the red giant Antares (the Heart of Scorpius). Rarely has the moon’s easterly orbital motion been so apparent (except with solar eclipses). I think this was in part because of bright daylight and all the familiar buildings and mountails were in clear view as I glanced through the eyepiece again and again. The warm color of the star might have also tricked our eyes into thinking it was closer than the bluer sky and moon. What do you think? I watched this fire ball (with 2 crisp defraction rings – my Q3.5 optics) glide from crater to crater and over the terminator. Just after sunset we all tested our eyes to see when we could see this redish star unaided. We all agreed it was at about 10 to 15 minute of arc away from the rim and did not have the redish look until later that evening. What a beautiful end to a wonderful day as we spent until late on our king size louge looking up and talking astronomy!

IMAGE: I am presenting the image of the above near occultation as I saw it on my trusty Starry Night Pro 5 program. The image matched exactly our observation including time, daylight simulation, craters, terminator, and the less than 1 minute of arc kiss. An hour before viewing I was able to (inside ten minutes) check it out and even email it to friends with a note, all in plenty of time to haul my telescopes out for the real show. 

 

Norman Lundin’s Latest Work: The Landscape

Francine Seders Gallery: http://www.sedersgallery.com/

NORMAN LUNDIN  was born in Los Angeles in 1938.   He grew up in Chicago and earned his B.A. at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1961.  Lundin attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his M.F.A. in 1963, worked briefly on the curatorial staff at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and then traveled to Norway on a Fulbright Grant where he studied at the University of Oslo.  He returned to the United States in 1964 to teach at the University of Washington. (My Art Instructor1964-67)  Lundin is a respected member of the West Coast art community.  He has shown at the Seders Gallery since 1967 and his work is regularly included in solo and group exhibitions mounted by regional museums. He is also represented by galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York and shows nationally in thematic and invitational exhibitions.

For the past thirty years Norman Lundin has worked with the figure, still life, and landscape. What has held his interest is light and how it defines and gives character to objects and interior and exterior spaces.   He is not concerned with literal description but rather the behavior of light.  In his earlier work the imagery carried a heavy emotional load; however, over the years Lundin has placed more emphasis on the formal structure of the work and opted to use images with more neutral content. He has moved  away from a narrative treatment of the figure to spare studio interiors and still lifes of wrapped packages and empty jars.  He observes that expression is essential to a good painting but it is dependent on formal strength and clarity.  For this reason he has chosen to consciously focus on formal considerations and allow expression to take care of itself.

NOTE: The above was excerpted from the gallery website. I have added this information not only to describe my professor and favorite artist (if one can really have a favorite in contemporary art)  but to link you to an art gallery that has some of Washington’s finest artists on consignment. Please take a moment to see her site and/or visit. The gallery is right near Starbucks and Red Mill Burgers on the hill above our home.

Our English Countryside Romance

THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE

Our Trip to England produced over 900 photographs (2 really good ones! – Of course they are of my wife, both of which she could not stand and thought I had burned) and a pictorial descriptive Diary/Sketchbook of Observations which I intend to share with you as long as you stay with me. We explored the entire ’South of England’ then north up the west side and just beyond the Cotswalds. We Plan to start there and head further north on our next trip taking in Cambridge (home of my Granny’s Grandfather) and then to the Lake District? Any ideas on great places out there? Please check back with me if you have any interest in the Homes and Gardens of England, or would like to carry our bags. Many of my residential landscapes incorporate ideas and scale gleaned from our travels. Every year I find more people focusing on their home and garden with the love that has traditionally been an English Habit? The number one hobby in England is……..?   GARDENING!

Rosentangle, The Book; to be released in May of 2018

AN URBAN RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE
ROSENTANGLE ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
   

CHAPTER ONE
A MARRIAGE OF TWO DIFFERENT GARDEN STYLES

A GREAT WAY TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER
IF GENTLE PURSUASION FAILS SHE IS ALWAYS RIGHT
LEARNING AND GLEANING PEARLS  FROM EACH OTHER
OUR GARDEN SHOULD BE PLAYFUL AND A TEASE
WE DO NOT TAKE THE GARDEN TOO SERIOUSLY
THE EXOTIC AND MYSTERIOUS
SEASONAL ANTICIPATION AND DOWN TIME
HOW DID ROSENTANGLE GET ITS NAME
NAMING HOUSE AND GARDEN ELEMENTS?
OUR GARDEN WILL NOT SIT STILL – YOU WISH IT
MORE…

CHAPTER TWO
SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY OUR MONSTER IS CREATED

NO REST FOR THE WICKED
ROSES AND THEIR THORNY NATURE
DISEASE, SLUGS AND STUFF
SEASONAL RESULTS SCRUTINIZED
SPIDERS, RATS, DOGS AND CATS – BUT THERE IS MORE
DIGGING, DIGGING, AND MORE DIGGING
NEVERENDING THOUGHT PROCESS ‘CAUSE IT’S THERE
VINES CAUSE NEW PROJECTS:  STRUCTURES
MAINTENANCE FREE NOTHINGS
HA HA LOOK MA NO WEEDS
WIND STORMS AND ALL THAT WETNESS
TROPICAL PARADISE? THINK AGAIN
MORE…

CHAPTER THREE
ARCHITECTURAL CHANGES GROW FROM ROSENTANGLE

DRIVEWAY TURNED PRIVATE STUDIO COURT
THE OLD GARAGE TURNED BOAT HOUSE STUDIO
SALVAGED WINDOWS DETERMINE CONSERVATORY PLANS
FEEDING TROUGH PROVIDES INSTANT DIPPING POND
POND TRANSFORMS INTO FLORA, FISH, AND WILD LIFE ARENA
BROKEN CONCRETE MAGICALLY TURNS EXOTIC STONE
VINES AND THE BED IN THE GARDEN
EATING BIG ON THE GARDEN PORCH OVERLOOK
A SUN AND MOON DECK ABOVE IT ALL
THE BEDROOM AND SLEEPING PORCH
ALICE’S HYACINTH BLUE DOOR
FOR THE BIRDS
OUR HOUSE HAS A NEW GARDEN DOOR
DRAMA OF A COOLING ARTIFICIAL RAIN
A SCENTED FOGGY MIST? OUR DRYER VENT
PAINT COLOR CHOICES – THE HUE AND SHADE OF BARK
FENCES AS PORCH RAILINGS, GARDEN STRUCTURES, WINDOWS AND DOORS
THE LONG VIEW: AXIS IN THE GARDEN
GETTING LOST
HIDDEN SURPRISES
USE AND PLACEMENT STRATEGIES OF GARDEN ORNAMENT
ROSENTANGLE’S CELESTIAL THEME
BALLS IN ORNAMENT
INSPIRATION FROM THE BARGAIN – NOT ALWAYS INSPIRED
ROSENTANGLE AT NIGHT – AN OFTEN NEGLECTED DESIGN APPROACH
MORE….

CHAPTER FOUR
THE UNION OF HOUSE, GARDEN, AND NEIGHBORHOOD

TOGETHER AS ONE
ROOMS AND PASSAGES TO THE PROPERTY AND BEYOND
ROOMS MAY HAVE UNIQUE QUALITIES AND USES
IS TIDINESS CLOSE TO GODLINESS?
HOW INDOOR OR OUTDOOR ROOMS BLUR IN DEFINITION
DIFFERING PERSONAL VISIONS OF HOUSE AND GARDEN
OBSCURING BAD DETAILS OR STYLE
A FOCUS ON THE BEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ENTRANCES AND CONNECTIVITY   
ATTITUDES AND CONFRONTATION WITH NEIGHBORS
PROPERTY LINES AND YOUR GARDEN STYLE
TRICKS TO OBSCURE A PROPERTY LINE OR ‘I HATE FENCES’
THE HOT TUB – INSIDE OUT
THE GATE KEEPER – INS AND OUTS
PROPERTY TAX THIS DUMP
YOU HORRIBLE UNMANAGEABLE BEAST
DISAPPROVING LOOKS IN BALLARD
MORE…

CHAPTER FIVE
A STEP BACK: REFEREEING NATURES BEAUTIFUL CHAOS

SELECTIVE CLEARING AND PRUNING
MOVE ‘EM OUT – MIX ‘EM UP
TO BREATH AGAIN: COSTRAPHOBIA
RETHINKING PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS: RESISTING WORK
ENERGY BACK INTO THE MUNDANE: STOP THE PROJECTS!
CHAOS AND THE RICH PAGEANT OF LIFE
THE BEST AND WORST OF WIND
BRAVING THE ELEMENTS
THE LURE OF WATER
HIDDING FROM THE SUN
FORMAL SMORMAL?
‘LESS IS MORE’ OR ‘MORE IS NATURE’
A NORTHWEST TROPICAL STYLE?  MEMORIES OF HELIGAN
THE EDGE OF HARDINESS
WAITING IT (NATURE) OUT
THE DANGERS OF HAVING CHILDREN (OR ANOTHER FORCE OF NATURE?)
CHILDREN, NATURAL VIOLENCE, AND PRECIOUS PLANTS
IMPACT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
IN HIDING – THE HERMITAGE
INVISIBLE NEIGHBORS, BARKING DOGS, AND DRILLS
OLDER COUPLES VERSES THE YOUNGER COUPLES
ENOUGH ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT?
MORE…

CHAPTER SIX
CHILDHOOD DREAMS MANIFEST IN THE GARDEN

ASTRONOMY AND THE OBSERVATORY
DOLLHOUSE TO CONSERVICTORIUM
THE BOTANIST, EXPLORER, AND PLANTSMAN
STONE BUILDING BLOCKS AND THE ARCHITECT
VACATIONLAND MYTHS
WATERFRONT PROPERTY AND THE SWIMMING POOL
ARTISTS STUDIO AND RETREAT
HIS AND HERS OF THE HOUSE AND GARDEN
LOVE OF THE SUNSHINE…AND THAT OTHER WEATHER
DISNEYLAND IN US ALL?
CAMPING AT HOME
THE ROOFTOP AND FLYING
EXCUSE ME BUT I MUST GO SHOPPING
THE COLLECTORS CORNER
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF PLAY AND A CRUSH
THE INVENTOR IN ALL OF US
THERE ARE BILLIONS OF ARTISTS IN THE WORLD
BEGINNINGS OR FUTILITY?
YOUR MARK – A RECORD FOR WHOM
VINTAGE JAZZ IN THE GARDEN
THE TEA PARTY
JIM GOODWIN AND DONALD DUCK
MORE…

CHAPTERS SEVEN THROUGH FIFTY TWO TBA 

Appendix

List of Plant Materials

List of Photos, Drawings, Charts, Diagrams, and Chicken Scratches

List of Contributing Associations

List of Related Publications

List of Building Materials and Suppliers

List of Compromises

List of the Names and Phone Numbers of the Really Bad Neighbors

List of all Altercations

List of Makups

List of Injuries and Weight Gains/Loses

List of Notices of Obituaries

Lists of Lists and Favorable Reviews

List of Musical Performers and Their Compositions

List of All Utility/Services Costs

Lists of Applicable Codes and Ordinances (Not Included)