Thursday, 7/31
Online Chat Session
TOPIC:
We will return today to a discussion on images.  Now that 
you've been experimenting for a while, what new issues 
or problems (technical or otherwise) have arisen?  For 
example, what should you expect particular images 
to look like?  
Have you discovered which settings work best for the 
images you're planning to take, in terms of focus and 
filters?  What else can you share (or ask about) to 
help you improve the quality of your images?

R Maki: Hi Sheila....spent some time looking over your
moon work so that I don't duplicate anything.
AlbertM497:     Good morning, folks...,.
LFrench637:     Hello everyone!
LFrench637:     Beth, are you here?
BHoff1: YEs--I've been trying to send you an im and 
it keeps saying you're not here
LFrench637:     That's what's happening to me too! LOL
BHoff1: What's this all about???
LFrench637:     I just sent you mail.  Don't know 
what's happening.
SheM2G: Sorry Richard, I was sending mail.  I would be 
very interested in seeing what you are doing,
BHoff1: I sent you one back.  Tell me if you got it
SheM2G: because I have been working on a more conceptual 
approach to the Moon, as well as a teacher
AlbertM497:     I have been sending IMs and then get 
disconnected...
LFrench637:     And Beth and I can't send IMs 
to each other!
SheM2G: guide for the pages already made 
(misconceptions, suggestions and other thoughts).
LFrench637:     I'm going to sign off and back on again.
BHoff1: I'm going to try the same.
LFrench637:     Hello again...
RobOchs:        HI
LFrench637:     Now has Beth gone too?
CynSol: yes
LFrench637:     I guess we can get started.  Today we'd 
like to return to discussing observing and
LFrench637:     images, to give people a chance to ask 
questions and share experience.
LFrench637:     What new issues or problems 
(technical or otherwise) have arisen?
LFrench637:     For example, what should you expect 
particular images to look like?
LFrench637:     Have you discovered which settings work 
best for the images you're planning to take,
LFrench637:     in terms of focus and filters?
LFrench637:     (I have been working with the focus on 
Ed and have some info to share there).
LFrench637:     What else can you share (or ask about) 
to help you improve the quality of your images?
LFrench637:     Steve is (or will be) with Beth, so 
feel free to ask us any questions.
LFrench637:     Who would like to start?
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        I would like Linda to share her experience 
with focus.  It is something we are all
RobOchs:        interested in.  GA
LFrench637:     Glad to.  I took quite a few images last 
night, first changing the focus by 100 units.
LFrench637:     This was with the zoom out, and a clear 
filter.  The number that gave the best images, 1600, 
was pretty close to Steve's default value of 1587.
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     Then I took a few at closer intervals...
1570, 1580, 1590, 1600, etc.
LFrench637:     1600 and 1620 looked about the same, 
so I went for 1610 as the "best" value.
LFrench637:     GA Beth...or is it Steve?  :)
BHoff1: Beth speaking for Steve now
BHoff1: The default focus value for Ed has been 
changed to what Linda determined as the best focus.
BHoff1: GA
LFrench637:     thanks.  I compared my frames taken at 
1600 and 1620 to some Bruce took of an asteroid field
LFrench637:     for asteroid 5 Astraea last night.
LFrench637:     The coordinates generated by Voyager 
seem to work and there is an asteroid there.
LFrench637:     Bruce used the default focus of 1587, 
and the closer values seem to get at least a magnitude
LFrench637:     fainter, so it is good we are using the 
new value.
LFrench637:     As soon as the Moon moves away from the Sun, 
I will try the ND filter to see if I can fine
LFrench637:     tune that focus too.
LFrench637:     GA.
LFrench637:     Does anyone have any questions?
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        Has anyone addressed the maximum number 
of images per night that may be taken?
SheM2G: !!
RobOchs:        and will there be a need to schedule 
times as the usage increases this fall with all of the
RobOchs:        students.  GA
LFrench637:     GA Sheila.
SheM2G: I received email from the Arizona scope for 
images that I took a week ago today.
SheM2G: I was wondering about that too.  GA
LFrench637:     Rob, have you found there to be a maximum 
number that could be taken?
LFrench637:     And have we had scheduling conflicts 
to date?  GA
BHoff1: !
RobOchs:        No, I haven't had any problems but there 
aren't many people using the scopes.  Someone
Fsdeutsch:      !
RobOchs:        said during one of our conferences that 
the number of possible images per night was what
RobOchs:        I considered to be fairly low.  GA
LFrench637:     GA Beth/Steve then Freeman.
BHoff1: There is not a limit on how many pictures you 
can take, but the telescope is physically limited in 
how quickly it can move.
BHoff1: So in fact it depends on the images you take. GA
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Freeman.
Fsdeutsch:      eventially ther will be some software 
that makes it so that you can only take x number of p
ictures per hour. ga
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        I am also wondering if possible conflicts 
will occur in the naming of the images.  RO
Fsdeutsch:      !!
RobOchs:        Idenfifies my images but I am certain 
there will be several students with RO as initials
LFrench637:     GA Freeman
RobOchs:        this fall.  GA
Fsdeutsch:      There is a time stamp in the name of the 
image, so all names will be unique, ga
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        What if my image is not taken at my 
requested time.  I know that the image names are
RobOchs:        unique but if my image is taken at some 
other time (or date), how will I know it is mine?
RobOchs:        GA
Fsdeutsch:      !!
LFrench637:     GA Freeman.
Fsdeutsch:      You get email with the name of you images
Fsdeutsch:      the images in the directory can be sorted 
by user who took the image, ga
LFrench637:     Sheila also had a question about email 
concerning an image she took a week ago.
LFrench637:     I've had that happen when the Net went down, 
and the image was taken at a later date.
SheM2G: !!
LFrench637:     Ga Sheila.
Fsdeutsch:      Sounds good to me
SheM2G: My images are dated July 24, but the messages 
arrived today.  I am wondering if a greater
SheM2G: volume of pictures will affect the operability 
of the scopes (i.e., late messages).  GA
LFrench637:     Freeman, any thoughts?
Fsdeutsch:      !!
LFrench637:     GA
Fsdeutsch:      After your picture is taken you are 
notified right away of its creation and location.
Fsdeutsch:      More volume will not make this fail., ga
Fsdeutsch:      !!
LFrench637:     GA
Fsdeutsch:      SheM2G you might look at he day the 
email was sent,
Fsdeutsch:      I think it would say july 24, ga
SheM2G: !! I will check and email you, Fsdeutsch.  
Thanks.  GA
LFrench637:     There was a comment yesterday about 
the identifier that is sent when you
LFrench637:     request and image not agreeing with the 
title of the image once it is taken.
LFrench637:     That is because the first ID gives the 
time the request was received, and the image title
LFrench637:     has the time it was taken.  But if you look 
at "Image Info" in the Image Directory,
LFrench637:     it has both ID's there.
LFrench637:     GA
LFrench637:     I would like to ask another question 
about the focus.
LFrench637:     Is anyone still getting "donuts" for 
Jupiter's moons?
LFrench637:     If so, I'd like to hear from you, and 
what filters you're using.
LFrench637:     I guess that's not a problem!  :)
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        I don't have a donut problem with the 
IR filter and that is what I have been using recently.
THocking:       !
RobOchs:        I will try an image tonite without the 
filter and see what happens.  I was getting donuts
RobOchs:        then.  GA
LFrench637:     Thanks.  GA Tom.
LFrench637:     Tom?
THocking:       I was wondering about the status of the 
AZ scope..... How is that now?
THocking:       GA
LFrench637:     I haven't gotten any Net failure reports.  
Steve, Freeman?
Fsdeutsch:      I have not hear anything
Fsdeutsch:      ga
LFrench637:     I guess we will assume it's ok until we 
hear otherwise.
LFrench637:     A question to you all:
LFrench637:     How could the MicroObservatory be made 
more user-friendly?
LFrench637:     GA
RobOchs:        !
LFrench637:     GA Rob.
RobOchs:        Is there a reason the default is the 
"finder scope"?  If not, why not make the default
RobOchs:        the main scope.  Also when making a series 
of images, could the entered values
RobOchs:        be retained rather than returning to the 
defaults?  GA
LFrench637:     Good idea.  Thanks.
LFrench637:     Who else?
THocking:       !
LFrench637:     GA Tom.
THocking:       Since we have named the telescopes, on 
the location map instead of dots, why not names?
THocking:       GA
LFrench637:     I agree, and that suggestion has been 
made.  Thanks.
LFrench637:     Next?
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     Ga Beth.
BHoff1: Has anyone had scrolling problems lately on the 
telescope control side?GA
R Maki: !
LFrench637:     GA Dick.
R Maki: Yesterday,....very, very slow.
THocking:       !!
LFrench637:     GA Tom.
THocking:       The whole net was slow yesterday, it 
seemed.... GA
LFrench637:     What kind of scrolling problems were 
you thinking of, Beth/Steve?
BHoff1: It wouldn't let you go all the way to the bottom, 
so you couldn't submit the request.
BMellin503:     !
BHoff1: I haven't heard from anyone lately that its 
happened, so it seems to
LFrench637:     I haven't seen that.  GA Bruce.
BHoff1: have been resolved. GA
BMellin503:     The QUE page was freaky this morning...
Fsdeutsch:      !! how so?
BMellin503:     it kept changing the listing...
Fsdeutsch:      you mean adding more data
Fsdeutsch:      fa
BMellin503:     it finally settled down...what could have 
been happening GA
Fsdeutsch:      ga
LFrench637:     Did it add new images, Bruce?
BMellin503:     Freeman.yes ..
Fsdeutsch:      You said the que page, not the 
image directory.
Fsdeutsch:      ga
BMellin503:     yes
Fsdeutsch:      let us move on, ga
BMellin503:     I have not gone back to check it out 
since Noon..ga
LFrench637:     Ok.  Any more questions about the 
technical side?
THocking:       !
LFrench637:     GA Tom.
THocking:       Just wanted to refresh my memory here....
THocking:       We had decided NOT to set up a scope for 
the Sun, right?
THocking:       GA
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     Steve, have we decided?
LFrench637:     GA
NO1STAR:        !
BHoff1: We've decided not to for now.  That could 
change though. GA
LFrench637:     Any other questions?
BMellin503:     !
NO1STAR:        !
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     GA Bruce.
Everhartj:      !
BMellin503:     Larry and I have e-mailed each other 
claris works 4.0 files
BMellin503:     I can open his...but he cannot open mine...any suggestions...ga
LFrench637:     Freeman, can you IM Bruce and/or 
Larry to see about this?
LFrench637:     Thanks.
LFrench637:     GA Bob.
NO1STAR:        Just getting up to speed - anything that 
I need to know ?  GA
SheM2G: !!
LFrench637:     Sheila, you have a comment on 
claris works?
SheM2G: Do you both have the same version of Claris Works?  
I think it could make a difference?
SheM2G: We had a lot of problems at the school I where I 
did my student teaching with diff. versions
LFrench637:     Ok, maybe you can jump into the IM 
fray with Bruce, Freeman, and Larry.
SheM2G: of Claris Works.  I send transcripts to Beth 
in SimpleText.  If you are just
SheM2G: sending text (no images or tables), you 
might want to try it.
SheM2G: GA
LFrench637:     Thanks Sheila.
LFrench637:     Bob--this was a Q/A session about images 
and image processing (if people still have questions).
LFrench637:     GA John.
Everhartj:      What is the projected timeline for the 
addition of other  'scopes?
BHoff1: !
BHoff1: !!
LFrench637:     GA Beth/Steve
BHoff1: It really depends on funding and how it will 
continue.  So we don't have a timeline just yet
BHoff1: GA
LFrench637:     Did I miss anybody?
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     GA Beth/Steve
BHoff1: Beth here.  I just wanted to briefly mention 
tomorrow's topic, since it's the last day.
BHoff1: Everyone can give an update of where they 
are, and what they will do next, similar to 
what they submitted on
NO1STAR:        !
BHoff1: the questionnaires, so that others can see 
what others are doing.
BHoff1: I also wasn't sure, and wonder if Linda 
knows, how long we can use the aol bulletin board? GA
LFrench637:     That's a good question, Beth.  I will 
find out from my AOL contacts.
LFrench637:     I don't think it will disappear right 
away, but I'll ask.
SheM2G: !
LFrench637:     GA Sheila.
SheM2G: Do you think we could try to set up a time, say 
in one, two, three weeks (whatever) to meet?
SheM2G: I don't know what will be the best way to try to 
do it.  GA
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     GA Beth.
BHoff1: Since everyone will still have aol, we can do 
this really whenever we want...
BHoff1: Perhaps we can schedule 2 days a week for online 
discussions, and
BHoff1: anyone who chooses to can show up.  GA
NO1STAR:        !
LFrench637:     I would also be willing to be online at 
night, for anyone who wanted "office hours".
LFrench637:     GA Bob, sorry I missed you before.
NO1STAR:        I would really like for everyone to write 
a summary of what they have learned and then have
BMellin503:     sorry..I have to go...let me know what is 
planned bye for now...
NO1STAR:        that posted somewhere for access, plus 
examples of what people have gotten and how they have
NO1STAR:        processed it.  Do we have a place for 
that ?  GA
SheM2G: !!
LFrench637:     I think that is homework for tomorrow, 
and it will be submitted for the workshop Home Page.
LFrench637:     Is that correct, Beth?
BHoff1: I'm not sure if that was stated before.
BHoff1: But it's a good idea and we should 
certainly do it.GA
LFrench637:     OK.  GA Sheila..
SheM2G: I also thought people could try to start web 
pages at their schools of their (and their
SheM2G: students) work.  For those of you who have 
never tried making web pages, it is a lot easier
SheM2G: than you may think!!  GA
SheM2G: !!
LFrench637:     GA
SheM2G: And, we could have links from the  MO pages.  
That is all.  GA
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     Yes, i was going to say be sure to 
send us the link.
LFrench637:     If there are no more questions or 
comments, we can adjourn for today.
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     GA Beth.
BHoff1: Just a quick note--there was some confusion 
about how projects were to be
BHoff1: submitted.  I wanted everyone to know that 
we don't expect you to do them
BHoff1: as web pages, even though it would be 
nice to have.  But we will web-ize whatever you do.
BHoff1: We also need to discuss tomorrow when people 
expect to have some type of outline
BHoff1: for their project.GA
Lwaxman:        !
LFrench637:     GA Larry.
Lwaxman:        What Do you mean by Outline?
BHoff1: An extended version of what you wrote on 
the questionnaire.  With details for how
Lwaxman:        Ours is alsmost out in the rough 
draft stage.  Do you want that?
BHoff1: the project will be done in your class.  
Like a lesson plan.GA
Lwaxman:        Sorry I wasn't quite fininshed with 
my thought.GA
BHoff1: Sorry Larry--it was me who interrupted--I'm not 
used to being on the other side of the
BHoff1: protocol :)  GA
Lwaxman:        !
LFrench637:     GA Larry.
Lwaxman:        Beth, your IMs were not functioning today 
so here goes, Can bruce and I get together here
Lwaxman:        in the room at anytime during the next 
two months? GA
BHoff1: !
LFrench637:     !!
BHoff1: GA Linda
LFrench637:     Any user can create a private room on 
AOL at any time.
LFrench637:     Just go to Town Square, click on 
Private Room, and type in the name you want.
LFrench637:     You can call one "Asteroid" or 
"Jupiter" or whatever.
LFrench637:     GA
Lwaxman:        !
LFrench637:     GA larry.
Lwaxman:        BEth was first
LFrench637:     OK, GA Beth.
BHoff1: That's okay--I was just going to ask you, Linda, 
to respond to Larry's question, and you did
BHoff1: GA
LFrench637:     OK.  GA Larry.
Lwaxman:        The only prereq. is that both or the team 
members need to know the room name correct?
LFrench637:     Right.  You can always IM your partner and 
ask them where they are.
Lwaxman:        OK great!