The Voodoo that is Ubuntu

Last week, as the lack of anything close to a star filled sky has kept me indoors, typing away on my computer, I decided now would be a good time to try something new. I have read and read over the years about Linux, my current job utilizes Linux servers on the majority of our systems, yet my experiece with with OS is extremely limited. I have heard so much on folks moving to Linux and never turning back that I decided why not.

I currently have my laptop configured to dual-boot Vista and XP. I loaded XP only a day after owning the computer, being very unimpressed with Vista. I grew weary of the performance issues and the too numerous to list "why the hell did Microsoft do this" stuff. After some research, I landed on the decision that Ubuntu was the Linux distro to give a try. So Saturday morning at 2am I started my installation.

By about 4 am I was surfing the web. To say the least I was impressed at that fact. I did not have a single driver issue, or should I say more correctly, at that time it 'appeared' that I didn't have a single driver. A quick search on how to install software for Ubuntu directed me to a wonderful feature, the Add/Remove programs feature of Ubunto. Simply put, it takes the complication out of installing those Linux apps, you can literally install hundreds of fantastic apps right from this menu. It worked fantastic. And although not everything is listed, boy there are thousands of Linux apps, the choices are certainly more then enough for most users.

After about an hour or so loading apps from the Software Library, I added some of the Linux versions of apps I use almost daily, such as TweetDeck, Audacity, Stellarium just to name a few. All these apps worked perfectly, with TweetDeck being the most challenging because of the dependancies. But with some quick 'googling', you find extremely helpful advise out there and a healthy list of simple step by steps as well.

Today I'm and and running over 30 apps, from Podcast managment software of OpenOffice and Thunderbird. Now the down to earth part, not all of them are running. For one, EtherApe is supposed to be a program that shows your network activity, but this does not run. Its interesting that this was downloaded via the Add/Remove Ubuntu Software Library, but I'm sure I'll find some advice online to resolve the issue. The other program which is not working is UrbanTerror, a FPS that I occassionaly like to play online. That one is going to take time, I just know it because it appears to be graphics driver related.

Now back to that part about the drivers. I was a bit frustrated that I could not figure out how to view my drivers, the Ubuntu hardware manager simply said I had "no proprietary drivers" detected. This may be good or bad, I don't know yet, but a weird issue that I have experienced is the sound from my speakers on Ubuntu is noticeably lower then on my Vista/XP (yes, I have checked the volume controls). So I'm sure there appears to be some hardware/drivers issues that I have to overcome in order to get the full potential of Ubuntu, and with that goes countless hours I'm sure of researching online. This is the biggest roadblock to Ubuntu going mainstream IMO. On OEM hardware you would not have the drivers issues that I suspect I'm having. Yes, Vista certainly has its issues with drivers to this day, and to Ubuntu's credit, I centainly have a funtional laptop, I just don't think its optimal.

I'll be "kicking the tires" so to speak on Ubuntu over the next few weeks, and I'll post more info, as well as my own How to's. For now, I'm forcing myself to utilize Ubuntu, but I still boot to up Vista when I want ensure things are working. Now isn't that funny.

Observing Report - Open Clusters near Sirius and Saturns closed rings

Blessed with the rare clear sky last night, I took out the 6" Dob and finally did some observing. With it being in the high 20's, I didn't bother to use the Intelliscope Computer, just decided to pan around a bit and see what I can see.

M42 - Wonderful as usual. I'm so impressed by this 6" and its ability to provide tight stars and contrasty views. My 8" SCT is collecting dust.
Trapezium - with an 18MM SWA Meade 4000, all 6 stars, thats A,B,C,D,E, and F visible. WOW is all I can say.

M41 - Nice OC. Visible in my 6x30 RACI finder
M47 - Nicer then M41 IMO.  I like the diamond star formation about middle of cluster
M46 - A favorite OC because of NGC 2438 PN. With my not so very dark site, it was visible but I really wish to catch it when I'm at a truely dark site. Surprised me how nice it was, gosh I love the tight pin-point images of this Dob.

Waited a few hours for Leo to rise higher and of course had to visit Saturn for the first time in a very long time.

Saturn - With the 18MM (68x), disk was small but still could decern some detail, and the rings were edge on and thus closed and formed a line right across the face. Pumped the power up using a barlow (138x), and the image was fantastic. I could barely see a hint of the widening of the bands on either side of the planet, cool effect. Definetly could see some cloud details, a whitish wide area just center of planet and right above the rings. Now decided to pump up power by using my 6mm Ortho (~200x), and the view did not dissapoint. Atmospheric conditions were more prevenant with this EP, but when the seeing permitted, sharp views were very rewarding. Now I could see that there were some suttle color variations on the surface of the planet. Feeling adventurous, I decided to barlow the 6mm, and go for 400x, thats right 400x.  Now my 8" SCT could never really give me nice views above 200x and only once did I view higher than
this with the 339x that this 6mm provided. In fact the last time I pushed
to this power was 2002 Cathedral Gorge Star Party, and fancy that my
target was Saturn. So with this 6" dob, I thought this high of magnication would provide nothing but mush. However I was encouraged by the very crisp view with the 6mm was giving at 200x, so I thought I would try more. My jaw dropped. I was shocked to have a very dim, but still detailed view of Saturn wisking by in the very narrow field of view. I did prefer the 200x image better, it was brighter, but the simple fact that this scope could take that kind of power and still provide a view that you could observe details and use, astounded me and reassured me that this scope was indeed a winner.

Observing Report - FINALLY found a minor planet! Vesta!

I replaced the batteries in my Telrad, found my missing Astronomy accessories, and was ready to rock and roll. Also found my "Wide Field Kit", which simply consists of a 40mm PL and a 6.3 reducer. Tonight was a decent night as far as transparency goes, however Jupiter set before my scope could cool down, or seeing was that bad, don't know, it didn't effect my other observations.

Grabed my red flashlight, SkyChart 2000, and drew up a list of targets.

M76 - Very easy to find, but no individual stars
M57 - Looked like a diffuse star, not much on detail, since using my Wide Field kit.
M15 - Very bright central region. Could discern some outer structure, kind of like spiral arms, using 18mm SWA
M103 - Nice Open cluster, whole area in Cassiopeia is cool to scan with low power.
M24 - Also a nice OC
NGC 6830 and 6823 - Double Cluster - My favorite. Always a treat. This is why I bought the 6.3 reducer and 40mm in the first place. Nicely framed.
Uranus - Found and confirmed with the help of my new observing companion, Stellarium v10. With its bigger database, and ability to flip views to match eyepiece, I confirmed this object for the 3rd time in my lifetime. Bumping to 18mm certainly also confirms it sphere like appearance over a star. NICE
Vesta !!!!! - A first for me tonight! Again, using Stellarium v10 I was able to confirm my reference stars to my field of view. Found it relatively quickly. Bright, but still kind of starlike. Need to due further research on if the object moves faster than the backround stars or not, would be cool to see it move to other stars.

So I didn't get to visit my friend Jupiter much tonight, but finding Uranus was cake, and finding asteroid Vista for the first time ever was certainly the icing!

Stellarium v10 Beta is Betta

I'm a big fan of Stellarium, which is on Open Source program that has one of the most realistic views of the night sky that I have seen. It's previous versions had one "flaw", it's very limited database of objects. It was great at rendering the constellations, but it lacked the ability to list Messier or NGC objects. Well, that seems to be mostly resolved in the latest version. Besides adding what I can tell is the complete Messier list, it also appears to have a healthy database of NGC objects as well. It also has a revamped user interface. Its a tad slower then the previous version, as far as calling up the option that is, but the new user interface is intuitive enough. On my Vista machine it install without incident, although it did not keep any of my previous information saved, such as location or defaults. So if you have added your own objects to the previous version, or lots of locations, be aware you may loose those. They have a user forum however that may help you out, so I advise doing your research first before installing it if you wish to have any chance at keeping those custom items.

So grab the latest Stellarium beta, they have a great product, and I'm looking forward to the next release.

http://www.stellarium.org/

Added the new Tokbox to my MySpace page and finally works!

I have been using Tokbox with family/friends now for over 3 months and I must say I am impressed with the technology. You have the option to embed the feature into your MySpace page, and you also have a conference page setup for you when you initially sign up for the free account. They made some changes to this embed feature, when I had it originally it didn't work, but now the new feature appears to work great!

When you embed to the MySpace page, others that hit the page will be able to "call" you from within the MySpace page itself, no other software is needed on their part, just the camera and microphone. When you happen to be on a call, others that hit your MySpace page will see you in the call, and can either opt to join the conference, or simply view the video.  Voice quality has been good for 2-3 people in the conference, but you get some modulation at times with more than 3. With the 1 to 1 chat, or a conference with only 2 people, voice quality is very good. Check out TokBox for yourself! 

http://www.myspace.com/geminijk

A poem for the boys in Blue and Gray still at Shiloh

I walked the fields of Shiloh today.
Saw the winners flag sway.
Waving in the breeze half mast.
Paying its respect to the boys thus past.
As I walked along roads once bloody.
A feeling of sorrow swept through my body.
Picturing the boys bravely fall.
Among the thunderous sounds and flying ball.
I knelt below the monument mark.
That noted where the boys in gray embarked.
On their frightful journey to their maker went.
Openly giving their lives they sent.
As I walked the fields of Shiloh today.
I felt moved enough to kneel and pray.
For both the boys of Blue and Gray.
You are not forgotten on this day.

Observing report 8/17 - Jupiter in all its splendor

Time: 2100 CST to 0030 CST
Equipment: Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Power Range: 76x to 160x
Transparency: good
Seeing: good at first but changed to average later on in observing session.


Setup the scope on the roof access area tonight again. Either its the area, or just blessed with some very good transparency and seeing, but I have been able to see detail on Jupiter for the second time here at the new house!

Started observing right at dusk. Used 160x mag. Nice detail in the N and S Equatorial belts, as well as the NNTeZ and the lighter NTeZ zone for the first time! I could clearly see separations in the NEB, almost looking like it had a white line within the zone itself. I also nabbed the GRS in the SEB, and watched it move across the edge of the planet until it was out of sight! Also noticed a dark spot that was in the South Trop Zone (NTrz) (i think it was that zone anyway). As the night progressed, seeing appeared to have gotten worse. After a short break, I went back outside thinking that now would be a better time to bump up the magnification, after having great success with 160x. I tried the 9.4mm (212x) but I think the conditions worsened because at this time I was now viewing over a higher portion of the roof, and I think turbulence was caused by this, but of course thats hard to say. Earlier in the evening, the planet was directly south of me, so no roof was in that location.

I hope that with the relatively ease and convenience of having an area to observe right outside my bedroom, that I will get better at the identification of zones and belts, and be able to describe my observations better in the future for Jupiter. This location has certainly rejuvenated my planetary observing! I have yet to do any type of deepsky observing but thats soon to come. I now feel much more comfortable about the Ultima 8 and its capabilities, and think I finally understand the constraints of seeing. I have lived in Nevada and Florida, and of course most recently in E. Tennessee. For whatever reason, my last 2 observing sessions here in W. Tennessee have blessed me with the best views of Jupiter that I have seen since purchasing the scope in 1996. I had always thought the views very disappointing, and questioned the scopes optical performance. But now, I think at least it must be about average, if not better, and these views will keep me happy for some time to come.

On a side note, I have noticed that annoying reflection dead center in the scope again. Interestingly, its not present in the 26mm, only the 12.5 and 9.4. Would love to figure out why! Also, I broke one of the locking knobs that hold the drive base to the wedge, the plastic knob simply broke in my hand, leaving the bolt firmly in the wedge and locking the drive base in place. Guess its a call to Celestron to get replacements, maybe they have a suggestion about the reflection?