A Darker View

Yes, I was still using CS2. There has just been no overwhelming reason to upgrade, no reason to spend the money. I am not someone who needs to get the latest version of something, as long as what I have is doing the job.

Until now.

Eventually the new features and support for newer tech makes the decision swing in favor of buying the latest version. Support for the latest RAW file format was becoming a problem with CS2. I really wanted the lens correction features. And I will use it! Photoshop is an application I use nearly constantly, from working with my dive photos, shots taken on the job, to final processing of astrophotos.

So far my impressions have been good. The tabbed image area is nice. There are some nice improvement to zooming, I love the pixel grid that appears when fully zoomed in. Some significant changes, and a lot of nice little touches that improve the usability.

I did have a major problem with the new software, one that took me over an hour to solve. Brushes were NOT working. They would paint, but you could not see where the cursor was. Fixed now, more on that in another post.

For now I am just playing with the software to learn my way around and explore the new features. Thus the photo seen on the right. Overall the new version has been easy to move into. Most of the menus and features are in the same places, and what did get moved does seem to be an improvement. I am certain time will reveal new quibbles, little complaints about the software, those will always be. But I look forward to what I can do with Photoshop CS5.

Some Saturnian eye-candy from Cassini... The photo was taken a lillte over a year ago, on July 18, 2009 as Saturn was approaching equinox. Near equinox the rings are lit from the edge, providing dramatic lighting of these beautiful structures. At the time the spacecraft was thirty degrees above the ringplane at a distance of 2.1 million kilometers. This is a natural color view created by separate exposures through red, green and blue spectral filters.

A direct spectra of an exoplanet!! This is a real achievement for the researchers involved. With direct spectra it is possible to learn a great deal about an object, including chemical composition of the atmosphere. Some credit must go to the folks responsibly for the instrumentation, including OSIRIS, the integral field spectrograph on Keck 2.

W.M. Keck Observatory press release...

SPECTRUM OF YOUNG EXTRASOLAR PLANET YIELDS SURPRISING RESULTS

Kamuela, HI - Astronomers at the University of Hawaii have measured the temperature of a young gas-giant planet around another star using the W. M. Keck Observatory, and the results are puzzling. They have found that its atmosphere is unlike that of any previously studied extrasolar planet.

By obtaining a spectrum of its emitted light, the astronomers determined the temperature of the planet. As a result, they found that current theoretical models of gas-giant planets did a poor job of explaining all the data. The team suspects that the reason is dust in the planet’s atmosphere. Models with normal amounts of dust do not resemble this planet, but models with exceptionally thick dust clouds do a much better job. It therefore appears that young gas-giant planets are extremely cloudy.

A comet visible to the unaided eye is an anticipated event amongst the amateur astronomy community. Sometimes we know the comet is coming, sometimes we get caught by surprise when a new comet is discovered, occasionally a known comet experiences an outburst and brightens dramatically. Whenever a bright comet offers, telescopes across the globe slew around to enjoy the spectacle, comets are to be enjoyed whenever they appear.

In this case the comet is a well known comet that is making a favorable apparition. Comet 103P/Hartley 2 will pass 0.12AU from Earth, a mere 11 million miles in October of this year. The near approach allowing even a modest comet to become quite bright. Predictions are that the comet will be brighter than 5th magnitude, easily visible to the unaided eye from a dark site.

The comet was discovered in 1986 by Malcolm Hartley. When discovered it became apparent that this was a periodic comet, one who's orbit was regularly within the inner solar system during a 6.4 year orbit, why hadn't it been discovered before 1986?.

Calculations showed that the comet had previously followed an orbit that never brought the comet closer than 1.6AU to the Sun, far enough away from the Sun to lessen the activity of the coma and escape detection. In 1982 the comet swung near Jupiter, where the strong effects of the giant planet's gravity modified the comet's orbit, changing its perihelion to a distance of 0.9 to 1.0AU. The comet now swings much nearer the Sun, the increased solar radiation nearer the sun creating a brighter coma and tail, leading to it's discovery and the occasional much better view for earthbound observers. This fall the comet will make a close approach to Earth, the best appearance since discovery, passing within 0.12 AU (11 million miles) on October 20th, 2010.

Currently the comet is visible in the constellation Andromeda, within easy reach of small telescopes. It is moving westward in the sky and will cross into Cassiopeia and Perseus over the coming month making it well placed for viewers in the northern hemisphere through the close approach. Its path takes it along the Milky Way and near any number of nebulae and star clusters. Around the 9th of October the comet will pass quite close to the Double Cluster, NGC 869 and NGC884, possibly providing a very nice photo opportunity.

While 5th magnitude is not that bright, it should be relatively easy to see under a dark sky. Even in mid-August the comet showed a small tail in photos, hopefully this tail will brighten to allow nice telescopic or even binocular views. In any case it should provide a nice photographic target. Of course when predicting the behavior of comets it is important to remember the words of comet discoverer David Levy... "Comets are like cats, they have tails and do exactly what they want"

At its worst, the brushfire at Pohakuloa was pretty bad. Not surprising given the mix of strong tradewinds and tinder-dry conditions. I have seen a few photos taken by friends on the first day of the fire showing the huge column of smoke. But the video below shows just how bad the fire was below that column of smoke.

Many descriptions call it a tornado, but that is rather inaccurate as the forming conditions are nothing like a true tornado. This is actually the same sort of conditions that form a dust-devil. But would you call this a fire-devil? Seems appropriate...

Much of an engineering job is routine, paperwork, meetings, and other repetitive tasks that just have to be done. Working for Keck Observatory is not much different in that regard. But occasionally, every now and then, I get to do a bit of fun engineering.

Four fiber coupled laser modules are required for metrology alignment, each producing 20mW of 658nm red light. Each laser is a very nice little module containing all of the driving electronics, all they need are power and a couple of control lines. The fun starts when the next requirement is figured in, they must be remotely controlled from the observatory network. Practically everything on the summit is remotely accessible. Answer... A microcontroller with a serial port to connect with one of our ubiquitous terminal servers.

Fun!

A box of electronic parts arrives one day. I unpack the box and lay each part out across the bench. I can see, in my mind's eye, where each must go, where I must allow a little more room for proper fit. I simply sit and stare at the collection of formless parts and plan what I must do.. I am thankful nobody can see me, I probably look a little crazy staring at a pile of parts.

In between the meetings and less interesting daily tasks I steal a few hours here or there to design and assemble the laser controller. An hour in the machine shop cutting holes in the case, an afternoon spent wiring the circuit card, an evening debugging code.

This is what I love to do.

These are skills I have practiced since learning electronics in my early teenage years. Laying out a case, drilling holes to mount all of the components. Hand wiring a perfboard circuit card by cutting and soldering each wire from pin to pin in the circuit. Writing the code for the microcontroller in assembly language, carefully planning each line and each bit. The vision of a working whole ever in mind.

It is always a joy when your device powers-up and functions. Little victories each hour, when the power LED illuminates, when it first accepts serial commands from the host computer, when each command actually does something in the circuit. Each step brings you closer to a fully functioning device.

Eventually I am certain it works properly, after an hour of exhaustive testing. Each command tested, each wire has the right voltage, double check the color code against the data sheet. Time to connect a thousand dollar laser module, apprehension heightens as I turn on the power yet again.

Nothing happens... but that is good!

I must type a command at the prompt on my little netbook... on1 10... a glimmer of light appears at the end of the fiber optic. on1 20... just a mite brighter... on1 50... Power is over the lasing threshold and the fiber tip explodes with brilliant red. Go for broke... on1 100... the brilliance is surprising even with the plastic cap over the fiber end. One more command... off... and the light disappears. Again I sit back and savor a little victory just staring at the nearly completed laser source.

An hour later and all four lasers are neatly bolted onto the heatsink. Each has been tested, independently and simultaneously. The microcontroller and hundreds of lines of code performing flawlessly. I turn off the big black power switch on the front, the power LED dims and goes dark. Another day is done, the drive home and dinner beckons. I take one last moment to just sit and stare. It is a maze of colored wire and fiber, but to me it is art, a functional expression of my calling as an engineer.

It was just one of those moments when you had to pause your life and take in the beauty.

The detour along the section of the original Saddle Road remained in effect last night as I returned from an evening at the Mauna Kea VIS. As I traveled this old bumpy road the fog parted and allowed the light of a bright Moon to shine through. The effect was sublimely beautiful. Over the black lava fields there stood a ghostly moonbow in the fog.

I pulled off the road, killed the engine and lights, allowing the darkness to settle. When I got out of the car the stillness just intensified the scene. A cold, soft mist fell, you could smell the wet rock and lichen in those incredibly rugged a'a flows. Cold as it was I simply stood there and soaked in the scene for a while. Just one of those moments when you are glad to be alive and see the beauty of the world around us.

This month the Keck Public Lecture covers some interesting ground. Or more accurately some interesting times, the very early chapters of our universe when the first stars and galaxies were forming and having an impact on the universe around them.

The lecture takes place this coming Thursday, September 2nd starting at 7pm, in the Hualalai lecture hall, W.M. Keck observatory headquarters in Waimea, it is free and open to the public. For other upcoming events you can always check the Keck Observatory calendar page or call 808-881-3854.

W.M. Keck invitation...

Dear Friends of Astronomy,

You are invited to attend Keck Observatory’s September Astronomy Lecture, “Galaxies and the Reionization of the Universe,” presented by Dr. Alice Shapley on Thursday, September 2, 2010.

The program begins at 7 p.m. and will take place in Waimea at the W. M. Keck Observatory headquarters at 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway. Seating is limited to first-come, first served.

Shapley, a professor of astronomy at the University of California at Los Angeles, will discuss how astronomers' studies of ancient galaxies illuminates our understanding of the early history of the cosmos.

For more information, visit keckobservatory.org or call (808) 881-3854.

With firefighting vehicles using the new sections of Saddle Road, they have diverted traffic onto the original Saddle Road between mileposts 28 to 35. As one of the guys commented, it was a "trip down memory lane". In this case a memory we really don't miss as this was one of the worst sections for the road. Blind curves, a particularly bad curve/one way bridge combo, the typically horrible pavement edges that had us driving down the middle of the road, something we have not had to do for years.

I had driven this old road for a couple years before the new sections were opened. Memories of endless bumpy trips came back. The road was far from pleasant after a long tiring day working on the summit. That was nothing compared to some of the guys in the vehicle with me, some had driven the road for decades. The trip had everyone reminiscing... bad corners, sites of wrecks, or just commenting on the spectacular views from this section of road.

The pavement had not changed, still bad on the edges. Many drivers, including our own, reverting to the old habit of driving down the center. Indeed the road was almost completely the same. No traffic to make it worse, no maintenance to make it better.

A trip down memory lane was fun, but the new road should be open next time I go up. I look forward to once again using the beautiful new highway, probably the best road on the island.

This evening Jupiter and the Moon will rise together around 20:00. The nearly full moon, 93% illuminated, will be only 6.5° away from the Moon. The pair will remain visible all night.

When we came through this morning the situation had clearly improved. The brush fire that had burned hotly, closing Saddle Road and creating a pall of smoke to cover the island, was contained and burning itself out. There was still a haze of smoke, a few desultory plumes from burning trees, but the inferno was gone. Pictures and messages from friends from the first day reported an intense fire, no surprise with the tinder dry conditions that exist on the south and west slopes of Mauna Kea.

Sections of Saddle Road were still closed, we were diverted onto one of the old sections. Thus further from the fire, all I got were a couple poor photos taken from the moving vehicle on the way to work on the summit.

The newspapers are reporting the apprehension of a suspect in connection with this fire. But that just leaves the question... Why? What would make someone start this fire, with the destruction of valuable habitat for endangered species. With the scarring of such a landmark as Mauna Kea?

The afternoon trip down the mountain showed the results of a day's hard work by nearly every firefighting asset on the island. Helicopters were still shuttling water, but much of the smoke was gone. What was visible were hillsides spotted with bright splotches of white. A spot of ash to mark each mamane tree destroyed. The fire had not spread up the slope as badly as we had feared from the first reports, instead restricted to the low slopes between Saddle Road and the steeper mountain face.

There is always a danger that a fire might escape the fire breaks and flare up again. But the crews sitting on this one are experienced and will hopefully be able to take action if that occurs. Let us hope this one is over.

Sooner or later, any machine will betray you, breaking down and refusing to do whatever it is we depend on it for. Vehicles are the quintessence of this idea as we depend on them for so much in our modern lives. This time I was fortunate as the problem was noticed after I returned home, not out on the road somewhere. Returning to the vehicle to get something, I found a small river of coolant flowing across the driveway from underneath.

Oh #%$*!

Investigation showed coolant coming from the heater drain in the firewall, there is only one thing it could be, a leaking heater core. At least the diagnosis was easy. The repair? Not so easy.

Life throws up amazing coincidences... At the same time Deb has been having cooling troubles with her Honda. After taking the radiator assembly out once and still having a leak, I finally located a hairline crack in the radiator that only leaks at full pressure with the system hot. A couple fortunate things with her problem, it does not lose coolant very quickly, leaving the vehicle drivable, as long as you check the coolant level regularly. The pleasant surprise was that a Honda radiator takes one bolt, one connector and two hose clamps to remove, five minutes, tops! The new radiator will get delivered tomorrow, cost about $80.

Unfortunately replacing a heater core in a Ford Explorer is just a bit more involved. More like ten hours of knuckle busting agony. Rip half the dash apart, drop the steering wheel, dismount the entire dash just to get at the ducting where the heater core is. On the other side of the firewall the entire fan assembly, the cruise control actuator, the washer reservoir, radiator overflow, and all the ducting must come out leaving a gaping hole in the engine compartment with disconnected cables and vacuum lines hanging everywhere.

The only compensation for the the trouble is the knowledge that the Ford shop manual lists the repair as a seven hour job. At Hawaiian mechanic rates this equates to about $1500 worth of work. I had to stay home anyway, as I was on call for the weekend. Even more fortunately it turned out to be a very quiet weekend on the summit, Murphy was not that cruel... this time.

The entire affair was possible thanks to a video series widely available across the internet. A series of 32 short videos detailing every step of the job. Thank goodness I own a very common vehicle, parts and information on repairs are cheap and available. Have to think twice about replacing this old truck, it repeatedly turns out to have advantages.

With the netbook beside me in the vehicle, logged into the household wireless from the driveway, I spent much of two days watching the 3-5 minute videos and looking for the same bolts shown on the screen. It was a weird sort of task, stopping to watch another segment or rewinding to see the task again. Not sure I could have done it without the detailed guidance. There were endless helpful hints, two or three items I would not have know about without the vids, they even mentioned the socket size needed for each bolt along the way. I can only think that one day all repair manuals will be done on video.

It was satisfying to slide the new core into place. Even more satisfying to flip the little lever on the back of my ratchet to stop taking bolts out, but instead to start putting bolts in. Sunday evening saw the vehicle reassembled enough to start the engine. With crossed fingers I waited for the engine to warm up and the cooling system to pressurize.

No leaks!!

Not that the task is done. The radio and middle console remains a void, there are a couple other small repairs to accomplish while the area is apart. This is the furthest I have ever had to tear apart a vehicle to accomplish a repair. Hopefully, this stays fixed and I will not have to go there again.