Fwd: Planetary Society Grant for BAS
Vishnu Reddy
In my experience with Amateur Astronomy and Amateur Astronomers (Amar, especially) -- I've found it a constant feature on how the lack of quality equipment is plaguing us. I think this is a tremendous moment for BAS in that it has finally risen up on the global scene as an Amateur Astronomy club par-excellence. This development is a tribute not only to it's founders and mentors like Naveen and Hemant but everybody in India. I heartily congratulate BAS on it's work.
I also invite BAS well-wishers to contribute generously for setting up the observatory-infrastructure at the proposed Hosahalli location. Personally, I'm planning to do my bit by contributing $500. Please contact Vivek or Pavan for more details on how you can pitch in.
clear skies
Vishnu Reddy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr Bruce Wojciechowski <Wojcie...@planetary.org>
Date: 31 March 2010 02:06
Subject: Grant for BAS
To: moon...@gmail.com
Cc: pa...@bas.org.in
Dear Vishnu
I hope you're doing well. This is to share some good news with you regarding the equipment-aid that you had sought for the organization you had mentioned to us about last June.
I'm pleased to inform you that the planetary society has reviewed and approved an internal proposal to sanction a grant of $55,600 to The Bangalore Astronomical Society to help it procure an Orion 36" Dob.
We are also extremely impressed with the pioneering work BAS has been doing to propagate, promote and popularize Astronomy in India and the dedicated efforts of it's members and mentors like you who have been responsible for it's outstanding success.
We sincerely hope that this will motivate BAS and Amateur Astronomy in India to new heights. The approved funds will be released in the duration of 2 weeks immediately after concluding some paperwork and formalities with it's office bearers. You may please go ahead with an action plan and road-map to acquire space to setup observatory infrastructure that has been planned for this development.
Warm Regards
Dr Bruche Wojciechowski
The Planetary Society
www.planetary.org
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Pavan Keshavamurthy
Totally agree with Sridhar. This is amazing news indeed!
After Akarsh's 17.5", I didn't reckon I'd be seeing a bigger scope
_this_ soon. I'm sure this is a lifetime's dream come true for many of
us at BAS, especially Amar.
Please count a Rs 2,000 contribution from me for the Observatory-setup
in Hosahalli.
I also propose we hold a commemorative meeting over this weekend. Please
+1 for your attendance.
Best
_Pavan
cheers,
sridhar.
--
Pavan K Murthy
http://grahana.net/
sathya kumar prasanna
Karthik Vijayakumar
3rd year,Msc (intgd) Mathematics and Scientific Computing,
IIT Kanpur
atul bv
Atul
balaji muthusubramanian
keerthi kiran
Deepak Mallya
and thanks to vishnu reddy. I am sure it's dream come true for every
one of us at BAS.
-Deepak
On Apr 1, 12:30 am, Vishnu Reddy <moony...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear BAS members
>
> In my experience with Amateur Astronomy and Amateur Astronomers (Amar,
> especially) -- I've found it a constant feature on how the lack of quality
> equipment is plaguing us. I think this is a tremendous moment for BAS in
> that it has finally risen up on the global scene as an Amateur Astronomy
> club par-excellence. This development is a tribute not only to it's founders
> and mentors like Naveen and Hemant but everybody in India. I heartily
> congratulate BAS on it's work.
>
<snipped/>
Rasik Mhatre
Amar,
Any thoughts of re-locating back??
Rasik Mhatre
F1407 Mantri Tranquil
Sy. No. 7/9/13 Gubbalala
Off Kanakpura Road
Bangalore 560 061
TEL: +91-80-42087005/22573247
CELL: +91-9916135779
TRANQUIL CENTREX: *826470
"Those who do not create the future they want,
Must endure the future they get!"
No virus
found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.791 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2780 - Release Date: 04/01/10
00:02:00
Ashwin Nayak
AMAZIN NEWS!!!!!!!
WAY TO GO!!!!
Im settin up a tent right outside the observatory! :P
Amateyr Astronomy Club par excellence for sure!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy,
--Ashwin--
Kiran Tikare
This is great news to BAS and ameature Astronomers of India.
Congratulations to all.
Thanks
Kiran Tikare
http://xplorations.blogspot.com
http://protocolsofmatrix.blogspot.com
Udayan Pandharipande
--
keerthi kiran
- The Monstrous 36" aperture parabolic primary mirror (914mm) collects over 1000 square inches of light - four times the light of "ordinary" 18-inch telescopes!
- Premium quality f/4 optical system gives a whopping 144" (3658mm) focal length to deliver exceptionally sharp, bright images with generous image scale
- Enhanced (96%) coatings on the primary and secondary maximize light throughput
- Low-expansion borosilicate glass molded in a honeycomb mirror blank design make it exceptionally strong, yet light, and assures good optical performance, even as the temperature drops
- Transportable! Constructed from aluminum and aluminum/Russian Birch composite structures. The entire system weighs less than 400 pounds with the heaviest component being the primary mirror (~ 150 lbs)
- Complete tracking and GoTo capability makes this Monster easy to tame. Finding objects is a breeze
- 27-point flotation mirror cell and eight-point wiffle-tree edge support system prevents mirror deformation and keeps images crisp
- Removable wheels allow you to roll this beast in and out of a storage shed or garage with ease. Be observing in minutes!
- Removable, secondary cage light shroud blocks stray light (optional complete light shroud is fiberglass reinforced for prevent the light path from being blocked)
Abhay
scenes to make this
possible.
I am sure all BAS members who are gainfully employed would be willing
to pool in additional
resources to make this dream a reality.
If donations to BAS can be made to be exempted from Income Tax under
Section 80g
it might be possible to raise larger amounts, committee members should
look into whether
BAS can be eligible to get this tax exempt status ?
All the best
Abhay
On Apr 1, 1:57 pm, keerthi kiran <infosi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Orion 36 Monster Dobsonian Telescope
>
> - The Monstrous 36" aperture parabolic primary mirror (914mm) collects
> over 1000 square inches of light - four times the light of "ordinary"
> 18-inch telescopes!
> - Premium quality f/4 optical system gives a whopping 144" (3658mm) focal
> length to deliver exceptionally sharp, bright images with generous image
> scale
> - Enhanced (96%) coatings on the primary and secondary maximize light
> throughput
> - Low-expansion borosilicate glass molded in a honeycomb mirror blank
> design make it exceptionally strong, yet light, and assures good optical
> performance, even as the temperature drops
> - Transportable! Constructed from aluminum and aluminum/Russian Birch
> composite structures. The entire system weighs less than 400 pounds with the
> heaviest component being the primary mirror (~ 150 lbs)
> - Complete tracking and GoTo capability makes this Monster easy to tame.
> Finding objects is a breeze
> - 27-point flotation mirror cell and eight-point wiffle-tree edge support
> system prevents mirror deformation and keeps images crisp
> - Removable wheels allow you to roll this beast in and out of a storage
> shed or garage with ease. Be observing in minutes!
> - Removable, secondary cage light shroud blocks stray light (optional
> complete light shroud is fiberglass reinforced for prevent the light path
> from being blocked)
>
> On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 11:10 AM, Kiran Tikare
> <kiranthechallen...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi All,
>
> > This is great news to BAS and ameature Astronomers of India.
>
> > Congratulations to all.
>
> > Thanks
> > Kiran Tikare
> >http://xplorations.blogspot.com
> >http://protocolsofmatrix.blogspot.com
>
> > On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Ashwin Nayak <ashwinsna...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Hey!
> >> AMAZIN NEWS!!!!!!!
> >> WAY TO GO!!!!
> >> Im settin up a tent right outside the observatory! :P
> >> Amateyr Astronomy Club par excellence for sure!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> >> Enjoy,
> >> --Ashwin--
>
> >> On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 7:34 AM, Rasik Mhatre <rasik...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> Amar,
>
> >>> Any thoughts of re-locating back??
>
> >>> Rasik Mhatre
>
> >>> F1407 Mantri Tranquil
> >>> Sy. No. 7/9/13 Gubbalala
> >>> Off Kanakpura Road
>
> >>> *Bangalore 560 061*
>
> >>> TEL: +91-80-42087005/22573247
>
> >>> CELL: +91-9916135779
> >>> TRANQUIL CENTREX: *826470
>
> >>> *"Those who do not create the future they want, *
>
> >>> *Must endure the future they get!"*
>
> >>> *From:* b-...@googlegroups.com [mailto:b-...@googlegroups.com] *On
> >>> Behalf Of *keerthi kiran
> >>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 01, 2010 07:23
>
> >>> *To:* b-...@googlegroups.com
> >>> *Subject:* Re: [-BAS-] Fwd: Planetary Society Grant for BAS
> >>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Vishnu Reddy <moony...@gmail.com>
> >>> Events -http://www.bas.org.in/Home/events_calendar
> >>> 24X7 Chat on IRC -http://www.bas.org.in/Home/irc(#b-a-s on
> >>> freenode)
>
> >>> --
> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "The
> >>> Bangalore Astronomical Society" mailing list.
> >>> To post to this group, send email to b-...@googlegroups.com
> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> >>> b-a-s-un...@googlegroups.com
> >>> For more options, visit this group at
> >>>http://groups-beta.google.com/group/b-a-s?hl=en
>
> >>> News -http://www.bas.org.in/
> >>> Events -http://www.bas.org.in/Home/events_calendar
> >>> 24X7 <http://www.bas.org.in/Home/events_calendar24X7> Chat on IRC -
> >>>http://www.bas.org.in/Home/irc(#b-a-s on freenode)
>
> >>> --
> >>> Pavan K Murthy
> >>>http://grahana.net/
>
> >>> --
> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "The
> >>> Bangalore Astronomical Society" mailing list.
> >>> To post to this group, send email to b-...@googlegroups.com
> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> >>> b-a-s-un...@googlegroups.com
> >>> For more options, visit this group at
> >>>http://groups-beta.google.com/group/b-a-s?hl=en
>
> >>> News -http://www.bas.org.in/
> >>> Events -http://www.bas.org.in/Home/events_calendar
> >>> 24X7 Chat on IRC -http://www.bas.org.in/Home/irc(#b-a-s on freenode)
>
> >>> --
> >>> Karthik Vijayakumar,
> >>> 3rd year,Msc (intgd) Mathematics and Scientific Computing,
> >>> IIT Kanpur
>
> >>> --
>
> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "The
> >>> Bangalore Astronomical Society" mailing list.
> >>> To post to this group, send email to b-...@googlegroups.com
> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> >>> b-a-s-un...@googlegroups.com
> >>> For more
>
> ...
>
> read more »
Rasik Mhatre
Rasik Mhatre
F1407 Mantri Tranquil
Sy. No. 7/9/13 Gubbalala
Off Kanakpura Road
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Amar Sharma
| OH MY GOD!!! OHHH MYYY GODDD!! Sorry, I too wished like Keerthi this news had made it on any day of the year except today. Anyway BAS deserved it. Vishnu was always there with us, and wished us to see push ourselves further, since the spirit of BAS (even though run by a small group of youngsters) is unlike most other groups in India. @ Rasik - No I wouldnt shift back to Bengaluru. The telescope can infact be housed nearby the pristine skies of Western Ghats, near Orange County itself (I will write a report of the very good lighting system here of the nearby town. Still yet to see the skies, ever since I came it is fogged & clouded up) Think about it. Would you want to set it up amdist the ever developing pollutants of a mega city, or under 6.5 mag skies polluted with pollens and greenery! :D The very limited winter clear nights here will compensate in quality of observing even from there. Will come to know only if and when the grant funds get released. Wishing luck to all. ************** Amar A. Sharma |
Amar Sharma
| Ok I reconsider all my statements and excitement until April 1 gets over. Feeling funny to have written all that below. :-P ************** Amar A. Sharma |
sathya kumar prasanna
Naveen Chandra
For all those who fell for this, search for "Dr Bruche Wojciechowski".
-ncr
Naveen Chandra
9886493511
ravi babu
thats one super super news....
seriously sakkath!!!
WAY TO GO!
CONGRATS
Inayathulla Khan
for the gud one... and this is for those who pitched in with contributions & searched for Dr. Bruce W...
lol,
Inayath, Bangalore
--
Akarsh Simha
pulling off a wonderful prank!
Yeah, I think this had a far larger I-fell-for-the-thing set than last
time's Antares supernova!
I simply wonder how Pavan came up with that name.
Regards
Akarsh
ravi babu
NAACHKE AAGALLA????
Akarsh Simha
Regards
Akarsh
keerthi kiran
Pavan Keshavamurthy
> I simply wonder how Pavan came up with that name.
>
Seems like a polish name.
Akarsh Simha is the other culprit -- another inside in the plot and the
guy who came up with the bright idea of making a 36" the bait.
The plot and the funnily worded email is courtesy of he who we shall not
talk about.
I also need to thank Vishnu's cooperation in pulling off this prank. I'm
sure any of us sending the same email wouldn't have been able to provide
the make-believe factor as effortlessly as he did.
I apologize if this prank has (irreparably) hurt the sentiments of any
of those who unsuspectingly or half-suspectingly took this to be true :P
We too, share the same affinity as many of you do for large aperture
telescopes, and for whatever wishful-thinking this prompts, the prank
pulled of convincingly even amongst people who we thought would see
through it. Certainly worth the mischief for an Apr 1st. I hope this
will be received in good spirit!
I also would like to point out that the proposition of BAS being able to
procure equipment for the sake of some serious amateur astronomy in the
future is not _totally_ imaginary. We are making some plans internally
on how the we could organize our various SIGs to graduate our Astronomy
to more seriousness than what it is currently.
Best
Vishnu Reddy
Vishnu Reddy
(aka Dr Jackass)
Alt Blank
do use this grant responsibly... i know you will.
sathya kumar prasanna
--
Ashwin Nayak
ahhahahah...
Really pulled up a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy,
--Ashwin--
Prakhar Misra
Prakhar :)
Ashwin Nayak
Thoooo..Easily fooled~!! :|
--Ashwin--
Rakesh Nath
-- Thanks and Regards Rakesh Nath
Deepak Mallya
imaginary 36" telescope - if you get the thrust of it, I mean :P
Amar Sharma
Yeah should have held on to myself and given a thought, even if the mail was from Vishnu Reddy. Realized later. Just hope the power of words makes an alias of "Dr Bruce Wojciechowski" really indeed sponsor BAS atleast a tenth the price, $5000 for a research grade 14" GOTO. Well, would be happy if he turns out to be really philanthropic and sponsors a Grant for a mighty 20" RCX. Anything could happen...and it should. ************** Amar A. Sharma |
Akarsh Simha
The question is not of equipment. The question is "Who will use it?".
Several months back, we considered the idea of trying to obtain a 8"
that would be completely motorized. Sadly, there has been no pursuit
on that issue. The point is that "no one has time" to pursue astronomy
in a serious way. I think we shouldn't be hoping for such equipment,
if they are going to lie and gather dust. I promise I'll make every
effort to ensure that my 17.5" doesn't.
Regards
Akarsh
Amar Sharma
| What are you and me and other active members in BAS for?? I am sure in some hands, any equipment will never go waste. I can assure you it will be put to great use by many thrusted and thirsty souls. Let the equipment come first...you would see then. ************** Amar A. Sharma |
ravi babu
let the equipment come first..
amele maathadona!!
Vishnu Reddy
I have to politely disagree with this statement. I don't think one needs any fancy equipment to do serious astronomy. I learned to do astrometry way before I even saw a GOTO telescope or a CCD. The key is to show some interest in the process rather than wait for things to happen. A classic example is Naveen who learned to do astrometry of asteroids and comets using some archived images. His measurements were good enough to be sent to the IAU for publication. Not to single out anyone but I find this statement just another excuse for not doing anything. And I don't buy the whole time argument either. You can accomplish a lot by putting a couple of hours on the weekend. The key is to enjoy the process and stay focused on the task.
Vishnu Reddy
