Crowned Cranes
Orion and Meteor
Lava Monster
Just before Halloween 2016 I took this photo of lava dripping over the cliff at Kamokuna. Was immediately struck by how much it looked like some giant hand with severed fingers, dripping lava blood into the sea.
Eruption Dawn
Kingfisher
Dead End Road
First Glimpse of an Evening Comet
Made my first attempt at comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) in the evening sky. I knew it would probably not be spectacular just yet, still low and lost in the glow, but it is there.
The comet was a binocular object only, just visible quite low in the golden sunset glow. A weather system passing the islands brought bands of cirrus to complicate the issue.
For this quick attempt I headed for the dry forest and wiliwili trees along Waikoloa Road just outside the village. A pretty evening even if the comet was not at its best just yet. Another attempt is planned for this evening if the clouds hold off, the comet should be 5° higher against that dark blue.
Yes, it is there in the photo. Lost in the golden glow low and just left of center…
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS)
Along with much of the astronomy community I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) since its discovery last year.
As orbital parameters and brightness estimates were calculated it became apparent that this comet had the potential to be one of the brightest comets in decades. Better yet, the show would be available to both hemisperes, not just for those south of the equator like Comet C/2006 P1 McNaught back in 2007.
As the comet passes perihelion, it’s close approach to the Sun on Sept 27th, it will briefly appear in the dawn. As maximum elongation conveniently happened on the weekend I planned an outing to meet this icy visitor.
Continue reading “Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS)”Eruption Crowd
An Open Source pH Probe Simulator
pH measurement is a quirky and often frustrating technology. Usually working well, they can go wrong in so many ways. With dozens upon dozens of pH probes in service on the cultivation pads I have now spent a few years attempting to discover all of the ways a pH measurement can go bad.
A voltage generated by ion exchange across a glass membrane is the magic that makes a pH probe work, simply measure the voltage and you can measure the hydrogen ion activity of a solution. The result is a number from 0 to 14, with numbers less than seven being acid, and numbers above seven being basic. Most aquatic or marine life, such as healthy algae require conditions close to 7, or neutral, too acid or too basic and everything dies.
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