Research

I was listening to a podcast the other day, and they were asking of what practical use some research was. I know we argue against this all time time, but I'm going to try to get this as sound-bitey as possible. I invite ideas for further condensation of the point.

Requiring research to apply only to things that are of "practical value" means only ever creating things that are extrapolations of what we already know. I believe that all true and fundamental progress by humanity is made by people researching things that have absolutely no detectable practical value when first discovered. Make the discoveries first, let practicality emerge later.

"Practical" research may lead to a better toaster, but pure research leads to previously undreamed-of applications. Everything technology more advanced than a hammer that affects your life today was once something of no practical value.

Astronomy

I got my scope out for the first time in I don't even know how long. Years. There was a printout from 2005 in the eyepiece case, though I THINK it hasn't been that long.

My equipment needs attention. The chair I built many years ago, the prop strut on the back has come unglued. I'd actually like to build something a little better, I have some ideas though I'm going to see what's on the market first. I'd like something like a drummer's throne but hydraulic, and it should have more adjustment than that. With a 10" I don't need the range I did with the 15" scope. It'd be nice if there was some way to hold a sketch pad as well.

I also need better eyepiece holders, the Orion has one 2" hole and 4 or 5 1.25" ones - I'd prefer about 4 or more 2" holes, I'll put every 1.25" eyepiece into a 2" adapter and just leave it there.

I should remove the computer from the scope, I'm not at all interested in using it.

The rubber rings fell apart and came off the focus knobs but I don't care about that.

The scope was out of collimation but I pretty much fixed that before starting.

I REALLY REALLY need to build an eq platform for my scope. SO irritating having to manually track while I'm trying to sketch. I want to do a 3D printed parts set, using OpenSCAD, making it parametric so you can just type in your latitude and platform size and it'll print out a parts kit for you. Also need a quick and dirty stepper driver, probably base it on one of the tiny Arduinos, maybe even the Digispark (they're $2 each).

I should buy another copy of Turn Left - the one I have is the one with all 4 signatures on it (Guy, Dan Davis, Todd and Mary Lynn) so I probably shouldn't take it out in the dew very much.

I didn't do a ton, mainly just initial shakeout of the equipment. I did a few sketches. Started with a log page with a couple of sketch spots, but then printed some pages with just 3 sketch areas per page and a small notes area, after I remembered I'd rather sketch than write notes. I' posting them at this album on Google Photos.