Geological timeline

Geological Timeline

Over the past 10 years I've been illustrating what I read in science journals. I make these illustrations so I can remember the concepts, but just as important, so that I can later find my notes -- a picture helps me with both, however, using my collection of booklets is becoming cumbersome, especially after each booklet is flagged with dozens of colored tags. I need a more responsive format so I've started converting the illustrations to an interactive web format, programmed in Flash, which you can see here.

This is the start of a long process, where I add a few entries when I can. I also need to polish the user interface. I'll make errors with both, so this blog post provides a means for anyone to correct an error I've made. (Use the above link to see the Geological Timeline.)

Lunar Month Sequence for June 2008

On http://www.brightstarstemeculavalley.com/ I posted an interactive Flash that shows 26 photos of the moon taken from June 5 to June 26. You can see the moon change apparent size and see its approximate location in orbit. This post is made to offer a means for anyone to make comments, ask questions, or offer corrections or suggestions.

(The project can be seen at this page: http://www.brightstarstemeculavalley.org/pages/Astronomy.html)

Murrieta Valley Mitsubishi searchlights

In March, 2008, Murrieta Valley Mitsubishi started using search lights to advertise. This use of searchlights is occuring within 30 miles of Palomar Observatory and is a violation of Murrieta's municipal code (from see Section 16.18.100, Lighting; G. Prohibitions; 4.: "Operation of searchlights for advertising purposes is prohibited.").

Aside from the violation of municipal code, this activity if offensive to amateur astronomers and to anyone one who enjoys the night sky. Mitsubishi is essentially saying that the sky is their advertising space.

Mitsubishi should be reminded that amateur astronomy is quite alive in their community. Each year, local astronomy clubs set up telescopes for thousands of visitors. A star party for a local cubscout pack is planned for March and another for the entire community in two months. Do they need Mitsubishi's permission to use the sky these nights?
It should be noted that while taking these photos, no customers came or went. But of course, it's hard to prove a negative.


An update: It turns out the star party for cub scouts did need permission to use the sky. The floodlights were quite prominent during the event. Thankfully, Murrieta Mitsubishi has stopped using the searchlights.