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NOTICE: latest version of Alan Chu's Moonbook now available on the mirror--see bottom of page
This small amateur observatory is located in the city of Tacoma, WA--thus "cityastronomy.com"-- and is primarily purposed for planetary study with, as the name indicates, the primary target of interest being our Moon. The main instrument, pictured above, is a 127mm f/9 achromatic refractor made by Meade Instruments on an LXD-75 computerized equatorial mounting. The attached auxiliary/solar scope is a Meade 80mm f/11 achromatic refractor.
I am primarily a visual observer with imaging activities purposed towards reference for later study. I have also pursued an interest in relevant optical science to better understand how a telescopic system produces the visual images that it does & thus it's capabilities. The observations/images I make are primarily done to further my ongoing study of lunar geology, lunar morphology, planetary geology. M. Clark
About
In the interest of free exchange of ideas and information, unless otherwise noted, nothing produced by Whitepeak Observatory within this website is under copyright. Free use applies. I only ask that you credit "Whitepeak Observatory" if published or used elsewhere.
Last Update: 05-21-08 (Red "New" items apply to additions made in the last 60 days or so.)
AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKING
Building a 120mm f/5 Widefield Achromatic Refractor (RFT)
An image analysis, including high resolution images of the core area. Click Image below to go to Comet Holmes page.
Monitor Calibration
(If you cannot see evenly spaced equal sized blocks of different grayscale shades from one end of the above bar to the other, with the last block to the right jet black and the last to the right pure white, your monitor needs to be adjusted. I recommend this site if you need any guidance in this.)
LUNAR TOPOGRAPHICAL STUDIES
"I was very pleased to read your descriptions
of lunar features - finally someone
was observing and
thinking about geologic processes - and had read the
literature!
I also enjoyed your geologic excursions on
your website.
Thanks,
Dr. Charles A. Wood" (with permission)
LUNAR AREA and FEATURE STUDIES
Splitting Posidonius' lunar peaks and Fabricius' weird floor ranges A graphic examination of two novel features
Litrow Posidonius Lacus Mortis Observer's Guide: Littrow to the Lake of Death
Alphonsus: Nectarian or Pre-Nectarian? An in-depth examination of the age of the crater Alphonsus
Observing Rilles in the Gassendi and Arsitarchus Areas An examination of the rille systems in the Gassendi and Aristarchus areas in an example observing report format.
1) Changing Faces: Rupes Recta
2) Image map and comments about the lunar south polar area
3) Image map and comments about the Mare Humboldtianum area
4) 24 Hours on the Terminator--Petavius area
5) Longest Lunar Valleys
6) Saturated color/grayscale comparison; Mare Crisium
7) An Illustrated study of Crater Humboldt and Environs (made during favorable libration)
8) An Investigation of a Possible Ghost Crater on the Floor of Crater Alphonsus
9) Examination of the Southwest Limb Gassendi to Tycho to Schickard
10)Copernicus' Lunar Volcano Field Details of an obscure volcanic area southeast of Copernicus
11)Cassini and the ValleySurvey of the area between crater Plato and Casini
12)Ptolemy's NeighborhoodAn in-depth examination of the area surrounding the crater Ptolemaeus
"Walking the Moon on the Earth" Geologic Fieldtrip to Ape Cave Lava Tube
"Walking the Moon on the Earth Part II" Central Oregon Lava Fields Expedition
Mercury Transit 2006 Images and Observations
Large Mars albedo image; Longitude ~290-180 Complete with labelled features
Large Mars albedo image; Longitude ~160-30 Complete with labelled features
Large Mars albedo image; Longitude 0~220 Complete with labelled features
Trapezium; component magnitudes, separation, etc
Optimize your Achromat for Double Stars
Revised!Degrees of separation in close double star observation (chart)
NEW! Resolution, Magnification and Contrast: Their Interrelationships Explained Rayleigh, Dawes, Abbe and Sparrow defined, plus the 50X magnification limit explained and a discussion of the eye's relationship with the telescope's contrast transfer function
NEW! Contrast Transfer Comparison Between Perfect and Rayleigh Criterion Unobstructed Systems What 20 points of strehl does for contrast.
Roddier Optical Testing 152/1200 and 127/1180 and 80/880 achromats are evaluated
Lunar Observing: Magnification, Seeing, Resolution and Aperture
Resolution Limits in Lunar Imaging Examining the state-of-the-art in Lunar Imaging
Magnitude Gain per Increase in Aperture Charted from 50mm to 20 inches of aperture
Maximum Field of View per Telescope focal length; chart
Chromatic Aberration in Achromatic Refractors
Color correction, APO vs. high and low CA Ratio achromatics
Refractor cooldown time measurements
Whitepeak Observatory design & construction
The 'Tacoma Chair" An easy to make inexpensive observing chair
Storing eyepieces & accessories
CITY DEEP SKY 
1) M57 area with selected magnitudes to 15
2)M2 152-f/8 achromat DSI Pro NELM 4M
3)M57 152-f/8 achromat DSI Pro NELM 4M
EQUIPMENT REVIEWS
Barska X-Trail 20x80 Binoculars Review
Basic Lunar Imaging (under revision)
Inexpensive Flip Mirror for Imaging Make a nice flip mirror out of an old cheapie diagonal
LINKS
UPDATED for 2008!North American Mirror for Alan Chu's Photographic Moon Book Download the latest version (Jan 2008 V. 3.2) of this excellent photographic lunar guidebook here!
Prior scope: 127mm-f/9.3 Meade AR-5.
Currently in use: Zhumell 152mm-f/8 refractor with 80mm f/11 Meade guidescope and counterbalance bar.
Test your scope on 52 Orionis
Lunar Resolution Table
Meade DS-80 review
Orion Accufocus review
