I have consolidated all my blogs and subjects. Please visit the new location at http://scottfillmer.com where you can find all the blogs I currently author.
Popularity: 22% [?]
The first ever high-def moon rise photos have been taken by a lunar explorer by JAXA (The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). This is something that can only be seen by satellites that travel around the moon and the JAXA gives a good explanation of how it works in their article on the moon rise, Image Taking of Earth-Rise by HDTV.
we use the expression “Earth-rise” in this press release, but the Earth-rise is a phenomenon seen only from satellites that travel around the Moon, such as the KAGUYA and the Apollo space ship. The Earth-rise cannot be observed by a person who is on the Moon as they can always see the Earth at the same position.
I have posted a cropped version below so as not to use their bandwidth. All the image taken below are copyright of JAXA (not me) and if you would like to see them images in their full (huge) version just go to the article quoted above. These images are really great, and a view we can never see ourselves, at least not right now.
Great to see some new images taken from a perspective we can only imagine seeing. Hope JAXA will post more images soon. 73, KI4WLR
Popularity: 84% [?]
I received this information from nasa and swpc and wanted to pass it along. The space weather and all that goes along with it has great implications for ham radio communications propagation, and it is very interesting to me as well.
Nov. 13, 2007: Something strange is happening in the atmosphere above Africa and researchers have converged on Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the phenomenon. The Africa Space Weather Workshop kicked off Nov. 12th with nearly 100 scientists and students in attendance.
The strange phenomenon that brings all these people together is the ion plume—”a newly discovered form of space weather,” says University of Colorado atmospheric scientist and Workshop co-organizer Tim Fuller-Rowell.
Researchers liken the plumes to smoke billowing out of a factory smokestack—except instead of ordinary ash and dust, ion plumes are made of electrified gas floating so high above ground they come in contact with space itself. “The plumes appear during geomagnetic storms and they can interfere with satellite transmissions, airline navigation and radio communications,” says Fuller-Rowell. Indeed, it is their effect on GPS signals that led to the discovery of plumes over North America just a few years ago.
A typical example is the plume of Nov. 20, 2003:
Above: A plume of excess electron density over North America on Nov. 20, 2003. The plume was discovered and mapped by its effect on GPS signals. Credit: Courtesy of Anthea Coster and John Foster of MIT.
Two days before this map was made, an explosion on the sun had hurled a cloud of magnetized gas—a CME—toward Earth. The plume formed when the CME hit, triggering a strong geomagnetic storm. The plume consists of ionized air at high altitude moving from Florida to Canada at a speed of 1 km/s (2200 mph).
“Okay, now we’ve seen the ’smoke,’ but where is the smokestack?” asks Fuller-Rowell.
The search is leading researchers to Africa.
“Many believe the source of the plumes is near Earth’s magnetic equator,” explains NASA heliophysicist Lika Guhathakurta who is attending the Workshop. “Africa is a great place to check this possibility because the magnetic equator passes directly over the sub-Sahara.”
Just one problem: “There aren’t enough sensors in Africa to study the phenomenon,” says Fuller-Rowell. The sensor of choice is the dual-frequency GPS receiver. “North America has an abundance of dual frequency GPS receivers—thousands of them in a network we use to monitor North American plumes. But Africa has only a few dozen.”
Below: Dual frequency GPS receivers now in Africa. More are needed to investigate the plume phenomenon.
Ion plumes inhabit a layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the “ionosphere.” It is a broad region 85 km to 600 km above ground level where ultraviolet radiation from the sun knocks electrons off atoms and molecules, creating a layer of ionized gas or “plasma” surrounding our entire planet. As ham radio operators have known for more than 100 years, the ionosphere can bend, distort, reflect and even absorb radio waves. Plumes amplify these effects.
How important is Africa to the study of this phenomenon? “Consider the list of organizations who have joined forces to sponsor the Africa Space Weather Workshop: NASA, NOAA, the National Science Foundation, the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), and many others,” says Guhathakurta. “It’s widely understood that Africa is key to the puzzle.”
At the moment only North America has a well-mapped ionosphere. NOAA posts new images every 15 minutes at this website. “Five years from now,” says Fuller-Rowell, “we hope to be making realtime maps of the ionosphere over Africa, too.”
Africa is plasma incognita—but not for long. Stay tuned!
The Africa Space Weather Workshop is organized under the auspices of the 2007 International Heliophysical Year (IHY), continuing the tradition of international research and cooperation begun during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957. To learn more about the IHY on the web, visit http://ihy2007.org/ .
Special thanks to Karen KI4NGX for passing along the information, she is an expert voice in knowing what is going on in the space weather area, thanks.
Popularity: 81% [?]
Well, it sounds like the wait is over. Have you been wondering if Motorola was going to just disappear in the Ham Radio world, well they just announced that they will buy Yaesu. The press release goes like this:
Motorola USA has announced its intention to launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co, Ltd. Vertex standard is the parent company of Yaesu. Motorola will own 80 percent of Vertex Standard; Tokogiken, a privately held Japanese company, controlled by current president and CEO of Vertex Standard run Hasegawa, will retain 20 percent, forming a joint venture. The total purchase price for 80 percent of the outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis will be approximately US $108 million.
Of course this doesn’t tell us what is going to happen with the Motorola brand radios but it is an interesting development to say the least. What do you think? Will this change your opinion of Motorola or their radios?
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I was sad to hear about a fellow Ham Radio operator that died in a fall from a tower in New Mexico. According to the AP / NBC article he died when he fell 90 feet from a tower he was dismantling. It doesn’t give much details about what happened, and I am sorry to hear about the accident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to N5CLM and his family.
It is a reminder to all of us that we should all take safety very seriously, even if we are dealing with a ground wire or climbing a tower. Just in our local club we have had two injuries, one fell from his roof and cracked a few ribs, and another broke his leg when falling from a latter when working with an antenna in a tree. Both will make a full recovery, but it doesn’t take much to become complacent and forget to take our standard precautions.
I recently installed a high gain vertical antenna on the point of my roof at about 45 feet. My roof is very steep and I tethered myself the first few times I went up, but after a while it was a pain in the neck and I just tried my best to be careful. One of the main parts of ham radio is saftey and I will do what ever I can to make it as safe a hobby as I can within my station. 73, KI4WLR
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ARRL announced that there annual online auction will start on October 24th and run through November 2nd. It is live now for registration and you can even view items that will be in these auctions before you can bid on them. The auctioned items are all donated by various people and groups and all the proceeds will go to “a wide range of ARRL programs and services, extending our support for Amateur Radio in areas of public service, advocacy, education and membership”.
The information states that you do need to register on the site at http://www.arrl.org/auction, once there just click on the register today link. Posted information about the auction site is listed below. It looks like it will be a lot of fun to watch even if you don’t bid on anything. It is the first ARRL auction I personally have been a part of since I joined ARRL this past summer.
THE second annual ARRL On-Line Auction will be open for bidding on October 24, 2007 at 10:00AM ET and will run through November 2, 2007 at 3:PM ET. You may register as a bidder now or at any time throughout the auction.
No bids can be placed during preview week. At 10AM ET on October 24, a bidding window will appear on each auction item page.
We encourage you to browse through the website frequently as items will be added on a daily basis.
We also encourage you to look through the Help and About Us sections. You’ll find useful information about bidding, FAQs and a host of other facts. To ensure an enjoyable experience, please be sure to read all policies under the ABOUT US section.
Due to many requests last year, all product review items contain a link to a PDF file of the actual product review, as well as a reference to the QST issue the review appeared in.
PLEASE NOTE: To maximize security, if you are an ARRL member, registered at the ARRL Website, you will still need to create a new registration and new Username and Password to log into the ARRL On-Line Auction site. If you participated in last year’s auction, and still have your Auction User Name and Password, you are free to re-use them if you choose.
above information quoted from http://www.arrl.org/auction
If you are an ARRL member you should also have received your ballet in the mail for the upcoming election. If you intend to vote on a candidate don’t forget to get your vote in the mail soon. 73, KI4WLR
Popularity: 84% [?]
I know there have been several posts about the ISS lately, but there seems to be a lot of information and sightings going on right now. I found this image really interesting as it shows the actual shape of the station in orbit. Here in the southeast we have had some cloud cover over the last week or so and the viewings have been few and far between, but if you can take the time to view the ISS it is very interesting to see it with your own eyes.
Lately, observers have been saying the International Space Station reminds them of a Tie Fighter. Here’s why:
Amateur astronomer Chris Todd of Ocean, New Jersey, took the picture Oct. 6th through his hand-guided 8-inch Meade LX90. “It was an amazing space station flyover!” he says.
The “wings” in Todd’s picture are the station’s copper-colored solar arrays, one of them newly unfurled giving the station a symmetrical fighter-like outline. Truly, however, there is no comparison: While a cramped Star Wars TIE Fighter could barely hold one Darth Vader, the International Space Station is large enough to house 3+ astronauts with room to spare for a science lab, a kitchen, a miniature gymnasium and more. It all adds up to a 480,000-lb spaceship as bright as the planet Venus.
Later this month space shuttle Discovery will join ISS in Earth orbit. For one or two nights, as the shuttle prepares to dock with the larger space station, it will be possible to see and photograph the spacecraft side-by-side. When should you look? Check http://heavens-above.com. For one or two nights, as the shuttle prepares to dock with the larger space station, it will be possible to see and photograph the spacecraft side-by-side. When should you look? Check Heavens Above for flyby timetables or sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE to receive can’t-miss alerts by phone and email.
Thanks to KI4NGX for passing this information on to me.
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With a low pressure system sitting over the southeast it has been difficult to view the ISS (International Space Station) over the last few good viewing chances. Tonight there will be another good chance to see the ISS as it passes overhead around 18:55 [CT] with the viewing possible for about 10 minutes from 18:50 to 19:00. The chance to see the ISS tonight looks to be slim due to the overcast sky we have had but it is viewable in other parts of the country. The data release is below.
One thing of note I read about the ISS is that the sightings seem to be getting brighter. The last time we were able to view the pass here in the south it was just about the brightest object in the sky that night and very easy to spot. The reason seems to be simple. The ISS is getting larger. On the last Space Shuttle mission NASA delivered its payload of solar arrays which, when extended, are 256 feet long, and they have also added 35,000 pounds of truss and the October launch is scheduled to add another 31,000 pound module called Harmony.
Special Note: The image above was taken by Brian Emfinger of Ozark, Arkansas. He recorded the passage using his Canon Digital Rebel XT. Photo details: Canon Digital Rebel XT, fisheye lens, ISO 1600, 310 sec.
If it dark enough and weather permitting there should be an opportunity to see the
International Space Station as it passes over the Eufaula (and Auburn-Opelika) area
Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6:50 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The space station should be
almost directly overhead at 6:55 p.m.It will “rise” in the southwest and “set” in the northeast. It will look
like a bright star that is moving across the sky. It is a little brighter
that Venus. It will be white with maybe a slight gold tint depending on how
the sunlight is reflecting from it. (NOTE - If it seems to be blinking it is
an aircraft, not the space station.)
Popularity: 86% [?]
There is going to be a simulated test for the Alabama section of ARRL this coming Saturday. I found this interesting because I don’t really know what other state sections do, if they hold tests, how often, or what type of correspondence you may get from your ARRL state section. I am glad to see they will be doing a test, and I think more of this type of thing is probably needed.
Complacency tends to be our worst enemy when it comes to being prepared. The test, held on Emergency HF net on 3.965 MHz, will not be one I can participate in quite yet since I have not taken the test for my General upgrade, but I will soon, and it also gives incentive to get that test taken. A lot happens off of 2 meters!
The information about the announcement is posted below.
This Saturday, October 6th at 10:30 am following the NTS Day Net on
3.965 MHz we will begin the 2007 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for the
Alabama Section.Follow the outline in the Section Emergency Manual to bring up the
statewide Emergency HF net on 3.965 MHz as well as each local net on
the assigned UHF/VHF emergency frequencies.Test your emergency procedures by alerting all amateurs in your area
that a Simulated Emergency Test event is taking place. Be sure to
state and repeat often that is a test, drill or practice event.All amateur stations should check in by voice on the State HF net as
well as the local U/VHF nets and the HF Liaisons will forward those
check-in numbers to the HF Net Control Station.Those stations with digital capabilities can request a SET form via
digital text. They will receive it, add their call and mode, then email
it back via digital mode, internet or Winlink 2000 to the digital net
control station K4GR@winlink.orgThe following digital frequencies and modes have been checked and
should work:Winlink HF Pactor-1 3.594.1 MHz LSB Call sign K4GR
Winlink Telpac EOC Clanton KF4LQK@winlink.org via internet access
Telpac EOC Clanton KF4LQK-10 144.390 simplex
Telpac Elmore Co K4GR-10 145.690 simplex
Telpac Elmore Co KB0OLA-10 145.690 simplex
Telpac Elmore Co K4GR@winlink.org via internet access
Telpac Elmore Co KB0OLA-10@winlink.org via internet access
Telpac Madison Co
Telpac Madison Co N4TXI@winlink.org (secondary Digital NCS station
using a VHF TelPac gateway)
Telpac Madison Co KE3Y@winlink.org (our backup station for Winlink)
Packet BBS Elmore Co W4AP-1 145.690 simplex
DigiPeater Elmore Co W4AP-2
PSK31 3.575mhz LSB Net Control WX4JIM
RTTY 3.565mhz LSB
D-STAR 145.350 Tall Tower and DCH Tuscaloosa
On other AL D-STAR repeaters, please post the TEST Message. See
http://www.arrl-al.org/Alabama_link.htm for frequencies and
information.
APRS 144.390 simplexAfter Action Report:
All EC’s, NM’s and NCS are requested to send me a SET report within one
week of this test. Reports should include number of check-ins, your
local SET scenario, number of different bands and modes used. Also
what worked well and not so well, outstanding amateurs and general
comments.References:
Alabama Section Emergency Manual,
http://www.arrl-al.org/ARES_Section_Plan3_v5.pdf
Alabama Section ARES page, http://www.arrl-al.org/ARES.html
Alabama Emergency Coordinator list, http://www.arrl-al.org/ARES.html
Net Frequencies, http://www.arrl-al.org/NETS.htm
Other AL 2007 SET information, http://www.arrl-al.org/set_2007.htm
ARRL SET information, http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.htmlIf anyone has information on other states testing I would love to hear about it. 73, KI4WLR
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There are a great number of resources on the internet to get up to date, current information on ham radio. One of those resources are yahoo groups, and one in particular that is great for those weather (WX) discussions is VOIP-WXNET which broadcasts over the Echolink system. This group monitors the hurricanes and other storm events in the world and is great to just listen to even if you don’t participate. You can find them on Echolink on the WX-Talk Conference or by IRLP on the Raleigh Reflector 9219.
Here is some recent information from the group that doesn’t pertain to weather, but the goings on in Washington.
ARRL HQ personnel will be in Washington DC today with several folks from Army MARS and they are expecting a visit from members of Congress. This visit is coinciding with a MARS exercise planned for today where various parts of the country get hit with various natural disasters in an attempt to stress the MARS system and promote interoperability between MARS, ARES, RACES and SKYWARN.
Understanding that this great event is unfortunately happening during work hours between 10 AM-5 PM EDT (1400-2100 UTC) Wednesday 10/3, any Amateurs that are available are asked to check into the operation on HF voice, 14.250 MHz and 7.250 MHz as well as PSK-31 on 14.070 MHz. Manager of Preparedness and Response, Dennis Dura-K2DCD, who is also the Assistant Director for VoIP Hurricane Net Operations has asked that Net Controls monitor the *WX-TALK* EchoLink Conference Node: 7203 and IRLP reflector 9219 as they hope to sign on there and take drill traffic reports from this exercise using those means as well. It is not clear when they will be able to get on *WX-TALK*/9219 but they will get on at some point during the 10 AM-5 PM EDT timeframe.
A link to the national article is listed below:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/09/27/100/?nc=1Those that can check-in by any of the means listed, HF, PSK-31, EchoLink/IRLP would be of great help to the exercise and demonstration. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!
73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
It is important for ham radio operators to stay in touch with what is going on in Washington, after all, they do run the FCC and it does effect what and how we operate. 73, KI4WLR
Popularity: 100% [?]
