Dan Burns
@the-physics-well.net
Physics Educator, Space Enthusiast, Astrophotographer
https://the-physics-well.net/
https://the-physics-well.net/
I just realized while I was replying to you Pink Floyd was playing in the background. My blob looks like there was some thin cirrus obscuring it, but I think it was perfectly clear.
November 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I just realized while I was replying to you Pink Floyd was playing in the background. My blob looks like there was some thin cirrus obscuring it, but I think it was perfectly clear.
One of the brightest auroral features I have seen was this blob on 5/11/24, due east. I took this with my iPhone as I was using my other camera to create a time lapse and it was pointed north. I kept thinking that a train was approaching as it slowly grew in brightness.
November 15, 2025 at 12:13 AM
One of the brightest auroral features I have seen was this blob on 5/11/24, due east. I took this with my iPhone as I was using my other camera to create a time lapse and it was pointed north. I kept thinking that a train was approaching as it slowly grew in brightness.
I was stunned by the brightness at my 39 N latitude Northern California location. I was fortunate to be outside during the most intense part when orange appeared inside the red. I watched my camera click away and was tempted to adjust the settings because it looked over-saturated! #astrophotography
November 14, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I was stunned by the brightness at my 39 N latitude Northern California location. I was fortunate to be outside during the most intense part when orange appeared inside the red. I watched my camera click away and was tempted to adjust the settings because it looked over-saturated! #astrophotography
That is the Torque Feeler lab in the Conceptual Physics Lab Manual. I used a 0.5 kg mass instead of the specified 1 kg. 1 kg hurts! "Feel the torque, Luke" #ITeachPhysics
November 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
That is the Torque Feeler lab in the Conceptual Physics Lab Manual. I used a 0.5 kg mass instead of the specified 1 kg. 1 kg hurts! "Feel the torque, Luke" #ITeachPhysics
This hand-held iPhone image shows the view from 39 N latitude at 9:38 PM on 11/11/2025. The edge of the aurora (or possibly a SAR) reaches all the way to due east. Orion can be seen rising on the right as its reflection sets into the lake. #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This hand-held iPhone image shows the view from 39 N latitude at 9:38 PM on 11/11/2025. The edge of the aurora (or possibly a SAR) reaches all the way to due east. Orion can be seen rising on the right as its reflection sets into the lake. #astrophotography
We had a red and green lake at line 39 N in Northern California on 11/11. #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
We had a red and green lake at line 39 N in Northern California on 11/11. #astrophotography
I wrote this Smart Cart sense and control activity: www.pasco.com/resources/la... My favorite was a Red Light/Green Light program. It was a little over the top because I had access to all the PASCO equipment. It has a Smart Cart with a motor, light sensor, and wireless light source. #ITeachPhysics
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I wrote this Smart Cart sense and control activity: www.pasco.com/resources/la... My favorite was a Red Light/Green Light program. It was a little over the top because I had access to all the PASCO equipment. It has a Smart Cart with a motor, light sensor, and wireless light source. #ITeachPhysics
Great list. The free iPhone app Constellation Map Mobile is useful for polar alignment in the daytime. Put in search South Celestial Pole mode, place the phone on the mount's north side. Adjust the Az and El until the phone is pointed down at the SCP. apps.apple.com/us/app/const... #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Great list. The free iPhone app Constellation Map Mobile is useful for polar alignment in the daytime. Put in search South Celestial Pole mode, place the phone on the mount's north side. Adjust the Az and El until the phone is pointed down at the SCP. apps.apple.com/us/app/const... #astrophotography
I was able to upgrade my room for an extra 3$/night for a High Roller view room. I took this time-lapse from our room at the Westin 8 years ago. It takes 30 min to rotate in real time. With a diameter of 158 m, what is the centripetal acceleration of a passenger? #ITeachPhysics
November 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I was able to upgrade my room for an extra 3$/night for a High Roller view room. I took this time-lapse from our room at the Westin 8 years ago. It takes 30 min to rotate in real time. With a diameter of 158 m, what is the centripetal acceleration of a passenger? #ITeachPhysics
After the outburst ended after 9:00, this Unchanging Red Band stayed in the sky until the midnight outburst. It's not an aurora, it is a Stable Auroral Red arc (SAR). They were named before we knew how they formed. I propose we call them URB spaceweatherarchive.com/2021/11/22/3... #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
After the outburst ended after 9:00, this Unchanging Red Band stayed in the sky until the midnight outburst. It's not an aurora, it is a Stable Auroral Red arc (SAR). They were named before we knew how they formed. I propose we call them URB spaceweatherarchive.com/2021/11/22/3... #astrophotography
A cropped still from the after midnight outburst shows the reflected aurora better as the lake was calmer, more lights have been turned off, and the red pillars were closer to the horizon. The Big Dipper shines through in the center. #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
A cropped still from the after midnight outburst shows the reflected aurora better as the lake was calmer, more lights have been turned off, and the red pillars were closer to the horizon. The Big Dipper shines through in the center. #astrophotography
There was another outburst after the moon rose after midnight. I didn't see this one, but my camera did! 98x time-lapse, Sony Alpha 7 III, FE 14 mm f/1.8 lens, ISO 1250, 4s exposures. #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
There was another outburst after the moon rose after midnight. I didn't see this one, but my camera did! 98x time-lapse, Sony Alpha 7 III, FE 14 mm f/1.8 lens, ISO 1250, 4s exposures. #astrophotography
I was not paying much attention to the aurora alerts as it was supposed to be cloudy last night. I set up my camera after noticing the clouds were glowing red at 6:30 PM. They move out like a curtain rising just before the show starts! 98x time-lapse staring at 6:45 PM. #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I was not paying much attention to the aurora alerts as it was supposed to be cloudy last night. I set up my camera after noticing the clouds were glowing red at 6:30 PM. They move out like a curtain rising just before the show starts! 98x time-lapse staring at 6:45 PM. #astrophotography
Still processing my images of last night's aurora. This 98x time- lapse captures the major outburst in NorCal between 8:30 and 9:00. Sony Alpha 7 III, FE 14 mm f/1.8 lens, ISO 1250, 4s exposures. I have used these settings for bright aurora but never had the sensor saturate before! #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Still processing my images of last night's aurora. This 98x time- lapse captures the major outburst in NorCal between 8:30 and 9:00. Sony Alpha 7 III, FE 14 mm f/1.8 lens, ISO 1250, 4s exposures. I have used these settings for bright aurora but never had the sensor saturate before! #astrophotography
@ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has done it again! Check out the amazing image here: cosmicbackground.io/pages/ea_the... #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
@ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has done it again! Check out the amazing image here: cosmicbackground.io/pages/ea_the... #astrophotography
It cleared up and a major outburst occurred. The brightest red I have ever seen with my eyes.
November 12, 2025 at 5:04 AM
It cleared up and a major outburst occurred. The brightest red I have ever seen with my eyes.
Well at least the aurora is making our clouds colorful. Hoping for some clearing in a couple of hours.
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Well at least the aurora is making our clouds colorful. Hoping for some clearing in a couple of hours.
When experimenting with a high conductivity copper pipe that had a shiny interior, we discovered this neat optical effect.
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
When experimenting with a high conductivity copper pipe that had a shiny interior, we discovered this neat optical effect.
Lots of great parenting tips in there too
November 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Lots of great parenting tips in there too
Some reflectors have 4 struts supporting the secondary mirror. They can be mimicked by two lines at right angles. Some have 3 struts arranged 120 degrees apart. There are other arrangements.
November 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Some reflectors have 4 struts supporting the secondary mirror. They can be mimicked by two lines at right angles. Some have 3 struts arranged 120 degrees apart. There are other arrangements.
I experimented with different thickness fishing line to add diffraction spikes to my refractor images. I overdid it with the Pleiades image and was too subtle with this Double Cluster image. My goal is to mimic the JWST diffraction spikes. www.labxchange.org/library/item...
November 6, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I experimented with different thickness fishing line to add diffraction spikes to my refractor images. I overdid it with the Pleiades image and was too subtle with this Double Cluster image. My goal is to mimic the JWST diffraction spikes. www.labxchange.org/library/item...
I prefer using a force sensor on a cart on a track spinning on a chair. Force sensor measures the push from the track end stop. A wireless force sensor makes this much easier. A PASCO Smart Cart also measures the angular speed. Most wireless force sensors have built in accelerometers. #ITeachPhysics
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I prefer using a force sensor on a cart on a track spinning on a chair. Force sensor measures the push from the track end stop. A wireless force sensor makes this much easier. A PASCO Smart Cart also measures the angular speed. Most wireless force sensors have built in accelerometers. #ITeachPhysics
Tough to choose, but I guess I will have to go to this one:
November 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Tough to choose, but I guess I will have to go to this one:
The museum is chock full of physics education demonstration equipment too. The size and variety of static generators is amazing. This is a translation of the inscription on the finger:
November 4, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The museum is chock full of physics education demonstration equipment too. The size and variety of static generators is amazing. This is a translation of the inscription on the finger:
They also have some of Galileo's measuring instruments and his middle finger! As near as I could tell the middle finger was oriented toward the Vatican.
November 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
They also have some of Galileo's measuring instruments and his middle finger! As near as I could tell the middle finger was oriented toward the Vatican.