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Portrait of a Comet
The other day ye old editor appeared on a local TV program in the role of Amateur Astronomer, to tell all about comets, and show a few of the photos he snapped of Comet Ikeya-Seki. More than adequate time was allotted to fully explore all the history, superstitions, and myths, plus explaining their make-up and orbits. The two minutes and fifteen seconds went by fast. The best story, of course, wasn’t told; but here it is.
The life of an amateur astronomer is fraught with many perils. The fact that he must go into action at the time all sane folks are asleep is just a minor inconvenience compared with other pitfalls awaiting him; viz., “Arising at the bewitching hour of four a. m., I start the coffee pot. Dressing in the dark so I won’t ruin my night vision, and trying not to arouse my sleeping mate, I stumble out to the back yard where the equipment was set up last night.
“Glancing to the southeast, I realize that I don’t have much time as the tail of the comet is up and the first faint suspicion of dawn is beginning to show. I start the clock drive and adjust the telescope with its battery of cameras. The drive hums and appears ok, so pull the dark slides and open the shutters. Even using the fastest film available, the exposure will take three to five minutes, carefully guiding the ‘scope all the while, by keeping the eyepiece cross-hair centered on the head or nucleus of the Comet.
“Click, zip, goes camera one. What’s that? Don’t tell me it suck, it worked fine last night; can’t lose time now tho’. Open camera two; click, whirr, ok! Boy! Somebody’s coffee sure smells good. Uh oh. Is that a haze moving in? Dang this drive, it’s slowing down and my image is bound to smear. Goose it a bit here, tap it there, let’s see now; we need more counter-weight, say! This flashlight balanced up on the finder does the trick. Now everything is going along real nice; SOMEBODY’S COFFEE! Holy H. Smoke! That’s MY coffee burning up! Musta left the stove on high. Gotta turn it off. OOPS! Missed the step on the ladder!
“LOOK O U T!! Oof! Oh! My aching back! Groan.
“What’s that, Dear? Did I wake you? I did what? Ruined the coffee pot and the stove? Oh me! Gosh Honey, I sure am sorry. What? Yes, I took a little spill. No, not very much. But will you do me a favor? Make some coffee and bring me an aspirin?”
Well, she is a real angel; cleaned up the mess and made the coffee, and then complimented the photos.
Comet Ikeya-Seki, one of the most spectacular of the century. Photographed November 2, 1965 by J. Ed. Newman.
More AJ Publicity
Private presses and AJ are continuing to get nation-wide publicity. The latest to come to our attention is an article by J. Ben Lieberman in the October 9, 1965 issue of the Saturday Review. While none of the AJ organizations are called by name, they are mentioned as one of three major groupings of hobby printing; the other two being the very private printers who desire no contact with the others, and the enthusiastics, who form local chapels and fraternize with each other. All in all the article explores our hobby well and could inspire others to join the fun.
Briefs
Vy 73 means, “Very best regards” and is an abbreviation used by radio operators, especially those sending International Morse code, since it saves time.
The lower hieroglyphics on Mrs. Sutton’s vivid poem mean, “A kingly gift to the great.” Mrs. Lea Palmer, Ms. Mgr. For NAPA, sent us the poem.
Diner: F u n e m?
Waiter: ‘S v f m.
Diner: F u n e x?
Waiter: ‘S v f x.
Diner: O k m n x!
Thought for the New Year:
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no overseer, yet provideth in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6: 6-8
Wind from the Nile
by Louise W. Sutton
From out a night of stars and sands
Desert-winds are calling…
Accents soft from ancient lands,
In the moonlight, falling.
Where the Sphinx is crouched asleep,
And the date-palms shiver,
There the purple showers creep
By the mighty river.
Sing, oh winds, of destiny! –
Royal barges gliding…
Cleopatra… Anthony…
Little Moses… hiding.
Vy 73 & 30
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Roanoke, Va. 24019