The pix in my YouTube collection
are from having used mostly two point-and-shoot cameras. Incidentally,
smart-phone cameras also have capabilities for taking similar sky pix.
For people who haven't considered photographing sky objects, look, up in the sky. It could be Supermoon! Build your own pic collection for day or night moons! Also, pick other sky objects that catch your fancy.
I recently perused my cloud account for pix I've uploaded there
within maybe 10 years. One folder that caught my
eye—"NearSkyObjects-Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS". It consisted of eight
images from 2020 and six in 2021. I poked through my computer listings,
seeing additional sky images I could include in my slide show.
Most images are of the moon—day, night, various phases. Several are
in plant views. The final item is my time-lapse slide show of May 16
2022 lunar eclipse. Final tally of my sky objects for this blog topic is
23. (The count does not include YT videos from 2023 and 2024.)
What arose when the sun set down at the dark site we went to? Dark
skies and objects (constellations, star clusters, nebulae, ...) that
don't show up well in light-pollution, densely populated areas. What
three items am I talking about? A TV tray table, a transparent cookbook stand, and a thin, portable gaming monitor.
We met with another astronomy photographer (AKA astrophotographer) at
a dark site, both parties for a nebula 1000 light years away. Our
friend stayed long enough to also photograph a set of galaxies 60
million light years away. BTW, astrophotography is not merely taking one
pic and seeing loads of details. Each session for each target tends to
take hours, sometimes multiple sessions, specialized equipment for
taking out-of-the-world pix, and cooperative climate conditions.
Portable Gaming Monitor
Our friend showed a new acquisition for showing audience members at
outreach events—a portable gaming monitor that he read about in a NYT
Wirecutter article, maybe "The Best Monitors". Arzopa seems eye-poppingly low cost, compared to other reviewed monitors. "Arzopa Z1FC 144Hz Portable Gaming Monitor Review"
lists the measurements as 8.2 by 14.9 by 0.5 inches, weighing 1.7
pounds. (The traditional dimension reference is 16.1 (corner to corner).
Table Slots Between Slats a Hindrance to Stable Monitor Support
Anyway, he is understandably concerned about the monitor's thin
foldable corner support falling through slots on his display table
(square with narrow gaps between slats). Noting the monitor's thinness, I
mentioned having a plastic, transparent cookbook stand that would
probably work with such a monitor.
Another idea was trying a different table. I thought of our foldable TV tray table
that measures 14.5 x 19 and has no gap hazards. BTW, Google images
search shows good results for "acrylic cookbook stands" and "foldable TV
trays". BTW, a quick, low-effort, low-cost solution to preventing
monitor support fall-through, using a square piece of cardboard the same
size as the square table would help.
Music Stand as Monitor Support? Nah!
An idea for stable displaying of the monitor briefly arose—using a
music stand. It has variable height and tilt adjustments and horizontal
lip. Downsides, however, are heaviness from metal weight and feet that
take up space during transport. Furthermore, securing a monitor to avoid
tipping or toppling it is concerning.
Musing Monitor Support Using No-slat TV Tray Table and Cookbook Stand
The next day, I thought about taking pix showing my cookbook stand
and TV tray table. I took a set of pix—one of the stand (with open
book) atop the table, one with additional items, and several showing
different-angle views.
It occurred to me that I had the makings of a blog topic that
included some idea exchanges about items not specific to astronomy.
Also, I got to thinking of how to organize and create a helpful
slide-show video.
Besides Monitor Musings
Some additional items in the video are are a yardstick and a set of trekking poles. The yardstick provides dimensional references. The
sticks were mentioned during the imaging session. FWIW, a dark site can
be challenging for those unfamiliar with the terrain. Even more
challenging is navigating after the sun goes down. Better to have sticks
and not need them than need them and not have them.
Update: Additional Info After Video's Upload on Feb 28 2025
After publishing the blog article and uploading the movie, our friend
sent an image of his table and portable gaming monitor with the
monitor's support leg. His fix for possible leg fall-through was a
bottle cap.
A bottle cap does the job for the leg and the display is too thick to slide through. The [table's] gap actually cradles the bottom of the display! ... I added a couple of bits of foam insulation to the bottle cap to keep the leg centered in it.
The video's thumbmail shows the initial suggestion, the friend's pic,
and additional ideas. The newer items include bungee cords for better
securing a monitor for display and avoiding pit falls.
I’m guessing that way more than 99% of pizza boxes function as containers for pizza. Afterward, the boxes get tossed in the trash. (A recycle advisory says to not recycle them because grease and food contaminate the boxes. A few might serve as overnight leftover pizza containers, then tossed out.
Pizza Box Uses Besides for Pizzas
I can think of three additional purposes for pizza boxes (brand spankin’ new, however), of which I’ve used for two purposes in the past.
Container for a pizza jigsaw puzzle (similar to some Zazzle images)
Storage for a Bahtinov mask, my more recent pizza box use. Some masks are professionally manufactured, some are DIY and might or might not include an embroidery hoop, as the image at the top of the article.
If unfolded, a surface for a partially assembled jigsaw puzzle. To make it a corral for transporting a puzzle to another tabletop, fold and tape some edges to form walls.
Note: Typical pizza places probably sell three to five different pizza sizes, so you can pick your suitable box size.
Products that are Called Pizza Boxes
Some products are referred to as pizza boxes because of shape similarities, often box-like with matching length by width and short height.
Wending from Bhatinov Focusing Mask to Pizza Box
We recently made a Bhatinov focusing mask, which included lots of tedium in gingerly and accurately cutting slots. To protect the finished mask and its embroidery hoop, I thought a pizza box, with its stiff corrugated cardboard structure, would be perfect for storage.
After measuring the mask with hoop (about 10.5" diameter), I poked around the web for pizza box info. (Read nitty gritty details about boxes in Pizza Boxes Part 2.) Anyway, we bought a new 12" pizza box for 25¢ while buying an extra large pizza to go.
Those who are interested in astronomy and astrophotography and want to know more about Bhatinov focusing masks can start with some resources as follows:
My profession had been technical writer/editor. Through TheWriteJob clublet (blog at http://thewritejob.blogspot.com), I have been exploring my inner creative writing, which includes mostly language enlightenment, entertainment, and a-muse-meant. Over time, I have become more active with images and my YouTube channel.
