February 2012
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The Hat That Won the West
It wasn’t the wide brimmed cowboy hat, according to this 1957 article, but the hard rounded derby. From its emergence in mid-1800’s Britain until the rise in popularity of soft hats in the early 20th century, the bowler or derby (as it is known in the U.S.) was worn by everyone. Worn well,
and not so well.
by men at play,
and women at play,
…even anarchists agreed to...
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Goddess
That brilliant star in the southwest at dusk is the goddess of love. Venus shows phases, just like the moon and tonight it is gibbous, just like the moon. Alas, when Venus is the evening star it hides behind the trees from my backyard observatory. These photos were taken several years ago when Venus appeared as the morning star… close in its thin crescent phase.
It is easily visible in...
January 2012
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A Clear Winner
If you shop for a western hat today you will see the effects of X-inflation. 10X, 100X even 1000X used to suggest quality levels in the felt hat body. I have a 1X nutria Stetson western from the 1920s that will beat the fur off off most any hat made today.
Here is a rare animal, a 1930s Stetson 5X Clear Beaver. Back in the days when this hat was manufactured, 5X Clear Beaver was top of the line....
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Losing It
The eclipse of August 28, 2007 happened as planned. Even the clouds cooperated, parting to allow us a clear view from the rooftop of the Buffalo Museum of Science. But this was a pre-dawn transit of the moon through earth’s shadow. Just as totality began in the west, the rising sun in the east quickly brightened the sky. The shades of blue mixed with the rusty tint of the shadowed moon...
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Whatwasthat?
I took yesterday’s daytime moon picture while standing around waiting for this… a daytime pass of the International Space Station in front of the moon. Caught it. This animation is slowed down a lot… the actual event took less than half a second. Here is a little bigger version.
Here’s what the ISS looks like silhouetted in front of the sun.
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Nutria-cious!
Ringing in the new with something old.
These three old Stetson cowboy hats from the 1920s/1930s are made from nutria… a charming name for a somewhat less than attractive rodent, originally from South America - now quite a nuisance in the southern United States. The nutria’s fur made a very soft and durable hat and became a popular felting fur as beaver became scarce and expensive in...
December 2011
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Art and Science for the holidays
If you or someone you love loves art and is fascinated by astronomy… these prints might on the wish list. Signed photographs of my work are printed on heavyweight archival paper. A few samples included below… more selections are available to order from my website.
wavelengths
Astronomy images are often captured through narrow slices of the spectrum. TheHubble images are made this way. Solar prominences and the swirling features of the chromosphere can only be seen at the hydrogen alpha wavelength - 656.3 nanometers in the deep red.
What happens when we turn a B&W astronomy camera with narrowband filters towards more familiar territory? Cool stuff. Here are my...
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Old No.1
I’m a sucker for old cowboy hats and this Stetson No.1 Quality western had my number written all over it. 1920s or 1930s, it’s hard to say for sure… patina from use but a lot of years left in the rugged felt. The store that sold it, Hamley & Co. founded in the 19th century is still in business today.
November 2011
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Sun sizzler
30 minutes in the life of a solar prominence… like a dance, with the disco score
muted for your enjoyment. The full size version and more images of this beauty
can be seen here.
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Twenty Dollar Hat
In the 1940s and 1950s, when hats were named for their retail price, a twenty was a good hat. I have a couple of Knox 40s and a couple of Knox 20s… this is the prettiest of the lot. The felt in the Twenty is a little softer in texture and not quite as shapeable as its more expensive brother, but the lines and incredible ribbon/felt color contrast in this hat are just about perfection. A...
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The Top Hat
This exquisite Crofut & Knapp topper came from the estate of a 91 year old woman. It belonged to her dad (in the photo), who wore it at his wedding and then not again, apparently. The black fur covering, often silk in top hats, is made from Nutria. The condition is pristine.
October 2011
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Falling
Been so many times… always different, always a thrill.
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Old Faithful, part II
Yesterday I wore a faithful old western hat… approaching its 90th birthday, this Stetson 1X Nutria (X’s went a long way in those days) is a favorite. Nutria is a water rodent which became a popular source for hats when beaver became scarce in the early 20th C. It makes a very soft and very durable felt.
Simple unlined interior, with “the Fray” sweatband giving the...
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