Demonstration of An Equatorial Sundial

Prof. Iadevaia demonstrates the workings of an equatorial sundial. From August to November the shadow can be seen on the top face then the bottom face. On the day of the equinox no shadow is seen.

Prof. Iadevaia's HABE

The culmination of a project that included almost one year of design, planning and building occurred on 8 Oct 2011 when Prof. Iadevaia's High Altitude Balloon Experiment was launched. The Professional Development program at Pima College East Campus supported, in part, this experiment.The HABE payload was part of ANSR Flight 64, a flight to test equipment and techniques used with the various student and teacher NASA sponsored AZ Space Grant launches during the year. All equipment on the HABE payload worked flawlessly and the images and video taken were fantastic.

HABE Pre-flight

Professor Iadevaia explains the pre-flight payload components for his High Altitude Balloon Experiment (HABE) that will be launched as part of the ANSR Flight 64. Included in the payload will be 2 HD cameras, one recording HD video the othe HD still images taken at 5 second intervals. There is also a 3 axis accelerometer and temperature, humidity and pressure data logger. Flight is scheduled for Saturday, 8 Oct 2011.

Equinox Wall

Prof. Iadevaia shows the sunrise at the Equinox Wall at the Pima College Observatory on 23 Sept 2011...the day of the Fall Equinox.

Tucson Monsoon Storm

The following video clip by Prof. Iadevaia is of a classic monsoon storm. The increase of the rain intensity and decrease of the visibility is apparent as the background mountains become harder to see. The wind and rain becomes stronger as the storm passes.

Complete Rainbow

The Monsoon not only brings rain to Tucson but also spectacular thunder storms and beautiful rainbows. Prof. Iadevaia has captured a complete, double bow on 17 July 2011 just as a thunder storm was brewing over Sabino Canyon in NE Tucson. The second bow is just seen to the outside of the primary bow...and if you look closely you can see that the colors are reversed from the primary bow.

Mini DVR Test 3

This is the test video of the non-rotating, fixed mount for the miniDVR. This mount allows the miniDVR FOV to remain centered on the flyer. The test was conducted by Prof. Iadevaia in very gusty winds, and surface temp 102F. The mount worked just fine although the vibration from the gusty conditions is apparent.

First Test of Kite Video From Sailboat

The following clip is an experiment by Prof. Iadevaia to determine if using a kite mounted mini DVR, launched from a moving sailboat is possible. The test was conducted from S/V Principessa sailing out of San Diego, CA. The wind velocity was about 15 knots from the WNW the sea was 2 - 3 feet and the boat's speed was 5.5 knots. In conclusion this is a doable project if the slip stream created by the sails is factored into the launch procedure and the mini DVR mount does not rotate. Additional videography and also sailing the boat during the test was done by the Admiral, Linda Proctor and she didn't even drop a stitch!

Mini DVR Test 2

This latest installment on Prof. Iadevaia's Science Video Blog is the second test flight of a Mini DVR camera. The DVR was flown on a Delta Wing kite in gusty, windy conditions, air temperature was 106 F. This first test showed that the DVR is suitable for use in an RC plane or balloon as well as from a kite. This device will be used in upcoming flight experiments.This test shows the new, stable mount for the Mini DVR and the video captured by the Mini DVR in that mount.

Mini DVR Test 1

This latest installment on Prof. Iadevaia's Science Video Blog is the first test flight of a Mini DVR camera. The DVR was flown on a Delta Wing kite in relatively light air. This first test showed that the DVR is suitable for use in an RC plane or balloon as well as from a kite. This device will be used in upcoming flight experiments.

Free Lift: or How much gas do you really need?

Prof. Iadevaia shows how you can determine the free lift of a helium high altitude balloon. Measuring the balloon circumference and calculating the volume then comparing the results to the ideal lift for a given volume of helium.

ANSR Flight 62

This short video shows the ANSR Flight 62 "Change in Altitude". Students from elementary to middle school participated in the launch supplying various payloads. Part of the AZ Space Grant Consortium.

Remember that Great Big Full Moon Last Month?

Remember that Great Big Full Moon last month 19 March 2011 well here is a comparison between the two. Last month's full moon, because it was closer to us than any time in the last 60 years, was to have been much larger compared to the full moon this month, 17 April 2011. See for yourself.

This is a video clip of the ANSR Flight 60 that launched from Gila Bend, AZ with several student payloads. Science and engineering students from UA, ASU, SMCC, Pima College and Embry-Riddle designed and built the various payloads. ANSR, Arizona Near Space Research group, coordinates the AZ, NASA Space Grant program for the high altitude balloon flights.

My first satellite contact!

Ham's have been involved with the space program for a long time. With the first OSCAR satellite, repeaters in orbit and on the space station...the use of satellites is second nature. On 3 Feb 2011 I tried my hand at the technology and made my first satellite contact using the AO-51 Echo satellite. It was exciting to be able to use a satellite over 100 miles high to contact a ham in New Orleans from my base station in Tucson using modest equipment...crossband mode transceiver at 50 watts output to a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna.

Low Tide,High Tide

Here is a short clip showing the effect of low and high tide on a dock ramp. Notice not only the change in the incline of the ramp but the water level to the left of the ramp.

An Archaeoastronomy Technique

This is a technique I developed in 1997 for analyzing possible astronomical alignments at ancient sites. During this time I was involved in archaeoastronomy and visited several ancient sites. I developed this technique to aid in data collection. It used a 3D modeling program, advanced for the time but by today's standard quite primitive. It was the beginning of using photos, digital techniques and planetarium type programs to reconstruct ancient sites and analyze them with great precision. Dr. Carolyn Sumner of the Houston Museum of Natural History in Texas was the only other person using a similar technique. We presented a paper at a AAS meeting. This video clip is from my Introduction to Archaeoastronomy CD available directly from me for a modest fee..

Rainbows are Polarized

Using your polarized sunglasses as an polaroid analyzer, you can easily see that a rainbow is polarized. Scattered electromagnetic radiation is polarized. Using a lens from your sunglasses can reveal a wealth of information about a property of light. Next time you see a rainbow and you happen to have your polarized sunglasses with you, look through one lens at the rainbow and rotate it 90 degrees and you will see the rainbow "disappear"!