ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Hey all,

We've had heliostats for many years.  The first one consisted of  
several timing motors and required repositioning during the day.  The  
second one was placed on our roof (Charles Glorioso and Richard Gagnon  
but it together).  We basically spllit the solar beam into three  
exhibit sources: solar signature, sun spots, and sun painting.  It was  
based again on analog electronics but worked pretty well.  It needed  
daily attention, very minor stuff.  Our most recent addition, a digital  
version with mechanical components performs pretty well but has been  
problematic--a little buggy--but basically pretty good.  Lot s of great  
exhibits to do with a beam of sunlight.
C

On Feb 6, 2005, at 5:40 AM, Clifford Wagner wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *********************************************************************** 
> ******
>
> Isn't that in our job description- drawing on our memories and  
> enhancing what was really there?:-)
>
> Great exhibits are worth emulating, with the added advantage that we  
> can ask those that have lived with them and know how well they work   
> "What enhancements would you do?"
> Clifford Wagner
>
> On Feb 4, 2005, at 11:11 AM, David Taylor wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
>> institutions.
>> ********************************************************************** 
>> *******
>>
>> I remember seeing a nice heliostat setup in the
>> exhibit hall at the Fiske Planetarium at the University
>> of Colorado in Boulder (many years ago).
>>
>> They were using the light from the heliostat in three
>> ways...
>>
>> 1. A white light image projection onto a screen so
>>     visitors could see sun spots.
>>
>> 2. An eyepiece you could use to look through an
>>     H-alpha filter to see the surface features of the
>>     sun.
>>
>> 3. A portion of the sunlight was put through a high
>>     quality diffraction grating to project a 4-6 foot long
>>     projection of the sun's spectra.  I think I remember
>>     some bright and dark lines and a 'key' visitors could
>>     use to identify the lines.  The other thing that was
>>     great was that you (the visitor) could put a phosphorescent
>>     card at the end of the visible spectra to see the
>>     ultra-violet part of the spectrum.
>>
>> Of course this memory is more than 20 years old and
>> I could have enhanced what was really there.
>>
>> David
>>
>>                    David Taylor
>>        AHHA Museum Services
>>             Now I Understand
>>         1560 NW Woodbine Way
>>             Seattle, WA 98177
>>              (206) 363-8126
>>    e-mail:   [log in to unmask]
>> http://www.AHHA-MuseumServices.com
>>
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>> From: Harry White <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network  
>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 12:31:17 +0000
>>> Subject: Re: Heliostats - anyone have one?
>>> ********************************************************************* 
>>> ********
>>>
>>> I always wanted one too.
>>>
>>> Ken Gleason did a nice simple telescope based one at the Montshire  
>>> MOS.
>>>
>>> The Lied CDM in Las Vegas has one in it's own tower but it was  
>>> closed the
>>> day I was there.
>>>
>>> Tycho Brahe Planetarium Copenhagen's one was awesome but only when  
>>> the sun
>>> was out. (Only once and by the time I had my camera out it was gone)
>>>
>>> For workshops etc. the Sunspotter from Learning Technologies is  
>>> great.
>>>
>>> Please post it if you fund a good one,
>>
>>> Harry White, Concept Development Director
>>> Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, UK. CF10 5BW
>>> Tel: +44 (0) 29 20 475 475, Direct: +44 (0) 29 20 475 464
>>> Web: http://www.techniquest.org
>>>
>>
>> ********************************************************************** 
>> *
>> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at  
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>> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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>
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at  
> http://www.astc.org.
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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>
Charles Carlson
Director of Life Sciences
exploratorium
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123

Tel:   415-561-0319
Fax:  415-561-0370

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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