Beginning in (2022) my oldest grandson, needed a project to show the movement of the sun over a period of time….if possible an entire year. However, despite living more than 200 plus miles apart, we both made similar “solar devices” to measure the suns shadow, beginning on the Vernal Equinox (March 20th 2022) and beyond.

The following photo:

The yellow tape mark on the right side of the scale shows the sun shadow on the 2022 Spring Equinox. (This was my first measurement)

The white tape was placed on the first day of summer (June 20th 2022) which shows the longest day of the year. Note: the sun is not directly overhead using this method, as the shadow indicates.

The blue mark was placed on the scale, on the shortest day of the year, December 21st 2022, which is the longest shadow of the year for 2022.

A second way to measure the suns shadow, by Tom English.

I thought of a variation that I might try someday:  Put a straight pole into the ground, facing due south, and at an angle of 54 degrees (for you it would be 55 degrees)

Then on the two equinoxes it would cast no shadow at local noon. 

On the June solstice the shadow will cast its greatest extent southward, and on the December solstice the shadow will cast at greatest extent northward of the stick.

Roger Ivester

My latitude is 35º 15′

(90º – 35º) = 55º

Debbie using an angle finder to insure the proper angle is at 55º.

The angle is toward the South at 55º

Point the steel rod toward North, but again the angle is toward the South. So draw a line, with the post, going South to North.

Note the shadow. It will be increasing each day to get shorter, until on September 22nd, there will be no shadow, as the sun will be “pointing down” the rod.

At 1:00 PM EDT, today (September 22nd) a photo was made, and indeed showing no shadow, as the sun was shining directly down the steel rod.

The previous marks (blue and yellow) on the scale indicate the positions of the suns shadow on different days, since August 24th.

The black mark shows the shadow on the first day of winter. The yellow mark was made on the longest day of the year….or the first day of summer.

Deep-sky observing can be enjoyed with a group or solitary, however for me, I much prefer the latter. I always have a planned agenda, with the object or objects that I’m interested in observing.

Deep-Sky observing (galaxies, nebula and star clusters) are very serious business for me, with no time for idle chatter or distractions! There are pencil sketches and notes to make! 🙂

However, I did have one observing partner that was with me on a regular basis for almost 17 years, but she passed away in February 2016. Its been ten years now as of 2026, and I still miss and think about her often.  

I can still see CJ, our Persian Cat, waiting anxiously at the back door, ready to go outside, while I’d be setting up my telescope on the deck or in the backyard. 

When the door was finally opened, she would run out, fast as she could and so excited. She would walk around, climb the deck, play like she was catching something….pouncing and clawing the ground. However, after a short while, she’d end up on my lap, either due to being cold or to just feel safe.  

CJ was going to stay with me for only a couple weeks and would then be moving to California, but that two weeks ended up being almost 17 years.  I’m really glad the move didn’t work out.   

Debbie and I held her in our arms from 11:30 AM till 8:15 PM.  I had my hand on her chest when her little heart beat the last time, after 19 years.  It was a very, very sad day.  

CJ had a wonderful life.  We treated her like a Princess.  

The following is a rough field sketch using chalk on “gray” cardstock, rather than “black” to better illustrate light pollution. Canopus is just visible in a distant tree line.

Canopus is located in the constellation Carina, and is the second brightest star in the sky. It has an absolute magnitude of -5.71 and with the following coordinates:

Right ascension: 06h 23min declination -52º 41

In the early 90’s, amateur astronomer Tom English, promoted an event called “The Great Canopus Chase” in our local astronomy club. It was unknown at that time if Canopus could be seen from the area, and amateurs went far and wide looking for the perfect southern view.

Many observers saw the star, but most from different locations, within the local area. It was a fun event. When I first saw it, I was surprised, but have seen it many times since. It has actually become an annual event, so it will be again this year. (2025) Roger Ivester

From my (+35º 18′ ) in North Carolina, my theoretical south latitude 90º (-) 35º = ~ -55º.

Of course the terrain and light pollution can most often be the limiting factor for many in their limiting theoretical southern latitude.

I can see the star Canopus at the south declination of (-52º 42′) but in a distant tree-line, however, it shines brightly!  It’s easy to see without optical aid, but I normally take my 7 x 21 mini-binoculars to assist, but once located, it’s very easy naked eye.

So, from my location, Canopus @ -52º 42′ is only ~ 2.5º above the horizon.

The following is my rough chalk sketch, on charcoal “colored” card stock. I made this “rough sketch” as viewed from the north end of Stadium Drive, at the stop sign (junction to the Boiling Springs/Cliffside highway)

Notes and image as following by Mario Motta:

Canopus near its peak which is 11º, here at about 10º above the horizon in Naples, Florida.

I received this note from Richard Shuford, this morning: March 2nd 2023

“Back in 1976, when I was an undergraduate physics major at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC, catching a glimpse of Canopus was celebrated by some of my friends who observed it from a high hilltop in Burke County.” Richard Shuford

(Note: Hickory is about one hour north from my location of seeing Canopus. I was very surprised when reading the above notes from Richard Shuford. I thought our group in Boiling Springs, in the early 90’s was the first time anyone in this area (+ 35º) NC was able to see Canopus.

Chuck Vaughn: Observer from California

Now what is the likelihood of me finding and seeing this in a 30 year old magazine? Especially since I just completed a Canopus post on my site?

I was casually thumbing through a December 1992 Sky & Telescope, and the word “Canopus” seemingly jumped out of page-712 and hit me, right in the eye! His (Chuck Vaughn’s) latitude is +37º 49′ which puts Canopus on the ~horizon, and being able to see it without optical aid!

The following is a brief of that article:

“Canopus, too! Chuck Vaughn of Fremont, California…..claims to have caught sight of the star without optical in November 1991, and three years earlier in December. Has anyone else seen it from such a northerly location?” CV

Note for reference: Richmond, Virginia has a latitude of +37º 53′ just about the same as Fremont, California.

I’m hoping someone reading, with a clear southern horizon, with a latitude of ~40º’s will attempt to see Canopus. This would put the star below the horizon! Is this even possible?

Orion Telescope and Binoculars has an incredible amount of solar equipment and everything you need to know, concerning solar observing.

The following image by Barre Spencer and Patrick White, using a Canon Rebel with a 200 mm zoom lens from the 2017 total eclipse, presents the Diamond Ring and Bailey’s beads very nicely. The image was made from Columbia, South Carolina.

Unfortunately my friend of many years, Barre Spencer, passed away on June 1st 2022.

Our story of witnessing the August 2017 total solar eclipse from Laurens, South Carolina:

A group of folks from various places met outside of an Italian restaurant to enjoy the solar eclipse together. We were all surprised how few came to this quaint little town to observe this historic event. The totality duration was ~ 2 mins  34 seconds, and with perfect weather!    

During totality the sky darkened to a surprising level, but not as dark as a clear full moon night. Venus appeared very bright in the western sky and Jupiter in the southeast. I could not see any stars naked eye.  

We were amazed at the sudden flash of the diamond ring!  

The temperature drop was very significant. A weather bureau report from Newberry, SC, only 30 miles away, and also in the line of totality, recorded a temperature drop of 11º Fahrenheit. So, we can assume that this temperature drop would have been similar in Laurens.

When the sun began to re-emerge, we noticed a shimmering of light waves on the pavement in front of us, known as shadow bands.  A very interesting phenomenon, which I was hoping we’d see…and we did!  

 

John Goss, who at that time was the President of the Astronomical League, sent both us two very nice and high-quality pins. I wear mine often to this day, with many questioning and asking what the pin is all about.

I’m really glad we have our 2017 pins, to remind us of that special day in Laurens, South Carolina. For many reasons, we’d never “witnessed” a total solar eclipse, and I’m glad I took notes, and made this post, shortly afterwards.

There is nothing like the written word, as there are always plenty of images of the event online, but there will be no duplication of your thoughts, your feelings and what you saw.

My oldest grandson needed a college project for showing the altitude of the Sun, via the shadow. I made a simple solar device in my back yard, and John-Winston fabricated a similar one in his yard at Myrtle Beach. We compared views fairly often and discussed our results.

We (Sophie, Debbie and myself) made the following photos today at 12:00 noon (December 21st 2022) EST.

The (blue mark) represents the Sun Shadow (today) at “precisely” 12:00 Noon EST, December 21st. Note that the shadow is “almost” at the end of the scale. This shows or presents the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, which is a very long shadow.

The (green mark) on the measuring tape at nine-inches…was made on the the first day of fall (September 22nd.)

The (white mark) presents the sun shadow on the first day of summer (June 21st) and the longest day of 2022, which shows a very short shadow!

This would “also conclude” that the sun is never “perfectly” overhead for our latitude which is +35º 18′ north.

The scale on the ground is perfectly level and aligned north-south. The shadow post of the solar device is at a vertical 90º.

Nova Sophia (Sophie) looking at the longest shadow with interest.

See photos below: Note the longest shadow, the blue mark, which was made on the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year.

During DST, the time of the measurements of the shadow should be made at 1:00 PM. During EST, the shadow measurement should be made at 12:00 Noon.

My son and granddaughter make frequent trips from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, traveling through Baker, California, via I-15 which crosses the desert.

Baker is best known for having the tallest thermometer in the world at 134 feet, and considered the gateway to Death Valley.

The thermometer was built to commemorate the “official world record” setting temperature of 134º F, set in nearby Death Valley (Furnace Creek) on July 10, 1913. Yes, the hottest temperature on the planet earth, and a record that stands to this day.

Brad and Zoe took the following photo of the thermometer during a trip on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The temperature as shown on the thermometer at the time they were there….was a cold 30º F.

Surprising! It gets cold in the desert also!

Roger Ivester

Warren D. Ivester: (1913-1986) Ruby Whisnant Ivester (1919-2006)

My Daddy loved sports cars.  The following blue convertible is a Fiat 124 and the orange one (second photo) is a very rare Datsun Fairlady.  He also had a couple more European cars, which was another Fiat and a French Peugeot.

Warren Ivester: “Circa 1976” driving his 1965 Datsun Fairlady 1500 Roadster. A very rare car with a high-performance 4-cylinder (1,488cc engine) twin-carburetors and a four-speed transmission.

My Dad had an engineering mind with an ability to improvise a mechanical fix when he didn’t have the necessary parts. This was especially true as related to cars which were always his passion. In the early days, I remember him cutting copper-shims and placing underneath engine bearings rather than using new bearings. However, this was a common practice during the early years and even into the 60’s.

Helping my Dad at our home garage:

The garage was a very humble building with a dirt floor and comprised of a conglomerate of salvaged materials with a small coal burning stove.

While my Dad was rebuilding an engine or doing some serious engine work, I would try to help. And one of my jobs was to grind valves and valve seats in head blocks, when necessary. I would use a tool with a suction stopper on one end, attached to a wooden handle, using a variety of abrasives.

Born in 1913, my Dad grew up on a farm in the foothills of North Carolina when most roads in the area were dirt and things were far different than today. Those were the days of Ford T’s and later A-Models.

When my Dad was born it was only 10 years after the Wright Brothers made their first flight in December 1903, lasting only 12 seconds. And one year after the Titanic sank on April 12th 1912.

Working on the family cotton farm:

He would later begin working as an auto-mechanic, and would work for himself at times and then at many different garages over the coming years.

The story of the Savannah River Nuclear Facility:

My Mom told me on numerous occasions….Dad had an offer to work at the Savannah River Nuclear Facility, but decided against it. This facility was being built in the early 50’s to produce and fabricate nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonian-239. Some “seriously dangerous materials” for sure! I can’t remember or be sure as to why he didn’t take the job, but was not due to the plutonian-239.

However, if my Dad had taken this job, it would have for certain changed the trajectory of my family, and It could have been beneficial to the family finances for sure.

It could have been really good for me also: As I needed my own bicycle, a serious astronomical telescope, a Lionel electric train, and other essentials that kids needed in those days. 🙂

Moving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse:

When engineers were trying to figure out how to move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse further inland, away from the ocean, I remember my dad having his own thoughts. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are very unstable land masses and constantly changing.  His thoughts were as following, and I remember hearing him say the following, on a number of occasions.

“……it needs to be lifted up using the same principle as moving a house, then installing a massive rail-system underneath. The rails would extend the entire distance to be moved, or to its new and final resting location. The lighthouse would have to be moved very slowly, maybe only inches a day, which would allow very close monitoring of the process.”

Well…this was pretty much the exact way the famous lighthouse was moved.

I made the following photo in April 1982 of the lighthouse in its original location, before being moved. Note how close the lighthouse was to the beach and ocean. Moving this massive structure was definitely an engineering marvel.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby Whisnant Ivester:

My Mom was the mother to six-boys and a wonderful mother she was.

She was very intelligent, excellent in math, very artistic, beautiful handwriting and well read in so many subjects. And this was many years before the internet. She would purchase one encyclopedia every month from the Shelby Winn-Dixie. We would get our groceries at Winn-Dixie, on either Friday nights or Saturday afternoons and most of the time I’d go. Our house was about 15 miles from Shelby, and we called this…going to town.

We received the National Geographic magazine, for about ten years, from about 1960 to 1968. With the addition of our grocery store encyclopedia’s, what more could we possibly need to learn about everything? My Uncle Boyd and Aunt Shelley who lived in Virginia gave the National Geographic magazines, to me and my brothers, in those early years. I remember being excited when the magazine came to our FFA (Future Farmers of America) concrete pedestal mailbox, each and every month. One of my brothers made the mailbox at Polkville School, and brought it home on the school bus.

How my Mom saved me from going to prison when I was 9 years old!

I sent off for a free stamp coin collection, or maybe it was all for a dime I’d sent them. Then I started receiving more and more (worthless) international stamps and more and more books. The company was located in Garden City, New Jersey. I then received a bill for $35. But, what to do? I just ignored the letter, but a month or so later they sent me a serious legal letter.

They advised me to seek legal counsel, as they would be sending their attorney to meet with me and my attorney in Shelby, NC, within the month. But my stamps/coins and books were suppose to be free…or covered by the dime I’d included in the envelope!

I showed the letter to my mom, and it scared her to death!

She quickly looked in our “savings” drawer and counted out $35 and put in an envelope. I’ll never forget the both of us cramming the stamps and books into a box with the money. Yes…cash in an envelope and sending to a bunch of shysters in New Jersey!

Relief! My life was saved! My Mom just couldn’t let her her youngest son go to prison for $35. The real criminals were the folks at the stamp and coin mail order company. (Note: Many years later, a law was passed by Congress, that allowed people to keep anything they didn’t order.) And I didn’t order boxes of books stamps, cheap aluminum coints and worthless books! Considering inflation, the $35 would be equivalent of $366 as of 2025. And my family needed this money!

When I was in about the 1st-4th grades (~1960-1963) she would work at a sewing company in Cherryville, and would ride with some of her friends in the area, who also worked there. My Mom would never have a drivers license. During periods when she was not working, she loved to watch soap operas, which she called “the stories.” She would talk with a few of her local friends on the telephone about the stories as if they were real. One thing for certain….she loved her family.

My mom also taught me so much about the Bible when I was really young, which inspired me to read the Bible, and my belief in Jesus Christ. I would begin to read the Bible on a regular basis, and had a couple that were given to me by my church. However, my favorite was a small Bible given to me at Polkville School, by the Gideons. Somehow at 11 or 12 years old, I managed to memorize the entire 34th Psalm. This is an amazing Psalm that says so much.

I remember so well, my Mom reading to me: Luke 16:19-31 KJV: She talked with me about Hell and eternity and said: “Can you imagine, constant torment that never ends?” Even at a very young age, this for sure caught my attention!

My Dad standing in the backyard during the summer of 1984:

An interview and documentation as following by Chadwick Ivester: His elementary school assignment (4th grade, nine-years old in 1981) was to interview an older person that was significant in their life. Chad chose his grandfather.

Page 2:

The following is the story for easier reading. Only a few spelling changes were made and paragraphs for easier reading.

I would consider this an historical document: Roger

Warren Ivester was born on Feb. 4th, 1913. The first school he attended was White School and then went on to Casar School. He started when he was six years old in 1919. He walked about a mile and a half to school in weather conditions as rain, sleet, or snow.

Later in 1926 Casar School got a 1925 Ford T-Model Bus. White School was a single room building that was stem heated. It used coal to heat. Then when he went to Casar School, the school had two rooms and was heated by the same stem heater. The desk were made of steel frames with tarnished wood.

The subjects he had were spelling, arithmetic, writing, and english, they had spelling books, arithmetic books, and writing books. For lunch he usually had fried pies, baked sweet potatoes, or some biscuits and ham.

Demerits were given for disipline, and if you got five or six, you would have to clean the chalkboard, wash windows and ceiling lights, and for strong boys, they would have to dig up big rocks and cover them back up.

The sports they played usually played was called Round-Town Ball which was simular to baseball. They were never given any homework to do. Warren went to school until the 9th but it went to the 11th. He made A’s and B’s and he liked school very much. The reason why he quit school was to drive the school bus for the school. He got paid 7 dollars a month, he said it would have been better making 7 dollars than no money at all.

The length of the school year was 6 months and vacation was six months. There were usually about 60 to 75 students enrolled in school and he was the smartest of all.

Chad Ivester

I pulled the following photo of (Leonard Nimoy) “Spock” and his “Orange-Tube” 8-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, from Phil Harrington’s vintage telescope advertisement post.

This is the telescope, that changed the world of amateur astronomy, with its introduction in 1970.    

http://www.philharrington.net/old50.htm 

Amateurs wanted a more compact and portable telescope, and the 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain f/10 fit the bill.  I’ve owned two SC scopes over the years, but for me, I still like the simplicity of a Newtonian Reflector, despite the bulk and weight. And should a problem present itself, there is always an “easy fix” maybe not so much so with a Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain.

However, the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is the choice of telescope for many amateurs, for their own personal reasons. I’d suggest mostly for portability, and astrophotography.

Newtonian Reflectors:

It’s my opinion, a 10-inch “equatorially mounted” (solid tube) reflector, is the largest reflector that can/could be considered portable.  And that’s a stretch, as I have a very heavy 10-inch EQ reflector (solid tube) so this is based on my experience.  

However, this is not the case for a Dobsonian design, as many take 20 to 25-inch Newtonian’s, and sometimes “even” larger to star parties on a regular basis.  But for me, I was always happy for someone else to bring such a large telescope. 🙂

My experience with a 20-inch Dobsonian: 

I’ll never forget being at a star party near Blowing Rock/Boone, North Carolina, and climbing a “really” tall ladder, to observe through a 20-inch Dobsonian.  To make things worse there was a 15 to 20 mph wind, and “of course” in total darkness.  I couldn’t wait to get back on ground, and decided my 10-inch reflector was all I needed!  I just never thought astronomy should be a hazardous hobby, even greater than road cycling!

I’ve always preferred the simplicity of both a Newtonian and refractors:  

For me, growing up looking at big Cave Newtonian’s (advertisements) and other brands, with massive German design equatorial mounts, was what an astronomical telescope should look like.

We can never escape our early years, and thoughts.

Roger Ivester 

The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia, concerning Tom Johnson and Celestron telescopes. 

…..Johnson, who had a strong interest in amateur astronomy, originally created Celestron as the “Astro-Optical” division of Valor Electronics in 1960.^[2][3] Around 1960, Johnson had been looking for a telescope which could be used by his two sons, but found no such child-friendly models on the market at the time.^[2] Johnson built a new telescope, a 6-inch reflector telescope, by himself, in 1960.^[2] He was visiting his brother in Costa Mesa, California when he came upon his nephew, Roger, trying to grind the 6 inch diameter lens he purchased from the clearance table at a local hobby shop. Roger was tired of the project and offered the lens-grinding kit to his uncle. Thomas Jasper took the kit home and after several days of hand grinding, he invented a machine that would grind the lens for him. Thus, by accepting the lens grinding kit from his nephew, Roger L. Johnson, “TJ” (as the family called him) created that first lens of many.

On July 28, 1962, he publicly unveiled a new invention, a portable 18+³⁄₄-inch Cassegrain telescope, at the party held by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society on Mount Pinos.^[3] The new transportable telescope proved so groundbreaking that Johnson’s invention was featured on the cover of a 1963 issue of Sky & Telescope.^[3]

Johnson’s interest in telescopes soon became a full-fledged business.^[2] Johnson’s new company, Celestron, which descended from the “Astro-Optical” division of Valor Electronics, soon began selling more sophisticated Schmidt–Cassegrain telescopes in models ranging from just 4 inches to 22 inches.^[2] However, the Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope proved difficult to mass-produce because the models needed Schmidt corrector plate, an advanced aspheric lens, which could be hard to manufacture.^[2] To solve this production problem, Johnson and the company’s engineers invented a new type of telescope, the Celestron 8, in 1970.^[2] The Celestron 8 was more compact, affordable and easier to manufacture than traditional telescopes, like the Schmidt–Cassegrain.^[2] Johnson’s new telescope proved very popular in the amateur astronomy and educational industries, allowing the hobby to rapidly expand and reach more consumers.^[2]

Johnson sold Celestron in 1980.^[2]

2 Corinthians 12:7-11

The thorn in the flesh….

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

7 …..Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  NIV 

My thoughts concerning the “Thorn In The Apostle Pauls’ Side” as following: Roger Ivester

Could the “thorn in the Apostle Paul’s side” have been mental and his inability, therefore, as a human lacking the ability to forgive himself?   Could Paul’s thorn have been guilt, due to his murder and torment of Christians. Mental pain and guilt can be more punishing than physical pain. Despite the supernatural event and his conversion on the road to Damascus…the thorn in his side remained.

Was Paul continually “tormented” by Satan, saying…?  You have tortured and even murdered many followers of Jesus Christ. Who are you to profess faith in Jesus Christ, when his followers hate and fear you?

Disclaimer:  This theory and conjecture is based on my own simple understanding of the Bible, and mine alone.  Never will this humble servant pretend to understand or know “definitively” the many hidden meanings of the Bible. 

…..years ago, a sentence from a Gideon’s KJV Bible had a profound effect on my ability to share that which I do not know or understand, concerning the Bible:  “It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”  Source:  Gideon’s International.   

Information compiled and personal thoughts by Roger Ivester 

Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus…blinded by Jesus.

Several months ago, it occurred to me that I needed a more organized system of filing my pencil sketches and notes. I was just filing my 5 x 8 sketches in plastic boxes, without having a directory, and having to look through hundreds of sketches to find the one I might be looking for. I have spent about sixteen hours to-date, and with many more hours to go.

I am using a laminator, lamination plastic, a paper cutter, plastic page protectors, and plenty of 3-inch loose leaf notebooks. When finished, there will be a directory in front of each notebook, then a master list to find the notebook needed, and then the page number.

This is a preliminary post, and I will be adding more information when the task is finished. At this point, I have five complete notebooks. I have all of my sketches digitized for the past fifteen years, but nothing like a “hard-copy.”

Four books now completed, with the fifth, just beginning. There is no way, I can laminate all of my sketches, and notes, as they are in different formats, journals, and too many small 3 x 5 cards to count.

Maybe a thousand or more small note cards ( 3 x 5) filed in plastic boxes, by constellation. So they are just fine, and easy to locate…the object I might be looking for.

The following are the books to-date with Debbie’s hand holding.