LENOMIYA OBSERVATORY

MINOR PLANET CENTER OBSERVATORY CODE H13

My name is Luis Martinez and I am an amateur astronomer in Casa Grande, Arizona. I enjoy stargazing and learning more about our incredible universe. Luck was on my side

when I moved here 30 years ago since I

had no idea I chose an area with reasonable

dark skies, before I began my astronomical

activities.

My current science interests are lunar meteor

impacts, asteroid hunting, and asteroid

occultations. The observatory's astrometry

data was deemed accurate enough to obtain

a Minor Planet Center designation (H13) in 2009.

I am a true "backyard" astronomer (no permanent observatory) .

You can see my telescope here.

To contact me by email click here.

MY EQUIPMENT: SOFTWARE:

Celestron CPC1100/ 11" telescope SkyTools 3

Hyperstar lens Nebulosity2

Orion ShortTube 80A Virtual Moon Atlas

WATEC 902H2 video camera CyberSky 4

PC164EX video camera Lunar Terminator

Orion StarShooter II CCD camera Visualization Tool (LTVT)

Sony DVD player RITI Lunar Map pro

Canon ZR300 camcorder LiMovie

Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop Occult Watcher

PLV2 video amplifier Quick Phase Pro

ADVC 55 Canopus video converter LunarScan 1.5

KIWI OSD time inserter Guide 8

MyBook 500GB external disk Virtual Dub

Mitty Wedge Registax 5

Scope Buggy MPO Canopus

StarShoot AutoGuider Nudger

SBIG ST-8XME PHD

ABOUT THE THREE LOGOS ABOVE:

The current lunar meteor impact activities are carried out under a joint effort by both NASA personnel and amateur astronomers, and is intended to assist NASA in making Earth-based observations of the dark portion of the moon to establish the rates and sizes of large meteoroids (greater than 500 grams or 1 pound in mass) striking the lunar surface.

Why it is important: U.S. Space Exploration

Policy eventually calls for extended astronaut

stays on the lunar surface in 2020. Spacecraft,

vehicles, habitats, and EVA suits must all be

designed to withstand the stresses

posed by the harsh lunar environment

over this period of time. Meteoroids, and the

ejecta produced when they create impact craters, are part of this environment.

I designed the Lunar Impact Team patch as a way to enhance the team spirit among both professionals and amateurs. In addition to many amateurs having obtained it, the patch has been procured by many professionals and can be seen about the Marshal Space Flight Center.

The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) launched, with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) aboard an Atlas V rocket, from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 18 2009. The mission was to find signs of frozen water on the Moon's south pole.

NOTE- the LCROSS impact and plume , at 11:30 UT October 9, were not visually observed by most telescopes and NASA is now processing the data. One success story can be seen at www.mmto.org/lcross

I designed the LCROSS unofficial "mission" patch for the same reasons as the LIT patch. The patch depicts the Centaur headed for the Moon, and displays the motto "Lux Ex Tenebris," which translates to "Light From Darkness." The small number "17" is a tribute to the seventeen American astronauts who have perished aboard US spacecraft.

The Asteroid Hunter patch symbolizes the nightly hunt for Near Earth Objects that may threaten us, and the efforts of amateur and professional astronomers in obtaining astrometry and photometry data for these bodies. The motto means "Seize the Night."

If you wish to order patches click here.

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