Michael, an amateur astronomer from sci-astro, joined TT during one of Nancy’s disruptive periods over on  the science based groups. Intent at first on payback he soon learned that TT had rules and settled down determining himself to set the record straight where Nancy’s astronomical claims were concerned. At that time the only “experts” were Nancy’s “amateur” faithful, (Havas and Dell,) so it was relatively easy to deceive the membership with their so called “expertise”. Michael however changed all that, shifting the balance in favour of logical and rational thinking and his postings soon became worthy contributions to the group. Indeed Michael even offered to set up viewings with anyone interested to look for the fabled 12th, although this was never taken up by anyone on TT. 

 

Unfortunately Nancy and the faithful saw these efforts as threats, favouring an unquestioning membership, so their dislike soon became obvious as  the various attempts of  manipulating the membership against Michael began to unfold. (See tt-takeover tt-posse)

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tt-watch/message/3995

From:  Michael Cunningham <bogeystar2100@y...>

Date: Sun May 20, 2001  7:55 pm

Subject:  Re: [tt-watch] Re: Basis for a poleshift

--- j-smith6@h... wrote: As Carl Sagan said "Absence of proof is not proof of absence." I don't think Michael can prove the 12th doesn't exist, but a photo could be useful to check the accuracy of the ZetaTalk message. There are some contradictions in the message and the sightings (such as red filter and magnitude) that have many curious. Michael, any chance of getting a pic?<<<


I'd be pleased to post a picture of the coordinates as given by Nancy! There are a number of problems with posting a CCD image at this time.


First, Nancy has stated that her coordinates "may" not be accurate and that we should "look" all around those coordinates. I and my associates have visually scanned out from those coordinates up to a 5 degree radius (10 degree diameter centered on the coordinates) and have turned up nothing. Yet, three sightings are being proclaimed as proof in this group and all sightings were dead on those coordinates! I can center on that area an take an image but "someone" would claim the object wasn't in that field of view or I didn't image the correct location, or I falsely posted an image from another area, etc. We can open another can of beans with me posting an image.


My preference would be to have an individual from this group either view the subject area with me or with another known amatuer astronomer. We could all post our observations and shoot images as necessary. I can start posting deep sky reference frames from surveys as a reference for this group in a folder if any one wishes to rent a scope for the evening. I can also post listings of the various amatuer groups in your particular location so you may visit them and their equipment to better judge for yourself. I have already been contacted by one individual locally for a private observing session.


I will need one thing from Nancy. I'll need complete coordinates for the object thru August. Can you handle that Nancy?


Sadly enough, the object is now deep in the evening twilight but will be placed for viewing again in a couple of months for early morning viewing. This will
give this group plenty of time to plan observing sessions and visit your local amatuer groups enabling you to get to know them and coordinate efforts for a
search based on Nancy's information and coordinates.


All of this WILL make Nancy nervous because most of the individuals in this group want to know the truth but what will it hurt? At worst, we won't see
anything. At best, you'll become more familiar with telescopes and astronomy

> And on the subject of the cool equipment that some of these guys have, check out this guy I found while reading the sci.astro.amateur group. http://space.ne.mediaone.net/astro/ I think his equipment is somewhat similar to what Michael said he has. Click on the Observatory Link and see the setup this guy uses on the back deck of a townhouse. Then check out the images he has taken with a CCD camera. I had no idea amateurs as a hobby had the kind of equipment.<

 
Today, amatuer astronomer's are high-tech. Our equipment is capable of imaging objects that all major observatory's can. The lists just go on and on. I
myself can take a 20 minute deep sky image at the telescope, download and process tha image in less than five minutes. Scan the result image for any unknown objects using the USNO A2.0 catalog which has the positions of over 560 million stars (11 CD's) and give you the coordinates for that object with sub-arc accuracy! I can then repeat the process and "blink" the two images to check for movement. Ten years ago, that was only a dream. You can view my website at...

http://home.earthlink.net/~bogeystar/ and see my equipment. I make no false claims. There are thousands of individuals just like me across the USA not to mention the world and I personally have spent close to $10,000 for scopes, eyepieces, filters, CCD cameras, off-axis guiders, computers, processing and imaging software, professional grade catalogs, etc.


I will see what I can do about an image if Nancy can provide the coordinates for the next few months.

------o------


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tt-watch/message/3996

From: brian_gillbanks@l...

Date:  Sun May 20, 2001  8:28 pm

Subject: RE: [tt-watch] Re: Basis for a poleshift

 

I think this an excellent idea. If someone from TT can get to view the co-ordinates then we will know at first hand if there's anything there. Any takers?


Michael it sounds as if you may have some pull on the sci astro is there any way you can organise something with one of the bigger scopes so perhaps a group of TT members can observe the co-ordinates? If not in your area perhaps another with someone else on sci astro? Also to all TT members - is there anyone in or
around the area where Michael lives?


Brian (Angel Isle)

------o------


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tt-watch/message/3997
From: Michael Cunningham <bogeystar2100@y...>

Date:  Mon May 21, 2001  12:02 am

Subject: RE: [tt-watch] Re: Basis for a poleshift

--- brian_gillbanks@l... wrote: I think this an excellent idea. If someone from TT can get to view the co-ordinates then we will know at first hand if there's anything there. Any takers?<<<

I have just uploaded a JPG finder chart for the last position supplied by Nancy for May 23rd. You may view it in the files section of this group. Hopefully Nancy will provided more coordinates for the coming months so I can also display these.


> Michael it sounds as if you may have some pull on the sci astro is there any way you can organise something with one of the bigger scopes so perhaps a group of TT members can observe the co-ordinates? If not in your area perhaps another with someone else on sci astro? Also to all TT members - is there anyone in or around the area where Michael lives?<<<


I'll speak to some of the more well known amateurs on sci.astro and sci.astro.amateur newsgroup and see if we cannot get a few informal viewing sessions at
various locals across the the USA. The more individuals looking on this group the better. We might even persuade Nancy to come out and take a look this time if we can find someone in Wisconsin. How about it Nancy?


It will appear we'll have to wait a few months for the area to reappear out of the sun's glare but it would be worth while for the members of this group to visit various astronomy clubs and observatories to prepare themselves and familiarize themselves with what
they'll be attempting to observe.

------o------

Despite our attempts the only person to take up Michaels offer from TT was forced off the lists later, during yet another “witch-hunt” instigated by the “faithful,” after which this topic was conveniently forgotten despite my attempted reminders.

 

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