This is my home page, and I began site construction on Dec. 2, 2004. Thanks to the ease of use of this site builder (Trellix), everything has assembled fast; but how long I keep this site depends on many factors - it could terminate for a number of reasons (some beyond my control). You can find me if you Google on "R. B. Minton ALPO", or write me at 568 North First Street, Raton, NM, 87740 (USA). I am the ALPO Instruments Coordinator (Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers).

Click the small Venus for the ALPO Home Page.

Click to view 4 sec. of Venus video thru my 8".

The photo at right was taken 6/2/2004 with my 8-inch aperture f/7.8 Cave Astrola Newtonian telescope using a Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 webcam. Thirty-one video snippets were taken - each lasting from 20 to 60 seconds; and a total of about 19,000+ frames were taken this day during a 2-hour interval as Venus was high in the daytine sky. I chose the best 5 to make the final image shown here. The resolution is very close to the best possible with an 8-inch aperture - about 1/2 an arc-second.

This web site will illustrate the variety of instruments I have built, their use and performance; and my underlying love of all types of scientific investigation. These sciences will include astronomy, physics, optics, photography, and electronics.