[AZ-Observing] When it's Cloudy

Some time ago someone asked what other hobbies to get into when it is 
too cloudy or unsettled weather for observing. I mentioned studying 
lepidoptera. I just discovered another activity that may actually appeal 
to amateur astronomers.

When Dick Jacobson was selling his stuff to close the Astronomy Shoppe I 
bought a LW Scientific Revalation binocular compound microscope. I've 
always wanted a good one and this one is really nice -  binocoular, two 
sets of different focal length oculars, a diopter adjustment, up to 1250 
magnification, micrometer adjusted slide holder, adjustable diaphragm, 
variable light source, course and fine focus, three different colored 
filters in addition to a frosted glass one.

Today I was looking at slices of the bell pepper from my refrigerator. 
After looking for awhile I noticed things were moving around. They were 
spherical or oblong in shape, green, and had black splotches and 
stripes. I concluded these must be chloroplasts, and that is what they 
were. I also noticed sausage shaped things twisting around. I have no 
idea what these are.

It seems to me microscopy would interest astronomy amateurs because it 
is working with an instrument, a microsope instead of a telescope. 
Instead of observing the very large you observer the very small. There 
is also a fair amount of fiddling around to get the best image as in 
astronomy. You vary the light intensity, diaphragm size, used different 
colored filters as well as polarizing filters, and one can experiment 
with staining, something I haven't done yet. It is also interesting what 
the very small is like. Next time eating a raw bell pepper, think of all 
those chloroplasts moving around, and the sausage shaped things twisting 
around as the bell pepper moves down your gullet.
Stan
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