February 2002 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Laid off
by Chuck Hards 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

This seems to be going around. My company is shutting down for two weeks, beginning March 8th. If sufficient orders are not received in that time, I will be looking for a new job. I have permission to use the property to finish the big tube for SPOC regardless of what happens. I may have to unsubscribe from the list at the end of next week. That's life! Chuck

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Dark-sky site
by Chuck Hards 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

How about Great Basin Nat'l Park (or is it a state park?) It's very dark there. One of the darkest areas in the country, judging from those "USA at Night" satellite images. C.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Dark-sky site
by RStmarie＠aol.com 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

Brent had mentioned East Canyon too. Isn't there going to be light polution from the SLC valley there? And is there any land to buy? On the other hand it might be lots closer to folks in the SL area.

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Dark-sky site
by David Dunn 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

The sky has looked pretty black up at East Canyon the last few years when we have done a Star Party for them. I am sure that we spent most of our time looking east though because I am sure that you get light from SLC. -----Original Message----- From: RStmarie(a)aol.com [mailto:RStmarie@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 10:26 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Dark-sky site Brent had mentioned East Canyon too. Isn't there going to be light polution from the SLC valley there? And is there any land to buy? On the other hand it might be lots closer to folks in the SL area.

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Re: Dark sky site
by Chuck Hards 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

Sorry, Brent and everyone. I'm not able to think about such issues right now, unfortunately. Chuck

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Good News!
by Patrick Wiggins 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

I don't have all the details but I thought y'all might like to know that SLAS has received another multi-thousand dollar donation for SPOC 2. I should have the details tomorrow and will report same in tomorrow's "News" along with news on our experiences with the Coronado solar filter a few of us used at SPOC yesterday. Cheers! Patrick :-)

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Re: Dark sky site
by Chuck Hards 28 Feb '02

28 Feb '02

Didn't Dr. Mayer pass away a year or three ago? (I believe he was a surgeon, thus explaining the RR Patrick mentioned) I wonder if Polaris has a waiting list for new members? Or can a current tenent bequeath his or her spot to someone in particular? Anybody in current contact with a Polaris member? At the other extreme, there is that subdivision in Florida that is for astronomers exclusively. Complete homes and yards, and local ordinances that strictly control outdoor lighting. Jack and Alice Newton now over-winter there every year. Ive heard of similar neigborhoods for wealthy pilots (A high-school friend married well, and now lives in such a neighborhood in Virginia). Instead of an alley behind the row of houses, there is a grass runway, and hangers instead of garages. Chuck

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Dead Horse Point Star Party
by David Dunn 27 Feb '02

27 Feb '02

OAS is holding a Star Party/Messier Marathon at Dead Horse Point State Park on nights of March 15 & 16 and all of you are welcome to attend. We have reserved the group campsite so you can stay there or get your own campsite. This is an area that has a nice dark sky so that if it is clear we should get some great observing. > A Messier Marathon is an all night Star Party where you can try to look at > all the Messier objects that are up on the night that you are observing. > Between March 15 and April 1 the Sun is in an area of the sky that doesn't > have any Messier objects so it should be possible to view them all. > > You don't have to participate in the Messier Marathon in order to attend > the Star Party. I would like to see this be a fun weekend of observing > similar to our summer campouts. I plan to go on the trip even if the > weather is not good for the star party. There are several National Parks > and Monuments in the area that we can visit. > > Directions: > http://www.mapquest.com/ > I ran a MapQuest trip for Moab (which is near Dead Horse Point). > Driving to Moab from Layton via US-6 is 257.85 miles and will take about 6 > hours, 24 minutes. > Take I-15 South to exit 261 (Price/Manti) (72 miles) > US-6 through Price to I-70 (127 miles) > I-70 East exit 180 (Moab) (24 miles) > US-191 (13 miles) > US-313 (Dead Horse Point State Park) > > Here are some links to web pages for the parks in the area. > Dead Horse Point http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/www1/dead.htm > Arches http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm > Canyonlands http://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm > Natural Bridges http://www.nps.gov/nabr/index.htm > Hovenweep http://www.nps.gov/hove/index.htm > > I hopes to see everyone there. > > Thanks. > David Dunn > 801-961-3253 >

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Bill Kelley
by Chuck Hards 25 Feb '02

25 Feb '02

I got a couple of emails from Lois Kelley over the weekend (some of you who know the Kelleys probably did, also) to the effect that Bill is home from the hospital, and doing better. Please keep Bill in your thoughts and prayers, and join me in wishing him a speedy, complete recovery! Chuck

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Big binos
by Chuck Hards 21 Feb '02

21 Feb '02

Someone posted recently that Sportsman's Guide was out of the Bear brand 15 x 70's, and would not be re-stocking. This is true, a person here at my work experienced the same thing. They are gone for good. Those who bought them, congratulations on getting them while the getting was good! All is not lost. Apogee is selling the Galileo brand 15 x 70 at a "closeout" price of $119.95 + shipping. Not quite as good as $97, but still an excellent price for a 70mm binocular. They appear to be a clone of the "Bear" brand, probably made at the same Chinese factory, to the same specs. Apogee's website: www.apogeeinc.com orders: (toll-free) (877) 923-1602 info: (815) 568-1988. email: apogee(a)mc.net I am not affiliated with Apogee Inc. in any way. I MAY sell one of my pair of Bears at the swap meet. Haven't decided yet. Bring a hundred bucks if interested, just in case! Chuck

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