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

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Monte Cristo
by David Dunn 26 Jul '02

26 Jul '02

I will have to give this a shot. I had always thought that increasing magnification would make the object dimmer. The BOB was probably running about double the magnification that I was running on the 10". We can try this out on 8/1 at Antelope Island. I am planning to bring both of my 10" scopes and if I can finish the second one before then I will bring two 8" scopes as well. My 10" f/10 is pretty easy to get magnification with. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 3:41 PM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Monte Cristo --- David Dunn <david.dunn(a)albertsons.com> wrote: > I started looking for 3998 in > my 10" f/4.5. I saw two fuzzy stars and since my > Orion map only showed one > of them I decided to go and have Doug point BOB > (18.5") at them. In the BOB > we saw 3 galaxies. We looked at a more detailed map > (Sky Atlas 2000.0) and > identified which galaxies were which. > Friday night taught me a couple of things. One, I > need a bigger scope Dave, understand that the seeming disparity between the views in the 10" and the 18.5" is due not just to aperture, but image scale. The 10" has a faily short focal length of around 45", while the larger scope must be about twice that. I'll bet that if you had bumped the magnification up on the 10", you would have noticed more detail, and possibly made a positive ID. Increasing magnification is a way to increase contrast, up to a point -and- seeing conditions permitting. It can make a telescope seem like a much larger instrument when everything clicks. I have used this technique often on galaxies, and not just the small faint ones...sometimes the detail seen in objects like M31, M33, M51, etc., is surprising, at high powers. A 10" scope will support some gawdawful magnification if the seeing will allow; give it a try. Of course, none of this is any excuse to slow-down on the big scope- get busy! ;) Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Science or Sci-Fi?
by David Dunn 26 Jul '02

26 Jul '02

Patrick, A movie I enjoyed watching as "Mission to Mars". You could also do Red Planet or Armageddon. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Wiggins [mailto:paw@trilobyte.net] Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 9:27 PM To: utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Science or Sci-Fi? This will be going out as part of Saturday's News but I thought I'd give the folks here a sneak preview since you're probably more likely to have an opinion. The Museum of Natural History has asked me to do another Science Movie Night. In case you don't know that's where they do a free screening of some science or science fiction movie for the public and then hold a discussion about the movie after. I have a couple of possible movies in mind but would like to get other input. Anyone have an opinion? If it makes any difference, the screening will probably be the night of the Geminids. Patrick _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

1 0

Monte Cristo
by David Dunn 25 Jul '02

25 Jul '02

The Monte Cristo star party a couple of weeks ago turned out real nice. The viewing was great. I was out Weds. through Sat. night. The seeing was great Weds., Thurs. and Friday. By Friday night I was done playing with the Messier objects and decided to do some NGCs. I started looking for 3998 in my 10" f/4.5. I saw two fuzzy stars and since my Orion map only showed one of them I decided to go and have Doug point BOB (18.5") at them. In the BOB we saw 3 galaxies. We looked at a more detailed map (Sky Atlas 2000.0) and identified which galaxies were which. We then spent the next several hours touring around and looking at NGC galaxies with BOB. While we were in the area of M101 we took a look at it. I think this was the most impressive thing I saw the whole week. The spiral arms were clear and well defined. There were knots of stars visible in the arms. It was absolutely beautiful. The next night it was a fuzzy blob with the spiral arms barely visible. Friday night taught me a couple of things. One, I need a bigger scope and two, I need a Sky Atlas 2000.0 and maybe even a digital setting circle. I guess I better hurry and put the 16" mirror I finished into a scope. Thanks. David Dunn PS - How was Wolf Creek?

6 5

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Lou Mayo talk for local teachers
by Josephine Grahn 24 Jul '02

24 Jul '02

Patrick, Astronomy clubs in school take two parts, the teacher, and the amateur astronomers to work with them. Many interested amateur astronomers are already attending the conference. It's the teachers, the other half of the equation, that we needed to bring in, and help them afford to be able to work with Dr. Mayo. Opening it up to everyone leads to the possibility of far more people than the room can hold and all of the associated logistic and financial problems. This seemed to be the best compromise. If you (or others) know of specific cases, feel free to contact me privately, and we can probably make it work. At 01:15 PM 7/24/2002 -0600, you wrote: >Hi Sieg and all, <SNIP> >No doubt there are others out there who would be interested in forming such clubs but who are not teachers. >That's why I asked if persons must be teachers in order to attend. > >Cheers! > >Patrick :-)

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Lou Mayo talk for local teachers
by ELyrae＠aol.com 24 Jul '02

24 Jul '02

Bruce is a registered participant in ALCON. His registration fee is his entry fee. Siegfried

2 1

Lou Mayo talk for local teachers
by Grahn Family 24 Jul '02

24 Jul '02

I apologize if this is inappropriate for the group, but after tonights SLAS meeting, I realized I should have posted this here. At ALCON, we have a Dr. Lou Mayo coming in from Maryland to give a talk on how teachers and amateur astronomers can create good working after-school astronomy clubs. Dr. Mayo is with NASA, and I am going to append his bio, and an abstract of his talk here. All teachers will be admitted free to this talk, because we all recognize that this is the sort of outreach and program which we want to have happen, and that teachers are the (underpaid) key. His talk will be at 1:15 on Friday afternoon, at the Olpin Union building (where the entire conference is). It will run until approximately 3:00, although I think he will stay and discuss it for as long as anyone wants. He is really enthusiastic. Please let any teachers that you may have done star parties with, or that you have any e-mail addresses for, know about this. Again, teachers will be admitted to this talk/workshop for free. Thanks, Jo Grahn BIO Lou Mayo is a planetary scientist and program manager working for Raytheon at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research interests involve developing atmospheric models of Saturn's largest moon, Titan from Voyager spacecraft infrared observations. He also spends much of his time designing and promoting education outreach programs for space science and is a member of the NASA Sun Earth Connection Education Forum and the D.C. Space Grant Consortium. He also leads the education outreach program for Raytheon ITSS and is co-lead for the AAS/DPS education program. Lou leads an after school astronomy club in Silver Spring, MD for grades 3-5. ABSTRACT OF TALK Many K-12 school science objectives include only the most basic astronomical concepts. Some ignore the subject altogether in favor of more traditional courses (e.g. math and reading) or Earth science based curricula such as weather and local ecosystems. In addition, most K-12 school teachers are unfamiliar with astronomical concepts and are poorly equipped to teach the subject. With teacher requirements increasing due to increasing class sizes, state competency exams, and a back to basics political climate, there is often little room to capitalize on the natural sense of curiosity children have about the universe during the normal school day. An after school astronomy club capitalizing on the strength, education focus, and nation-wide distribution of amateur astronomers can provide a solution. This presentation is intended for amateur astronomers interested in education and public outreach (EPO) and discusses the elements involved in setting up and running an after school astronomy club. The model was developed at two Maryland schools, Sligo Creek Elementary and Holy Redeemer Elementary/ Middle School and incorporates national education standards as well as NASA OSS guidelines for effective EPO programs. A Community Based Learning (CBL) approach is proposed with the goal of engaging multiple elements of the community in the learning process including local amateur astronomy clubs, industry, community colleges, parents, and teachers. Teaching methods are suggested and a check list provided for setting up the club and running the first meeting. Methods for integrating astronomy with other elements of the curriculum are discussed. Resources, teaching methods, preparation guidelines, discipline, and safety are also discussed and a list of hands-on astronomy activities is presented.

2 1

RE: [Utah-astronomy] OT Moon Day (was Moon Rock arrests)
by Dale Hooper 22 Jul '02

22 Jul '02

This is drastically changing the subject, ... but, speaking of the moon, does anyone else on this list besides me do anything to celebrate "Moon Day"? My kids and I always try to go out and launch model rockets on July 20th. Of course, this year we are trying for today - because is was too windy Saturday in Cache Valley. Its my way of trying to pass on to them the excitement I felt back in the days when we really did manned space travel - that actually went somewhere. Dale Hooper. > -----Original Message----- > From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] > Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 4:28 PM > To: Utah-Astro > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Moon Rock arrests > > > Does anyone have any information on the two Utahns > arrested in the moon rock theft & scam? Are they U of > U employees or faculty? > > Chuck > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better > http://health.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >

2 1

Moon Rock arrests
by Chuck Hards 22 Jul '02

22 Jul '02

Does anyone have any information on the two Utahns arrested in the moon rock theft & scam? Are they U of U employees or faculty? Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com

1 0

Sunspot groups
by Chuck Hards 18 Jul '02

18 Jul '02

There are actually two large groups on the sun's face right now. You can see both with no magnification (and proper filtration). I brought my 15x70 binos & Baader solar filters to work with me today to see this impressive sight. Has anyone noticed any auroral activity this week? Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes http://autos.yahoo.com

1 0

Hawaii anyone?
by Richard Tenney 18 Jul '02

18 Jul '02

Hi all, Got the following today from a guy on my UVAA list that lives in Maui. Sounds like fun (if only I had the money to take him up on it!). Also, if any of you can answer his mount question please respond. Thanks, Rich ------------------ Aloha Richard Do you think anyone from UVAA would be interested in doing a Hawaiian Star Party?? It's just that this is such a great place and is REALLY DARK "and" WARM at night, it could be fun. There are a few amateur astronomers and some professionals on Mt. Haleakala here that would be glad to have y'all visit and share our night skys. Just a thought .... It could be planned when the "Crux" is in its' full glory (April thru June is the best) along w/ some of the better Spring objects. Here's a shot of the primered parts to my Schaeffer AT-7 drive, it goes to the paint shop tomorrow for a low luster black finish. Then I'll start on the OTA's of the 12.5",4.5" Rich Field and 80mm refractor finder. It's been about 15 years since I did any paint work on the scope and it's time to make it all look nice again. A QUESTION I'd like to redo the AC motors to steppers so it can be auto guided -- know anyone that does this?? OR does anyone have a duel axis drive corrector from the old days that's for sale ?? Thanks .... Rob Ratkowski ( ratkwski(a)maui.net ) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com

2 1