December 2003 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

RE: [Utah-astronomy] In the blue
by Kim Hyatt 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Many magnitude estimates may have been made from plates taken specifically in blue light, such as those of the earlier Polomar survey. (Just a guess...) -----Original Message----- From: James Cobb [mailto:james@cobb.name] Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 5:37 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] In the blue I believe he is referring to magnitudes obtained from black and white photography; it is biased toward blue light. Jim ---- Jim Cobb james(a)cobb.name On Dec 17, 2003, at 5:12 PM, Gibson, Jim wrote: I was just reading an article about the Herschel 400. The author Jay Reynolds Freeman made this statement: I have informally known for a long time that many older cataloged magnitudes of deep-sky objects systematically underestimate their brightness to the visual observer--the fact that many magnitudes were obtained in blue wavelengths guarantees that result... What does it mean "obtained in blue wavelengths "? How are magnitudes obtained in the blue wavelengths? Jim _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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In the blue
by Gibson, Jim 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I was just reading an article about the Herschel 400. The author Jay Reynolds Freeman made this statement: I have informally known for a long time that many older cataloged magnitudes of deep-sky objects systematically underestimate their brightness to the visual observer--the fact that many magnitudes were obtained in blue wavelengths guarantees that result... What does it mean "obtained in blue wavelengths "? How are magnitudes obtained in the blue wavelengths? Jim

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Disregard - Jim Test
by Gibson, Jim 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Thanks Joe -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 2:24 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Disregard - Jim Test Yes! -- Joe

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Disregard - Jim Test
by Gibson, Jim 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Did it work?

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Binocular C brackets
by Chuck Hards 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Just before my accident, our own Jim Gibson located a generous length of 6" aluminum channel so I could make C brackets for list members. As soon as I can, I'll get them made, hopefully in January. Thanks to Jim, and thanks to all who have emailed to wish me well. The cast comes off this Friday and hopefully will stay off so I can start therapy. 2 fingers on my right hand are pretty attrophied and it's going to take some time & pain to bring them back, but the doc is optimistic, as am I. C. PS: Venus was stunning last night, did anyone else see it? __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax
by Dale Hooper 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Hi Don, Its my understanding that when you do the update to Maxim 3.21 you need to do it as a full install rather than as a minor upgrade. Otherwise, it won't install Pinpoint/LE and you'll get the message you received. Its also my understanding that if you download the Maxpoint demo that it will also install Pinpoint/LE on your system - which would still work after the demo expires. I had purchased the full Pinpoint, so I already had it. One other caveat that I seem to recall is that it may not include the Hubble Guide Star Catalog (GSC) (which for some reason NASA pulled off the web in October). If so, let me know and I'll see if its been posted somewhere else. If I can't find it then just send me a private email with your snail mail address and I'll burn you a CD with the GSC catalog. The USNO A2.0 catalog is still available for download - but it's 6 GB! I've already downloaded it so if there is interest I could make one copy of the USNO A2.0 that people could pass around (don't worry - it's legal <g>). Clear skies, Dale. > -----Original Message----- > From: Don J. Colton [mailto:djcolton@piol.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 2:33 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax > > > Dale > I have MaximDL/CCD's latest update but when I run PoleAlignMax I get a > message pinpoint is not installed and then the program comes > up. Will it > work or do I need some kind of plugin. > Clear Skies > Don Colton >

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax
by Dale Hooper 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Hi Joe, Yes. PinPoint/LE (for astrometry) comes with MaximDL/CCD now. You run that software (through PoleAlignMax) on your laptop and it will control the image taking and moving of your telescope to tell you about your polar alignment. It was the first time I've ever had fun doing a polar alignment (<g> after I figured out how to use it - that is). > -----Original Message----- > From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 9:16 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax > > > This sounds intriguing. Do you hook it up to your laptop and then to > the telescope? Thanks, Joe > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax
by Dale Hooper 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

I believe it should work with any of the CCD's that Maxim supports and I believe that Maxim supports all of the Meade CCD's (416, 1616). > -----Original Message----- > From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 11:56 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] PoleAlignMax > > > I'm wondering if that would work with the Meade Pictor > tracker. Thanks, Joe > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com > >

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] By way of introduction...
by Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Gary, it has been pretty frustrating, I have been able to roll it out in the driveway a few times, even got a couple hours in last night, (actully good enough seeing last night to capture some great nebulosity in the Pleiades before the clouds rolled back in) but I have yet to take it to a dark sky site. I'm kicking around the idea of going to the quarry Fri. or Sat. night - is anyone else planning on being there?? -----Original Message----- From: Gary Liptrot [mailto:n7zi@comcast.net] Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 7:06 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] By way of introduction... Louis, Reminds me of the time I built my second telescope in '81 I think. It was a 12.5 Dob and the weather turned foggy for sixty (yes 60) days solid without a minutes letup. First light came hard with that telescope but it's always been a sweet scope. On a similar line of thinking, the older Ham radio guys in the world say that an antenna needs to be put up in foul weather or it just won't work correctly. The worse the weather the better, so maybe that's a good omen for your new Dob... B) Tnx es 73 de n7zi Gary "Why buy something for ten bucks when you can make it for a hundred.", J.R. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+n7zi=comcast.net(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+n7zi=comcast.net@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 11:38 AM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] By way of introduction... I'm still waiting for the clouds to clear.. I thought they were my fault for getting that new Dob. I have even upgraded my "cold weather gear ensemble" -----Original Message----- From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 10:30 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] By way of introduction... Michael, The "gravel pit" in question is just east of Park City. Here are some directions: Take I-80 to the Park City/Kamas Exit 4. At the bottom of the exit ramp, go East towards Kamas. Take this road for 1.6 miles to the Peoa - Oakley turn-off. This turn-off will be on your left. You know you are approaching it because there are several "Deer-Crossing Ahead" signs. Since the Deer Crossing is at the turn off, the distances on the signs are also the distances to the turn-off. This is Browns Canyon, but the sign says Peoa - Oakley. Take this road for 4.2 miles, to the Park City Harper Gravel Pit road and sign on the left. (About 1000 feet before you get to the gravel pit road, there will be an orange sign on the right that says "truck entrance ahead".) At the gravel pit sign, turn in. Watch out for the speed bump at the entrance! Go about one and a half miles up this road. There is a "mobile home" weighing office off to the left. Just after the office there is a parking area (for the office), which is where we set up. There are no amenities, no toilets, and no camping. This is not a "spend the night and camp out" location. I and others have been waiting for the weather to cooperate so we can do some winter observing here. Maybe we'll get lucky in the coming week... And yes, I've only dealt with dew once or twice since I moved to Utah from Southern California in 1990. Welcome aboard, Rich --- Michael Carnes <moogiebird(a)earthlink.net> wrote: > Greetings to all. I've been a lurker on the list > for a while and now > it's time to come clean. My wife and I've recently > moved to the SLC > area (East bench, between the Cottonwoods) from > Boston. I was (still > am, actually) a member of ATMOB, the primary Boston > astronomy club. > I've recently joined SLAS, and I've already met a > few of you on the > list. I apologize for bringing New England > cloudiness with me. > Perhaps someone would be kind enough to answer just > a couple of > questions. Just where the heck is the gravel pit? > I've noticed that > gravel pits aren't exactly rare around here. > Anything I should know > before I go there? > And are there any other suggestions for winter > viewing? The slice of > sky I can see from my house isn't bad, maybe 5 mag > on a good night. But > are there any other sites where the snow isn't 3 > feet deep and I might > find some astronomical company? > Oh, and one last thing. Back in New England, you > can't observe for > more than 30 minutes without bringing out the hair > dryer (10 minutes if > you don't have a dew shield). I get the impression > that it's just a > mite easier here. > > Best to all, > Michael Carnes > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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PoleAlignMax
by Dale Hooper 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

I'm not sure how many of you are doing CCD work, but for those that are - and are using MaximDL/CCD you have got to try PoleAlignMax! It's free software for doing a polar alignment (and its fast once you figure out what you are doing). I used it last night and it is really sweet. It's kind of an "automated" drift alignment. It takes an image - does an astrometric plate solution, slews the scope 5 degrees (west or east), images and solves, moves another 5 degrees images and solves. It then displays the values of how far off your polar alignment is. It will also help you make the mount adjustments. I think it will probably also be available for CCDSoft soon. Its by the same great folks that created (and give away ) FocusMax. If you are interested, you can find it at www.focusmax.org Clear skies, Dale.

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