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

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon
by David Dunn 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

We are going on 4/5 and 4/6. All of the reservable campsites and this is the start of the busy season for that area. You could try and get a first come campsite or just try to join us at night. Next year we plan to get the Group campsite so that more people can come. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 10:32 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon Sorry, I was just teasing! I know you can spot 'em all. Wish we could all get out to Dead Horse Point. When is that thing? Best, Joe Joe Bauman science & military reporter Deseret News bau(a)desnews.com (801) 237-2169 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

1 0

Shuttle
by David Dunn 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

I think this sounds like good news. http://my.aol.com/news/news_story.psp?type=1&cat=0100&id=03031412132356750&c p=awnw0100 Thanks. David Dunn 801-961-3253

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Urban astronomy
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

I bagged about 30 double stars on my driveway in a mag 4+ sky Sat and Wed nights. Double-star observing is more forgiving than deep-sky observing. I usually observe double stars when the moon is out.The Pleiades(M45) and the Beehive cluster(M44) look great under an urban sky. The Orion nebula always looks good from my driveway too. I also like to learn how to use new equipment in the city before going to a dark site. Back in Sept, Richard and I observed the Veil nebula with an OIII filter before the nearly full moon came up. I think an OIII filter is required for city observing Debbie

2 1

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Urban astronomy
by David Dunn 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

Another thing about the marathon is that you are trying to see several dim galaxies while it is still fairly light out. Last year, I picked up M77 but couldn't see M74 even though I am sure that I was looking in the right place. M33 is also a difficult galaxy to see in the light of dusk. I have trouble with it when it is fully dark, infact I have better luck getting it with binoculars. When morning comes in the marathon, Sagitarius is the last constellation that I could really make out. I could only see a couple of stars east of that. For me this made M30 impossible and I also couldn't find M75. One year I missed M31 in the evening and had to pick it up in the morning. That was the year that I did the best and got 98. There are a lot of lights up on the domes. That might be worse that sky glow for bothering you when viewing. I would think that somewhere west of Grantsville would be good. This time of year you want to be just a little ways from the lake because of dew and fog. -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 11:44 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Urban astronomy Hi Bob: Flattish horizons allow you to get objects close to setting at sundown, and again in the morning as twilight brightens. IIRC, M-30 is especially troubling in the morning. (It's been about 10 years since I've done a marathon...) Bigger is always better, whether under a dark-sky or light pollution. Especially with LPR filters. A filtered view through a 12.5" in the city would be roughly equivalent to an unfiltered view through a 4-inch under dark skies, in terms of contrast, but you'd still have the resolution advantage of the larger scope regardless of contrast levels. People shouldn't consider valley astronomy a waste of a light bucket. A 12.5" or 16" at a school star-party will definitely give better views than the 6" to 8" scopes that usually show up at such functions. CCD imaging is largely unaffected by light pollution and moonlight. Someone with a camera and laptop could produce outstanding images on the monitor, even from downtown SLC. C. --- RStmarie(a)aol.com wrote: > Along the line of Messier Marathon efforts: How > much advantage would a > mountain top site be (Like the Francis Peak radar > site behind Farmington)? > and How much aperture is enough for a light > polluted area? __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.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] Messier Marathon
by David Dunn 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

Actually M31 can be difficult to get during a marathon if you spend too much time looking for M74. There is another one you can get easily from inside the city, that is M45. There is talk amoung some of the members of OAS of getting together but it will probably be at Golden Spike if it even happens. Most of us are going to Dead Horse Point for our second annual star party down there the first weekend in April. Chuck, If you want to suggest a place there are a couple of people that are interested in a local Messier Marathon. Let me know and I will help communicate to see if they want to join you. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 9:58 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon Chuck, if it's too close to SLC you'll get three objects ... M31, M13 and M42! -- Joe Joe Bauman science & military reporter Deseret News bau(a)desnews.com (801) 237-2169 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

3 2

Messier Marathon
by Chuck Hards 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

I find myself in the mood for a "bino" Messier marathon this year...are there any planned this year, reasonably close to SLC? Thanks C. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.yahoo.com

2 1

Scott Crosby
by Richard Tenney 13 Mar '03

13 Mar '03

I just got off the phone with Scott (350-4600); he wanted me to tell all of you hi for him, and to let you know he's going home from the hospital today. His speech is considerably slower, a common side effect of stroke victims; time will tell with these things (my mom suffered a stroke a couple of years ago, and in her case the recovery process was fairly rapid, though not 100%). Your thoughts and prayers on his behalf are much appreciated. Rich __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.yahoo.com

6 8

Re: Scott Crosby
by John R. Peterson 13 Mar '03

13 Mar '03

At one of our early Brent Watson Telescope Making Classes (how's that for a title??) Scott gave me his phone number: 295-5798 John R. Peterson

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Scott Crosby
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 13 Mar '03

13 Mar '03

Rich, Is that his cell phone? I'd also like his address so I can send him a card. Debbie

2 1

Jupiter's Red Spot
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 13 Mar '03

13 Mar '03

The Red Spot on Jupiter was very obvious in my 4" refractor (TeleVue 102). I got a good view at 220X with my 4mm Radian. I viewed the Red Spot about 7:00 pm near the Central Meridian. While the seeing was better Sat night as I got a clean split on Zeta Orionis, a triple star. Cassini's division was also very obvious on Saturn. I could see some banding on Saturn as well. It was a warm comfortable night for observing. Debbie

1 0