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

Mars
by Chuck Hards 05 Mar '03

05 Mar '03

I got up at 4:00 am to try and see Mars pass between M-8 & M-20, but of course it was too overcast. Thought it would be the perfect opportunity to put the 20x80's to the test. Did anybody else manage to see this event? Mars will still be roughly "between" the objects tomorrow morning, though it has passed the halfway point. C. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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Web page design
by Chuck Hards 05 Mar '03

05 Mar '03

Can anyone recommend a Web page designer for hire? Preferably someone with astro-experience? What are typical costs? And how about hosting? What are typical hosting fees? Thanks (only marginally OT, I did mention "astro" ;) C. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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Photo tribute
by Richard Tenney 04 Mar '03

04 Mar '03

Check out this fabulous photo tribute: http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/starscapes/index.html __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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Big sunspot
by Chuck Hards 04 Mar '03

04 Mar '03

If you get a break in the clouds, there's a fairly big sunspot group now visible. It's large enough to detect without magnification, but be sure to use a safe observing method no matter how you view (filter, projection, etc.). C. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Satellite Tracking Info
by Kim Hyatt 04 Mar '03

04 Mar '03

Thanks Dale. I'll be looking into this stuff this year. -----Original Message----- From: Dale Hooper [mailto:Dale.Hooper@sdl.usu.edu] Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 9:50 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Satellite Tracking Info Kim, If you do decide to get into satellite tracking here are a couple links that will really help: http://www.heavens-above.com You've probably already seen this site, but I included it just-in-case. Heavens-above will give you lists of what satellites will be visible (when and where) at your location during the course of the evening. It will also give you info about ISS and Iridium flares (cool stuff). http://www.heavenscape.com/tle.html This is a link on the site where you got the Satellite Tracker from Brent Boshart. It has links to TLE files (which you will need to track anything). I've used Mike McCant's stuff. It is updated every day. Clear skies, Dale. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Satellite Tracking Info
by Dale Hooper 04 Mar '03

04 Mar '03

Kim, If you do decide to get into satellite tracking here are a couple links that will really help: http://www.heavens-above.com You've probably already seen this site, but I included it just-in-case. Heavens-above will give you lists of what satellites will be visible (when and where) at your location during the course of the evening. It will also give you info about ISS and Iridium flares (cool stuff). http://www.heavenscape.com/tle.html This is a link on the site where you got the Satellite Tracker from Brent Boshart. It has links to TLE files (which you will need to track anything). I've used Mike McCant's stuff. It is updated every day. Clear skies, Dale.

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Lunation animation
by Dale Hooper 04 Mar '03

04 Mar '03

Here's the link for a lunation "movie", etc. Antonio also has a bunch of other animations at his site. http://www.astrosurf.com/cidadao/animations.htm

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] In Defense of GoTo mounts
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 03 Mar '03

03 Mar '03

Chuck, The encoder bracket is metal. It looks like it just needs to be glued down to the encoder. I don't think I messed it up as bad as the last time. Are you going to the SLAS meeting in March? Maybe we could meet if you have time. I have to come up north and get my 8" SCT. I think I'll put it on AstroMart along with a few other things. As far as sedentary goes, at least my calves get a workout when I'm near Dobson's hole. They are always sore after observing. Another reason for digital setting circles is if you have to use a ladder to observe it makes things much easier. I hate star hopping on a ladder. I'd probably fall off looking for my favorite fuzzies. Debbie

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] In Defense of GoTo mounts
by David Dunn 03 Mar '03

03 Mar '03

I frequently use other people's (Dale's) goto telescopes to verify or help me find an object that I am having trouble finding. I am currently saving money to buy a Sky Commander so that I wont have to bug Dale so often. I thing that DSC's and Goto telescopes are neat technology and enjoy using them. I also enjoy learning the sky and finding things without the computer's help. I have used OAS's 18.5" both with and without the Sky Wizard and have enjoyed the time that I have spent. Sometimes it is real nice to take a list of NGC numbers from the Astronomy magazine and to a tour of an area of the sky or of similar objects. Other times it is nice to take an atlas and look at all the galaxies in the bowl of the Big Dipper. The other thing that was real fun to view through Dale's LX200 was the astroid that was passing close to earth last year. It was fun to watch it move while Dale tracked it with his LX200. There is definately room at star parties for all kinds of telescopes. I think the goto telescope that I am going to save for is the 6" LXD55 refractor that Meade has put out. Dave

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: In Defense of GoTo mounts
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 03 Mar '03

03 Mar '03

yes, if I had an Astro-Physics mount with the DigitalSky Voice software, the neighbors would think I was nuts talking to my telescope. I just can't see myself talking to a telescope. Debbie

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