October 2004 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Spaceship One hype
by Chuck Hards 11 Oct '04

11 Oct '04

Neat accomplishment, but the claims of NASA "shaking in their boots" are plain old hype and premature by decades. The technology and hardware for the private sector to do this has existed since WW2. This probably could have been done much more cheaply had Rutan purchased military surplus equipment, but I suppose there's no fun in that. And remember it took over $20 million to win $10 million. The trumpeting is due to this being a private sector accomplishment, purely and simply. No technological barriers have been broken, nothing new has happened. It will be decades, at least, before the private sector has any "heavy" lifting ability, all but the youngest among us will be long dead. And remember that they haven't even made orbit yet. This was one small step, (which some of us believe is already decades overdue), and really just a footnote, not the major milestone that the press is pushing. Let's not wave flags and get all weepy just because some of us love anything with a rocket motor, fins, and American flag on it. The world really isn't rose-colored. Your wet-blanket editorialist (realist). _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! http://vote.yahoo.com

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Gravel Quarry on Friday Night - Report
by Robert Taylor 10 Oct '04

10 Oct '04

We had three people go up to the Gravel Quarry on Friday night to take advantage of the totally clear skies. Tom Watson, Mike Bailey, and myself participated. Overall a pretty good night; the usual clouds hanging over Salt Lake acting like a big fluorescent light keeping the viewing to the west marginal. They eventually cleared of around 10pm. Viewing to north, around through the east and to the south were all in good shape, there were some great views. We were visited by many very bright meteors; some were more like small fireballs, sorry we didn't count but I'd estimate about a dozen very bright ones. Generally they were coming from the north but they showed-up from multiple directions, as if they were coming straight down on us. Orion was terrific when it started coming up a little after mid-night. The wind picked up later in the evening, the seeing deteriorated a bit around 11pm and we called it night around 2am; a little while before the moon came up. Next week we're thinking of attempting the Wedge or somewhere else further south. The moon will set early leaving a long dark night for one more fling before the cold weather really settles in, anyone else heading south next week-end? Bob Taylor

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Spaceship One hype
by Debbie 10 Oct '04

10 Oct '04

Maybe his wife told him she'd divorce him if he went up again. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 10/9/2004 2:28:12 PM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Spaceship One hype > > Hi Debbie, I had to chuckle when the first pilot > declined to repeat after that flight. He said "I'm > too old for this stuff" or something like that! Kind > of makes you wonder when the test pilot swears-off the > ship, doesn't it? And I don't think he is old enough > to qualify for Social Security yet! > > --- Debbie <astrodeb(a)earthlink.net> wrote: > > > That flight last week looked very dangerous. > > > > _______________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! > http://vote.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > 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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20x70mm binos
by Chuck Hards 09 Oct '04

09 Oct '04

The more I use these, the more I like them. Not more than the 15x70mm units, but they certainly complement each other. The 20x mag. is better for smaller objects such as most planetaries, and galaxies once you drift beyond the Messiers. Correction, I like them better for the moon and sun, where more detail is instantly apparent. Sportsmans Guide still lists them at under $90. Hopefully this will take you to their catalog page: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=141931 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Spaceship One hype
by Debbie 09 Oct '04

09 Oct '04

That flight last week looked very dangerous. I wasn't even sure the pilot was going to pull out of that spin. They are a long way from taking tourists into space. I agree with Chuck. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 10/9/2004 11:56:59 AM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Spaceship One hype s > > Some of the folks I know in the "industry" (admittedly > far fewer than Patrick) feel that the number of > weatlthy tourists & enthusiasts paying "big bucks" > will not last that long and dry up rather quickly, > (especially after the first accident that kills > someone, which WILL happen, unfortunately) so the > tourism thing is definitely not an industry sustainer > for long. A huge infrastructure will be needed, and > tickets priced closer to commercial airline rates will > be needed for that, and a more cost-effective > alternative to chemical rockets will be needed for > that. Distant-future scenario. For now Patrick will > still have to sell his house for his ticket. > > The "shaking in their boots" quote was taken from a > story on the AOL home page I subscribe to, and > although I can't recall exactly, it was either Rutan > himself or a member of his staff that said it, > possibly one of the pilots. I did notice that Rutan > said he needed to focus his "talents" in a certain > direction...so apparently he agrees with our opinion > of him. What a guy. > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > > _______________________________________________ > 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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For all the Moon enthusiasts....
by Paul C Johnson 09 Oct '04

09 Oct '04

I noticed that Sky and Telescope finally made good on their promise to reprint Rukl's Atlas of the Moon. I just saw it listed in their holiday catalog. Paul.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wolf Creek open?
by Debbie 08 Oct '04

08 Oct '04

I'm going to try to shoot a roll of E200 film tonight. I'll try to post my results in the gallery Monday. Looks like the ragweed pollen moved north today. So take your antihistimine if your sensitive to ragweed. Clear and Pollen Free Skies, Debbie > [Original Message] > From: David L Bennett <dlbennett(a)mac.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 10/8/2004 10:46:24 AM > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wolf Creek open? > > Anyone going out tonight? If so, where? I'm hoping for one last > hurrah at Wolf Creek myself. Dave > > On Thursday, October 7, 2004, at 02:20 PM, David L Bennett wrote: > > > Kim is thinking about going up to the Gravel Pit friday night...not > > sure about access to Wolf Creek. Had a road trip with my brother last > > Thursday doing the Mirror Lake highway scenic loop and had 2 inches of > > snow on the road at the summit. NWS forecast looks best for Friday > > night as Jim stated and specifically for the Hanna area : > > > > Today: Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the lower 60s. > > > > Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows at 8000 feet around 30. > > > > Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 60s. > > > > Friday night: Partly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 30s. > > > > Saturday: Breezy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms > > in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 60s. > > Southwest winds 15-25 mph. > > > > Saturday night: Cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. > > A chance of snow showers after midnight. Lows at 8000 feet in the > > lower 30s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent. > > *************** > > Be sure to let us know if you and Alan go to WC...cheers! > > > > > > On Thursday, October 7, 2004, at 01:02 PM, Josephine Grahn wrote: > > > >> Anyone been near the Wolf Creek area recently? Is it snow free? We > >> were > >> thinking about heading up Friday night, since we can't go to The > >> Wedge. > >> > >> Jo > >> > >> _____________ > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Uranus and Neptune.
by David Dunn 08 Oct '04

08 Oct '04

I read in Astronomy magazine the other day that Uranus and Neptune are kind of a bridge between the Gas Giants and the Rocky planets. The arcticle stated that they are made up of rocks and gas. I hadn't heard that before and I thought that it was interesting. Dave

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] LPI cameras
by Debbie 08 Oct '04

08 Oct '04

Don, Does that include the Mogg adapter or do I have to buy that in addition to the $120. Thanks, Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Don J. Colton <djcolton(a)piol.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 10/7/2004 3:46:42 PM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] LPI cameras > > How do they compare to the ToUCam Pro? I think the TouCam is still the > standard and all the best planetary images I have seen are from the ToUCam. > It costs about $120. > > Clear Skies > Don Colton > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On > Behalf Of Debbie > Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 4:15 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] LPI cameras > > > > Anybody had any experience using the Meade or Celestron LPI cameras? LPI > stands for lunar/planetary imagers. I hear they are better than Starlight > Express, Apogee etc. > > Debbie > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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LPI cameras
by Debbie 08 Oct '04

08 Oct '04

Anybody had any experience using the Meade or Celestron LPI cameras? LPI stands for lunar/planetary imagers. I hear they are better than Starlight Express, Apogee etc. Debbie

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