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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Machholz obs report 20041217 8:30 UTC
by Canopus56 19 Dec '04

19 Dec '04

Thanks Joe, Looks like the next prime viewing time frame for 9:00pm transits of the comet will begin on Jan. 3 through Jan. 13. This corresponds with the comet's predicated maximum brightness on Jan. 6 through Jan. 12. The following is a Moon blocking chart that I prepared for Machholz through February 3, 2005: Moon and Comet C/2004Q2 (Machholz) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Moonto2… Some of finder charts referenced in my earlier post were misnamed as C2004Q4, instead of C2004Q2. The following corrects links to the courtesy finder charts for Comet C/2004 Q2(Machholz): Overview 70 deg finder to 1/10/2005 with Moon phase and transit notes http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q270degTo… 25 deg finder with Lep orientation - good through 12/23/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Lepv10t… 25 deg finder with Eri orientation - good through 12/27/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Eriv10t… It looks like I botched my measurement with the reticule eyepiece - which has a 12mm and not 9mm focal length. I redid the measurement at 20041219 8:30UTC and will repost after I redo the math on the angular size. I'm just reworking what I saw on the bright core through the 12mm - 90x lens. The visual estimate of the 1/2 brightness coma at 10.5 arcmins in the 40mm lens at 28x is good. For you high-end scope users out there, you really need more than 6" of aperature to see any detail at 90x. The image is too dim with 6" of aperature. - Kurt __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! http://my.yahoo.com

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Stocking stuffers
by Chuck Hards 19 Dec '04

19 Dec '04

I found a product today that may have use in the astronomer's arsenal. Coleman makes an LED light called "Campsite Marker Light". Sold in pairs, they come in red, green or amber. Each is about 7/8" wide and 1-7/8" long, egg-shaped. Half of each is a colored transparent lens (the LED is white regardless of lens color) that you twist to turn the LED on and off. Each pair comes with batteries (3 button cells for each, total of six) and the manufacturer claims a 20-hour run time on a set of batteries, longer for intermittant use. Each also has a plastic clip and small split-ring for attachment to key rings or lines. The clip opens to no more than 3/8", probably for small branches or tent/camper protruberances. They may be adaptable as tripod leg lights, but they emit a steady light and do not flash. Price is about four to five dollars for a pair, and they are available locally wherever Coleman products are sold. At that price you can buy them just for the button cells, and toss the lights, still being money ahead. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Yerkes for sale; get out the checkbook Siegfried!
by Richard Tenney 18 Dec '04

18 Dec '04

Yerkes is being sold! Check it out at: http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1408_1.asp This is a national historic landmark! Time for Ziggy to upgrade from the old 9-incher... ;o) Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Send holiday email and support a worthy cause. Do good. http://celebrity.mail.yahoo.com

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Comet Machholz obs report 20041217 8:30 UTC
by Spam Block 18 Dec '04

18 Dec '04

Comet Machholz observing report Begin: 20041217 7:29 UTC | 20041216 11:23PM Local Time (MST) End: 20041217 8:45 UTC | 20041217 0:45AM Local Time (MST) By: Kurt Fisher, SLAS member (canopus56(a)yahoo.com) Location: North Fork Winter Trailhead Parking Lot (Off Mirror Lake Highway, approx. 12 miles east of Kamas, Utah) 40 deg 35.75'N, 111 deg 5.78'W Elevation: 7500 ft. Temp: 4 deg C Target: Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) was at approx. local alt 25 deg (hand measured), azm transiting on meridian. Limiting magnitude: ZLM: 6.2 per IMO Limiting Magnitude Area 2 (Perseus) (15 stars) NELM at Machholz: 6.0 per IMO Limiting Magnitude Area 22 (Lep) (14-15 stars) Seeing: Antoniadi II; Pickering 7-8 Observed with: Scope - SLAS Loaner scope #2 - 6" Newt 1120mm fl. Dob Lenses - 40mm - 28x 1.25 TFOV 30mm - 37x 15mm - 75x 9mm - 124x 9mm Graduated reticule Other - 8 x 35 Binoculars Rough sketch: 20041217 8:30 UTC 28x 1.25 deg TFOV http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/C2004Q2/20041217_… Comments: After initially locating this comet in the early morning hours of December 16, local time, low in the extinction zone, I decided to try again from a truly dark skies site in the Unita Mountains. Arrival at the observing point was timed for the comet's transit and the setting of the Moon. The comet's magnitude is probably between 5.0-5.5, as reported by ICQ observers, but no attempt was made to estimate magnitude during this session, due to the cold weather using the in/out method. Currently the comet is passing through Eri. Because of the lack of bright stars in Eri, location of this fast-moving comet was more difficult than expected. Initially I confused it with 53 Eri. Until the comet reaches omi1-omi2 Eri around December 23, just look for the brightest object south of omi1-omi2 Eri, but above the declination of gam Eri. Unlike other comments seen in recent years, Comet Machholz is distinguished by its lack of an easily discernible tail. The 1-2 deg extended wispy ion tail seen in astrophotographs posted on the web was not seen, probably due to the small aperature size used, e.g. - http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041213.html (aperature not stated) http://galaxyphoto.com/temp/jw_comet12_14_.jpg (with a 12" Schmidt) Nonetheless, at low magnification (28x), it is a subtle and beautiful object to follow. With six inches of aperture a faint bow shockwave could be seen. The shockwave had a slight brightness above the background sky brightness. (It appeared similar to a faint nebula, like the California nebulae with a hydrogen filter.) The bright central coma is embedded in the shockwave. See drawing. The ability to see a bowwave was probably a result of very dark skies at the observing site. Low magnification (40mm-28x or 30mm-37x) was the most effective. Computed size from a visual estimate in the 40mm lens at 28x ( without a reticule ) for the 1/2 brightness limit - the coma diameter - (the outer circle in the figure) was 10.5 arcminutes. This is consistent with the most recent International Comet Quarterly Reports. << http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html >> Every five to ten seconds, a bright extended glint and/or a point glint could be seen within the center of the bright coma. The averted image impression was one of a tiny hourglass shape; however, this was visual impression only and no definite detection occurred. Using a 9mm graduated reticule lens, a brighter area within the central coma was measured and estimated at 1.3 arcminutes. When driving back to Salt Lake City, I briefly stopped on, East Canyon Highway below Little Mountain and above East Canyon Reservoir, to check the visibility of the comet in urban skies. The comet was detectable from East Canyon, although it was more difficult to locate because of the relative lack of guide stars. Similarly, I could locate the comet using 10x 50 binoculars in the Avenues, but only because I had previously located the comet at a dark skies site. In an urban sky, it appears only as a faint fuzzy brightness above the urban background sky brightness. Again, as the comet approaches omi1 Eri around December 23, locating the comet under an urban or suburban-rural sky should be less difficult. Although the Moon increasingly will wash out the sky through Jan. 3rd, 2005, wide-field astrophotographers should have a good day around Jan. 8, when the comet passes with a few degrees of the Pleiades. The comet is predicted to reach its maximum brightness beginning around Jan. 3rd and continuing through Jan. 10. There will be an early evening observing window around Jan. 8 before the Moon rises. All in all, this is a great comet and is worth driving to a dark skies site to see, at least once through Jan. 10. Rough finder charts were plotted using the Minor Planet Center ephemerides service. << http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/index.html >> These charts are available at: Overview 70 deg finder to 1/10/2005 with Moon phase and transit notes http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q47... 25 deg finder with Lep orientation - good through 12/23/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q4L... 25 deg finder with Eri orientation - good through 12/27/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q4E... Ephemerides can be found at: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/index.html http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eph - Canopus56 P.S. - I'm not quite sure what causes a wispy "ion" trail as opposed to the "streak" tails I have seen on previous comets. Any guesses? __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Send holiday email and support a worthy cause. Do good. http://celebrity.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Remote site
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 17 Dec '04

17 Dec '04

I am interested in investigating further. Mike Bailey

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Re: Remote site
by Chuck Hards 16 Dec '04

16 Dec '04

Don't fret, my dear old friend, reread the same line you copied..."that time is not even on the horizon yet" Plenty of time to enjoy the place, nobody's thinking of moving anything. Hopefully we'll be too old to do it when the time comes anyway. With luck it will outlive us at it's present location, then moving it will be the problem of the board-members at that time, who are still in elementary school right now and have no clue of the work ahead of them... ;) > From: "Siegfried Jachmann" <ziggy943(a)xmission.com> > << Finally, everyone needs to know that Bruce is a > pretty > darn clever engineer. All of the instruments at > SPOC, > including the big scope, can be moved to a new site > (either close or remote) when the time comes, and > that > time is not even on the horizon yet. >> > Talk of moving the big scope is a little premature. > It's not even built yet. > > Siegfried __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

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Re: Comet Macholtz
by Chuck Hards 16 Dec '04

16 Dec '04

Much better tonight from the bottom of the soup-bowl in downtown West Valley. The ground fog dissipated and the sky was darker than last night. Found the comet immediately using the chart at: http://skyandtelescope.com/mm_images/7575.gif though of course it was still very close to last night's position; it's moving slowly. Better views in the 20x70mm binos than the 9x63mm. The darker sky background improved contrast and the higher magnification increased the angular size markedly. I found the comet to be about as bright as the outer portions of M42, surprisingly. As hard as I try I just can't make it out with the naked eye. Although I didn't detect a tail I thought I could just imagine a slight elongation in a north-south orientation. Debbie is definitely getting the better deal than us Wasatch front dwellers. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Re: Remote site
by Chuck Hards 16 Dec '04

16 Dec '04

Further thoughts based on Patricks post. When my mortgage is paid-off (only a year to go!) I am going to start looking for "recreational property" with the aim of one day building a cabin or placing a "manufactured" home there. I will have my remote site regardless of the rest of the world. Of course friends will be invited when appropriate. (Being in a family where the majority of members roll their eyes at the mention of the word "telescope", not every clear moonless night is automatically reserved for astronomy, darnit). I've seen the "dark-site dissention" at the club level, which is why in a recent post I leaned toward the privately-owned site. But there is another solution that retains the "club" experience, for those who cannot or will not purchase or lease land privately... You simply start a new club. People more interested in regular or semi-regular observation at remote, dark sites might be better served to separate themselves from a club structured for public outreach, such as SLAS, which is very much dominated by people with a social agenda in addition to the science. Now, there is nothing wrong with that, but why beat your head against the wall if you're not getting what you want out of it? Most current club members wouldn't use a remote site anyway (the cause of most of the arguments), but then a majority of members don't regulary use SPOC, either, but those most active members get quite a bit of use out of it. Those who do the most work should get to use the toys most often, and put them where they want them. If the dark-sky folks would put as much time and energy into their goals as the SPOC boosters do, there would already be a dark site. But inertia (and most of the movers and shakers) are against it in the Salt Lake club, so why not start your own? Heck, I'd gladly join both clubs. But Patrick, don't be swayed by "the crowd". You know that the best observing is from the darkest sites; peer pressure can't change the truth of that. Don't see a dark site as a threat to SPOC, it isn't. The crushing weight of an increasing population is the only real threat to SPOC. A dark-site is a different experience entirely, somewhat more intimate than the SPOC phenomenon, more private by nature. Finally, everyone needs to know that Bruce is a pretty darn clever engineer. All of the instruments at SPOC, including the big scope, can be moved to a new site (either close or remote) when the time comes, and that time is not even on the horizon yet. Food for thought (or print it out and wrap fish with it) Patrick wrote: > I've stayed out of the recent discussion here about > dark sky sites > because of my experience the last time it was > discussed. That > experience turned me from an enthusiastic supporter > to a non-believer. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Remote site
by Patrick Wiggins 16 Dec '04

16 Dec '04

I've stayed out of the recent discussion here about dark sky sites because of my experience the last time it was discussed. That experience turned me from an enthusiastic supporter to a non-believer. No one could agree on where the site should be let alone what should be at the site. And the fact that in the many years of fund raising only a few thousand dollars was raised didn't help (Siegfried has shown that much can be raised in a day by the right, properly motivated person). However, that was when it was being proposed as a SLAS owned site. Now I'm hearing that some are considering a privately owned, non-SLAS, facility. Certainly a smallish group could make decisions that a big group could not. And any such small group could even apply for tax exempt status under the right circumstances making donations tax deductible and property taxes nonexistent. That said (and freely admitting a number of continuing misgivings) I'll throw out the following: A guy I know that owns an ISP likes astronomy. I spoke with him today and he is interested in a remote site. By remote site, he means a place where he could put up an observatory that he could then run from home. I asked if in return for help putting such a site together those who helped could have access to the site, store equipment there and have private star parties there. He's fine with that. As for locations, he has several spread all over the state, many in very remote areas. Most include a secure concrete structure and power and all have fibre optic internet and roadway access (though obviously some are dirt roads). Two of the closer in sites he mentioned are in Skull Valley and Rush Valley. But he also mentioned Lucin and up on some mountain peak somewhere (I told him that might not work because of limited access in winter). He's willing to put money into the project but would expect others to help out with costs as well. If there is _serious_ interest in such a project he'd like to have a meeting. So, keeping in mind that talk is cheap, the question is, how many are _seriously_ interested in putting several hundred dollars each into such a project? Patrick

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Re: Comet Macholtz
by Chuck Hards 16 Dec '04

16 Dec '04

Debbie: Ha, I know, I was just giving you a good-natured hard time. ;) After seeing it last night, I knew that it would appear much bigger from your dark site. Just being visible at all from here means it's already much brighter and bigger than the "average" comet. As always, I'm envious of your locale, youthful enthusiasm, and your eyesight is probably better than mine as well! Keep up the excellent reports. > From: <astrodeb(a)charter.net> > To: Utah Astronomy > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 9:56:42 -0700 > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Comet Macholtz > > Chuck, > > When I said the comet was big I was talking about > the head of the comet and not the tail. I saw it > last night in 15 X 70 binoculars and it looks like a > bright unresolved globular cluster. I still can't > see a tail. I have seen brighter and better comets > but Machholtz is still fun to observe. > > Debbie __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! http://my.yahoo.com

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