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

beautiful meteor
by Thomas Sevcik 03 Apr '06

03 Apr '06

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Incoming!
by diveboss＠xmission.com 27 Oct '05

27 Oct '05

NASA Science News for September 3, 2004 On September 8th, a daylight fireball will streak across the western United States. It's Genesis, returning samples of the Sun to Earth. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/03sep_genesisreentry.htm?list1153573

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Report from the Gravel Pit
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 24 Feb '05

24 Feb '05

Are there any good hiking trails up there? I need to take advantage of that fresh air. Debbie

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Today's NASA Briefing
by Patrick Wiggins 03 Feb '05

03 Feb '05

Two things of note out of today's briefing. 1) The briefer noted they have received 132 reports of found debris in CA, 130 in AZ and 9 in NM but that none had been confirmed. He made no mention of Utah. 2) The picture mentioned in the Aviation Week article was shown. Some of the media has been playing it up as being "hi resolution". Don't know that I'd call it hi-res but it does show the shape of the orbiter and maybe there's "something" with the left wing but the image is so pixcelated it's hard to say for sure. No doubt the picture will be all over the TV tonight.

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New Saturn Picture
by Siegfried Jachmann 27 Oct '04

27 Oct '04

Joe, I see it the same way and wondered the same thing even before reading your post. The ring is not parallel with the belts. I'm also wondering where the top of the planet disappeared to. Siegfried Jachmann Family History Network Comptroller 801-553-8881

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Debbie 04 Oct '04

04 Oct '04

I think there is a greater probability of a dobsonian telescope catching fire than starting a forest fire, which would really hurt the wallet. My telescope manuel says that the UTA can catch fire if pointed at the sun. I always use caution when collimating the scope in the daytime. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Wayne Reese <waynereese(a)qwest.net> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 9/30/2004 2:20:55 PM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > I bought an F-4 canopy from Smith and Edwards last year to build a > flight simulator for my Grandkids. They (Smith and Edwards) said that > they would have had a larger selection, but the Sun shinning though one > canopy started a fire in their yard. > I know this isn't telescope related, it does demonstrate a sun caused > accidental fire. > > Wayne > > Ps as long as I'm using band space, Dale Hooper, it looks like I moving > to 359 N 1000 E, Hyde Park, anywhere near you? > > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net@mailman.xmission.com > ] On Behalf Of Brent Watson > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 10:36 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: > Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > Starting a fire is just as unlikely off axis as well. > The light cone doesn't change much off axis, and most > folks don't park their scopes within a focal length of > tinder. If they did they wouldn't have much of the > sky visible. You must also have a fast enog=ugh scope > to start the fire. The focal ratio required to do > this is much smaller than most scopes. You really > have to try to do any damage. The reticle in a Telrad > doesn't catch fire, it just melts - a much lower > temperature is required to melt mylar than to burn > something up. > > There is a tale that one of the ancients started the > sails of his oponents ships on fire by stationing his > troups around the bay with individual mirrors, and > then having them focus their mirrors on the sails. It > has been shown that this too is very improbable. > > Brent > --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Lisa, read my last post. Yes, you CAN start a fire > > with a telescope mirror, it's just unlikely on-axis > > unless tinder is very near the focal plane. > > > > Eyepieces left on a chart table can do the trick, > > too, > > and tell all those folks with melted Telrad reticles > > that the sun isn't a problem. > > > > I would like to see John's calculations, > > assumptions. > > > > I have several large mirrors and am happy to > > demonstrate the off-axis danger on a sunny day. > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Ya, John did the physics of it for me last night > > and > > > figured out exactly > > > what diameter mirror at what focal length you > > would > > > need to start a > > > fire. Let me tell you, it aint going to happen! > > > Sometimes its difficult > > > living with an over analyzer. I just meant it > > > figuratively. > > > > > > Lisa Zeigler > > > www.johnstelescopes.com > > > www.mirrorkits.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Brent Watson [mailto:brentjwatson@yahoo.com] > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 7:52 AM > > > To: Utah Astronomy > > > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star > > > partyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > The forest is no more at risk from a alrge scope > > > than > > > from a small scope. It is pretty hard to get > > enough > > > energy out of a scope and across a distance large > > > enough to do any damage. The image, and the > > energy > > > in > > > the image, spread out very quickly and become a > > > non-problem. > > > > > > Brent > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler > > <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > We have a 1/4" plywood shield over our mirror on > > > the > > > > truss tube Dob. It > > > > sits about an inch over the mirror on three > > screws > > > > from the mirror cell. > > > > This protects it from wind, rain, dust, and the > > > > forest from harm. > > > > > > > > Lisa Zeigler > > > > www.johnstelescopes.com > > > > www.mirrorkits.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Debbie [mailto:astrodeb@earthlink.net] > > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 1:17 PM > > > > To: Utah Astronomy; Utah Astronomy > > > > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party > > > > etiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > > > > That is another reason I don't like to leave my > > > > scope up during the > > > > daytime, besides > > > > animals getting to it. A big dobsonian could > > cause > > > a > > > > forest fire or > > > > blind someone. > > > > > > > > Debbie > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Original Message] > > > > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > > > > > To: Utah Astronomy > > > > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > > > > Date: 9/28/2004 11:10:18 AM > > > > > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party > > > etiquette > > > > forcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > > I seem to remember many years back a star > > party > > > up > > > > by Kamas where > > > > > Brent's monster scope ended up catching a > > > frisbee > > > > or two. But then I > > > > > seem to also remember that later in the day > > the > > > > scope became a chimney > > > > > > > > > when sunlight > > > > found > > > > > its way to the primary mirror and smoke was > > seen > > > > emanating from the > > > > tube... > > > > > > > > > > Patrick > > > > > > > > > > Chuck Hards wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Don't be so sure; I've seen many telescopes > > > > (present company > > > > > > excepted, of course) that may as well have > > > been > > > > trash-cans... > > > > > > > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler > > > > <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > > > > > > Solid tube Newtonian telescopes, no matter > > > how > > > > > > > much they look like > > > > > > > > trash cans or basket ball hoops are not > > > for > > > > > > > throwing things into.. > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > === message truncated === > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.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 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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] Re: Star party etiquette forcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Debbie 30 Sep '04

30 Sep '04

That is another reason I don't like to leave my scope up during the daytime, besides animals getting to it. A big dobsonian could cause a forest fire or blind someone. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 9/28/2004 11:10:18 AM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party etiquette forcrumbcrunchersandparents > > I seem to remember many years back a star party up by Kamas where Brent's > monster scope ended up catching a frisbee or two. But then I seem to also > remember that later in the day the scope became a chimney when sunlight found > its way to the primary mirror and smoke was seen emanating from the tube... > > Patrick > > Chuck Hards wrote: > > > > Don't be so sure; I've seen many telescopes (present > > company excepted, of course) that may as well have > > been trash-cans... > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > > Solid tube Newtonian telescopes, no matter how > > > much they look like > > > > trash cans or basket ball hoops are not for > > > throwing things into.. > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Curious Saturn image
by Chuck Hards 30 Sep '04

30 Sep '04

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/casJPGFullS04/N00019699.jpg This image was obtained Monday, Sept. 27th. Note the trailed stars behind the tenuous "F" ring, as the camera tracked the rings during the exposure. Does that mean that all the untrailed points are discreet ring particles? They vastly outnumber the trailed stars, and obviously cannot be stars themselves...or do I have it reversed? Are the brighter, trailed images the ring particles, and the dimmer ones stars? I don't think so; I think we are looking at individual ring particles, the first time in history other than "shepherd moons". Can a lister more familiar with the details of the probe help solve the mystery? _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now. http://messenger.yahoo.com

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Paul Witte 29 Sep '04

29 Sep '04

Just for the record, a good friend of mine had his family's house burn down because his sister left a small "makeup mirror" on her bed where the sun hit it. I don't know how common such a thing is, but apparently it happens. --Paul

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Spaceship 1
by Debbie 29 Sep '04

29 Sep '04

I turned on CNN news this morning just in time to see the civilian Spaceship 1 rocket into space. It was anything but routine. As it went vertical it started rolling wildly and kept on rolling as it entered space 62 miles above the earth. I held my breath as the skilled pilot regained control of the craft and I watched it land safely at Edwards Airforce Base. I guess the pilot will have some good material to put in his book. It should be on the news tonight. Debbie

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