October 2005 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

History of the refractor
by Canopus56 25 Oct '05

25 Oct '05

Could someone remind me of the history of the SPOC refractor? Isn't it, like the Ealing, a former standard model for university astronomy teaching? At a club meeting, I seem to recall seeing a picture of it installed in a doom at the U of U. - Canopus56(Kurt) __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Re: Green laser
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

Didn't some of you guys in the Ogden club make a mass-purchase of green lasers last year, or the year before? Ron, Dave, Gary, Care to drop in on the SLAS meeting and bring your lasers? I must admit that my primary interest in these things is to use it as a "finder" for large binos or a telescope, in standard ring-mounts. I bought a remote switch for that purpose. Has anyone used theirs in a similar application? __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Green lasers
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

My apologies if this appears more than once- my work computer was in spastic fits today- and of course the IT techie is out sick. I'm trying to re-post from home now. I've made a test stand that can hold up to six laser pointers simultaneously. I will bring it to the SLAS meeting tomorrow night. The plan is for everyone who is curious as to where their laser rates as far as brightness goes, to bring it to the meeting and put it to the test. Up to six at once will be turned-on, the beams exiting the test stand through apertures that hide the lasers themselves. The beams will be aimed at a screen of black flocked paper so we're not dazzled by the spots. Those in attendance, with their backs to the spots, will look at the six BEAMS and vote on the descending order of brightness. A number will be next to each aperture for identification purposes. If enough people bring their lasers we can have multiple eliminations to determine the finalists, then repeat the test to determine the brightest. We can then build a table showing brightness vs. price, and other data useful to the consumer. If bringing a laser for test, and you have your own O-ring, bring it as well, otherwise we'll use rubber bands to hold-down the switches. This is not a scheduled event, so we will do it only if there is sufficient time; secondary to scheduled events/speakers. Comments/suggestions? __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Re: Green lasers
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

If you plan to bring a laser to the SLAS meeting tomorrow night, it might be a good idea to bring a spare set of batteries, especially if it's been awhile since they were last changed. __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Re: New photo and request for help
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

Joe, Mars is slightly gibbous in the photos mentioned. It won't be truly "full" until a day or two before and after opposition. The Mars-Earth-sun relationship changes very fast near opposition. You see the night terminator before opposition, the morning terminator after opposition. > From: Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> > Can anyone please give me an > explanation for the > lopsidedness __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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long shelf-life batteries
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

D-cells with a 20-year shelf life, called "Code Red". They don't activate until you twist the top, mixing chemicals inside the battery, after which they have a normal D-cell lifetime. Non-toxic, waterproof even in salt water, impervious to extreme heat and cold. Put in storage now, would still be good in the year 2025, according to manufacturers claim. Well-priced at: www.sciplus.com stock #36373 $5.50/pr. I'll be 72 when they expire- looks like I'll need to buy another set at that time... ;) __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Franklin elementary star party in Provo/South Fork Canyon this Wed. 26th
by Richard Tenney 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

UVAA is doing a star party for Franklin Elementary School this coming Wednesday evening starting at 8pm in Provo/South Fork Canyon (down here in Utah Valley). Any of you SLAS-ers that want to come join us are more than welcome -- this is a semi-dark site, so your efforts won't be wasted! They are anticipating 60+ kids, so help is needed and appreciated. I'll be there with the 16-inch. It will formally begin at 8pm, but you'll want to be up there sooner to find a spot to set up while there's still some light. >From the mouth of Provo Canyon (starting the odometer where 800 North in Orem Crosses over University Ave.) it's 5.8 miles to Vivian Park/South Fork, just right off the highway there. Drive South into South Fork Canyon (narrow, winding road that begins at Vivian Park) 3.25 miles (you'll drive past another nice park on the way) to where you see a brown "National Forest Access" sign -- turn (right) in here. This is a newer park -- drive up another quarter mile and the road ends in a nice big flat parking lot. The sky is fairly dark here despite a somewhat limited horizon. There is a bathroom here and picnic tables if you want to bring dinner and the family along early. The current National Weather Service forecast looks promising: UTZ004-242300- SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEHI...PROVO...NEPHI 330 AM MDT MON OCT 24 2005 .TODAY...SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 70. .TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 40S. .TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 60S. .TUESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 40. .WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 60S. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 40. .THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S. .FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 60. .FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS AROUND 40. HIGHS AROUND 60. .SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S. HIGHS NEAR 60. ------------- See you there! Thanks, Rich __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Re: Hyperion sponge photo
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

Good observation- I'd be willing to bet that most of this object has already sublimated away over time. It could be a monstrous comet nucleus captured by Saturn long ago, although I haven't investigated it's orbit to see if this is a possibility from that perspective. > From: Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> > Maybe it's an optical illusion, but isn't the > "floor" > of the concave crater convex? - Canopus56(Kurt) __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com

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Re: Green lasers
by Chuck Hards 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

I've been so busy that I neglected to send-in my SLAS ballot, so I'm going to try and attend tomorrow's meeting and turn it in there. Since I got my green laser pointer on Saturday, would anyone else be interested in bringing your green laser to the meeting, for some parking-lot brightness comparisons? __________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Hyperion sponge photo
by Chuck Hards 22 Oct '05

22 Oct '05

Here's one of the best renditions I've found so-far: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA07740.jpg Nice and large on the screen. Note how the whole central area appears to be the remains of a highly eroded crater, almost as large as the moon itself, with a subtle central peak. You can just feel that the body is mostly ice, from the visual appearance. I've seen snowfields on mountaintops in summertime that resemble that surface. __________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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