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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Rush Valley
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 11 Mar '05

11 Mar '05

Hi Michael Here is a segment of the directions as posted on the Utah Valley Astronomy website. Continue west on SR 73 across the Jordan River, straight through the intersection of Redwood Road (1700 W.) by Smith's, up the hill past Eagle Mountain and out to Cedar Fort. The road will turn south for 5 miles to Fairfield. When you get to Fairfield note the turn off to Camp Floyd but don’t get on it. From the Camp Floyd turn off check your mileage and follow the highway around the bend and go 4.7 miles from the Camp Floyd turn off up the hill. If it is dark when you are following these directions, you may not notice it is a long gentle hill. At 5-mile pass you should see motorcycles and 4-wheelers having a good time (if it's light, in the dark you won’t see anything) As you top the hill at 5-mile pass you will see the a sign marking the county line between Utah County and Tooele county. The road then slopes down and curves to the North (right). From the County line go 3/10ths of a mile and turn left onto a paved road. As you turn onto the road look at your odometer and figure out what it will be in 4.2 miles. Go west for 4.2 - 4.3 miles. You will know that you are almost there when the road turns slightly to the left (about 4 miles) and then there is a small rise in the road. After the rise, the road dips and about 100 yards or so later is another rise. Turn left (South) on the road that takes off at the top of that second rise. Go south 4/10ths of a mile and as the road bends to the right there will be another dirt road, obscured by sage brush until you are right on it, going to the west (right). Take that road west 3/10ths of a mile until you see a pole sticking out of the ground with a pit near by. You have arrived. Hope this helps! Mike Bailey

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Rush Valley
by MichaelCarnes 11 Mar '05

11 Mar '05

Can't make it down to the Wedge, so I'm thinking about Rush Valley, either tonight or tomorrow night. I've got the map from the SLAS site, but it's a little unclear to me exactly what to look for as a turnoff. Any hints? Michael

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fodder for the list (another attempt at "Look")
by Dave Gary 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

1. Scientific theories are there to give explanation to the confirmed observations (facts) and hypotheses that are part of a systematic quest for knowledge. That a theory is quantitative in focus does not make that theory better or worse as far as science is concerned. Natural selection does make quantitative predictions, for example, Bergmann's rule. 2. No so, read papers by Rosemary and Peter Grant concerning their work on the Galapagos Islands. Additionally, bacteria acquire resistance in real time. This is, certainly, a function of natural selection. 3. True. There are no plausible accounts for the origins of life. However, it is a misnomer to claim that natural selection has any thing to say about "origin-of-life" questions. Natural selection (in the simplistic sense) works on reproducing populations of organisms that are competing for limited resources. This is not the case for the first-and-only organism in a "sea" of resources. 4. Irreducible complexity: read previous post for my thoughts on this issue. The logic of irreducible complexity is flawed. 5. Again, natural selection does not need the fossil record. However, the world over, the fossil record is consistent and provides ample backup for the theory of common descent. In a created universe why would not Homo habilis be found in an undisturbed statigraphic layer beneath a Tyrannosaur? In fact, since you are trained in geology, you must be aware that certain stratigraphic layers are dated based on the associated fossil assemblages. Another prediction? Insert in #1, above. 6. Replication of interacting ecosystems on a computer would seem a daunting and not-too-successful enterprise. Find me someone who could program those types of variables, successfully, and you and I might be able to convince him/her to provide us a stock-market-prediction program. 7. A laboratory is not an ecosystem. Funded research would probably never, even if given the time and funds necessary, produce new species. 8. That's the beauty of natural selection. Very small differences in genotype can have "significant" differences in phenotypic expression. But, look again, as I asked earlier: What would constitute the "created type"? How would one have a viable, scientific systematics, based on a "created" paradigm? Remember, science does not admit supernaturalistic phenomena. Dave Gary

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fodder for the list
by Ron Vanderhule 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

Hi gang, Some information came across my desk a couple days ago, thought it might be of interest. This Monday Weber State University will have a series of talks to be given by Dr. Jason Lisle, an astrophysicist from U. of Colorado at Boulder. He will address cosmological issues from the Intelligent Design model. He packs some fairly impressive credentials so it should be somewhat interesting. There will be two Q&A sessions and those usually reveal how much meat is on the bone. Afterwards we should have some things to discuss on the list. (someone send an APB out for Chuck). Below is a short bio on the speaker: Dr.Lisle graduated summa cum laude from Ohio Wesleyan University where he double-majored in physics and astronomy, and minored in mathematics. He did graduate work at the University of Colorado where he earned a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. While there, Dr Lisle used the SOHO spacecraft to investigate motions on the surface of the sun as well as solar magnetism and subsurface weather. His thesis was entitled "Probing the Dynamics of Solar Supergranulation and its Interaction with Magnetism." At the university level, Jason discovered that an important element in scientific study and the drawing of conclusions was this: that scientists usually are not aware of their presuppositions (i.e. they interpret scientific evidence in light of their existing worldview). It thus made it easier for him to see that intelligent scientists, many who were his professors, can disagree on what the evidence really means, for they have different starting points. So as he read intelligent-design materials, he could see that when the evidence was properly interpreted, it always supported the Biblical account of creation (even with the thorny question of starlight and time). [In graduate school, Dr. Lisle specialized in solar astrophysics. His areas of interest in creation studies are in developing models of cosmology and stellar aging.] Here is the schedule for Monday 7 March 2005 Monday Presentations 10:00 a.m. Relevance of Genesis Weber State University Wildcat Theatre 3750 Harrison Boulevard Ogden UT 84408 (The Wildcat Theatre is located in the Student Union.) 11:00 a.m. Question/Answer 2:00 p.m. Creation Astronomy: Viewing the Universe through Biblical Glasses 6:00 p.m. Big Problems with the Big Bang 7:30 p.m. Astronomy: What do we Really Know 8:30 p.m. Question/Answer Ron Vanderhule

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Anyone up for tonight in Rush Valley?
by astrodeb＠charter.net 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

We had a good night observing last night. The comet is below Polaris right now. It is just a small haze right now. I'm hoping the transparency is better Friday night than last night. Of course, things always look better after you tear the scope down. Debbie > > From: Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2005/03/10 Thu AM 11:45:25 MST > To: Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com>, > UVAA <uvaa(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Anyone up for tonight in Rush Valley? > > There's a lot of wisdom in the expression (among horse > owners anyway) "make hay while the sun shines". I'm > looking at the blue sky and how nice the stars looked > last night and feel like I should take advantage of > this unusual (for Utah) spring weather and new moon > opportunity, and not wait to see what happens on the > weekend. > > If I can get someone to join me (hate to be out in the > boonies by myself) I'd like to drag the scope out > tonight to the Pit-n-pole. Any takers? > > Rich > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. > http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250 > > _______________________________________________ > 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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fodder for the list
by Dave Gary 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

With regards to Berlinski, it is apparent that as long as he stays within his chosen profession, mathematics, he does some fine work. However, (see my last post) if he believes that natural selection and genetic mutation do not work out "mathematically" because of some inherent flaw in the theory of natural selection, then he has missed the point. I will say again, natural selection is the antithesis of randomness and genetic mutation is not a significant feature of common descent. Additionally, Berlinski is the author of a book detailing the history of astrology. In this book he states that astrology is a ...."finely geared tool for the resolution of practical problems". Again, Berlinski should concentrate on mathematics. Thanks for your time, Dave Gary

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Saturday Night Observing
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

Oh yes, there is a toilet. It's right behind an old cedar tree along a dry river bed. You don't mind sharing it with a coyote do you? Kidding. Anyway, I'm perfectly happy up at the traditional area. I think Joe Bauman likes it better there, too. Rob Taylor is pretty sure he's coming, too. Anybody else? Mike Bailey

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Tonight is a go
by Richard Tenney 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

Just got confirmation from Tyler Allred that I will have company tonight, so we're planning on being at the Pit-n-pole tonight if anyone cares to join us. I'm thinking I'll be out there till about 11pm or so, perhaps a tad later. He will be imaging again so latecomers watch your lights! Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/

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Anyone up for tonight in Rush Valley?
by Richard Tenney 10 Mar '05

10 Mar '05

There's a lot of wisdom in the expression (among horse owners anyway) "make hay while the sun shines". I'm looking at the blue sky and how nice the stars looked last night and feel like I should take advantage of this unusual (for Utah) spring weather and new moon opportunity, and not wait to see what happens on the weekend. If I can get someone to join me (hate to be out in the boonies by myself) I'd like to drag the scope out tonight to the Pit-n-pole. Any takers? Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

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OT: Frontiers of Science Lecture tonight, U of U, 7:30
by Richard Tenney 09 Mar '05

09 Mar '05

Off topic, but may be of interest to some, Norman R. Pace, professor of Biology, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, will be speaking on "New Frontiers in Microbial Biodiversity" in the Aline Wilmot Skaggs Biology Building Auditorium at 7:30 pm tonight (March 9). Lecture is free and open to the public (I'll be there with my dad). -Rich __________________________________ Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/

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