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

Sept. QST source for RT upgrade help
by Dale Hooper 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

I'm hoping that Gary Liptrot or one of the other amateur radio operators on the list might be able to help me with this - I'm trying to determine the best way to upgrade my radio telescope so that it is fully-steerable. It's my understanding that the September issue of QST magazine has a good review of available rotators. But, I've been unable to find a way to purchase the magazine without joining ARRL. I've tried the Logan Borders, Hastings, and Wal-Mart as well as amazon.com with no joy. So, if you could let me know where I could purchase a copy, it would be greatly appreciated. Clear skies, Dale.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] G11 tripod leveling
by Chuck Hards 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

Way to go, Debbie! I'm proud of you. You set a terrific example. Now if the "advance training" deep-fried crowd will just do likewise, we can keep lifting those mounts and mirrors for decades to come. > From: <astrodeb(a)charter.net> > I joined Curves so I could strengthen my back and > legs and arms. I need to stay in shape lifting 60 lb > mirror boxes and Losmandy mounts. As Chuck said we > all need to stay healthy and exercise is very > important in order to do that. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Fellow amateur astronomer visiting Heber City, UT this weekend
by Richard Tenney 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

Gerald, I don't have observing plans for the coming weekend (my daugther's b-day is Sat.) but I'm sending this to our various lists in hope someone will be out with a scope and show you the local sights. Anyone? (Please reply to all so we can see if someone's going to be out this weekend, hopefully up near Heber or Park City). Let me know if you don't get a response and I'll try to make time for you. Regards, Rich --- Gerald Kimber White <Gerald.KimberWhite(a)RFBinder.com> wrote: > Hello Rich, > > I'm an amateur astronomer from Massachusetts who is > a member of the Skyscrapers > (http://www.theskyscrapers.org/) out of North > Scituate, RI. I will be attending a wedding in > Heber City, UT this weekend and would like to try to > catch a little of your dark sky on Saturday night, > if at all possible. Does your club plan on doing > any observing on Saturday night? If not, do you > know of any nice locations in your area where I can > do a little viewing with my binoculars? > > I look forward to speaking with you. > > Regards, > Gerald > > > ~~~~~ > > Gerald Kimber White > > RF|Binder Partners > > a member of The Ruder Finn Group > > Phone: 781-455-8250 > > Mobile: 508-369-8958 > > E-mail: gerald.kimberwhite(a)rfbinder.com > > ~~~~~ > > > > > ______________________________________________________ Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/

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Re: German Equatorial
by Chuck Hards 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

The Dobsonian mount has one axis that points at Dobson. Objects being tracked by such a mount describe motion parallel to the Ian. It's been a long day, folks. ______________________________________________________ Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/

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Re: German Equatorial
by Chuck Hards 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

Aw, shucks, Kim. If I had any spare brain cells, I'd just give 'em to ya. As it is, what few I have available are held together with the cerebral equivalent of duct tape. > From: "Kim Hyatt" <kimharch(a)cut.net> > Chuck, once again the breadth of knowledge that you > seem to have at your > "fingertips" (why not tendrils of the mind?) amazes > me. Want to trade a few > brain cells? I'm not sure what I have to offer, but > I'm working on it. ______________________________________________________ Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] amateur radio astronomy (longish)
by Dale Hooper 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

It's a good thing you want the less technical version - because I'm a software engineer by trade. I really wish I knew a lot more about antennas & electronics. With amateur radio astronomy - a lot of it depends on what you are trying to observe, i.e. what frequency range you are working in and how strong are the sources you are observing. For solar, and Jupiter-Io events I think a Yagi is perfect. For radio-meteor detection - an AM radio is all you need. I'm not familiar with using a cylindrical parabola - so I would have to defer to someone that actually knows what they are talking about. <g> What I am doing is aimed more at detecting galactic hydrogen - i.e. 1420 MHz (also known as the "water hole"). So, I hope it's okay if I answer the advantages/disadvantages from that perspective: Parabolic dish: - this is what I am using Advantages: Cheap - most people are giving them away. Aperture - More aperture so more signal Resolution - the larger size gives you better resolution (but it's still terrible when compared to optical frequencies) Disadvantages: Ugly - lets face it - these things aren't very "purdy" Massive - they weigh a lot so they need to be mounted in concrete Pointing - because of the size you need to either do "drift scans" or get fairly expensive rotators. Single Yagi Advantages: As you mentioned - you can build one at home Lighter weight - so you can probably get a cheaper rotator or set them up on a temporary basis and just move them by hand Disadvantages: Custom - if you want one for 1420 MHz you will have to build it or buy a custom one - which adds up to more money Less signal strength - so you will need a longer integration time to get any signal Higher noise - I believe they aren't as good at off axis noise rejection as a dish Yagi Array (S&T had some great articles about building one) Advantages: Highest resolution A lot easier to set up than an array of dishes Disadvantages: Requires additional electronics to create in interferometer - but this is certainly doable. Requires a pretty good sized yard You have to space the antennas according to the frequency that you are monitoring I hope this is at least somewhat helpful. Clear skies, Dale. > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy- > bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Kim > Hyatt > Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 12:30 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] amateur radio astronomy > > Hi Dale. I'm afraid I can't help you at all with your problem, but your > post > reminded me of something I haven't really thought about for some time. > > One of my earliest astronomy projects was the construction of a radio > telescope, 'way back in high school. Since I'm not ashamed of my age, I'll > divulge the year: 1971. (Everyone's supposed to say, "Why Kim, I had no > idea > you were that old. You look SO young!) Unfortunately, I became distracted > by > other things and abandoned the project before it got very far. Anyway, at > first I had planned to purchase a surplus military parabolic dish to use > for > an antenna, but it was too costly. I finally determined to build a Yagi > array, but not before I realized that a cylindrical parabaloid would have > also been very easy to build and with very little skill or exotic > materials > required. I don't recall why I settled on the Yagi array, I have simply > forgotten too much of the physics involved. And that finally brings me to > a > question I have for you and others: What would be the > advantages/disadvantages of one type of antenna over another? I would > still > rule out the conventional parabolic dish because of the relative > complexity > of its construction for a basement tinkerer like me. However, the > cylindrical parabaloid is still quite easy to construct with some plywood, > a > simple plot of a parabola on a piece of paper for a pattern, and some > hardware fabric or insect screen to cover the surface. Can anyone > enlighten > me? Remember, you need to explain in terms my few remaining viable brain > cells can comprehend. > > Thanks all. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dale Hooper" <Dale.Hooper(a)sdl.usu.edu> > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:19 AM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Sept. QST source for RT upgrade help > > > | I'm hoping that Gary Liptrot or one of the other amateur radio operators > | on the list might be able to help me with this - > | > | > | > | I'm trying to determine the best way to upgrade my radio telescope so > | that it is fully-steerable. > | > | > | > | It's my understanding that the September issue of QST magazine has a > | good review of available rotators. But, I've been unable to find a way > | to purchase the magazine without joining ARRL. I've tried the Logan > | Borders, Hastings, and Wal-Mart as well as amazon.com with no joy. So, > | if you could let me know where I could purchase a copy, it would be > | greatly appreciated. > | > | > | > | Clear skies, > | > | Dale. > |

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Budget bino deal
by Chuck Hards 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

>From the Sportsmans Guide www.sportsmansguide.com For entry-level bino astronomy on a budget: E536D-93709 - BarskaÂ® 12x50 mm Binoculars $14.97 + s&h __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] SETI politics
by Dale Hooper 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

I think this article makes SETI scientists out to be rather conspiratorial against interstellar travel. If they are I think it is much more subtle than this article implies. I definitely don't think it would apply to the majority of them. Certainly, if we fully developed known technologies we could have a robotic craft capable of achieving at least 0.1 to 0.2 C that could be launched by the end of the century. Manned interstellar travel - would of course be several orders of magnitude more difficult. Assuming survival of the species, I think robotic exploration of the local set of stars is inevitable. If fact, in some small way we've already started it with Voyager and Pioneer. I was also curious about the drawing of the Allen Radio Telescope Array used in the article. All the other pictures that I've seen of it show the feed horns in more of an "off axis" configuration. I wonder if there has been a design change? Clear & dark skies, Dale. > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy- > bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick > Wiggins > Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 2:00 AM > To: utah astronomy listserve > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] SETI politics > > SETI politics > > by Gregory Anderson > > Tuesday, September 6, 2005 > > SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has a fundamentally > fascinating hypothesis. > > http://www.thespacereview.com/article/444/1 > > Patrick >

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] SETI politics
by Dale Hooper 08 Sep '05

08 Sep '05

I'm certainly glad that I am old enough to remember the moon landings. But, the possibility of interstellar travel is one of the areas where I wish I could have been born 500 or 1000 years into the future. If it turns out that we can't use exotic methods such as wormholes - it would be fascinating to see how we overcome some of the limitations posited by special relativity. For example, ground ops would have to send signals to the "craft" in UV if they want the craft to receive something in the radio spectrum. Or the opposite effect when the craft is returning. Or, since the stellarscape is completely different at relativistic speeds - how do you navigate or keep people from going utterly insane from the lack of visual cues? I.e. at relativistic velocities stars are "coned" forward and blue shifted. Stars to the aft are red shifted. So, you have stellarscapes where IR or possibly radio frequencies are moved into the visible range (forward) - or UV stars are in the visible looking to the rear. The real kicker though is that very close to C, the only thing you can see is a bright dot ahead of you from the 2.7K CBR! I find it very fascinating (your mileage may vary <g>) and I wish I could see it become reality. The best we can do right now, of course, is software simulations. But, the only planetarium software that I've seen that does a really good job with special relativistic effects is StarStrider (www.starstrider.com) I think they have 30 day trial downloads. Clear skies, Dale. > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy- > bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu(a)mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe > Bauman > Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 10:51 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] SETI politics > > That's an interesting article Patrick posted. A major impediment to > interstellar travel that's often brought up in debates about UFOs is > the vast distance between the stars. Assuming the speed of light is a > limit that can't be exceeded and or even approached very closely, > that requires interstellar travel to take years -- sometimes many > years. > > But what if some aliens live as long as bristlecone pines? Spending > 100 years to travel from one solar system to another might not seem > excessive to them. It might be 1/40 of a lifetime, equivalent to > about two years for many of us. Many folks would volunteer to go -- > two years there, two years back. Or what if they have a wonderful > form of suspended animation? Or suppose they have mastered wormhole > technology and can just zip between the galaxies with ease? > > Is there any likelihood that UFOs could be real? Anyone? > > Thanks, Joe >

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] G11 tripod leveling
by astrodeb＠charter.net 07 Sep '05

07 Sep '05

Rob, I just went to the Losmandy website and your mount has two bubble levels just like mine. I set up the tripod first, then I put the mount head on. Then you can see how level the tripod is from the bubble levels on the mount. It takes a little practice to get both bubbles in the center. As Joe said it is a little hard on the back and since your mount head weighs twice as much as mine you may want to start lifting weights. Just kidding. I did it last night and I was fairly close to center in both bubble levels. Also, don't hesitate to call Scott. I was going to call him this morning and ask him some questions but got too busy. He is always willing to help. The website is www.losmandy.com. By the way, setting up on a sidewalk is much easier than setting up on volcanic rock. Debbie > > From: diveboss(a)xmission.com > Date: 2005/09/07 Wed PM 04:17:59 MDT > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] G11 tripod leveling > > Setting up a telescope is like setting up a Mortar. Whether you're capturing > photons or shipping HE, the more precise the alignment, the more accurate the > results... > > I use a Brunton hand transit to set my Meade scopes. I use my scopes in the > Alt/Azimuth configuration. In this config, I use a 6" torpedo level to get > the head of the tripod as close to 'dead level' as possible in both N/S and > E/W planes. With the scope mounted, I use the torpedo level to level the OTA > and use the compass portion of the hand transit to set the OTA exactly 14 > degrees off Magnetic North which compensates for the magnetic declination of > SLC. > > Once the tripod and scope are level and properly oriented, I can usually fire > up the computer, do a mock 2 star alignment and slew directly to Venus in > broad daylight if it's up. I have never done any imaging so-to-speak, but I > do know that initial set up and proper orientation is paramount if you want > either your goto scope or HE round to hit the target dead on every time. > > I have used the Hand Transit to set the declination on a Wedge for some folks > by using the precision angle guage feature and bubble, so I know it would be > great for any type of mount. If you know the exact latitude of your position, > simply dial it in the transit and use the precision bubble to set the correct > angle. You can use it to find your exact latitude as well... > > > > > > Quoting Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com>: > > > Yokwe, Rob -- That's a really great question. I always just get it as > > level as I can, which can be a backbreaking exercise .... Joe > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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