January 2006 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: Satellite formations
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '06

09 Jan '06

Thanks, Patrick! __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Â Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

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Classified: For sale - Orion 9 x 50 straight finder
by Canopus56 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

For sale: Orion 9x50 straight finder http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=153&itemTyp… Condition: new Price: $30 or best offer Reason for selling: I received the straight finder as part of the standard package of buying an Orion 10" Newt. Being about 6' tall and having an extra large hat size, I found the straight finder too anoying to use. (Not enough tube to finder eyepiece clearance for my head.) So I bought a right-angle finder. Would like to dump the original finder a loss to keep the house clutter down. Transfer point: Can make arrangements to meet in Salt Lake County or I'll bring it to the next SLAS meeting. Canopus56 (Kurt) __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Â Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

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Group says plutonium too risky for space flight
by Patrick Wiggins 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

Three dozen protest Pluto probe. Group says plutonium is too risky. http://www.flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060108/NEWS01/60108032… I have to wonder how many of those protesters smoke, eat meat, drive gas guzzling cars and do other such things with a far higher incidence of causing disease. And don't you just love it when they've got little kids (who don't even understand the situation) waving signs? Sigh... Patrick

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Michael Carnes, Composer
by Bill.Kennedy＠fiserv.com 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

Just a quick note to let you all know that you missed a wonderful concert last night. Michael's music is brilliant and most enjoyable. The musicians were top-notch and performed his music, as well as that of the others, beautifully!

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Venus
by Chuck Hards 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

I am always amazed at how Venus can hang around for months, then suddenly disappear in only a few days! It looks like it might be visible in both the evening and morning sky for a few days around the 10-13th. It will then be a morning object exclusively until the end of October later this year. Greatest western elongation will occur in early July. Right now it is as large in apparent diameter as it ever gets. Sharp-eyed individuals might be able to detect the slim crescent shape without optical aid. A neutral-density filter sometimes helps cut the glare (sunglasses). __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Â Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

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In the "Poking the hornet's nest" Department...
by Chuck Hards 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

It will be interesting to see if the planetarium actually extends an olive branch to the club. Due to past history and the remarks of persons closer to the story than I (and a few of my own observations), I will need to be convinced that this represents a turning point. Without passing judgement beforehand, the real value of initiatives such as this will have to be demonstrated, the goals, as well as the true motivation behind it and why SLAS was suggested as possibly taking on the assignment- It's not as if SLAS is wandering aimlessly in the desert at present and needs direction. Assuming it moves forward, I don't think anyone wants a mere "feel-good", go-through-the-motions program without concrete results; the astronomical equivalent of the D.A.R.E. program. But maybe I'm wrong! One would further hope that eventually the planetarium would find a way to adapt county policy, and allow a group such as an astronomy club to meet within it's walls- exactly like the county library system does and has done for decades. Maybe the current suggestion is a starting point. It is also interesting that public outreach (the marketing of astronomy) is seemingly still seen as a high priority for the Salt Lake club's energies. I'm assuming this was determined from President Lyon's recent questionaire. I am amazed at how many different astronomy clubs exist in such a small geographic area and how most of them exist as if there were no others. Obviously you can't please all of the people, all of the time! I hope I can attend the meeting but it depends on my work schedule, and as always that only gives me a few hours notice. I hope it's written up in the NOVA newsletter if I can't make it, I would really like to hear what Drs. Higgs and Jarvis have to say. I give President Lyon high marks for hitting the pavement running at the start of his term and hope many good things for SLAS, and the greater community, come from his efforts. __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Â Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

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Unusual view of Cassini's Division
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

The latest image from Cassini shows a rather fun view of Cassini's Division: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA07669.jpg Patrick

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New Comet discovered
by astrodeb＠charter.net 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

Here is a message I found on yahoo's digital-astro group. I hope this comet moves north in the coming months. Debbie Hi all, well I just visually observed and imaged newly discovered comet C/2006A1 (Pojmanski). It was easy to spot with my 16" Dob from my dark site - even with the nearly 1/4 Moon in the sky. I think it's brighter than what was suggested. Below is my observation and a webpage URL to images of the comet. C/2006 A1 (Pojmanski). 2006 January 06 .40 UT: m1 = 10.5, Dia.= 2'.5, DC = 2, 41cm f4.5 Reflect (83x). John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [Was easy to spot this (A1) newly discovered comet through my 41cm (16") Dob - even with the 6 day Moon in the evening sky (I have a dark, rural sky). C/2006A1 appears as a diffuse coma with no noticeable central condensation. Used three stars for a mag estimate (s). No evident tail. 29d alt in the SW. Stellar LM =14.3 (scope)]. Images can be seen at: http://www.possumobservatory.co.nz/comet_2006a1_pojmanski.htm or http://tinyurl.com/dsxl5 For astrometry I took two 1 minute images with my Canon 10D DSLR and the 41cm @ f4.5 an hour apart - one at 0900 UT, the second at 1000 UT (Jan 06, 2006). These images are visible on the above webpage. Based on these images and GUIDE 8.0 software I determined (by comparing the images with the computer screen) that the positions were: 2006 Jan 06 0900UT - RA: 21h 25m 08.32s Dec: -66d 38' 30.8" 2006 Jan 06 1000UT - RA: 21h 25m 02.48s Dec: -66d 37' 35.2" I realise this isn't as accurate as an astrometric software program but it's the best I can do - I think the positions are pretty close... It's nice to have a fairly bright comet in the sky again! Cheers. John Drummond Gisborne, New Zealand E 178* 03', S 38* 40' email: john_drummond@... website: http://www.possumobservatory.co.nz

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Satellites & glasses
by Chuck Hards 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

I stepped outside this morning to look at the sky, and noticed a pair of satellites in formation. They were identical in brightness, about 4th magnitude, traveling northwest to southeast and passing high overhead. I followed them from Ursa Major through the tail of Leo, the rearmost passing just a few arc-minutes from Denebola. They were a couple of degrees apart (crude estimation, I'm at work and away from my atlases) and stayed in formation rigidly. Without going to a lot of trouble, can someone who follows such things ID this pair, or at least classify them? This is the first formation I've seen from light-polluted SL valley location. TIA. BTW, I'm wearing my new glasses, and this time I sprang for the anti-reflection coating. NOTICEABLE difference, I'm sure I can see dimmer stars (maybe up to 1/2 mag.) than with my old glasses, contrast is much improved, no glare, ghosts, etc. This is also my first foray into bifocals, I no longer have to constantly remove my glasses as I alternately focus on distant and nearby objects. These are the "progressive" lenses (lineless) and I find them quite good for astronomy, so-far. Also driving (can see the dashboard clearly) as well as eating (my food is no longer a blur with glasses on). __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Â Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

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more Buttars
by Kim 05 Jan '06

05 Jan '06

I just heard on KUER that Doug Fabrizio's guest on Radio West today will be Chris Buttars. Doug specifically mentioned intelligent design as one of the topics they will cover. I suggest that anyone interested tune in and either call or email with their concerns. The program begins at 11:00 AM and lasts one hour. Kim

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