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

10 Dec '06

I've enjoyed a number of very memorable nights of observing meteor showers in my life. The first was the Perseid shower in 1977, the night I became engaged (yes, we're still married). The second was a night in early January some 20 years ago that I took my wife and two little girls to Little Mountain. In the wee hours, with temperatures near zero, we bundled up in blankets and comforters and lay in the snow to observe the Quadrantids. Then, of course, there was the Leonid shower/storm a few years back - unforgettable. Another fond memory was a bitter cold night in Rush Valley (1990, I think) when Bill Kelley and I spent a few hours observing the Geminids. The sky was breathtaking in its clarity and darkness, at least in the directions away from the lights of the Wasatch Front. I made two one-hour counts during the night, of 110 shower members each, with perhaps another five to ten sporadics. Until the Leonid storm, that Geminid shower was the most productive I've observed. In many Decembers since, I've hoped to repeat the experience, but weather and moonlight have never cooperated. I hope this year will be different. Gary W. Kronk's website predicts the maxima for this year's Geminids at 08:19 UT (01:19 MST) on December 14. If the weather allows, I plan to observe from my back yard, beginning late on the 13th (even if I have to chase away the elk). If anyone is interested in a coordinated observing effort, please contact me and let me know. It would be interesting to collect data from several sites. Kim

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Night from above
by Patrick Wiggins 10 Dec '06

10 Dec '06

Having just joined the airplane owners "club" I celebrated today by flying my new toy to Wendover for a late afternoon lunch. The flight over and the buffet were fun but the best part was the flight back. There's just something magic about flying at night. Flying over the darkness of the West Desert with just about every light in the cockpit off and the airplane trimmed so that it's flying nose high you can almost imagine you're in space. A wonderful experience. pw p.s. If anyone would like to share the experience just let me know. Now that I don't have to rent anymore all I ask for a ride is to share the operating expenses.

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Senator Buttars at it again?
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Dec '06

09 Dec '06

From today's Deseret News: Evolution, 'design' still hot topics for teachers http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C650213665%2C00.html pw

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Friday fireball
by William Lange 08 Dec '06

08 Dec '06

Just before sunrise this morning I saw what I thought was an unusually bright meteor over Mt. Olympus from near 3200 W & 2500 S. in SLC. It appeared low in the sky moving rapidly from North to South East and appeared to burn out before disappearing below the mountains. It appeared to be about the size of a BB at arms length and was quite bright with no apparent tail or streak. -----Original Message----- >From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Dec 8, 2006 5:40 PM >To: Utah-Astro <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Friday fireball > >Did any list members see the daylight fireball >reported today? Patrick, I heard you and a Stansbury >resident on KSL but didn't catch if you yourself saw >it... >Is this the same one that was reported seen over Colorado? > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >Yahoo! Music Unlimited >Access over 1 million songs. >http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited > >_______________________________________________ >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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Was Darwin Wrong?
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

++++++++++ Was Darwin Wrong? Education. (2006) Scientists investigate the theory of evolution. New. ++++++++++ On the National Geographic Channel right now (8:00 p.m.) Repeats at 11:00 tonight. pw

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] (From NASA) Mars - RecentGushingWaterandNewCraters
by Michael Carnes 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

>KSL has this story on their Website, and a reader has >posted the question of how much money "fanatics" will >be willing to pay for a bottle of Mars water? > The first bottle will cost about three quarters of a trillion dollars. The second bottle will be $1.99.

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] (From NASA) Mars - RecentGushingWaterandNewCraters
by sjseebergp＠webtv.net 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

Okay, but a little teasing keeps things light. Thanks, Jan

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] (From NASA) Mars - RecentGushingWaterandNewCraters
by Michael Carnes 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

>OKAY to laugh, Heaven knows I deserve it. But I will hang in there, or >disconnect the GoTo. Don't pay any attention to the teasing. Whatever gets you happily under the stars is the right thing for you.

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] (From NASA) Mars - RecentGushingWaterandNewCraters
by sjseebergp＠webtv.net 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

OKAY to laugh, Heaven knows I deserve it. But I will hang in there, or disconnect the GoTo. Jan

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] (From NASA) Mars - RecentGushingWaterandNewCraters
by sjseebergp＠webtv.net 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

It is true. A Meade, "backpack Observatory". ETX 60AT. The inbstructions suggested locating landscape targets in daylight to familiarize myself in its use. As a result I am really great on nearby trees and leaves. The moon, etc. But the GoTo starts out okay, then selects what it will. It is me, but I will keep at it til I make myself happy and Stan proud. Jan

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