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

Obs op: khi Cyg S6-class variable extra bright maximum
by Canopus56 30 Jul '06

30 Jul '06

The following is note from visnet (worth reposting) on khi Cyg - an irregular long-period (~408 day) S-class variable that is currently nearing a 200 year maximum near mag. 3.9. When you look up at Cygnus around midnight, you may notice a third star between eta and beta Cyg that is normally not there. It is khi Cyg. khi Cyg is on the AAVSO Easy Variables observing list. If you are unfamiliar (as I am) with long period variables, this may be a good place to start. Burnham's _Celestial Handbook_ has a good entry on khi Cyg (Vol. II, p. 762-768). khi Cyg is also list item Kaler 21 in Kaler's _100 Greatest Stars_. Kaler also has a brief description of khi Cyg on his variable stars website: http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/chicyg.html An AAVSO finder charts are available at (enter as chi Cyg): http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?&name=CHI%20CYG http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkwrap.pl?path=/charts/CYG/CHI_CYG/CHICYG-… An AAVSO light curve (recommend 1200 days) can be generated at (enter as chi Cyg): http://www.aavso.org/data/lcg/ Better look now. In about 170 days, khi Cyg will be mag 12! - Canopus56 > -----Original Message----- > From: vsnet-alert-bounces@... > [mailto:vsnet-alert-bounces@...] On > Behalf Of Taichi Kato > Sent: 25 July 2006 01:03 > To: variable_star_forum(a)yahoogroups.com; > vsnet-alert@...; > vsnet-alert(a)yahoogroups.com; > vsnet-campaign@... > Subject: [vsnet-alert 8957] exceptionally bright maximum of chi Cyg > > (past records from [vsnet-lpv 92] by Eric Broens) > > The 3.3-mag maximum was recorded at the end of 1847 > (JDmax=2396014.8) and > was observed by Argelander, > Heis and Schmidt. Other maxima brighter than magnitude 4 are > listed below > (maxima reaching magnitude 4 are more common). > I selected these maxima based on a visual inspection of the historical > lightcurve of chi Cygni dating back to the date > of discovery by Gottfried Kirch in 1686 up to 1998. The dates > of the maxima > are taken from [3]. > I guess the historical 3.3 maxima is based on the brightest > estimate. By > visual inspection of the lightcurve I rather judge the mean maximum > magnitude as magnitude 3.5. There is no sign of a maximum of > magnitude 2.3 > in the data. > It is striking that these bright maxima only occur in the "ancient" > observations. I compared the magnitudes of the comparison > stars as they are > listed in the references mentioned below and they cannot > account for this. > Maxima brighter than magnitude 4.5 occurred about 12 times in > the period > 1900-1998. > > JDmax mag. Observers > 2342812.9 >3.8? Gottfried Kirch > 2395205.6 3.8 Argelander, Heis, Schmidt > 2396014.8 3.5 (3.3) Argelander, Heis, Schmidt > 2399680.7 3.6 Argelander, Heis, Schmidt, Winnecke > 2402161.6 3.9 Heis, Schmidt > > Many amateurs did and still do a fabulous job observing this > "well-known" > stars. > Thanks to them the long term behaviour is logged excellent and unknown > features are revealed. > Did you know that chi Cygni has increased its period by about > 1 day each > century? > > > References: > [1] Long-term visual magnitude estimates of the Mira variable > chi Cygni I. > 1686--1900 > C. Sterken, E. Broens, 1998, Journal of Astronomical Data 4 > > [2] Long-term visual magnitude estimates of the Mira variable > chi Cygni II. > 1900--1998 > E. Broens, C. Sterken, D. McAdam, M. Watanabe, 1998, Journal of > Astronomical Data 4 > > [3] On the period history of Chi Cygni > C. Sterken, E. Broens, C. Koen, 1999, A&A 342, 167-172 > > > Best Regards, > Eric > > YYYYMMDD(UT) mag observer > 20060701.948 65 (Gary Poyner) > 20060702.926 61 (Marian Legutko) > 20060703.851 62 (Guenther Krisch) > 20060704.855 61 (Guenther Krisch) > 20060708.531 56 (Atsuko Takahashi) > 20060709.931 52 (Gary Poyner) > 20060710.560 51 (Atsuko Takahashi) > 20060710.849 51 (Guenther Krisch) > 20060711.594 50 (Yutaka Maeda) > 20060711.960 48 (Georg Comello) > 20060712.656 50 (Yutaka Maeda) > 20060713.508 49 (Yutaka Maeda) > 20060713.951 48 (Gary Poyner) > 20060714.560 46 (Hiroyuki Someya) > 20060714.603 45 (Takuichiro Onishi) > 20060714.631 48 (Kenji Nakai) > 20060714.849 47 (Guenther Krisch) > 20060715.608 48 (Yutaka Maeda) > 20060715.641 48 (Ryosuke Naito) > 20060715.642 47 (Yukiko Tsuchiyama) > 20060717.914 43 (Gary Poyner) > 20060718.010 42 (Georg Comello) > 20060718.889 44 (Marian Legutko) > 20060719.853 42 (Guenther Krisch) > 20060720.547 42 (Atsuko Takahashi) > 20060720.893 39 (Marian Legutko) > 20060720.931 42 (Jose Ripero) > 20060721.910 40 (Maciej Reszelski) > 20060722.548 42 (Atsuko Takahashi) > 20060722.981 44 (J. Toone) > 20060723.555 38 (Atsuko Takahashi) > 20060723.881 38 (Marian Legutko) > 20060724.656 39 (Yutaka Maeda) > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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New photos added
by astrodeb＠charter.net 30 Jul '06

30 Jul '06

Hi, Due to the hot weather, clouds, fires, and wind, I haven't been able to do much astronomy lately. So I decided to create a sub-album called Nature. It is on page 5 of my album. http://www.utahastronomy.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=astrodeb&page=5 The first shot is a picture of a Pronhorn antelope I saw while up at Bryce Canyon in June. Also in the album are pictures from a hike I did yesterday up in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. The 5.4 mile hike went to Double Arch Alcove on the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek. My legs are still recovering but it was well worth the effort. Enjoy the pictures. Debbie

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] New photos added
by astrodeb＠charter.net 29 Jul '06

29 Jul '06

Chuck, I've been swimming in the condo pool in the mornings to avoid the heat. It's a great way to start the day plus I met a few new friends. The green foliage was very vibrant. I wish I had a wide-angle lens on my Nikon Coolpix 4500 camera to get the full panoramic view. I was surrounded by tall red sandstone walls that echoed when I yelled. I wish I would have stayed longer there but I wanted to get back before it got too hot. I think I'm ready to invest in a hydration pack. I didn't feel I brought enough water with me on the hike. By the way, the Kolob Canyons road dead-ends into a beautiful viewpoint that would be great for observing or astrophotography. There is no curfew up there so I can stay up as late as I want. I'm going to do the Narrows hike in about a month when the weather is more stable. Debbie ---- Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Don't feel too bad, Debbie. It's terribly hot and > overcast up here, too. Also a lot of smoke in the > air. The crescent moon was distinctly red last > evening. > > The best thing I've done lately was installing an > above-ground pool in the backyard yesterday. Had to > bring in 3100 lbs. of sand to level-off the ground for > it. I lounged in that sucker today until I resembled > a giant white prune. Now I'm debating whether or not > to test the "waterproof" claim on my Brunton 70mm > binos... ;) > > Great shots of the hike. Was the green foliage as > vibrant to the eye as it appears in the images? > > I sure wish I could find a way to earn a living in > red-rock country. > > Thanks for posting those! > > --- astrodeb(a)charter.net wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > Due to the hot weather, clouds, fires, and wind, I > > haven't been able to do much astronomy lately. So I > > decided to create a sub-album called Nature. It is > > on page 5 of my album. > > > > > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=astrodeb&page=5 > > > > The first shot is a picture of a Pronhorn antelope I > > saw while up at Bryce Canyon in June. Also in the > > album are pictures from a hike I did yesterday up in > > the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. The > > 5.4 mile hike went to Double Arch Alcove on the > > Middle Fork of Taylor Creek. My legs are still > > recovering but it was well worth the effort. Enjoy > > the pictures. > > > > Debbie > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.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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Obs op: Sun 7/30/2006 evening North Am (7/31/2006 UTC) Io Transit Meteors
by Canopus56 29 Jul '06

29 Jul '06

There is a single Jovian transit by Io beginning at 7/31/2006 1:58 UTC (8:00PM 7/30/2006 MDT North Am.). The IMO is showing a minor meteor shower peak on 7/30/2006 - the alpha Cap with a ZHR = 4. Probably time for North Am. at 8:00 AM UTC 7/30/2006 (2:00 AM MDT 7/30/2006). http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer alf-Capricornids (CAP) Active: Jul 3 ÂAugust 15; Maximum: July 30 (Ã« = 127Â°); ZHR = 4; Radiant: alf = 307Â°, dec = -10Â°; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); v = 23 km/s; r = 2.5; TFC: alf = 255Â° to 000Â°, dec = 00Â° to +15Â°, choose pairs separated by about 30Â° in alf (beta < 40Â° N); PFC: alf = 300Â°, dec = +10Â° (beta > 45Â° N), alf = 320Â°, dec = -05Â° (beta 0Â° to 45Â° N), alf = 300Â°, dec = -25Â° (beta < 0Â°). - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Obs op: Two minor meteor showers max activity approx. 1-2 am 7/28
by Canopus56 28 Jul '06

28 Jul '06

http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer The southern delta Aqu's are a ZHR 20 but is at -16 dec. You might see a higher than normal background level of streakers tonight if you are out. - Canopus56 Piscis Austrinids (PAU) Active: July 15 Â¡ÂªAugust 10; Maximum: July 28 (Â¦Ã = 125Â¡Ã£); ZHR = 5; Radiant: Â¦Ã = 341Â¡Ã£, Â¦Ã = -30Â¡Ã£; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); vÂ¡Ã = 35 km/s; r = 3.2; TFC: Â¦Ã = 255Â¡Ã£ to 000Â¡Ã£, Â¦Ã = 00Â¡Ã£ to +15Â¡Ã£, choose pairs separated by about 30Â¡Ã£ in Â¦Ã (Â¦Ã < 30Â¡Ã£ N). Southern Â¦Ã-Aquarids (SDA) Active: July 12 Â¡ÂªAugust 19; Maximum: July 28 (Â¦Ã = 125Â¡Ã£); ZHR = 20; Radiant: Â¦Ã = 339Â¡Ã£, Â¦Ã = -16Â¡Ã£; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); vÂ¡Ã = 41 km/s; r = 3.2; TFC: Â¦Ã = 255Â¡Ã£ to 000Â¡Ã£, Â¦Ã = 00Â¡Ã£ to +15Â¡Ã£, choose pairs separated by about 30Â¡Ã£ in Â¦Ã (Â¦Ã < 40Â¡Ã£ N). - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Obs opps: Fri, 7/28/2007 Moon, Meteor, Lunar impacts, earthshine, GRS transit
by Canopus56 28 Jul '06

28 Jul '06

For North American observers, today's http://spaceweather.com/ is touting tonight as an observing period to potentially see lunar meteor strikes. Also they give a link to this interesting ALPO website that catalogues ALPO Lunar Section - Meteoritic Impacts reports. http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Erhill/alpo/lunarstuff/lunimpacts.html This site includes a how-to guide for photographing lunar meteor impacts. The IMO lists two minor meteor shower peaks for 7/28, but earlier in the day, the Piscis Austrinids (PAU) and the Southern delta-Aquarids (SDA). http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer Tonight's approx. 3.6 day old Moon (terminator at E45.6 at 4 UTC 7/29) should provide a good opportunity to see strong earthshine. Sky & Telescope is listing a Jovian Great Red Spot transit for 7/29 3:26 UTC (7/28 9:26 MDT) http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_107_1.asp - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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News, 27 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 27 Jul '06

27 Jul '06

News, Thursday, 27 July 2006 Lomonosov - A Large Crater Filled With Lava This image, taken by the advanced Moon Imaging Experiment (AMIE) on board ESAÂ’s SMART-1 spacecraft, shows crater Lomonosov on the MoonÂ’s far side. http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM1R6BUQPE_index_0.html +++++ Spokes Sighted Again! This image from the Cassini spacecraft shows a ghostly white streak, called a spoke, in Saturn's B ring. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2216 +++++ Titan's Pebbles 'Seen' by Huygens Radio An unexpected radio reflection from the surface of Titan has allowed ESA scientists to deduce the average size of stones and pebbles close to the HuygensÂ’ landing site. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEM23SVT0PE_0.html +++++ Old Pulsars Still Have New Tricks To Teach Us The super-sensitivity of ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory has shown that the prevailing theory of how stellar corpses, known as pulsars, generate their X-rays needs revising. http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMB6IBUQPE_index_0.html +++++ Where Are the Supermassive Black Holes Hiding? European and American scientists, on a quest to find super-massive black holes hiding in nearby galaxies, have found surprisingly few. http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMGM6BUQPE_index_0.html +++++ Island Universes with a Twist If life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you will get - the Universe, with its immensely large variety of galaxies, must be a real candy store! http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-27-06.html +++++ Birthplace of Hurricanes Researchers are flying across the Atlantic to catch the mighty storms in the act of being born. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jul_namma.htm?list864576 +++++ Internet Billionaire Aims to Build Spaceport in Texas Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos's plan to build a launch pad for suborbital space trips gains momentum. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn9626-internet-billionaire-aims-t… +++++ Rocket Reality Check Rocket engines will be blazing away in New Mexico this October at the X Prize Cup, but as the big day approaches, rocketeers are adjusting their plans to accommodate engineering realities. http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/07/26/1469.aspx +++++ NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis Prepares to Roll to Launch Pad On Monday, July 31, NASA's space shuttle Atlantis is set to embark on a trip to Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/jul/HQ_M06122_Atlantis_Roll_Out.html +++++ Russian Rocket Fails Shortly After Launch The rocket carried 17 micro-satellites - as well as the first Belorussian spacecraft, called Belka. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_Rocket_Fails_Shortly_After_Launch… +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At:s http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/latest/index.cfm http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-releases.cfm +++++ Information On The Mars Rovers At: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html +++++ SLAS 2006 Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/LOCAL.HTML +++++ SSA / UMNH 2006 Southern Utah Public Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/STARPARTIES.HTML +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society or because you are subscribed to the Utah Astronomy Listserve. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw at wirelessbeehive dot com. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky and mirrored at http://utahastro.info/ For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/UTAHCLUBS.HTML For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah & NE Nevada paw at wirelessbeehive dot com http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky http://utahastro.info/ 435.882.1209 801.918.9092

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re: [Utah-astronomy] Wyorock Crayford-type focuser
by Steven L. Dodds 26 Jul '06

26 Jul '06

----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Hards" <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> To: "Utah-Astro" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 9:09 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Wyorock Crayford-type focuser > Does anyone have experience with the Wyorock 2" > Crayford focuser? Looks like a nice piece of > machining in the photos. > Chuck, and others, The Wyorock focuser used to be called JSL, they changed their name a couple of years ago, but it's the same focuser, ultra smooth, great machining. The pictures on their website are of my 6" Synta refractor that they retrofitted with one of their units. Steve Steven L. Dodds Nova Optical Systems http://www.nova-optical.com

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Coulter 13.1" for sale
by Richard Tenney 26 Jul '06

26 Jul '06

I noticed this was posted in the UVAA classifieds recently, and it's a tempting deal for anyone looking for a good scope. I don't know the owner, just thought I'd pass this along to the list(s): ------------------------------------ Coulter Odyssey 13.1" f/4.5 Dobsonian -- in great condition (purchased 1990). With f/8.0 tube stop down cover for Planetary viewing. The scope weighs about 100 lbs. If you search on the net, you will find lots of info about the Coulter scopes -- great for deep sky viewing. Comes with eyepieces: a stock 27mm, a 6mm Ortho 1 1/4, and Celestron 30mm Kellner, and Lumicon UNC Nebula Filter. I will sell the setup for $500.00 (a real bargain). My name is Lance Owens MD, telephone in SLC is 801-581-0196. Pickup in SLC. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Wyorock Crayford-type focuser
by Chuck Hards 26 Jul '06

26 Jul '06

Does anyone have experience with the Wyorock 2" Crayford focuser? Looks like a nice piece of machining in the photos. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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