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

SLAS: A loooong look back
by Patrick Wiggins 21 Jul '06

21 Jul '06

I was speaking with El Presidente Lyon recently and happened to mention that one of the things on my "To Do" list was to go back through the SLAS newsletters (I've got them back to December 1974) and come up with a list showing everyone who has served on the SLAS board and as SLAS newsletter editor. He liked the idea and encouraged me to proceed and to put it in a spreadsheet. So, sitting here and being bored tonight I thought I'd give it a go. Several hours later it's done (at least for now). You'll note that pre-coup* the board was pretty chaotic. Always the same chair but the composition of the rest of the board changed regularly. Even post-coup things were still a little shaky until the current SLAS constitution was ratified. After that you'll see things settled down quite a bit except for the occasional resignation. At any rate, have a look. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. http://utahastro.info/temp/SLASBOD.XLS Patrick p.s. If any of you should happen to have any newsletters predating December 1974 I'd like to hear from you. * If you don't know what the coup was ask an old timer at a SLAS function sometime (8 current members were members back then). Or, just ask Siegfried since he was the one who financed it... :)

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Anyone with an Orion 100mm apo coming to SLAStrofest?
by Richard Tenney 20 Jul '06

20 Jul '06

Lou Griffin wants a look, as he's considering buying one. If you are coming and own one, please bring it with (I'd like to see it as well). I'm sure he'll trade you a look through his 20-in dob... :o) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Out of Town
by Cynthia Blue 20 Jul '06

20 Jul '06

I'll be in Twin Falls Idaho from Friday to Monday, so if the Gallery goes down I may not be able to fix it until I get back. It was down yesterday briefly. I forgot to ask if Motel 6 has wifi... hrmph. Maybe I'll call back. If there's a terrible problem you can email my husband at cleric25(a)xmission.com, but he might not know how to fix it. =) Have a good 24th. Cynthia -- http://www.hexwitch.com Elsinore Lucilla Aurelius ASCA-CD RN CGC CH Pembroke Faded Glory VA HT RN NAP NJP NAC OJC CGC Angel Pumpkin Spice Lady DPP CGC Spirit Chasers Spice NA NAJ CGC

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Happy 37th anniversary Apollo landing
by Canopus56 20 Jul '06

20 Jul '06

Here's a neat 360 degree panorama. Requires Quicktime plug-in. http://www.fullscreenqtvr.com/moon/ - Kurt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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International Atom Registry
by Michael Carnes 20 Jul '06

20 Jul '06

Wouldn't it be nice if they left the stars alone for a while... http://www.theonion.com/content/node/50645

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News, 20 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 20 Jul '06

20 Jul '06

News, Thursday, 20 July 2006 Cassini Reveals Earth-like Land on Titan New radar images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal geological features very similar to a bright region on Saturn's moon Titan. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-release-details.cfm?newsID=675 +++++ Arches, Quintuplet, and GC Star Clusters This Chandra X-ray image of the Galactic Center shows three massive star clusters near Sagittarius A*. http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/gcenter/ +++++ SMART-1 Manoeuvres Bring Moon Impact to Nearside On 2 July 2006, mission controllers successfully completed a two-week manoeuvre campaign designed to adjust the orbit for a nearside impact, to maximise science returns at mission end. http://www.esa.int/esaMI/SMART-1/SEM7P0BUQPE_0.html +++++ Wide Awake in the Sea of Tranquillity The fourth installment of Science@NASA's Apollo Chronicles explains why Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin couldn't fall asleep 37 years ago in the Sea of Tranquillity. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/19jul_seaoftranquillity.htm?list864… +++++ Cluster Hits the Magnetic BullÂ’s-Eye The four spacecraft surrounded a region within which the EarthÂ’s magnetic field was spontaneously reconfiguring itself. http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMAYXAUQPE_index_0.html +++++ Podcast: Mars -- 30 Years After Viking Mars exploration, from the Viking Mission 30 years ago to today's spacecraft at the red planet. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/ +++++ Gruithuisen: Non-Mare Volcanism in Procellarum This image, taken by ESA's SMART-1 spacecraft, shows the Gruithuisen area on the Moon. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM871BUQPE_0.html +++++ Team Envisions Exploring Mars With Mini Probes MIT engineers and scientist colleagues have a new vision for the future of Mars exploration: a swarm of probes, each the size of a baseball, spreading out across the planet in every direction. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060719091322.htm +++++ China Eyes Exploration of Mars China's space exploration plans include not only missions to the Moon but also Mars... http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/07/19/china.space.reut/index.html +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At: 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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News, 18 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 18 Jul '06

18 Jul '06

News, Tuesday, 18 July 2006 THANK YOU!!! Guy Malmborg asked that I pass along his thanks to the many SLAS members who worked last night's star party at Snowbird. Thanks to their efforts there are a bunch of happy conventioneers at Snowbird and the SLAS treasury is considerably larger. And considering the mountains of food the convention provided, the same thing can probably be said for a number of the SLAS volunteers (did I _really_ go back for thirds?). The first of the pictures are posted at the following URL until they can be transferred to the SLAS web site (if you have additional pictures, especially if they were taken at the top of the tram, please email them to me as soon as you can). http://utahastro.info/temp/SNOWBIRD17JUL2006.HTML +++++ NASA Welcomes Space Shuttle Crew Back to Earth The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew are home after a 13-day, five million-mile journey in space. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/jul/HQ_06280_Discovery_lands.html +++++ Minuteman III Launch Alert An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg tomorrow (Wednesday) morning as an operational test to demonstrate the weapon systemÂ’s reliability and accuracy. The six-hour launch window is from 2:01 to 8:01 a.m. MDT. While sunset launches (where the exhaust plume is backlit) from VAFB are easily seen from northern Utah, those in the middle of the night are much more difficult, but not impossible to see. +++++ Shuttle's Human Experiments Pave Way for Moon, Mars Voyages Throughout their nearly two weeks in space, the crew kept diaries of their sleeping habits and filled containers with various bodily fluids. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060717-shuttle-health.html +++++ Mimas in Hiding Four minutes after Cassini captured dark Mimas and softly-lit Enceladus (see Light from Many Paths) near the ringplane, Mimas had slipped into near-obscurity against Saturn's dark side. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2198 +++++ More Images From Genesis 1 Stills: http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_there/index.php Videos (exterior and interior): http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_there/video.php Editor's Note: Genesis 1 was easily seen from a site near SPOC with 7x35 binoculars Monday morning. See http://www.heavens-above.com for more sighting opportunities. +++++ Robotic Geologist Demonstrates Remarkable Precision Engineers designed NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers to be exceptionally predictable when it comes to studying specific rocks and patches of soil. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20060717a.html +++++ Chaotic Terrain in Iani Chaos These images, taken by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, show Iani Chaos, a region east of Valles Marineris... http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMVCOWALPE_0.html +++++ Saturn's Spare Tire Cassini has spotted a new feature around Saturn: a thick bulge from a thin ring. http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1756_1.asp +++++ Plasma Bubble Could Protect Astronauts on Mars Trip If the idea proves viable, it would mean a lightweight alternative to the thick metal panels needed to protect against radiation on long-haul space flights. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn9567-plasma-bubble-could-protect… +++++ ELV UPdate http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2006/elvstatus-… +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At: 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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Snowbird tonight
by Michael Carnes 17 Jul '06

17 Jul '06

Anybody got any idea at all what temperatures will be like at 11,000' tonight?

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News, 17 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 17 Jul '06

17 Jul '06

News, Monday, 17 July 2006 Discovery Cleared for Landing; First Attempt This Morning Landing is set for 7:14 a.m. MDT today at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The crew is scheduled to fire the shuttleÂ’s engines at 6:07 a.m. to begin DiscoveryÂ’s descent to Florida. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html +++++ TONIGHT'S Snowbird Star Party (Update) Those SLAS members wishing to take advantage of the free dinner offer are encouraged to avoid long lines by arriving early. SLASers who arrive before 7:00 p.m. will be put to the front of the food line. Take Snowbird entrance #2 and ask directions of the volunteer staff. http://slas.us/displayevent.asp?EventID=895 +++++ Congratulations Congratulations to Mike Wilson for completing training on the Bogdan Refractor at SPOC. +++++ Scientists Gaining Clearer Picture of Comet Makeup and Origin Scientists are getting their best understanding yet of the makeup of comets - not only of the materials inside these planetary building blocks, but also of the way they could have formed... http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Scientists_Gaining_Clearer_Picture_of_Com… +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At: 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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Observing spreadsheet planner - website announce
by Canopus56 16 Jul '06

16 Jul '06

This is to announce a website containing my personal observing list and planning spreadsheet of about 3,100 objects implemented in MS-Excel (13.1Mb). members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/ObSpdht/ObSpdhtProject.html The spreadsheet contains an observing list of approximately 3,100 deep sky objects and regions which can be sorted and filtered by whether they are currently visible in the observer's local horizon system. This deep sky object ("DSO") observing spreadsheet will be of interest to instructors of introductory college astronomy courses, astronomy club lunar party organizers, and intermediate and beginner observers. By using the full power of Excel's drill-down data filter feature, a variety of interesting DSO tours can be developed, e.g. - by open cluster age, by bright star MK spectral class, by binary star separation, by galaxy type, by Milky Way structure association, etc. For beginners, purchasing a commercial observation planner product like Astroplanner software by Paul Rodham (iLanga, Inc.) is a better alternative. To observe the efficiently is dependent on having a good catalogue of interesting objects and the ability to determine the current location of objects above the observer's local horizon by object type. Typically, this may involve reviewing several books and guides for appropriate targets applicable to a particular night, such as Burnham's, Harrington's Touring the Universe with Binoculars, Mullaney's Celestial Harvest, or Peterson's Field Guide to the Stars and Planets, just to name few options. Finding the right targets is confounded by the repetitous designations. For example, if you have done Messier's catalogue and Caldwell's list, you have also covered about 40% of the Herschel 400. It was felt that a single consolidated life-time list would allow for a quick after-work selection of two or three targets in order to maximize the amount of time spent at the eyepiece. Several popular guides were reviewed for showcase item lists. These included Clark, Herschel 400, Barnard, Caldwell, Messier, Burhnam's, and Harrington's TUBA. A consolidated non-duplicative list of approximately 1,200 DSO objects was created from these lists. Supplemental items were added according to the author's interest and personal knowledge. For double stars and multiple star systems, the 6th Orbit Catalogue and the UNSO Selected 2006 Double Stars from the online Astronomical Almanac were used as the base. This base list was supplemented with non-duplicative objects from the sources source as the Belmont Society Colorful Double Star List. A total of approximately 450 doubles are included in the spreadsheet. For variable stars, The AAVSO master catalogue ("united.txt") filtered for selected stars with a period of less than 14 days was used as the base list. This intentionally biased catalogue variables towards short-period variables instead of the usual focal on long-period variables. This bias was incorporated into the catalogue on the assumption that beginning variable star observers would like to observe stars that will change over the course of an evening, two evenings or a week. Inspired by short-period observing, such beginners may move onto traditional long-period variable observing - where changes occur over months. The variable base list was supplemented with non-duplicative objects easy long-period variable lists. A full description of the source catalogues and resulting distribution of objects by type, size and magnitude can be found at the project homepage. Utilities are include to select an observing list and translate the selected list into an HTML document for sharing over the internet. Many beginner and intermediate astromath utilities are included like computing equivalent astrophoto exposures, apparent magnitude and distance, image scaling, the half-angle formula, and Kelper's Third law. A bibliography of approx. 770 items concerning observing, object catalogues, Milky Way structure, and the history of astronomy is included. For a related project - this author's 2,500 lunar target planning spreadsheet in MS Excel - see: http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/MoonPlan/MoonSpdtProj… - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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