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

2006 favorable windows for lunar meteor impact observing
by Canopus56 12 Aug '06

12 Aug '06

For North American op's. It appears that the ALPO Lunar Section - Meteor Impacts Search Group - plots favorable observing windows for lunar meteor impacts: ALPO Lunar Section - Meteor Impacts Search Group http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Erhill/alpo/lunarstuff/lunimpacts.html#Lunar%2… Peter Gural Lunar Impact Plots 2006 http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Erhill/alpo/lunarstuff/IMPACTS2006.pdf The ALPO plots show two favorable windows visible for North American observers for the remainder of 2006 on 9/1/2006 6:05 UTC and 12/14/2006 10:34 UTC. Details on these two events, excerpted from the ALPO Plots and the corresponding entry in the International Meter Organization annual calendar follow. Also of interest: ALPO Observing Guide Tips on making videos of lunar meteor impacts: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Erhill/alpo/lunarstuff/observing Alan Kimble's tips on video taping lunar impacts in the near infra-red: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Erhill/alpo/lunarstuff/97leonids.html A word of warning about the ALPO Lunar Section - Meteor Impacts Search Group homepage. The homepage appears to be generated by a web page creation tool and displays with multiple HTML coding errors. Because of the HTML coding errors, it's a page that you have to be patient with, but it contains information not available elsewhere. Event I) 9/1/2006 6:05 UTC 9/1/2006 12:05AM Meteor Shower - IMO Description alf-Aurigids (AUR) Active: August 25 ÂSeptember 8; Maximum: September 1, 6h30m UT (lambda = 158Â°6); ZHR = 7; Radiant: alf = 84Â°, dec = +42Â°; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); v = 66 km/s; r = 2.6; This essentially northern hemisphere shower appears to be part of a series of poorly observed sources with radiants. http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer ALPO Lunar meteor impact window 9/1/2006 6:05 ALPO notes: 36% of impacts on unlight near side. My notes: Moon is at first quarter phase. For mountain time observers Moon is only at 20 degrees alt at 11:00 pm MDT. Best for Pacific Time Zone or Hawaii. This is one day before the SMART-1 lunar impact. Event II) 12/14/2006 10:34UT 12/14/2006 10:34AM IMO shower description Geminids (GEM) Active: December 7 Â17; Maximum: December 14, 10h45m UT (lambda = 262Â°2) Â± 2.3h; ZHR = 120; Radiant: alf = 112Â°, dec = +33Â°; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); v = 35 km/s; r = 2.6; http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/fall One of the finest annual showers presently observable. This year, the waning crescent Moon rises within half an hour of 1h local time across the globe on December 14, but will be a fairly minor nuisance even so. There will be some useful dark-sky observing opportunities, especially from the northern hemisphere, as while the Geminid radiant culminates around 2h local time, well north of the equator it rises around sunset, and is at a usable elevation from the local evening hours onwards. ALPO Meteor Impact window: 9/14/2006 ALPO notes: 42% of impacts on unlit near side. My notes: ALPO observing window is listed as 5:34 UTC. But the IMO lists the ZHR max for 10:45 UTC. For the Intermountain West, the Moon rising at 20 deg alt at 4 AM (9UTC) with a two hour window to sunrise. Moon is a day past 3rd quarter. Other Events III) Daytime North American event not detailed here. Eurpoean observers may want to investigate these dates further. 11/17/2006 17:47 UTC 12/22/2006 18:42 UTC - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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More Moon Mullin'
by Chuck Hards 11 Aug '06

11 Aug '06

As I was reading an article about "binary" asteroids, I wondered if there might be known planetary satellites with moons of their own? Sizable moons that could conceivably be seen from the satellite's surface under favorable conditions; not boulder-sized stuff which certainly must exist. Anyone know if such things have been found to date? I'm too beat to keep my eyes open and look it up. Bed beckons. __________________________________________________ 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] Best Moonrise
by Michael Carnes 10 Aug '06

10 Aug '06

Jeez Rich. Cut back on the garlic... >I started feeling all tingly, and my clothes started >to tear, and hair began to sprout everywhere, and then >Kate Beckinsale, dressed in tight black leather, was >standing over me, her gun loaded with silver-nitrate >bullets, her eyes glowing blue, and... then I woke up!

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News, 10 AUG 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 10 Aug '06

10 Aug '06

News, Thursday, 10 AUG 2006 Harmons Observatory Opening Pictures (Finally) Posted Thanks to Carla Burningham and Ivo Stutznegger for the current pictures. Others have said they will be submitting pictures so check back again later to see those. In the "Harmons Observatory" section click on "Building Dedication & Official Opening". http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/slas/PW.HTML +++++ James A. Van Allen Dies Dr. James A. Van Allen, U.S. space pioneer and Regent Distinguished Professor of Physics in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, died yesterday, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006 at the age of 91. http://itsnt166.iowa.uiowa.edu/uns-archives/2006/august/080906van-allen-dea… +++++ An Oblique Look On the North Lunar Far West This image, taken by ESAÂ’s SMART-1 spacecraft, provides an 'oblique' view of the lunar surface towards the limb, around the Mezentsev, Niepce and Merrill craters, on the far side of the Moon. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM787BUQPE_0.html +++++ Hubble Identifies Stellar Companion to Distant Planet NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has for the first time identified the parent star of a distant planet discovered in 2003 through ground-based gravitational microlensing. http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/38 +++++ Galaxy Clusters & the Hubble Constant Chandra independently determines Hubble constant. http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/clusters +++++ Coy Rhea The rings cannot hide the ragged, icy crescent of Rhea, here imaged in color by the Cassini spacecraft. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2228 +++++ Tiny Icy Objects Revealed in Outer Solar System Dozens of small icy objects are detected in the far reaches of the solar system, suggesting they are far more abundant than was thought... http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn9708-tiny-icy-objects-revealed-i… +++++ Mars Hoax Returns Don't be misled! An e-mail chain letter now making the rounds of the Internet suggests that Mars will look as big as the full Moon to the naked eye in late August. Nonsense! http://skytonight.com/news/3523496.html +++++ Top 10: Weirdest Cosmology Theories http://www.newscientistspace.com/popuparticle.ns?id=in163 +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Free Telescopes For SLAS Members SLAS has several scopes available for free, long term loan to current SLAS members who have belonged to SLAS for at least 30 days. http://slas.us/membership_benefits.htm +++++ 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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Best Moonrise
by Chuck Hards 09 Aug '06

09 Aug '06

I love the full moon rising over the Wasatch front, especially summer and early autumn full moons. They rank as among my favorites. Almost always a shade of pale yellow. Even though it's probably due to man-made particulates in the air, it's beautiful. I recall another many years ago, moonrise in the redrock country near Shiprock, New Mexico. Again, it was a summertime full moonrise, this one over a magnificent landscape that, in the dimness, could have passed for the moon itself. Anybody have a special moonrise that sticks in your mind, that you'd care to share? Full, or otherwise? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Notes on resolving limit for unequal binaries
by Canopus56 09 Aug '06

09 Aug '06

Based on a discussion in sci.astro.amateur late July regarding resolving unequal binaries, I threw together some notes I have on this topic going back to 2003. http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/astromath/ueb/Unequalbinar… Simple rules for the resolving limit for unequal binaries where the secondary is brighter than magnitude 11.5 are discussed. Resolving tables and a javascript calculator based on Peterson's 1954 model are provided for doubles where the secondary is fainter than 8.5 magnitudes and brighter than 11.5 magnitudes. Early literature is reviewed including Peterson (1954) and Treanor (1947). These are earlier studies that led to Lord's algorithm in the late 1990s. Haas (2006) resolving limit table is discussed in the context of these studies. A table of high precision binaries for telescope testing is provided after Argyle (2004). A table of double split nomenclature after Haas (2006) is provided, supplemented with proposed physical criteria. Corrections to any errors found are welcome and appreciated. In reviewing this matter further, it appears what is really needed is a javascript calculator that implements Chris Lord's algorithm. See page 11 of his paper at: Lord, Chris. Undated. A Report on the Analysis of the Telescopic Resolution of Unequal Binaries. Brayebrook Observatory. http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/BOOKS/TELESCOPIC%20RESO… I stopped short of writing this calculator due my inability to understand some of the logarithm symbols. I wanted to invite anyone here to take a shot at it. Hope these web notes are of interest and help. - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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News, 08 AUG 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 08 Aug '06

08 Aug '06

News, Tuesday, 08 AUG 2006 Call For Pictures While preparing pictures of last Saturday's events at SPOC for the web I was surprised to find there appear to be no pictures of last year's official opening of the other building at SPOC. If you have pictures of last year's opening (held on 16 April) please let me know so a web page can be put together for this very significant event in SLAS history. +++++ Thank You SPSA & BSA In mid-August the Stansbury Park Service Agency provided and the Boy Scouts planted several trees along the south perimeter of the SPOC grounds. All at no cost to SLAS. It is hoped the new foliage will help block any light pollution that might come from homes located to the south. See images 90 & 91 at: http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/slas/SPOC2BUILD08B.HTML . +++++ Utah Man Crusades for Starry Skies Astronomy buff sells fixtures that help fight light pollution. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C640200539%2C00.html +++++ Perseid Earthgrazers When the Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th, the nearly-full Moon is probably going to spoil the show. But there might be something to see before the Moon rises... http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/07aug_perseids.htm?list864576 +++++ Rhea Releases Enceladus Two slim crescents smile toward the Cassini spacecraft following an occultation event. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2226 +++++ Opportunity Approaches the Bowl of Beagle Crater NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity acquired this false-color image of the rim of the 35-meter diameter Beagle Crater... http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20060807a.html +++++ Shuttle, Station Missions Ahead Are Most Challenging Ever With the remaining shuttle missions, NASA will embark on a series of flights as difficult as any in history to complete the International Space Station. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_06288_Atlantis_shuttle_station_… +++++ Mars's Peroxide Snow Would Kill Any Surface Life Dust devils on the red planet help spin off poison precipitation that makes life on the surface impossible, scientists say. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060807-mars-snow.html +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** 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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Ann: Finding NELM and TLM web notes
by Canopus56 07 Aug '06

07 Aug '06

This is to announce a webpage that collects materials on finding telescopic limiting magnitude (TLM) with a good degree of accuracy. members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/tlmnelm/LimitMagFields.htm A step-by-step procedure for beginners that uses Clark's 9 magnitude charted open clusters are used in connection with Schaefer's TLM algorithm is provided. A more in-depth discussion that may appeal to intermediate amateurs is provided. Other features included referenced in the webnote are: 1) An NELM-to-MPSAS and MPSAS-to-NELM javascript calculator 2) A list of TLM and NELM areas 3) A Cartes du Ciel external database that marks A) 10 TLM measuring areas, B) 24 Landolt photometry fields on the celestial equator for use as TLM areas for small telescopes, and C) 44 NELM measuring fields of the IMO and McBeath. 4) An Excel worksheet that aids in finding your telescope's TLM based on the above. 5) Bibliography Any corrections to errors found in the site are welcomed and appreciated. This web note collects materials that grew out of a series of SAA discussions during 2003 and 2004. - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Obs ops for Jul 6-7 Jupiter Double Shadow Trans Mercury Venus
by Canopus56 06 Aug '06

06 Aug '06

1) Sunday, 7/6 at 9:30pm MDT Last Jovian Double Shadow transit for North America of the year Io Ingress 3:53 UTC 8/7 Egress 6:01 UTC 8/7 Sunset occurs with Shadow ingress Europa in progress. Sh Ingress Io 5:08 UTC 8/7 (11:07pm MDT) Source: RASC Handbook 2) Monday morning, sunrise 5:00-6:00AM At 00:30 UTC 8/7 (Sunday night at 6:00PM), Mercury sets invisible in the Sun's glare at its maximum enlongation. On the morning of Monday, July 7 before sunrise, Mecury rises at its maximum apparent enlongation from the Sun and is within 2 degrees of Venus. Source: RASC Handook, MICA, Abrahm's Planetarium Calendar - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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The Right Stuff, but still, look both ways...
by Chuck Hards 05 Aug '06

05 Aug '06

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=404118 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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