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

RE: [Utah-astronomy] New Pretty Picture of NGC7380
by Tyler Allred 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

Rich, This object is near M52 and the Bubble Nebula that Patrick shot. It is described as an "open cluster with nebulosity", and the listed magnitude is 7.2. The brightest star in the field is SAO 34824, which is magnitude 6.3. My gut feeling is that you would be pressed to see much of the nebulosity visually, but perhaps with a scope like yours you could detect it. Give it a try and let me know what you see. Cheers, Tyler PS - The coordinates are: RA: 22h 47m 40.724s Dec: +58°31'13.099" RA: 22h 47m 23.239s Dec: +58°28'58.912" (Epoch 2000) _____________________________________________________________________ Rich said: <Beautiful as usual Tyler. Reminds me a little of the <rippled foot of a big sea slug. ;o) How difficult is <this object visually (and where in the sky is it)?

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25x100 binos for sale
by Patrick Wiggins 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

Just to make the $70 price of Chuck's 11x80s look good I'll note that I still have the 25x100s I bought in January and used only once (once was enough to tell me they are much bigger than what I had imagined). Here's Chuck's description from last January: "FOTAR 25x100mm binocular BAK-4 prisms, alloy aluminum body, individual eyepiece focus, multi-coated optics, long eye-relief, integral tripod adapter (the same type as above). These are the identical OEM binocular as the Celestron 25x100mm and Apogee 25x100 bino." I'm into them a tad over $200 but I like round numbers so let's just say I'm asking an even $200. pw

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"Pretty pictures" are a pain
by Patrick Wiggins 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

With so much asteroid astrometry being done by automated programs I've been spending more time recently _trying_ to take "pretty pictures". It's a real chore. Getting the light images is almost the easiest part. Then there's making the darks and the flats and then median combining them and using those to reduce the lights. I'm just glad at least part of the process is automated. I'm still not 100% happy with my work but the following are the first I like enough to share. It's somewhat frustrating that the star images in each of the individual 30 second exposures are smaller than in the end result but I find they also grow if one shoots one long exposure rather than the several short ones these shots are made from. I think there's something called masking that may make the stars smaller but I have not gotten there yet. Both pictures are made up from 20 unguided thirty second light exposures which were reduced with 20 thirty second darks and 20 8.5 second flats. All work done with CCDSoft, Graphic Converter and, of course, PhotoShop (the latter to adjust the contrast a bit and to shrink the images to a manageable size for sharing via the web). Images shot through a C-14 operating at f/5.2 using an SBIG ST-10XME. If all of that is Greek to you it's because you're too smart to get into this craziness. :) Spiral galaxy NGC 7331 (and many smaller friends): http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/slas/patrickw/PATRICKW1011.JPG Bubble Nebula (Caldwell 11): http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/slas/patrickw/PATRICKW1012.JPG Both pictures were made tonight. Doing stuff like this makes me appreciate many of the images I see on the UA gallery which entail much longer exposures and a whole lot more work. pw

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] "Pretty pictures" are a pain
by David Dunn 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

Patrick, I really like the very faint cloud near the Bubble. Very neat. Dave

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] "Pretty pictures" are a pain
by Tyler Allred 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

Hi Patrick. I like your images very much! Tyler

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20x80mm binos for sale
by Chuck Hards 19 Sep '06

19 Sep '06

I have available a brand-new KONUS 20x80mm binocular, with case, for sale to the first person to bring me $70. See more on this bino at: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=288199 This one does not come with the tripod in the Sportsman's Guide package (but at a much lower price- I bought it from a different vendor). Note the integral tie-bar between the prism housings and eyepiece assembly, making an "L" bracket unnecessary. Very heavy-duty, rubber "armored". Contact me off-list if interested. Thanks! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Minor planets
by Dale Hooper 18 Sep '06

18 Sep '06

Hi Patrick, I just got my minor planet observatory code today (G87)! - so I hope you don't mind a question or two. I saw your question on the mpml list and it made me curious. You were asking about problems with the MP images streaking higher than a certain magnitude. I thought it was okay to report the mid-point of the observation? I.e. it doesn't matter if there is some streaking if you get the mid-point position and time (or an end-point position and time). Are you observing NEO's or doing photometry? Is that why this would be more important? I'm more interested in Kuiper belt objects and main belt asteroids - so streaking wouldn't be as big an issue. But, I'm curious about why you needed to avoid streaks. Clear skies, Dale. P.S. I hope you don't mind me posting this here - I'm guessing that there are others that are interested in minor planet observing.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Collecting Meteorites in Utah
by Joe Bauman 17 Sep '06

17 Sep '06

I'd be glad to do an expedition but we need to figure out where. I have some unusual ideas about that. Thanks, Joe >I'm in. > >-------------- Original message -------------- >From: "Kim" <kimharch(a)cut.net> > >> Jeremiah, Patrick, Joe: >> >> I did some research into meteorite hunting in Utah. Chuck Hards, as I >> recall, has done some hunting. I believe there is at least one known strewn >> field near Sevier Lake, but I don't recall how productive it is. Regardless, >> Sevier Lake, when dry, should be a good place to hunt. The Salt Flats would >> also still be a good choice to look, I believe. This last storm may have >> dumped too much water there to make an expedition practical this year. >> >> Jeremiah, for more information you might try the Utah Geological Survey >> office. I believe that there have been articles published in their journal >> over the years documenting meteorite finds in Utah, but I don't recall how >> one may access that information. I know that I saw something written there, >> either an article or in a book - I just don't remember exactly what it was. >> >> I would be interested in joining an expedition. This time of year would be >> wonderful for a combined meterite hunting and nighttime observing trip. >> >> Anyone else game? Say, October new moon? >> >> Kim >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >_______________________________________________ >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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Collecting Meteorites in Utah
by steve.nielsen＠comcast.net 17 Sep '06

17 Sep '06

I'm in. -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Kim" <kimharch(a)cut.net> > Jeremiah, Patrick, Joe: > > I did some research into meteorite hunting in Utah. Chuck Hards, as I > recall, has done some hunting. I believe there is at least one known strewn > field near Sevier Lake, but I don't recall how productive it is. Regardless, > Sevier Lake, when dry, should be a good place to hunt. The Salt Flats would > also still be a good choice to look, I believe. This last storm may have > dumped too much water there to make an expedition practical this year. > > Jeremiah, for more information you might try the Utah Geological Survey > office. I believe that there have been articles published in their journal > over the years documenting meteorite finds in Utah, but I don't recall how > one may access that information. I know that I saw something written there, > either an article or in a book - I just don't remember exactly what it was. > > I would be interested in joining an expedition. This time of year would be > wonderful for a combined meterite hunting and nighttime observing trip. > > Anyone else game? Say, October new moon? > > Kim > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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2007 Observer's Handbooks and S&T Calendars
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Sep '06

15 Sep '06

2007 Observer's Handbooks and S&T Calendars SLAS will be selling RASC Observer's Handbooks and Sky & Telescope Celestial Wonders wall calendars again this year. 2007 Observer's Handbook Retail price: $31.95 including shipping SLAS price: $17.50 including shipping 2007 Celestial Wonders Calendar Retail price: $12.95 + shipping SLAS price: $7.25 including shipping Orders will need to be prepaid and received by SLAS by this month's SLAS General Meeting (it's on the 26th). Handbooks and calendars will not be drop shipped and will need to be picked up. Prices and conditions apply to all members of all astronomy clubs in Utah (OAS, UVAA) not just SLAS. If you can't make it to the SLAS meeting mail your order and payment (made payable to "Salt Lake Astronomical Society") to SLAS, Box 26114, SLC UT 84126-0114. Handbook http://www.rasc.ca/pubs/OH2007_Cover_Large.jpg Calendar http://www.shopatsky.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1178

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