May 2007 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tooele Airport to Expand - Impact on SPOC?
by Kurt Fisher 25 May '07

25 May '07

Guy wrote: > Kurt, I'm thinking the only impact to SPOC operations > will be in the reduced use of laser pointers. ;) I'm thinking in terms of night operations, runway lights, increased night landing overflights depending on the orientation of the runway(s), and if they are expanding, getting some formal acknowledgement and exception for use of educational GLPs at SPOC. If we are on any revised air maps as using GLPs that'll reduce future conflicts. Will SPOC be on a night landing route - making it like West Valley City and the SL Int'l Airport? - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Tonight: Three planets line up in west at sunset
by Kurt Fisher 25 May '07

25 May '07

Saturn, Venus, Mecury. You knew that -:), but here's a quick finder chart: http://spaceweather.com/images2007/25may07/skymap_west.gif from http://spaceweather.com - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Variable Sun?
by Kurt Fisher 25 May '07

25 May '07

Kim asked: > Note: The following is NOT a discussion of global warming > but of historic evidence for a variable Sun. So, please > no one take offense. . . . . Does anyone know of reliable > observations of changes in the Sun's output that might have > been made by earlier cultures, that is, other than > the Maunder Minimum? Kim, You may find this webpage at the Standford Solar Center of interest on solar variability: http://solar-center.stanford.edu/sun-on-earth/glob-warm.html "Ancient Observations Link Changes in Sun's Brightness and Earth's Climate" by Kevin D. Pang and Kevin K. Yao; EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Volume 83, number 43, 22 October 2002, pages 481+. Marriott Library carries EOS. - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Variable Sun?
by Michael Carnes 25 May '07

25 May '07

>One day there simply won't be >anymore available sources (for a long, long, time, at least!). I've been ignoring this issue, but can't keep myself from commenting on this remark of Chuck's... After humanity has been extinct (on whatever grounds) for a few hundred million years, perhaps there will be some other race of beings to develop a technology. They may come to the same dilemma. But the fossil fuel they're burning will be us. Pace, MC

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Variable Sun?
by Kurt Fisher 24 May '07

24 May '07

Don wrote: > The solar impact on global warming may be greater than the > Stanford article assumes due to cosmic rays. Also cosmic > rays from other sources may have an impact. Thanks for the links, Don, but I decline to discuss global warming or intelligent design in this listserv because, based on last winters' threads, I feel it is divisive to the group's cohesion. My own preference is to see more posts of SLAS members astrophotos, observing reports, arrangements for small group observing at the Gravel Pit, discussion of astrophotography techniques, astronomy-telescope GAS (gearhead acquisition syndrome-disorder), etc. Respect, regards and clear skies - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Earth from various spacecraft
by Patrick Wiggins 24 May '07

24 May '07

A Planetary Society site showing views of Earth from various spacecraft: http://planetary.org/explore/topics/earth/spacecraft.html pw

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Star Party this Friday.
by Dunn, David 24 May '07

24 May '07

OAS has a star party that we could use some help with. It is Friday night at the Weber County Fair Grounds. They are having a Boy Scout Jamborall for the Trapper Trails council. They are expecting 5 to 8 thousand people. We will be setting up north of the Golden Spike Arena. We should enter through the VIP parking entrance. I have included the driving directions below. If any of you can come up and help it would be appreciated. The Golden Spike Event Center is located approximately 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, Utah at 1000 North 1200 West in Ogden, Utah. Take I-15 to exit 346 then follow the Fair Grounds Signs. Thanks, Dave

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Question On Recently Discovered Planet
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 24 May '07

24 May '07

In a message dated 5/23/2007 11:57:40 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, kimharch(a)cut.net writes: I think the earth pretty darn special. We are going to have to look long and hard before we find one with temperatures and other physical conditions similar to what we have here. In my own mental wanderings, I take it for granted that there are many other systems (albeit very far away) with worlds harboring life at all levels. I like to imagine an interplanetary tour group passing by our system. I wonder whether Saturn would seem unusual to them, and whether our own Earth is unusual with a single moon of such a comparatively large size. I imagine there are some pretty spectacular other systems out there with characteristics that would astound me. I wonder whether the tour group would think Earth is as special as I think it is, or whether it is just like their own worlds. I wonder if there are desert planets, winter planets, or jungle or watery worlds (I guess I have watched a lot of Star Wars movies.) In any event if Earth has so much diversity and beauty, I like to imagine the rest of the universe would knock my socks off! Mike Bailey ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

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Obs Report - UofU Star Party - South Physics Bldg. 5-23-2007
by Kurt Fisher 24 May '07

24 May '07

Physics Student Greg Engh was the UofU docent for tonight. Observed the Moon for 2 hours fitting in 8 general public star party guests during my own after work pleasure viewing on one of the U's LX200s. This was the last night for convenient observing of the Moon before midnight at an altitude of higher than 60 degrees until September. Generally, the Moon will be between 40 and 50 degrees altitude during June's night observing window and lower than 40 degrees in July and August. There are only a few 60 deg plus observing opportunities through September - usually in the 4AM time frame or daylight observing. I used 134x to 223x. Tonight was a night of showcase rimae. Four major rimae were visible moving only 1 or 2 eyepiece views from Rima Hygnius. I was able to see almost all of the fine intersecting detail in Rimae Trisnecker. Rima Hyginus Rükl34 Rükl33 http://www.lpod.org/archive/archive/2004/02/LPOD-2004-02-25.htm Rima Ariadaeus Rükl34 Rükl35 http://www.lpod.org/archive/archive/2004/03/LPOD-2004-03-31.htm Rimae Triesnecker Rükl33 http://www.lpod.org/?m=20060201 http://www.lpod.org/?m=20061103 Rimae Sulpicius Gallus Rükl23 http://www.lpod.org/?m=20060211 Shadows cast to the west by the rim of C. Cassini won the award for the "most like a 1950s science fiction movie" while northern C. W. Bond at low angle illumination showed its spectaular hommocky floor terrain. C. W. Bond is a Plato like crater that has been half filled with a mare size impact ejecta. http://www.lpod.org/?m=20060214 - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] What will we see in the nightsky Firday and Sat night?
by Kurt Fisher 23 May '07

23 May '07

Chuck, Thanks for the obvious catches. - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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