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

Persieds
by Kim 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Last night (Wednesday) was such a beautiful evening that I was almost sorry that I had promised to take the family to a movie. From the local drive-in I saw three Perseids and one sporadic during the course of the two-hour movie. The screen’s orientation from the car was due west, and all three Perseids appeared toward the southwest. Two were about 40 degrees altitude; the other was perhaps 70 degrees altitude. This third Perseid was very bright, I’d say brighter than first magnitude, and all three appeared greenish. Hoping that the weather holds for the weekend… Kim No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.10/943 - Release Date: 8/8/2007 5:38 PM

4 7

observing sites responses
by Taylor 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Thanks to all who have responded so far to my questions about Utah observing/camping sites. I welcome all responses and look forward to my trip in October. I looked at a climate summary that showed that it is typically fairly mild and dry in October. Hopefully that will be the case this year. The wedge overlook sounds interesting. Is there any place fairly close by to get food and water? I can't carry very much on my motorcycle when it's loaded and would probably need to set up camp and leave my gear there in order to carry very much food or water back to camp. Taylor

3 3

Re: [Utah-astronomy] observing sites in Utah
by Debbie 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Erik, I was at Bryce Canyon that year when Chad Moore talked about the skies being the darkest at Natural Bridges National Monument. He got my attention when he said it was darker than Bryce Canyon. I wish it wasn't so far way from St George. Dead Horse State Park another great place to stargaze . They have a group campground that makes it nice for star parties. I viewed "The Mice" there one year. I hope I can make it this year. Debbie On Wed Aug 8 16:18 , erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net sent: >>Hi Debbie > > Darkest in Utah has alot of competition. Utah has competition with West >Texas, Texas Star Party Site, EverGlades and Florida Keys sites of the >Southern Cross Winter Star Party, and in Oregon the Table Mountain Star >Party is pretty dark (I hear I've never attended that Star Party). > >Chad Moore, SLAS member and NPS Ranger at Bryce has represented the issue >in DC. IE: Protecting Dark Sky for National Parks and has taken scientific >measurements, as I recall Bryce was darkest that he measured. Some other >list contributers may remember his presentation to SLAS better than I. He >talked at a SLAS meeting about 3 years ago, I remember Don Colton being >there to organize the Bryce Star Party. :) > >Erik > > >Taylor, >> >> Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot in the country. I'd like >> to go >> there myself in the fall. Here is a link. >> >> http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm >> >> The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come >> first-serve basis. >> There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest >> town is >> Blanding. >> >> Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie >> "Galaxy >> Quest" starring Tim Allen. >> >> Debbie >> >> On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' stargzr(a)alltel.net> sent: >> >>>Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts, >>> >>> >>> >>> I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to >>> the >>>southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing >>> research >>>for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a >>> link >>>to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a >>>couple of questions. >>> >>> >>> >>>Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah >>> but >>>the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a >>>journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations >>> in >>>southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is >>> available. >>> >>> >>> >>>I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State >>>Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks >>>before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley >>> and >>>have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. >>>sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take >>> excursions >>>during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since >>>I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring. >>> >>> >>> >>>Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you >>>recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for >>> stargazing? >>> >>> >>> >>>Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in >>> southeastern >>>Utah that you would recommend? >>> >>> >>> >>>What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky >>>generally clear then? >>> >>> >>> >>>I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have >>>company if some of you would like to meet up in October! >>> >>> >>> >>>Thanks, >>> >>> >>> >>>Taylor Christiansen >>> >>>Western North Carolina >>> >>> >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>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 >> > > > >_______________________________________________ >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

3 3

Laser Test
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Hi Chuck, I would not want to start a war between the different branches of our military. But, I know a few fromer Marine and Army helicopter pilots that say all they need, to bag one of those fancy jets, is a place to hide and a good air-air missile. Erik

5 9

Re: [Utah-astronomy] observing sites responses
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Taylor, Pulled this map off of our website. I have more detailed map if you like. Cedar Mountain Campground is an overlook for the Wedge. Is also worth considering, it is almost 2000ft Higher. Less visited by potential campground theives. http://www.slas.us/IMAGES/MAPS/WEDGECEDARMTN.jpg Erik >Taylor, Yes, there is a general store about 30 miles from the overlook, I can't remember the name, you pass it on your way in. If you contact me off list I can send you a map, I think it is Cleveland, Utah. The road can be tricky, different problems for each route, ie: different kinds of road surfaces, dirt and gravel. Well graded but when wet some sections can be almost sheet ice slick.The Cleveland/Lloyd Dinosuar Quary has some nice dino skeletons, petrified dino tracks on the way. Recently improved visitor center. Castle Dale is further but has the local ranger office, we had an emergency out there one day. Non SLAS event. Erik Thanks to all who have responded so far to my questions about Utah > observing/camping sites. I welcome all responses and look forward to my trip in October. I looked at a climate summary that showed that it is typically fairly mild and dry in October. Hopefully that will be the case this year. > > > > The wedge overlook sounds interesting. Is there any place fairly close by to get food and water? I can't carry very much on my motorcycle when it's loaded and would probably need to set up camp and leave my gear there in order to carry very much food or water back to camp. > > > > Taylor > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] observing sites in Utah
by Debbie 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Taylor, Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot in the country. I'd like to go there myself in the fall. Here is a link. http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come first-serve basis. There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest town is Blanding. Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen. Debbie On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' <stargzr(a)alltel.net> sent: >Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts, > > > > I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the >southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research >for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link >to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a >couple of questions. > > > >Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but >the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a >journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in >southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available. > > > >I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State >Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks >before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and >have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. >sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions >during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since >I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring. > > > >Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you >recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing? > > > >Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern >Utah that you would recommend? > > > >What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky >generally clear then? > > > >I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have >company if some of you would like to meet up in October! > > > >Thanks, > > > >Taylor Christiansen > >Western North Carolina > > > >_______________________________________________ >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

3 3

Asteriods
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Julie, On the subject of asteriods and Patrick help me out here. In the next decade an asteriod will pass between the earth and moon so close, that according to Sky&Telescope we will here the hissing while it passes. Should be an impressive spectacle, maybe that will wake the world up the dangers of asteriods. The massive fires caused by impacts of asteriods are the events that have dramatically increased CO2 levels in the earths 4 billion year history. There is also theory out there that the moons formation may have been influenced or even created by a massive asteriod impact. Of course we can thank asteriods for our existence by getting rid of the pesky dinosaurs and make way for us mammals. What species will repalce us? Erik

3 3

Laser "test" at SPOC tomorrow?
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

I've exchanged emails with the Ogden club. They will be on Antelope Island tomorrow night while SLAS is at SPOC. Years ago I remember being able to see (using scopes) signs near SPOC from Antelope Island. So tomorrow night we're going to see if it's possible to see laser beams shined from AI to SPOC and vice-versa. Anyone here interested in taking part? pw

8 15

Commercial space: Project your own image
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/projections/ pw

1 0

Perseids on August 12-13
by Kurt Fisher 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

Kim, from an old post of mine on this topic. - Kurt alpha = altitude of the radiant above the local horizon at a local time * pi() / 180 hr_alpha = zhr * sin(alpha) =============== Conversion of ZHR to hourly rate off-zenith The zenith hourly rate is the rate observed when the shower is at local observer's zenith. The International Meteor Organization gives the following information regarding when the meteor shower's radiant is not on the observer's local zenith: "Table 1 gives the number of meteors an observer might expect to see at different radiant elevations if the ZHR amounted to the impressive value of 100. Now you can imagine what you will see with a radiant elevation of 10° if the ZHR is not as impressive as 100. Therefore, when planning your watch you should take care that the radiant will have a reasonable elevation for the whole watch. For several reasons the lower limit is about 20°. Table 1: Numbers of meteors visible per hour for a ZHR=100 shower and different radiant elevations h (limiting magnitude of 6.5m) h in ° | 90 | 70 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 n | 100 | 94 | 77 | 64 | 50 | 34 | 17 " Source: IMO. http://www.imo.net/visual/major01.html IMO Table 1 appears to follow a simple sin function - alpha = altitude of the radiant above the local horizon at a local time * pi() / 180 hr_alpha = zhr * sin(alpha) where hr_alpha is the predicated hourly rate at the selected altitude of the radiant above the local observer's horizon. _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

2 1