October 2008 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Incoming! (update)
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Oct '08

06 Oct '08

This is an AstroAlert from Sky & Telescope. Rock From Space To Burn Up Over Africa OCTOBER 6, 2008 A very tiny asteroid, not much more than 10 feet across, will enter Earth's atmosphere over Sudan in Africa tonight, October 6-7, 2008, near 2:46 Greenwich Mean Time. Most likely it will burn up before hitting the ground, but it could produce a spectacular fireball, or bolide, in the night sky equivalent to the explosion of about a kiloton of TNT. These are the assessments of astronomers Andrea Milani of NEODyS in Italy and Steve Chesley (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). They are concerned that eyewitnesses might misinterpret the event as some type of hostile military action. Says Milani, "The earlier the public worldwide is aware that this is a natural phenomenon, which involves no risk, the better." The first observatory to capture images of 2008 TC3 (as it's now designated) were Richard Kowalski and colleagues of Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, about 12 hours ago. Confirming measurements were quickly secured by amateur astronomer James McGaha at Sabino Canyon Observatory near Tucson, and then by Gordon Garrad and others at Australia's Siding Spring Observatory and also Christopher Jacques and E. Pimentel using the Global Rent-a-Scope site in Moorook, near Melbourne. First to point out that the incoming object was heading right for a collision with Earth's atmosphere was Bill Gray of Project Pluto, in a post earlier today to the Minor Planet Mailing List. Canadian amateur Andrew Lowe has independently calculated the object's point of entry to be over Sudan. The object's entry might be visible as far north as southern Europe and the Middle East. Its location in the sky, however, is completely dependent on an observer's geographic location. As further details become known, be sure to look at the online version of this AstroAlert at SkyandTelescope.com/AstroAlert for possible updates. Roger W. Sinnott Senior Editor Sky & Telescope

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New Yorker Cartoon
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Oct '08

06 Oct '08

New Yorker Cartoon http://tiny.cc/03LSA Grins, patrick

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Incoming!
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Oct '08

06 Oct '08

From spaceweather.com: ASTEROID 2008 TC3: A small, newly-discovered asteroid named 2008 TC3 is approaching Earth and chances are good that it will hit. Steve Chesley of JPL estimates that atmospheric entry will occur on Oct 7th at 0246 UTC over northern Sudan [ref]. Measuring only a few meters across, the space rock poses no threat to the ground, but it should create a spectacular fireball, releasing about a kiloton of energy as it disintegrates and explodes in the atmosphere. patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Seeking Science Movie Night suggestions
by zaurak＠digis.net 06 Oct '08

06 Oct '08

Was not OJ Simpson in that also? That might stimulate a different discussion. --- a.blanchard(a)ugs.utah.edu wrote: From: "Ann Blanchard" <a.blanchard(a)ugs.utah.edu> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Seeking Science Movie Night suggestions Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 14:30:35 -0600 It might be interesting to do Capricorn I, the film with Elliott Gould about NASA faking a Mars landing. On first glance you might find this an odd choice, but it is quite entertaining and could stimulate discussion about why one really could not fake that kind of thing (both the scale of the deception and the technical aspects of the broadcasts, etc.), along with issues of the what the pressures of funding, or lack of, can push people to do. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 8:53 PM To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Seeking Science Movie Night suggestions For those who may not know, the U of U's Utah Museum of Natural History has a program called Science Movie Night wherein monthly they screen a "sciency" movie at the main SLC library after which they have and have a guest speaker speak, and interact with the audience, about the movie. Admission is free. I've been asked to do another, probably sometime early next year so now I need to come up with a movie. Being an "astro-geek" I usually do something with an astronomy and/or space exploration theme. Any suggestions? Note that the movie need not be (and I prefer it not be _hard_ science). I tend to lean towards entertaining documentaries, movies loosely based on true events (we've done October Skies a couple of times) or even science fiction (I've been giving some thought to The Day the Earth Stood Still which could lead to some political discussions in the Q&A after). Suggestions? Clear skies! patrick _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 68, Issue 7
by Gary Vardon 05 Oct '08

05 Oct '08

The reverse makes more sense. Socialism will survive because capitalists (businessmen) will bail it out voluntarily or otherwise. Sincerely, Gary Vardon -----Original Message----- From: Robert Taylor Sent: Saturday, October 4, 2008 7:16 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 68, Issue 7 Only Socialists say that. The facts are quite different. Robert Taylor ************** Message: 1 Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:26:15 -0700 From: <zaurak(a)digis.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <20081002172615.BA720A8E(a)resin18.mta.everyone.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" It has been said Capitalism will survive because socialism will bail it out. The Current bail-out has grown to 1 trillion dollars. _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff?
by Canopus56 04 Oct '08

04 Oct '08

Don Colton wrote upthread: > SpaceX wants to do it; see http://www.spacex.com/. They are building the > Falcon 9 human rated launch vehicle for trips to the space station > and eventually interplanetary satellite missions. I think we will never see > substantial space exploration unless it becomes commercially viable. In a spaceplane prototype program transferred from NASA to DARPA, the X-37B, a robotic, unmanned, space plane, took the LRO's launch spot, for this December. "The X-37B is about one-quarter the length and width of a space shuttle orbiter. The reusable space plane is being manufactured by Boeing's Phantom Works division and will weigh about 11,000 pounds at launch, according to the Air Force." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37 The X-37B was dead stick drop flight tested from the White Knight in 2006. Public pictures from the 2006 test are probably the best showing what it looks like - http://spaceports.blogspot.com/2006/04/x-37-flys-from-mojave-spaceport.html The X-37B is launched in a sealed faring on top of an Altas V booster. It is unclear to me whether it will be launch from Kennedy or Vandenberg. - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 68, Issue 7
by Robert Taylor 04 Oct '08

04 Oct '08

Only Socialists say that. The facts are quite different. Robert Taylor ************** Message: 1 Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:26:15 -0700 From: <zaurak(a)digis.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <20081002172615.BA720A8E(a)resin18.mta.everyone.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" It has been said Capitalism will survive because socialism will bail it out. The Current bail-out has grown to 1 trillion dollars.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff?
by zaurak＠digis.net 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

I remember in the early 70's my older brother was attending Annapolis and they were working on lasers there back then. There is a book titled "Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos" (I can't recall author offhand) it tells a lot of stories about applications of astronomical discoveries. The one I remember was about the discovery of the background radiation. Most of the physicians I worked with had research funded by the government. --- retenney(a)yahoo.com wrote: From: Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:19:16 -0700 (PDT) My dad spent most of his electrical engineering career at the Naval Electronics Lab in San Diego. I remember a tour of the lab once when he won a management award for his team's research into radar analysis. The lab had a great deal of various research going on (this was in the late 60's or early 70's when I was there) in fiber optics, lasers, and a number of other advanced electronics projects that the Navy was interested in. I don't think any of us realize just how much government money has contributed to advances in science. --- On Thu, 10/2/08, zaurak(a)digis.net <zaurak(a)digis.net> wrote: > From: zaurak(a)digis.net <zaurak(a)digis.net> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 6:26 PM > You are talking about by by products of past research. Most > research done by universities is government funded. > Some advances in Stem Cells have been made, increased > funding is needed. > Cancer Research has suffered greatly from decreased > funding. > I can't speak to all you mention but Microwaves were > born out of astronomy research. > Drugs for profit we end up with Viagra, but poor flu > vaccines and anti-biotics that become less and less > effective. > Well don't get me started on phramaceuticals. The US > does not have the best healthiest population among western > nations. > Electricity is dependent on infra-structure built by tax > dollars. > I also submit NASA is responsible for many advances, that > are not apparent. > > It has been said Capitalism will survive because socialism > will bail it out. The Current bail-out has grown to 1 > trillion dollars. > > --- jchorley(a)gmail.com wrote: > > From: "Julie Chorley" <jchorley(a)gmail.com> > To: "Utah Astronomy" > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? > Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 15:37:24 -0600 > > Harnessing electricity, light bulbs, telephones, > microwaves, computers, .. > well I won't list all the technology that science (not > funded by the > goverment) has provided. Compare the advances in computer > technology against > those made by NASA. Back when man first went to the moon, > a computer took > an entire room. These days we carry them around. If NASA > were making the > same sort of progress that private industry has made, > we'd be colonizing > Mars by now. > > Another example? Stem cell research. Just last month > scientists made a huge > leap forward in a cure for Type I diabetes by reprogramming > pancreatic cells > in mice to produce insulin. These scientists are funded by > private parties, > not the US goverment. So were most of the life-saving > drugs on the market > today. > > Unfortunately with goverment agencies, there's too much > red tape, politics, > bureaucracy and personal agendas that get in the way. I > think the lack of > progress that NASA has made since the '60s is a perfect > example of this. > Private companies are more driven to suceed because they > have to or they > die. I'm happy to see Spacex's efforts towards > making space exploration > commonplace. Who knows maybe a little competition might > breathe new life > into NASA. > > > On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 1:05 PM, <zaurak(a)digis.net> > wrote: > > > Good quote Kurt, Science and Research inspire and > benefit citizens. > > Profitability is a poor measure of the value of > Science, government funding > > is needed for it to thrive. > > It would be a shame if tax policy kills NASA, not to > mention what it would > > do to some Utah companies. > > > > --- canopus56(a)yahoo.com wrote: > > > > From: Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> > > To: Utah Astronomy List Serv > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right > Stuff? > > Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 11:10:04 -0700 (PDT) > > > > My light non-scientific reading for the summer was > Randy Pausch's popular > > swan-song, _The Last Lecture_. The following quote at > p. 131 succintly > > captured, for me, the role of the Apollo program and > big science in general, > > in the public mind: > > > > "Men first walked on the moon during the summer > of 1969, when I was eight > > years old. I knew then that pretty much anything was > possible. It was as if > > all of us, all over the world, had been given > permission to dream big > > dreams." > > > > - Kurt > > > > P.S. - Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first > day that NASA began > > operations - that is the first day of the 1958 federal > fiscal year. The > > other 50th NASA birthday, celebrated earlier this > year, was July 29, 1958, > > the date that Eisenhower signed the NASA organic act. > > > > Yesterday's APOD showing the Bumper V-2 launch > from Cape Canaveral July, > > 1950: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081001.html > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > > Visit the Wiki: 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > > Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > -- > Julie Chorley > _______________________________________________ > 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > Visit the Wiki: 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > Visit the Wiki: 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff?
by zaurak＠digis.net 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

You are talking about by by products of past research. Most research done by universities is government funded. Some advances in Stem Cells have been made, increased funding is needed. Cancer Research has suffered greatly from decreased funding. I can't speak to all you mention but Microwaves were born out of astronomy research. Drugs for profit we end up with Viagra, but poor flu vaccines and anti-biotics that become less and less effective. Well don't get me started on phramaceuticals. The US does not have the best healthiest population among western nations. Electricity is dependent on infra-structure built by tax dollars. I also submit NASA is responsible for many advances, that are not apparent. It has been said Capitalism will survive because socialism will bail it out. The Current bail-out has grown to 1 trillion dollars. --- jchorley(a)gmail.com wrote: From: "Julie Chorley" <jchorley(a)gmail.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 15:37:24 -0600 Harnessing electricity, light bulbs, telephones, microwaves, computers, .. well I won't list all the technology that science (not funded by the goverment) has provided. Compare the advances in computer technology against those made by NASA. Back when man first went to the moon, a computer took an entire room. These days we carry them around. If NASA were making the same sort of progress that private industry has made, we'd be colonizing Mars by now. Another example? Stem cell research. Just last month scientists made a huge leap forward in a cure for Type I diabetes by reprogramming pancreatic cells in mice to produce insulin. These scientists are funded by private parties, not the US goverment. So were most of the life-saving drugs on the market today. Unfortunately with goverment agencies, there's too much red tape, politics, bureaucracy and personal agendas that get in the way. I think the lack of progress that NASA has made since the '60s is a perfect example of this. Private companies are more driven to suceed because they have to or they die. I'm happy to see Spacex's efforts towards making space exploration commonplace. Who knows maybe a little competition might breathe new life into NASA. On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 1:05 PM, <zaurak(a)digis.net> wrote: > Good quote Kurt, Science and Research inspire and benefit citizens. > Profitability is a poor measure of the value of Science, government funding > is needed for it to thrive. > It would be a shame if tax policy kills NASA, not to mention what it would > do to some Utah companies. > > --- canopus56(a)yahoo.com wrote: > > From: Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> > To: Utah Astronomy List Serv <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? > Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 11:10:04 -0700 (PDT) > > My light non-scientific reading for the summer was Randy Pausch's popular > swan-song, _The Last Lecture_. The following quote at p. 131 succintly > captured, for me, the role of the Apollo program and big science in general, > in the public mind: > > "Men first walked on the moon during the summer of 1969, when I was eight > years old. I knew then that pretty much anything was possible. It was as if > all of us, all over the world, had been given permission to dream big > dreams." > > - Kurt > > P.S. - Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first day that NASA began > operations - that is the first day of the 1958 federal fiscal year. The > other 50th NASA birthday, celebrated earlier this year, was July 29, 1958, > the date that Eisenhower signed the NASA organic act. > > Yesterday's APOD showing the Bumper V-2 launch from Cape Canaveral July, > 1950: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081001.html > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > Visit the Wiki: 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com > Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com > -- Julie Chorley _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff?
by zaurak＠digis.net 02 Oct '08

02 Oct '08

Seems spending needs to reigned in for all agencies. It does seem we will probably not be able to rely on Russians soon (Ukraine and Georgia). NASA does face some real challenges, they should probably start telling public how we benefit from NASA. Our debt is closing in on 11 trillion, I would bet all government agencies (including Pentagon) spending will be highly scrutinized. Republican or Democrat the government continues to grow, despite any rhetoric. Resources are dwindling and society will have to make tough choices. I can say this because I am not running for political office. --- sjseebergp(a)webtv.net wrote: From: sjseebergp(a)webtv.net (Jeanette Seeberg) To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com (Utah Astronomy) Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] NASA Lost the Right Stuff? Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 04:50:31 -0700 Robert As with many areas of life, business, and government, we currently lack leadership. In my opinion. Jan from Vancouver USA _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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