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

Gallery?
by Chuck Hards 12 Apr '08

12 Apr '08

Is there still a utah-astronomy photo gallery? My bookmark doesn't work. Is there a new URL?

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V2491 Cyg - nova observing op
by Canopus56 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

Noav V2491 Cyg at VSX J194301.9+321913, mag. 7.5 and brightening - one-third of the way from Albireo (Ã¢ Cygni) to Sadr (Ã£ Cygni). Excerpts from an S&T alert and AAVSO Alert No. 103 follow. ============== >From an S&T Email Alert by R. Sinnott Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:23:13 -0700 (PDT) A 7th-magnitude nova was discovered on April 10, 2008, by Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima in Japan. The new star lies in Cygnus, about one-third of the way from Albireo (Ã¢ Cygni) to Sadr (Ã£ Cygni). From early indications, it may still be brightening. The find was announced today on IAU Circular 8934, issued by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The circular reports that Nishiyama and Kabashima spotted the nova on patrol images taken with a 105-mm camera lens at a point where, three days earlier, no star had appeared. The coordinates of the nova are right ascension 19h 43.0m, declination +32Â° 19' (equinox 2000.0). =============== AAVSO Special Notice #103 V2491 CYGNI (NOVA IN CYGNUS) April 11, 2008 V2491 CYGNI (NOVA IN CYGNUS - NOVA CYG 2008 #2) IAU Circular No. 8934 (D. Green, Ed., Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams) announces the discovery of a nova in Cygnus by Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan, and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan, on unfiltered CCD images taken April 10.728 UT at magnitude 7.7. Nothing is visible at this position on their past survey frames taken on Apr. 3.717 (limiting mag 12.5) and 7.727 (limiting mag 12.7). An apparent independent discovery of this nova at mag ~8.0 by was made by Z.-w. Jin and X. Gao on images taken by Gao on Apr. 10.831 UT at Xingming Observatory, Mt. Nanshan, China (position end figures measured by J. Beize, Beijing, 02.00s, 10.1"; nothing was visible at this position on Xingming images taken on Apr. 8.831 (limiting mag about 14). K. Haseda (Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan) finds nothing brighter than mag 12.3 on patrol images taken Apr. 4.774 UT. N. N. Samus, Institute of Astronomy, Moscow, reports that this nova is being assigned the name V2491 Cyg. Coordinates from Nishiyama and Kabashima: R.A. = 19:43:01.96 Decl. = +32:19:13.8 (equinox 2000.0) Confirming images by E. Guido and G. Sostero, Remanzacco, Italy, taken April 11 remotely with a 0.25-m reflector near Mayhill, NM, show the nova at position end figures 01.98s, 13.5". They report that a Palomar Oschin Schmidt telescope plate from 1995 Aug. 3 shows an apparent star with red mag ~18 at this location; they also provide the following photometry: (uncertainty +/- 0.05 mag in each color): Apr. 11.36, B = 8.06, V = 7.54, R = 7.04; 11.46, 8.20, 7.77, 7.15. G. Klingenberg, Mo i Rana, Norway, reports the following photometry from CCD images taken with a 25-cm reflector near Mayhill, NM: Apr. 11.333, V = 7.63; 11.335, B = 8.06; 11.440, V = 7.74; 11.443, B = 8.15. An image by K. Kadota, Ageo, Saitama-ken, Japan, on Apr. 11.741 UT yields mag 7.4 and position end figures 01.98s, 14.1". Kadota notes that a USNO- B1.0-catalogue star has position end figures 02.039s, 13.84" and red magnitudes 15.5 and 16.3 (different epochs from Palomar Sky Survey plates). CBET 1334 (D. Green, Ed., Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams) announces that K. Ayani, Bisei Astronomical Observatory and K. Matsumoto, Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan, write that low-resolution spectra of V2491 Cyg obtained Apr. 11.72 UT indicate that the object is a nova in its early phase of outburst. Fe II emission may be present. V2491 Cyg has been added to VSX (pending approval) and has been assigned the identifier VSX J194301.9+321913. It has also been assigned the AAVSO unique ID 000-BFT-191. A finder chart for the V2491 Cyg field may be generated using VSP: http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/ and entering the coordinates. The name V2491 CYG should shortly generate a finder chart as well. A comparison star sequence has not yet been established for V2491 Cyg. Please be sure to indicate all comparison stars used when submitting data. Visual and photometric observations are requested. Please report your observations to the AAVSO as 'V2491 CYG' (AUID 000-BFT-191). Congratulations to the discovers of V2491 Cyg! This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by Elizabeth O. Waagen. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Bino-viewers
by Chuck Hards 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

Can anyone comment on wide-field eyepiece performance in bino-viewers? I'm wondering specifically about noticeable vignetting with AFOV's exceeding 60-degrees.

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Star Party Tomorrow, Friday April 11, South Fork
by Richard Tenney 10 Apr '08

10 Apr '08

Hi all, So far it looks like I'll have 4 helpers for tomorrow; anyone else that can/wants to come up should, with 200 girl scouts all the help the better. Directions to Trefoil ranch: >From the mouth of Provo Canyon (starting the odometer where 800 North in Orem Crosses over University Ave.) it's 5.8 miles to Vivian Park/South Fork, just right off the highway there. Drive South into South Fork Canyon (narrow, winding road that begins at Vivian Park) and follow the road until it dead-ends at the Girl Scout camp (can't remember how far, roughly 5 miles is a guess). I'm not sure about cell phone availability there, but you can try: 801~380~3331 if you have trouble finding it or have any questions. Horizons will be very limited, and with the snow up there we may just set up in the parking lot. I'm guessing it's going to be Saturn, the moon, and maybe a couple of brighter M-objects. I'll also probably do a little constellation talk (with the green laser) for those waiting for a peek through the scopes. See you tomorrow! /Rich --- david kreis <davidkreis(a)sfcn.org> wrote: > Hi myself and I am bringing my professor along he > has a 12 inch reflector > very interesting man we will be there at 5.00-5.45 > please email me some > directions I have never been there > > -----Original Message----- > From: uvaa-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:uvaa-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf > Of Richard Tenney > Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:54 AM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association; > Utah-Astronomy > Subject: Re: [UVAA] Need help with upcoming star > party - Friday April > 11,South Fork > > For those willing to help, they will be serving us > dinner at 6. I know there is snow up there, how > much > I'm trying to find out as I write this. Worst case > they can turn off the lights and we can set up in > the > parking lot, assuming the weather isn't a factor on > Friday. > > Again, with 200 girl scouts, any volunteer help > would > be appreciated! But please RSVP so I can > communicate > it to those providing dinner. > > Call me if you have access to a digital projector > that > I can borrow for the lecture, or if you have any > questions/concerns. > 801~380~3331 (I live in Lindon) > /Rich > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ > ________ > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one > month of Blockbuster > Total Access, No Cost. > http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa > > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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ISS visibility (Was: Star parties this weekend)
by Canopus56 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

More detail notes for imagers on these two ISS passes close to Saturn. I. Friday night For the Friday night pass, the Sun 12 degs below the horizon near astronomical twilight but the pass, when seen from the Salt Lake Valley floor, is about 2.2 degrees from Saturn. This pass is suitable for wide-field photography. Of the two nights, the long range forecast is less favorable for Friday vs. Sunday night, but this opportunity occurs near astronomical twilight while the Sunday night opportunity occurs just 10 minutes after civil sunset. CalSky shows 2008-04-11 21h05m10s ISS Appears 21h00m19s 3.0mag az:305.4Â° NW horizon Culmination 21h05m10s -4.5mag az:217.5Â° SW h:82.2Â° distance: 343.9km height above Earth: 342.2km elevation of sun: -12Â° Disappears 21h06m52s -3.2mag az:131.3Â° SE h:21.7Â° My notes: Passes 2.2 degrees east RA sweep from Saturn. ISS path target at: JE102706+125713 Saturn at: JE101826.5+122937.3 RA sweep from Saturn to ISS path target is: +000840.00+002736.0 at a CCW PA about 260 II. Sunday night The Sunday night pass occurs when the Sun is only 2 degrees below the horizon or about 10 minutes after civil sun. This raises the question of whether 0.4 mag Saturn will be visible to the naked eye and complicates telescopic targeting and imaging. However, the ISS passes within 1 deg of Saturn and with a short-drive to Emigration Canyon or along I-80 you can be directly on the centerline of the ground track for an image that will run directly over Saturn. This potential occulation image of Saturn makes the pass a tempting photo opportunity even though the pass is close after Sunset. Pre-testing locating and imaging of Saturn 10 minutes after sunset between now and Sunday may be a good idea to determine if imaging a pass of Saturn is practical. 10 minutes after sunset, the -4.4 mag ISS should be visible without problems. Even if Saturn is not a practical imaging target, the -4.4 mag ISS will pass about 11 degs from the -10 magnitude near first quarter Moon on a CCW PA of 225. This also may be a good op for taking a fish-eye lens ultra wide angle image of the Moon and the ISS. CalSky shows - 2008-04-13 20h13m02s ISS Appears 20h08m10s 2.5mag az:306.0Â° NW horizon Culmination 20h13m02s -4.4mag az: 37.0Â° NE h:89.5Â° distance: 340.7km height above Earth: 342.0km elevation of sun: -2Â° Disappears 20h17m25s -1.3mag az:127.4Â° SE h:2.0Â° 20h13m38.43s ISS Close to Saturn. Separation=0.978Â° Position Angle=51.7Â° Angular diameter=43.0" size=73.0m x 44.5m x 27.5m Satellite at Azimuth=126.3Â° SE Altitude= 51.1Â° Distance=430.4 km Magnitude=-4.3mag My notes: For an on transit-line ground-track image opportunity, promising public space setups in Salt Lake County include: I-80 Along I-80 at the East Canyon off-ramp. The transit line passes about at the guard station to the East Canyon Dam complex. The guard station has a separate off-ramp about 1 mile west of the East Canyon off-ramp on the westbound (to SLC) side of the freeway. Either setup: a) at the East Canyon exit off-ramp in the UDOT maintenance station parking lot. b) at the East Dam complex off-ramp 1 mile west of the East canyon exit. Both locations are between 1000-1500 ft either east of west of the ground track center line. The UDOT maintenance parking lot is more shielded from freeway noise and lights. Emigration Canyon The transit line is between Skycrest Lane and the turn-off to the Emigration Oaks subdivision (the Pink Garage). (Skycrest Lane is about 2 miles north of Camp Kostopolus.) Setup anywhere in the public turnouts about 1/2 mile north of Camp Kostopolus but south of the Pink Garage should put you within 2000-1000 feet of the centerline. A fire station is under construction next to the Pink Garage. That also might be a potential setup location. - Kurt __________________________________________________ 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] Lunar Graze Obs Opp SLC 4-13 9:48PM
by Canopus56 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

Chuck wrote: > That's amazing. The graze path apparently > crosses my work address! A public space viewing option are the wide grass farming era medians, that run north-south, along 600 and 800 East between 500 South and 900 South. Although the weather does not look good, a private space viewing option might be for an interested club member who lives in the south half of the observing bracket to open up the backyard of your home for an informal private star party. Your backyard would need to have a clear shot of az 210, alt 65, free of tree obstructions. Any interested members who want to sponsor an informal party should post here. - Kurt __________________________________________________ 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] Star parties this weekend
by Canopus56 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

Patrick, The NASA one-click ISS overflight applet is showing an ISS overpass on Friday. I haven't checked the magnitude in CalSky. ISS Fri Apr 11/09:03 PM Duration: 3 minutes Altitude: 82 deg Approach: 33 above WNW Depart: 23 above SE - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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Lunar Graze Obs Opp SLC 4-13 9:48PM
by Canopus56 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

On Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 9:48pm MDT (2008-04-14 3:48 UT), magnitude 6.6, spectral class A0 star HD76706 will graze the northwest quadrant of the Moon as viewed from Salt Lake City, Utah. (The northwest quadrant of the Moon when viewed from the Earth is in the northeast corner of the lunar disk.) This will provide Salt Lake City amateur astronomers the opportunity to observe a lunar graze using telescopes or binoculars. I have created a wikipage with background information on the observing opportunity, including charts, ephemeris times and Google Earth kml plot files of the ground graze path. http://canopus56.wikispaces.com/20080413LunarGraze It is rare to have a lunar grazing occultation traverse directly through the easily accessible largest city in Utah. Such a graze may occur only once every three or four years. If you are a Utah amateur interested in learning about lunar occultation observing, this is a good opportunity to try this observing task without having to drive a long distance. There are over 100 SLAS members within a 10 minute driving distance of the graze-path. The graze path on the SLC valley floor - http://canopus56.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/20080413LG_img12.jpg An animated gif of graze - http://canopus56.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/20080413LG_img09.gif As with all amateur astronomy opportunities in Utah this time of year, the probability of bad weather preventing observering is high. - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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Star parties this weekend
by Patrick Wiggins 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

A reminder that SLAS's first public star parties for 2008 will be held this weekend. This Friday the 11th at the Midvale Harmons (7800 S 700 E) and Saturday the 12th at This is the Place. Y'all come! patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Boattini
by Canopus56 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Chuck wrote: > Kurt, did you buy an Obsession? Ann might be thinking of Steve Fisher. An Obsession is too rich for my pocket. - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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