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

Bryce Festival
by Ann House 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Would anyone like to report on the Astronomy Festival in Bryce Canyon? -A

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Obs Op for July - rare noctilucent clouds
by Canopus56 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I have always been somewhat confused about what is and what is not a noctilucent cloud and whether I have ever actually seen one. I think I have but am not sure. July to the north and northwest after sunset seems to be the best time to try and see one. The following are observing resources related to this rare atmospheric phenomena. British amater imager Pete Lawrence has had good luck imaging the atmospheric phenomena of noctilucent clouds from latitudes similar to Utah. http://lpod.wikispaces.com/July+3%2C+2008 Previously confined to polar latitudes, such clouds have been occuring increasing at lower latitudes. E.g. Noctilucent clouds over Colorado Dec. 22, 2006 http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=342112 Noctilucent clouds over France July 2, 2008 http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080702.html Noctilucent clouds over Hungary Sept. 17, 2007 http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=381664 Noctilucent clouds over Durham England Sept. 16, 2007 http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=381600 The maximal southern distribution of noctilucent clouds occurs in July. July 20 2007 Polar composite (4.7 meg tiff) showing distribution of noctilucent clouds http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003400/a003484/aim_seasonb_GEOmove.HR… July 24 2007 Polar composite (3meg tiff) showing distribution of noctilucent clouds http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003400/a003484/aim_seasonb_GEOmove.HR… CBS Evening News Broadcast On Noctilucent Clouds http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3896548n AIM Noctilucent Cloud Image Gallery http://aim.hamptonu.edu/library/gallery/gal-nlc.html AIM Mission - 2007 Composite imagery - noctilucent cloud distribution http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003400/a003484/index.html AIM Video Gallery http://aim.hamptonu.edu/library/3video.html AIM Mission Home http://aim.hamptonu.edu/mission/index.html - Schauen Sie zum Himmel an Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bryce Festival
by Canopus56 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Today's APOD features a Bryce Canyon astronomy photo taken last Monday morning by Canadian RASC member Wally Pacholka: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080703.html - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bryce Festival
by David Roberts 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

First let me thank everyone involved with this endeavor. From where I stood it looked quite successful and very professional. I could only come Saturday night, and quite late at that. like most people who live in the Bryce Canyon area, I work two jobs in the summer and free time is a rare thing to be treasured. Slight cloud cover not withstanding, the views I got were great. I always make a point of looking at Jupiter first when ever I can and I was not disappointed. (Thanks Dave). Jupiter has such historical significance, but I'm preaching to the choir. (Thanks Galileo). Unfortunately, Bryce is not thought of so much as a destination, as more of a side trip. The good news for that is you most likely had few "repeaters" (although that would have been good too) but you most likely exposed a lot of new people over those nights. If anybody is in the neighborhood any time soon, give us a honk. David Roberts AKA Buffalodavid

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Gravel Quarry Saturday the 5th
by Ann Blanchard 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Is anyone thinking of going to the Gravel Quarry on Saturday the 5th? I know Wolf Creek is scheduled for that weekend, but due to on-going health issues, I can't do an overnight trip, so I was just checking to see if anyone else might be there that night. Thanks! Ann M. Blanchard Executive Assistant to the Associate VP Undergraduate Studies 110 Sill University of Utah (801) 581-3188 a.blanchard(a)ugs.utah.edu

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bryce Festival
by Canopus56 02 Jul '08

02 Jul '08

If SLAS had about 35 scopes there, amongst the membership on this listserv who went to Bryce, how many people do you recall on avergage visited your scopes for nighttime DSO and daytime solar viewing for each day? Assume that each single scope contact visited about 80% of the available 35 telescopes. Based on those rates of visitation, what are total number of contacts? What are the total number of visitors? - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bryce Festival
by Canopus56 02 Jul '08

02 Jul '08

Ann, I believe Patrick picked up Shelia MacFarland's 6/28 followup Tribune article in his news. - Kurt http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9726783?

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Gravel Quarry Fri/Sat Night
by Robert Taylor 30 Jun '08

30 Jun '08

There will be a small group up at the Z-Rock Gravel Quarry (Pit) outside Park city Friday and Saturday nights. For those not able to attend the activities at Bryce Canyon the weather looks great and temps should be fairly warm, the Moon is not scheduled to make an appearance till after 2AM giving us several good hours of viewing at a relatively dark sky close to SLC. Join us if you can. The SLAS website has a map (SLAS.US) to the site. Bob Taylor

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