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

What to Buy
by Jay Eads 27 Sep '08

27 Sep '08

I need some advice. If you could only buy one EP would you buy the 2x Shorty Barlow or would you buy a 32x 2 inch piece? My main goal is to increase what I am seeing in Meisser objects which is where I spend most of my observing time and in some planet observations. Any advice on which if any EP would work (I'm looking at spending around $50 to $100 right now). Thanks, Jay

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Scope for sale
by Patrick Wiggins 27 Sep '08

27 Sep '08

The following was sent to me off list by Brandon Neff. I don't think he is a UA list member so if you are interested in the scope please contact him directly at Brandon Neff, bbmagic(a)gmail.com +++++ We have a baby coming and I have to find a new home for this old friend. I am the original owner of this Orion SkyQuest XT8 dobsonian telescope (purchased in 2000). It is in very good/like new condition. The tube and optics are like new. The base has some minor cosmetic damage (some warped black plastic trim). The damage does not affect performance and as the scope is used at night, you don't see it when using the scope! Included is a 6x30 finderscope, 40mm, 25mm and 9mm Plossl eyepieces (1.25") and Orion padded carrycase to protect the tube when transporting it in a vehicle. This is the older version of the XT8 Classic. It has the R&P 1.25" focuser and 6x30 finder. I'm asking $250 o.b.o. for the whole package. I have an Orion solar filter that fits this scope and I'd part with it for an extra $100. It is in like new condition, still in the box. It is located in Draper and can be picked up there or in South Jordan. I can also bring it to a star party. Photos are available upon request. +++++

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Star Party tonight in South Fork (Provo) Canyon for BYU astronomy club
by Richard Tenney 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

There's supposed to be 200 people showing up, so come and help or just hang out if you are otherwise home and bored tonight! The turnoff into the park where we will set up is about 3.25 miles up from the turnoff in Provo Canyon at Vivian Park (where we have been before) -- large paved parking area. Not great horizons, but OK for a 15-minute drive up the canyon! See you there, /Rich

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] P.S. - Thanks to Rodger on a great Mars geology talk last night
by Jay Eads 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

I wished I could have been there as I had planned on it. Instead I had my #18 molar pulled due to a failed root canal. I guess October! On 2008-09-18 03:15, Joe Bauman wrote: > Ditto! > > --- On Wed, 9/17/08, Canopus56 <canopus56@???> wrote: > > From: Canopus56 <canopus56@???> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] P.S. - Thanks to Rodger on a great Mars geology talk last night > To: "Utah Astronomy List Serv" <utah-astronomy@???> > Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 12:12 PM > > > > > > > > >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Hello
by Jay Eads 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

Thanks Julie! One of the things I really like about this hobby is sharing it with my son. On Wednesday I was on the 8 inch and my son was on the 6 inch and we were looking for Messier Objects. I found the Ring Nebula, not hard but it was great to find. I walked my son on how to star hop and he found it himself. I stayed on the Ring as I want to draw the Messier's that I find and spend time on them, but he went on and found M13 The Great Hercules Cluster and it looked like he found M27, The Dumbbell Nebula or the Bow Tie as he called it. Needless to say that night I drew the Ring and the M13 and looked at M27. I plan to go back and draw M27 tonight. I was out a lot later then him. Last night it was too cloudy where I live so I am hoping based on Clear Skies that tonight will be a good improvement (I was tired also and a friend said to either rest before observing if tired or pass since the eye won't catch as much . . . . not sure how I feel about that). On 2008-09-26 13:11, Julie Chorley wrote: > Welcome! We're happy to have you with us! > > Julie Chorley > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jay Eads" <jayleads@???> > To: <utah-astronomy@???> > Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:38 PM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Hello > > > > Hello everyone. My name is Jay, and I'm rather new to the hobby. I started > > late last winter/early spring and have really found a hobby that I am > > enjoying and that I can share with my teenage son. > > > > I am using an XT 8 by Orion and a XT 6 by Orion. The 8 has a telrad along > > with the stock finder scope. I also have a finder scope that we use for > > viewing the moon (an old, old one from when I was born in the 1960's that > > was my father's). > > > > I'm joining here to just expand my knowledge of people in the hobby > > locally > > and to have a way to increase my own learning. I'm a teacher and I know > > one > > of the best ways to learn is by doing and from those who have already done > > and know. So I hope to get to know many of you and to reap from your > > knowledge. So hear is to clear skies! > > _______________________________________________ > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > Utah-Astronomy@??? > > 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] Advantures of a newbie
by Jay Eads 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

Gary, I started with bioncs and then moved up to two dobs, the 8 inch Orion and the 6 inch Orion. I was lucky in that I was able to get the 8 inch through a program for educators through Clark Planetarium. If your a teacher in 6th grade elementary or in the secondary system your a teacher you can sign up for $100 and they give you the 8 inch dob, Starry Night Pro, a telrad for your 8 inch scope etc. So if you or an educator is out there, they can get a good scope for attending a week long class where you spend much time in their Hansen Dome getting to know the night sky and learning to star hope. Not quite as good as the actual but not bad. I agree with Patrick that you can join the SLC Astronomical Society and borrow some scopes from them. You can pay online with a credit or debit card via paypal or if your wife/committee is not trusting of such online things like paypal, you can snail mail the application and payment in like I did this week (at least she says she sent them . . . ). I live in the Salt Lake Valley also, in the southwest corner near an ugly open pit mine so if your down my way on a Friday night or Saturday, if conditions are good, I'm in my backyard which is usually dark unless the neighbor leaves his lights on. You could see how it works in that part of the valley. Enjoy and I think it is a wonderful hobby! On 2008-09-23 02:23, Gary Logan wrote: > Hi All, > I am a newbie, just discovering the world of astronomy, and what looks > interesting, fun, and doable. > > It all started when ... > I was out in my backyard a couple of weeks ago after dark, and on a whim I > put my dSLR on my tripod an took a few pictures of the stars. A couple years > ago a friend had told me that the planets were easy to see, and that was in > the back of my mind when I zoomed into a bright southern star with my 300mm > telephoto. After I downloaded the pictures onto my laptop I was very excited > to see 4 little blobs next to the larger blob. I knew it must be a planet > and it's moons, and after finding a star chart, I determined that it was > Jupiter and 3 of it's moons. That was soo!! exciting. (I eventually > figured out that the last blob was a star, but it remained classified as a > UFO until that time.) > > Then after my fuzzy Jupiter pictures I ran across a tracking device for SLRs > on the web that really got me excited about the astrophotography potential > (at: <http://www.astrotrac.com/> http://www.astrotrac.com/) Looking at the > pictures taken with the tracker indicate that the camera equipment that I > have (normal/wide and standard telephoto lenses) and a decent tracker (and a > dark sky), can provide the potential for some great photos. > > > I am now lobbying the family budget committee for a grant for additional > equipment to both better see, and to take better pictures of astronomical > sights. (Telescope, tracking mount, camera attachments, better lenses, > eye-pieces, magazine subscription, stacking software, Photoshop, hmm what > other basics do I need.) > > While my grant request langishes in committee, I have been working on a Barn > Door tracker. I just finished the third revision of my prototype last night > (and it was cloudy - bummer). My first attempt was too heavy and make my > tripod fall over. So, I cut it to half the length, and the weight was okay, > but pointing it at the North Star by shortening one leg of the tripod made > the tripod fall over again. My third try was to add a block/shim between > the tracker and the tripod that set the natural angle at 41 degrees, so it > ought to point pretty close to the proper elevation of Polaris to start > with. It looks like I will be able to try it again tonight. > > If I can get the basic thing working, then adding a polar alignment scope > will be the next improvement on the list. Adding a stepper motor would be > after that, but that appears to be a much more complicated thing to attempt. > At any opportune time in this process, showing my wife my sorry looking > leftover-parts contraption and eliciting a sympathetic response will be > employed. > > > I'm not sure what I want to begin with as far as a telescope. As I look at > telescopes, it appears that the Dobsonian mounted Newtonian Reflectors are > easily the cheapest way to get good viewing ability. But they do not easily > include or add tracking for Astrophotography. It appears that if I get a > telescope with a tracking mount, I can mount my camera as the eyepiece, or > attach/mount the camera on top of the telescope to track with it. I am > thinking (but not certain) that I could still take 1 second or shorter shots > on a Dob. using my camera as the eyepiece. > > I was thinking of maybe getting a used Dobsionian first for $200-300 and > forget about tracking, then figure on replacing it when I decided what I > really want (next). But Meade has a Truss tube Dob. that appears easy to > break down, and fit in the Minivan with our 3 kids on camping trips. Still > no tracking though unless I build something custom. > > > So a couple questions: > > 1) Any recommendations on a first telescope? > 2) What are good things to look at in a very light polluted SLC sky? > - I have found: Andromeda Galaxy

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Hello
by Jay Eads 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

Hello everyone. My name is Jay, and I'm rather new to the hobby. I started late last winter/early spring and have really found a hobby that I am enjoying and that I can share with my teenage son. I am using an XT 8 by Orion and a XT 6 by Orion. The 8 has a telrad along with the stock finder scope. I also have a finder scope that we use for viewing the moon (an old, old one from when I was born in the 1960's that was my father's). I'm joining here to just expand my knowledge of people in the hobby locally and to have a way to increase my own learning. I'm a teacher and I know one of the best ways to learn is by doing and from those who have already done and know. So I hope to get to know many of you and to reap from your knowledge. So hear is to clear skies!

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Oops! (Liftoff Announced Before Liftoff)
by Patrick Wiggins 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080925-false-launch-report.html Now let's see what the "we never went to the Moon" types do with this. Grins, patrick

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Shenzhou 7 tonight
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

It looks like we'll have a chance to see Shenzhou 7 tonight and the next few nights. Go to the following and click on the "Shenzhou VII" link. http://www.heavens-above.com/?lat=40.761&lng=-111.890&loc=Salt+Lake+City&TZ… Note that it wont be very bright and that some observers are reporting seeing two objects, apparently one being part of the booster. patrick

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Asteroid? Comet? What is this?
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

The weather folks at channel 5 forwarded PART 1 of the following to me earlier today. After looking at the pictures at http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/neal/image001.jpg http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/neal/image002.jpg http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/neal/image003.jpg I emailed Ms. Neal asking for a few points of clarification. Her reply is shown as PART 2. My first thought is that the object was moving too quickly to be a comet and too slowly to be a meteor or piece of decaying space junk. I'm wondering if it's one of those short contrails sometimes seen behind high flying aircraft. At any rate, I asked if I could post her comments here and as you'll see she approved. She is not a member of the list but I told her she can monitor the conversation at http://mailman.xmission.com/lurker/list/utah-astronomy.en.html Hey Susan, you are welcome to join us by signing on at http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy . We promise not to bite. :) Comments? patrick +++++PART 1+++++ From: Susan Neal [mailto:eyeqdesign@mindspring.com] Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 8:50 AM Subject: Asteroid? Comet? What is this? Hi Brooke, So, I’m driving Savannah to school this morning, heading east down my street and I see this object in the sky. It’s moving. It looks like a comet. I literally turn my car around, speed back to my house, run to get my camera and get this shot. It was much higher when we started, so I just barely caught it. I’ve googled it, I’ve been listening to news reports and nothing. Have you heard anything? Thought you might know or want to know. Sue +++++PART 2+++++ RE: Asteroid? Comet? What is this? From: eyeqdesign(a)mindspring.com Date: 25 September 2008 20:34:24 MDT This took place in American Fork (900 N. 623 W.) to be exact at a few minutes before 8am this morning. The sun was just behind the mountain, but by the time I got my camera, as you can see, it had come over. It was definitely moving, so I'm having a hard time believing it was a contrail, as they don't really move, do they? I've attached the original picture and added 2 arrows. Arrow A is approx. where I first saw the object (arrow head was the starting point). Arrow B is a strange light that doesn't seem to following the curve of the sun, it almost looks like it's reflecting off of the object. I will say that the head of this object (facing down) was definitely larger and the end looked tail-like, like a tear drop. That's why it reminded me of a comet. The mountain is covering part of the head of the object, but it definitely looked round with the tail tapering. Ok, you're going to laugh, but I actually had my husband time me while I re-created the time between turning the car around and taking the picture. Yes, I really have nothing better to do. Hardly. Anyways, it took me an amazing 1 minute 5 seconds! Hey, I can be fast when I'm motivated! So, I'm hoping that someone with better physics skills than I, can figure out how fast it was traveling, where it came from, where it landed and what the heck it was!! As for how long before it slipped completely behind the mountain after I took the picture, I would say just a few seconds. The sun was so bright at that moment, I wasn't even sure I captured it. So, I just left and wondered if I'd feel a big bang or something. I was so disappointed. You can do anything you'd like with those photos, but I would really love to here about anything you find out, so, please keep in the loop. I think the exact spot the picture was taken might be relevant to solving this (plus I haven't met an astronomer I didn't like) so go ahead with the address. Thanks everyone for joining in my curiosity. Susan Neal P.S. I did hear back from Keith Merrill today as well and he suggested that "The other thing it COULD have been is this: The Chinese space agency launched a manned spacecraft this morning and it could have been one of the boosters falling back to earth. I can't confirm it but I have been looking at various web sites to see if it may have been visible. They are of no help right now."

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