October 2009 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Visiting Utah Next Spring
by Roy Troxel 19 Oct '09

19 Oct '09

Hi, everyone, and welcome from Baltimore, Maryland! I will be traveling through southern Utah in April and I'm curious about dark sky sites there. The names I keep seeing are Moab, Arches and Hovenweep Nat Monument. I will be bringing along my 12.5" Obsession. What is the weather like in April there? High winds? I know that can be true of New Mexico. Many thanks in advance, Roy PS: I posted this question on Cloudy Nights, but I thought I would also check with your mailing list. Thanks, again.

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Exoplanets
by Gary Vardon 18 Oct '09

18 Oct '09

fellow SLASers, Check out the following website planetary.org/exoplanets It has cool animations of exoplanets and discusses and lists exoplanets. In fact some of you may want to join the Planetary Society. I find Planetary astronomy very interesting, Sincerely, Gary Vardon The book DO It Right will help you understand vital ideas leading to your geater success. GO to PublishAmerica. -----Original Message----- From: David Rankin Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:10 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Cluster of galaxies in Aries This took a lot of exposure and some careful processing :) I couldnt find a lot of info on these galaxies, I did discover that NGC 678 is 120 + MLY away. Enjoy! http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2590&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 _______________________________________________ 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.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tonight at SPOC
by Jay Eads 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

Cool, I'll go to the open house and set up a little bit away. I'll also probably bring a couple of my light shields to block the light from the road which can ruin my dark adaptation (seems to happen when I use the site for a private session). Outside of the Sheriff who I've met every time I have used SPOC on my own, any problem being there late (2:00a.m. or more?) at an open house?. And oh, don't laugh at the little XT10 I'm using compared to the wonderful refractors that you have, as recently sold my large truss dob because I want something that I can set up on my own, not hurt my back (bad L5/S1 disc) but gives me the aperture I'm wanting. I thinking of a 12.5 Discovery or a 12.5 Obsession (and I want a Dob) but 12.5 from the 10 I am using now just doesn't seem a big enough jump. I've used a 18 inch truss but that was too big. The 15 I just sold 2 weeks ago required some TLC but it was older and also very heavy in the mirror box, and though about 6 feet I had to use a step stool to see in that one. I want one I can use my observing chair with and/or just stand an observe near Zenith, and I think an Obsession will do that. I'm willing to spend around $3000 to $40000 though I have to buy a car for my kids to drive around in first. I also am willing to wait and save as I pay cash for the items I buy for the hobby. I would like this to be my "last dob" that I buy; though at sometime I need to get a grab and go refractor. I've almost decided to just keep tweaking the XT10 for a year (I've ordered a new focuser, new tension system etc) and take a look around at what people have. Oh, I'm not worried about selling the XT10 in the end cause it will just be used by my older students in my astronomy program. I'm going after a bunch of galaxies in Pegasus and have seen some there before so that will work. Thanks Steve, I'll see you and Bill there. I look forward to seeing in person what you pack in a small car . . . Jay . On 2009-10-17 20:07, Steve FISHER wrote: > > Jay: > > > > I have recently joined Utah Astronomy and received your post. Bill Cowels and I have been to SPOC with our own telescopes several times during open houses and have enjoyed ourselves a great deal. Those working in the refractor house tonight would welcome you with your equipment I'm sure. > > > > Bill and I will be out tonight as we were several times late last year. We had some great nights and it was nice to use the facilities without being "overrun" with the public. > > > > If not keep us posted and we will let you know how our night went. > > > > Steve >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Beating my dead horse re. LCROSS
by Canopus56 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

Joe, The point you are highlighting is a piece of sunlit terrain seen in more detail in the Palomar 200 inch image: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/lcross.html There is also a video mpg file at the bottom of that page. Here are some notes I prepared regarding topomasking by M1. The impact was way down in a hole that was well masked from Earthview. See my notes at: http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/observed/LCROSS/20091011M1T… Clear Skies - Kurt

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Jupiter tonight
by daniel turner 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

In case you get out tonight the moon IO will begin a transit of Jupiter at 15 past midnight tonight. The shadow of IO will begin to transit at 1:30am if you're still up that late. No mutual moon occultations or eclipses will occur this evening. DT

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tonight at SPOC
by dustynebula＠juno.com 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

The more the merrier! We could set up in a triangle and call it "The Very Strange Array." ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Jay Eads <jayleads(a)gmail.com> To: "Utah-Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tonight at SPOC Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:36:45 -0600 Cool, I'll go to the open house and set up a little bit away. I'll also probably bring a couple of my light shields to block the light from the road which can ruin my dark adaptation (seems to happen when I use the site for a private session). Outside of the Sheriff who I've met every time I have used SPOC on my own, any problem being there late (2:00a.m. or more?) at an open house?. And oh, don't laugh at the little XT10 I'm using compared to the wonderful refractors that you have, as recently sold my large truss dob because I want something that I can set up on my own, not hurt my back (bad L5/S1 disc) but gives me the aperture I'm wanting. I thinking of a 12.5 Discovery or a 12.5 Obsession (and I want a Dob) but 12.5 from the 10 I am using now just doesn't seem a big enough jump. I've used a 18 inch truss but that was too big. The 15 I just sold 2 weeks ago required some TLC but it was older and also very heavy in the mirror box, and though about 6 feet I had to use a step stool to see in that one. I want one I can use my observing chair with and/or just stand an observe near Zenith, and I think an Obsession will do that. I'm willing to spend around $3000 to $40000 though I have to buy a car for my kids to drive around in first. I also am willing to wait and save as I pay cash for the items I buy for the hobby. I would like this to be my "last dob" that I buy; though at sometime I need to get a grab and go refractor. I've almost decided to just keep tweaking the XT10 for a year (I've ordered a new focuser, new tension system etc) and take a look around at what people have. Oh, I'm not worried about selling the XT10 in the end cause it will just be used by my older students in my astronomy program. I'm going after a bunch of galaxies in Pegasus and have seen some there before so that will work. Thanks Steve, I'll see you and Bill there. I look forward to seeing in person what you pack in a small car . . . Jay . On 2009-10-17 20:07, Steve FISHER wrote: > > Jay: > > > > I have recently joined Utah Astronomy and received your post. Bill Cowels and I have been to SPOC with our own telescopes several times during open houses and have enjoyed ourselves a great deal. Those working in the refractor house tonight would welcome you with your equipment I'm sure. > > > > Bill and I will be out tonight as we were several times late last year. We had some great nights and it was nice to use the facilities without being "overrun" with the public. > > > > If not keep us posted and we will let you know how our night went. > > > > Steve > _______________________________________________ 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.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com ____________________________________________________________ House Rescue Bill Passed $133,000 mortgage under $679/mo. Compare rates and save! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=nKi9oQLXTmi7tzrvvG6pfQAAJ1BS9…

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Jupiter tonight
by daniel turner 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

In case you get out tonight the moon IO will begin a transit of Jupiter at 15 past midnight tonight. The shadow of IO will begin to transit at 1:30am if you're still up that late. No mutual moon occultations or eclipses will occur this evening. DT

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Tonight at SPOC
by Steve FISHER 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

Jay: I have recently joined Utah Astronomy and received your post. Bill Cowels and I have been to SPOC with our own telescopes several times during open houses and have enjoyed ourselves a great deal. Those working in the refractor house tonight would welcome you with your equipment I'm sure. Bill and I will be out tonight as we were several times late last year. We had some great nights and it was nice to use the facilities without being "overrun" with the public. If not keep us posted and we will let you know how our night went. Steve

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Pit n Pole Tonight if anyone wants to join
by JayLEads 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

Craig no problem. I just posted in case there are people who would like to come out and observe together. Sometimes it helps to confirm an object etc., and sometimes its nice to have company, sometimes its nice to be by oneself. I have no problem observing by myself. The coyotes were really active last night out there so I had company, especially one that got pretty close :) Actually the views were excellent last night until around 12:00a.m. when the transparency went down as the stars near zenith began to twinkle. Before that the air there was very steady and the Milky Way shown from Sagittarius to Cassiopeia really bright with the dark lanes very apparent. I'm planning on going again tonight if anyone is interested. I may change my mind and head to SPOC for that private event but I would want to observe and not sure if that would work with what is going there. On another note, I have completed over the last year the Messier, Messier Binocular and the Double Star Observing list from the Astronomical Society. Is Erik the one I need to contact to get those passed prior to the Solstice Party? On 2009-10-17 15:03, Craig Smith wrote: > Sorry I didn't make it last night. I apologize for not calling you earlier > either. In the morning my wife was encouraging me to go, but I think she > forgot about it and by evening was looking forward to having me home. I > thought I might make it out there later, but I didn't get freed up until > well after 10, and was pretty tired anyway. I probably can't come tonight > either but I'll let you know. > > Craig > > On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 3:53 PM, JayLEads <jayleads@???> wrote: > > > Just an FYI in case someone wants to head out tonight and wants a > > companion. I'm heading out to Pit n Pole tonight as conditions at least > > during the daytime look really good. I have about 8 or so Herschels on the > > H-400 I'm going after tonight. I'm also thinking of going back on > > Saturday. If you want to join me come on down or give me a call or just > > show up. If your a SLAS member my number is on the roster or else respond > > here and now that I have figured out how to email off this list, I'll email > > you with it. I'll be leaving around 5:30p.m. or so but the number is my cell > > so call. No problem as I have unlimited minutes on the weekends starting at > > 5:00p.m. > > > > Jay > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > Utah-Astronomy@??? > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php > > Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com > > >

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Pit n Pole Tonight if anyone wants to join
by JayLEads 17 Oct '09

17 Oct '09

Just an FYI in case someone wants to head out tonight and wants a companion. I'm heading out to Pit n Pole tonight as conditions at least during the daytime look really good. I have about 8 or so Herschels on the H-400 I'm going after tonight. I'm also thinking of going back on Saturday. If you want to join me come on down or give me a call or just show up. If your a SLAS member my number is on the roster or else respond here and now that I have figured out how to email off this list, I'll email you with it. I'll be leaving around 5:30p.m. or so but the number is my cell so call. No problem as I have unlimited minutes on the weekends starting at 5:00p.m. Jay

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