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

M57 +73PSW-3
by daniel turner 27 Mar '13

27 Mar '13

Mark your calendar for early evening May 7. Their will be a close encounter between the Ring nebula and periodic comet 73P. The comet will be close to earth so its exact position in the sky will depend stongly on your location on the globe. Go to spaceweather.com and use the link at the bottom of the page for "Observable Comets". 73p is in the list and includes orbital elements and a link for daily ephemerides. DT __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Harmon’s Aids Armature Astronomer Develop Hi-Tech Equipment
by Jim Gibson 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

Sorry about the headline but that is how I felt when I tried out my 2 hole focus mask made from Harmon’s paper bags. Check it out: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1199 I was surprised how well it worked. I have been having a hard time knowing when my camera is in focus when attached to my Orion 100mm APO. While I was waiting for the sky to clear I decided to make a focus mask and try it out. I discovered that I like the holes vertical better than horizontal. When viewing a bright star through the camera view finder while attached to the APO I could see 2 stars with wings. The stars were one above the other. Or they would be horizontal if the holes were horizontal. Then as I rotated the focuser the 2 stars came together and join as one. Then I knew I was in focus. That thing is going to be a permanent part of my Hi-tech equipment. Jim

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] obs report
by Canopus56 14 Apr '09

14 Apr '09

Joe wrote: > For the first time I was definitely about to see a crater on the moon > without magnification -- Copernicus. Its light floor stood out clearly > from the darker mare regions surrounding it. I confirmed this by using the > binoculars, checking back and forth several times. I could almost, but > not quite, make out Tycho. I could see the curvature of the dark mare > to its left, but because Tycho is surrounded by bright material I > could not quite see it. Thank you for the report. That's an interesting report based on observing a lower-sun angle Moon on March 7 and differing surface contrasts from those that I saw on the near full Moon last night. Here's some more background on the detection of extended object contrasting spots. The Moon was near perigee last night on this lunation at around 367,000 km, the crater rim and crater floor of the 93km dia Copernicus at full Moon illumination was not seen naked eye. I did not expect to be able to see Copernicous naked-eye. At that distance, the crater rim subtends about 50 arcsecs or at most, 1 arcmin. (60 arcsecs is generally taken as the minimum size of two spots that can be distinguished. Other visibility patterns apply to the detection of a spot that contrasts with its background.) The bright full Moon illumination would also tend to washout any contrast distinction between Copernicus and its ejecta curtain. In comparision to the crater itself, the ~400km diameter Copernician ejecta curtain, and that of the smaller ~200-300km dia Aristarchus plateau were easily seen contrasting against the darker surrounding mare at around 4 arcmins in diameter. Most of the smaller mares are 4 to 7 arcmins in diameter (e.g. Serenitatis, Crisum, Humorum, etc.). R.N. Clark and Nils Olaf Carlin summarize Blackwell's 1940's research on the detection of an extended spot that contrasts with its background. Very small, but very bright half-arcmin spots can be seen against a relatively bright background. Printing off Clark's contrast spot chart - which includes spots down to about 3 arcmins - is an instructive practical eye test. Clark's Contrast Spot Chart http://clarkvision.com/visastro/omva1/low-contrast-spots-1-c.gif Clark's notes on use of the Contrast Spot Chart "If you print this chart at 300 dpi, and hold it at 30 inches from your eye, the 27 pixel diameter spots appear about 10.3 arc-minutes across. Viewing the chart in low room light gets near the right side of Figure 2.7b. For the low contrast spots, how large do they have to be to be seen (just above the threshold)? I tried some various lighting conditions and found a range of about 6 to 13 arc-minutes were needed to detect the low contrast spots (e.g. the 2 DN brighter than the background). I did the experiment before computing the spot sizes so I did not know what the outcome would be." Clark's Blackwell Surface figure http://clarkvision.com/visastro/omva1/plot.bl.surf.3d.s1.gif in: http://clarkvision.com/visastro/omva1/index.html Nils Olof Carlin's Blackwell surface figure http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/IMG00001.GIF in http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/blackwel.html The sun angle and the contrasts of craters and their curtains changes daily, so one day is not representative of another. Joe, that's a good catch. I'll have to pay more attention to the naked eye visibility of craters in the future. - Kurt

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laser
by Joe Bauman 11 Apr '09

11 Apr '09

Hey Chuck, This sounds about right. ; ) -- Joe http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=12737330&ch=422…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Colorful Doubles - Mon to Cnc
by Canopus56 06 Apr '09

06 Apr '09

The following list was originally proposed in early March 2009. Objects on this final list has been completely reviewed. The following is an observing list with respect to my continuing color-contrast-doubles urban-astronomy interest. Because of the deteriorating weather situation (at my local op) and the advancing first quarter moon, I've posted it before completing a review of the entire target list, so others interested in looking at a few targets can do so. For the Mon through Cnc frame, stars with good-to-showcase color contrast (plus bet Mon) are: eps Mon (yellow-tint blue) bet Mon (double white) 15 Mon (white-tint yellow) STF1019(white-blue) Herschel 3945 145G CMa Winter Alberio (yellow-blue) STF1183 (white green-blue-shade) zet Mon (yellow-grey) SAO98013 Center of M44 triple asterism SAO98020-SAO98021 Center of M44 quad iot Cnc Spring Alberio (yellow-blue) The entries start with SAO numbers because that is what I use in my GOTO hand-controller. I understand that both Meade and Celestron hand-controllers have the SAO list. Where an SAO number is not returned by a handcontroller, lookup and use the direct RA-Dec coordinates. This observing list was developed by reviewing color contrast double lists such as Mullaney, Haas and Belmont and then preparing a short list of candidate targets. The candidate list was then reviewed using a 4 1/4 inch short GOTO reflector from an urban light polluted site to determine the practicality of seeing the objects from an urban setting. This list was also expanded to include three prominent carbon stars in this observing frame. Because the portion of the night sky west from Orion is dominated by anti-spinward Orion-Cygnus Arm white OB stars, I wanted to fill-in with some more color. Clear Skies - Kurt MON TO CNC COLOR CONTRAST DOUBLES FOR URBAN SKIES (EAST ORI TO MON) ID SAO113810 Constellation Mon AltNames - Name - HD44769, HIP30419 CommentsSec eps Mon, 8 Mon, 4.4v, 6.5v, 12.1sep, 29pa, 2004,Haas:showcase yellow-lilac,A5IV,- RA 062346 Dec +043534 CommentsMisc - Observation note Showcase pair with contrast per Haas representation. A small gap with white primary and light blue fainter secondary. Very pleasing. Fairly close gap at 40x; wide pair at 100x. Nice pair. ID SAO95659 Constellation Mon Name - HD45725, HIP30564 AltNames bet Mon; 11 Mon; Herschel's Wonder Star CommentsSec 4.7v,5.2v,7.3sep,132pa,2000,Mullaney:blue-blue-blue,0.148kpc,B2 RA 062849 Dec -070158 CommentsMisc - Observation note At 40x appears as single star. At 100x, appears as an easy, split, two nearly equal white stars with a tiny, but distinct gap. A nice warmup for a start of this run with no color contrast. ID NGC2244 Constellation Mon AltNames Rosetta Neb Open Cluster CommentsSec - RA 063224 Dec +045200 CommentsMisc - Observation note Showcase cluster listed for completeness ID SAO114258 Constellation Mon Name - HD47839, HIP31978 AltNames 15 Mon; STF950 CommentsSec 4.6v,9.9vAa-C,16.6sep,14pa,2002,Haas:triple-lemon-white-with-silver,-,- RA 064059 Dec +095344 CommentsMisc At base of Christmas Tree Cluster FG 9.0v,10v,39.5sep,263pa,2002,-,-,- Observation note Two faint stars to the north of 15 Mon at the base of the Christmas Tree Cluster. 15 Mon is white. All three detectable at 25x. At 100x, lemon color of beta barely detectable. In 4.25 inch, thrid faint C star is barely detectable. Faint double to the east of 15 Mon and the triangular corner asterism at the east base of the Christmas Tree is STF952. Struve designations not consistent with Washington Double Star. Is a complex multiple system with two other embedded systems. That it is a complex system is its main attraction. STF951, also in cluster is a similar complex multiple star system. ID NGC2264 Constellation Mon AltNames Christmas Tree Cluster CommentsSec - RA 064106 Dec +095300 CommentsMisc - Observation note Showcase cluster listed for completeness ID SAO152363 Constellation Mon Name - HD53755, HIP34234 AltNames STF1019 CommentsSec 6.5v,9.6vAC,38.5sep,295pa,2004,Haas:whte-blue-triple,-,- RA 070550 Dec -103940 CommentsMisc Triple with AB 6.5v-10.1v,6.4sep Observation note Faint white primary with nice blue fainter secondary. Tertiary not visible. Nice contrast on the primary. ID SAO173349 Constellation Cma Name - HD56577, HIP35210 AltNames 145G Cma, Herschel 3945, Winter Alberio CommentsSec 4.2v, 6.8v,26.6sep,-,-,Showcase yellow-blue pair,-,- RA 0716.6 Dec -2319 CommentsMisc Winter Albireo Observation note Showcase case - exactly as the name implies. ID SAO115756 Constellation CMi AltNames alf CMi, 10 CMi, Procyon CommentsSec 0.4v,11.7v,148.4sep,p17a,1984,Smyth:yellow-white-several-small-stars,-,F5IV RA 073918 Dec +051330 CommentsMisc - Observation note Mullaney and Haas do not list Procyon as double - just a pretty star field per Mullaney. As Mullaney notes, this is a pretty field-of-view that we often do not take the time to appreciate, since it is an alignment star. But the Washington Double Star catalogue shows this as a complex mulitple star system. The more refined CCDM shows Procyon as a triple. CCDM07393+0514. ID SAO135505 Constellation Mon Name - HD67159, HIP39675 AltNames STF1183 CommentsSec 6.2v,7.8v,30.6sep,328pa,2004,Haas:lemon-white-with-green-white,-,B9.5IV RA 080627 Dec -091442 CommentsMisc - Observation note Showcase - nice bright white green-blue tint wide gap pair. Good color contrast. ID SAO135551 Constellation Mon Name - HD67594, HIP39863 AltNames zet Mon; STF1190 CommentsSec 4.4v,10.1vAB,33sep,105pa,1998,Smyth:yellow-gray-blue,-;G2I RA 080836 Dec -025902 CommentsMisc Triple AC 4.4,9.7v,64.7sep,247pa,2002 Observation note Secondary too faint to give good color contrast, but is pleasant system, easy to find. ID SAO97645 Constellation Cnc Name - HD68256, HIP40167 AltNames zet1 Cnc; 16 Cnc; STF1196AB CommentsSec 5.6v,6.6v,0.98sep,52pa,2000,Mullaney:triple-yellow-yellow-yellow,-,F7V RA 081213 Dec +173852 CommentsMisc West of M44 Observation note: Could only split 5.9" AB-C - at 100x. A nice white yellow pair. Excellent but not showcase. ID SAO97646 Constellation Cnc Name - HD68255, HIP40167 AltNames zet2 Cnc; 16 Cnc; STF1196AB CommentsSec 5.6v,6.6v,0.98sep,52pa,2000,Mullaney:triple-yellow-yellow-yellow,-,F8V RA 081213 Dec +173852 CommentsMisc West of M44 Observation note - Could only split 5.9" AB-C - at 100x. A nice white yellow pair. Excellent but not showcase. ID SAO98013 Constellation Cnc Name - HD73618, HIP42497 AltNames - CommentsSec 6.9v,11.9v1.4sep,292pa,2000,Belmont:yellow-orange-white-triple,-,Am RA 083956 Dec +193311 CommentsMisc In center of M44 Observation note - Obvious small triangle asterism off in one corner of central M44 field. Looks orange-blue-blue or yellow-lilac-lilac. This triple and STF1254 are good multiples to know about when presenting M44 at star parties. ID SAO98020 Constellation Cnc Name - HD73709, HIP42549 AltNames - CommentsSec 6.5v,9v,20.5sep,24pa,2000,Belmont:orange-white-quad,-,F2III RA 084021 Dec +194111 CommentsMisc In center of M44 Observation note - Could only make out three stars in quad - 6.0, 6.5 and faint 7.2. Some white-yellow contrast on 6.0-6.5, Mostly pretty due to setting in center of M44. ID SAO98021 Constellation Cnc Name - HD73710, HIP42549 AltNames STF1254 CommentsSec 6.0v,7.2v,10sep,25pa,2004,Haas:yellow-yellow-olive,-,F8V RA 084022 Dec +194012 CommentsMisc In center of M44 Observation note - Could only make out three stars in quad - 6.0, 6.5 and faint 7.2. Some white-yellow contrast on 6.0-6.5, Mostly pretty due to setting in center of M44. ID M44 Constellation Cnc AltNames - CommentsSec - RA 084024 Dec +194000 CommentsMisc - Observation note ID SAO80416 Constellation Cnc Name - HD74739, HIP43103 AltNames iot Cnc; 48 Cnc; Spring Albireo; STF1536AB CommentsSec 4.2v,6.6v,30.5sep,307pa,2000,Belmont:yellow-blue,0.1kpc,G8Iab RA 084642 Dec +284536 CommentsMisc - Observation note - Showcase obvious yellow-blue Alberio look-alike. ID SAO61125 Constellation Cnc Name - HD75959, HIP43721 AltNames 57 Cnc; Struve (STF)1291 CommentsSec 6.1v,6.6v,1.4sep,316pa,2000,Mullaney:yellow-yellow,0.112kpc,G7III RA 085415 Dec +303446 CommentsMisc N.e. of iot Cnc Observation note - No color contrast but good nearly equal white-white pair for split test of small refractor. ID SAO98230 Constellation Cnc Name - HD76221, HIP42549 AltNames X Cnc; AAVSO0849+17 CommentsSec 6.2v,Mullaney:Stellar ruby RA 085523 Dec +171353 CommentsMisc Red carbon variable Observation note - Showcase nice deep orange color. ================== Some supplemental suburban-rural sky doubles with color contrast - too faint for urban skies ID SAO152427 Constellation CMa Name - HD54361 AltNames W CMa CommentsSec 6.7v, carbon star RA 070803 Dec -115522 CommentsMisc - Observation note - Nice deep dark orange color. Recommend as suburban-rural target; not urban target. ID SAO80425 Constellation Cnc Name - HD74857 AltNames gam Cnc; 43 Cnc; STF1967; Asellus Borealis CommentsSec 4.7v,8.1v,106.3sep,66pa,2000,-,0.050kpc,A1IV RA 084715 Dec +213235 CommentsMisc - Near M44. Recommend for suburban-rural skies. Not urban target. Observation note - (From suburban skies) Bright white A star with superwide faint sea blue companion. Companion may not be observable from urban setting. ID SAO61177 Constellation Cnc Name - HD76813, HIP44154 AltNames sig01 Cnc CommentsSec 5.7v,10.2vAC,77sep,24pa,2003,Haas:triple-yellow-gray-gray,-,A8 RA 085933 Dec +322507 CommentsMisc - Recommend for suburban-rural sites. Not urban target. Observation note - (From suburban site). White-faint blue primary. Probably not visible from urban site. ================= This post is a continuation of my posts that concerning on my current observing focus: "after-work urban-astronomy". Urban astronomy focuses on using easily set up GOTO scopes across for seasons to view astronomical objects from urban light-polluted skies. As opposed to deep sky object emphasis, urban astronomy concerns bright objects visible with small apetures e.g. - open clusters, double stars, planetary and solar system objects. Having family, friend and work obligations like the rest of you, I will try to limit referenced targets to those observable prior to local midnight.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-astronomy] Surface Brightness
by Jim Gibson 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

Kurt, Thanks for the VBA code. I stuck it in a Microsoft Access form and got it to work. Also thanks for the link. I see all the work is already done for me, but I had fun messing with the code anyway. It has been years since I messed with code and even longer with Access. Now that I have the surface brightness, all I have to do is stick it into this formula: E = (Pdesired/ Pmax)*(N^2/SB) Where B is the surface brightness you gave me and S is the camera ISO, N is the focal ratio of the scope, and Pmax is the bit depth of my camera 4096 and with this information it will give me the approximate integration time for what ever object I want to image. Talk about hoops to jump through. Thanks Jim

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Treeless Mars
by Joe Bauman 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

Thank you. But, unfortunately, the only kind of journalism graduate I am is that I graduated "from" journalism when I retired last year. Although I attended the universities of Utah and Maryland for about five years, I never got my act together and accumulated enough credits in one major to graduate. I dropped out when I was about a semester short of getting it all together, and took a reporting job with the Delmarva News in Selbyville, Del. I've often wished I had that degree but I never mislead anyone into thinking I do. Best wishes, Joe --- On Tue, 3/31/09, M Wilson <astro_outwest(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: M Wilson <astro_outwest(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Treeless Mars To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 1:14 PM Thanks for keeping up your blog site. One can readily see that you are a journalism graduate and professional. --- On Mon, 3/30/09, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Treeless Mars To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 7:45 PM Hi all, Here's my latest blog, with a new photo from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and a new, reduced, schedule for blogging. Thanks, Joe http://deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,10000034,00.html?bD=20090330 _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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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Treeless Mars
by Joe Bauman 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

Hi all, Here's my latest blog, with a new photo from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and a new, reduced, schedule for blogging. Thanks, Joe http://deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,10000034,00.html?bD=20090330

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Treeless Mars
by Joe Bauman 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

Hi Jon, Many thanks, Joe --- On Tue, 3/31/09, stormcrow60(a)xmission.com <stormcrow60(a)xmission.com> wrote: From: stormcrow60(a)xmission.com <stormcrow60(a)xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Treeless Mars To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 7:40 AM -----Inline Attachment Follows----- Hi Joe, Thanks for the heads up. I thought I followed the Mars surface probes fairly consistently. But apparently I have not been as diligent with the orbital probes that are taking these amazing pictures. I had no idea these photos existed. Science is truly stranger then fiction! Thanks for sharing. Jon _______________________________________________ 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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FW: Cache Valley Stargazers -- new astronomy group
by Dale Hooper 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

FYI - In case any of you find yourselves up here on the 10th. Those that are on both lists - please pardon the duplicate email. Clear skies, Dale. ================================================================== From: Cache Valley Stargazers <cache.stargazers(a)gmail.com> Date: March 31, 2009 1:34:42 AM MDT Subject: Cache Valley Stargazers -- spread the word Dear Friends, You are receiving this email because your name has been associated with astronomical activities here in Cache Valley. We are proud to announce the formation of a local community astronomy club, known as the CACHE VALLEY STARGAZERS. There have been several incarnations of astronomy clubs in Cache Valley at various times, but none has survived and is currently active. This club is open to all members of the Cache Valley community, as well as members of the Utah State University community. Our regular meetings will be held on the second Friday of every month; the first meeting will be on April 10. ===> CACHE VALLEY STARGAZERS ===> FRIDAY APRIL 10, 2009 ===> 7:30pm ===> Old Main Hall, Room 115 ===> EVERYONE WELCOME. ===> Featured talk -- SEEING IN THE DARK: TALES OF AN AMATEUR ASTRONOMER by Mike Murray (Clark Planetarium) We hope that you are able to join us! Please circulate this announcement to anyone else you know who might be interested in astronomy. I've attached to this email a poster for the event, which you should feel free to post where you feel suitable, or forward as necessary. We are posting these in various venues around town, so you should start seeing them show up. Please visit us on the web, or send email if you have further questions! cache.stargazers(a)gmail.com http://www.cachestargazers.org/ We hope to see you on April 10! Clear skies, -- Shane L. Larson, for the Cache Valley Stargazers

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