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

Desent Observing night?
by Robert Taylor 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Looks like it might be a nice, albeit cool, night tonight. Ayone heading out anywhere? I was thinking of heading out to SPOC tonight. Bob

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Of eggs and spring (channel 4 this evening)
by Patrick Wiggins 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Channel 4 is running a piece on their weathercast today at 6 and maybe 10 about the idea that eggs can be balanced on the equinox. We tried to do it in a light hearted way while still saying "it ain't so". patrick

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LED suggestions
by Dale Hooper 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

I've been using a red LED headlamp (too bright - not adjustable) and adjustable red LED flashlight (I'm getting tired of carrying it around in my mouth) for looking at charts. So, I'm considering a finger LED or something I can clip on. Do any of you have suggestions of what to get? I'm hoping that if I get something ordered quickly that I can still get it in time for the Messier Marathon. Thanks and clear skies, Dale.

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LED Suggestions
by Jerry Foote 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Hi Dale, I have used the SkyLite from Rigel Systems for years. I have the red/white led version with adjustable brightness control. I seem to be able to go through an entire season with only one 9V battery. It has a lanyard to keep it handy around your neck. www.rigelsys.com As I get older my eyes are less sensitive to red so I am thinking of getting one of there Glue-Green/White versions. Jerry Foote ScopeCraft, Inc. 4175 E. Red Cliffs Dr. Kanab, UT 84741 435-899-1255 jfoote(a)scopecraft.com

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Magic Moments blogged
by Joe Bauman 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Hi Friends, My blog -- made up of today's discussion about those magic moments at the 'scope -- is posted. Don't worry, I got permission for all quotes. Many thanks, Joe http://deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,10000034,00.html?bD=20090319

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon
by Dunn, David 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

It is out on the flat. I am sure that the mountain probably takes out some of the horizon. It is better than golden spike. Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com <utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thu Mar 19 21:42:57 2009 Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon How's the eastern horizon there, Dave? On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 1:04 PM, Dunn, David <David.Dunn(a)supervalu.com>wrote: > OAS is holding Messier Marathon at Curlew Campground on March 27th and > 28th. Curlew Campground is 6 or 7 miles north of Snowville. You are all > welcome to come to this event. > _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Messier Marathon
by Dunn, David 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

OAS is holding Messier Marathon at Curlew Campground on March 27th and 28th. Curlew Campground is 6 or 7 miles north of Snowville. You are all welcome to come to this event. Thanks, David Dunn

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] snagging space debris
by Jim Gibson 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Kurt, That is so like the Japanese. They have a propensity for cleanliness and neatness. Next thing you know they will be having us take our shoes off before we enter space :>) Jim --- On Wed, 3/18/09, Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] snagging space debris To: "Utah Astronomy List Serv" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 6:03 PM The Japanese tether microsat design proposal to capture larger space debris parts: http://www.ard.jaxa.jp/eng/info/prm/2008/027/no27-02.html - Kurt _______________________________________________ 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://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] snagging space debris
by Canopus56 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

> That is so like the Japanese. They have a propensity for cleanliness and neatness. Next thing you know > they will be having us take our shoes off before we enter space :>) Jim I'm already well trained by the TSA when flying a commercial airline on the shoe thing, so no biggee. IMHO, it's more than an academic question. For some the web materials I mentioned, I believe that NASA is already replacing two shuttle windows on each flight from micro-strike damage. They had to add extra armoring on the ISS to absorb the micro impacts. - Kurt

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Magic Moments
by JayLEads 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Not sure if anyone likes these type of posts but I'll share it nevertheless. Sometimes while observing, I find I have these moments that for me are truly magical. Often I observe alone and though comfortable being alone and doing this, I find sometimes the company of someone else nearby is not only comforting, but a great way to build friendships. Tonight I got everything set up in the backyard prior to the son, and had the scope cooling. I came out and as night came on about 8:30p.m., I began to look for the Planetary Nebula NGC 2371/2 in Gemni. I was able to locate it rather easily and spent the next forty five minutes or so, observing, logging details and sketching it. Toward the end of this object, a knock was given from inside the backdoor (they way the wife or kids let me know they are coming out so I'm not blinded) and out came my 16 year old daughter. I was finishing a low power sketch of the PN and she suddenly started asking me questions after identifying the two constellations she knows, Orion and Ursa Major. She saw a "fuzzy" in the sky and asked what it was. I replied that she should go get one of my binoculars and look. She did and she then described to me that the fuzzy was made up of many stars, with the brightest making up a dipper shape. She asked me the name and I told her and afterwards she said she'd call it the seven sisters since that was easier to see. I was done with NGC 2371 and so swung the scope over to the sisters and showed her those in a wide field in the scope. Next she learned a new constellation Canis Major and took the binoculars and started scanning around. She found another fuzzy and asked what it was. I put the scope on M41 and she was simply amazed. This was her first open cluster along with the sisters and in both cases it was a thrill to be around her excitement. I next pointed out the Tao Cluster which also blew her away. We visited Saturn next and then went on to try and see some galaxies with no luck. She used the binoculars to scan Leo and to scan Virgo but no luck. She finished up in Cassiopeia and saw a fuzzy there that I didn't look at as she was finish. As she put the binoculars back in their case, she gave her Dad a hug and said "We have to do this again, it was fun. Not boring like I thought it would be.? So, in the end I bagged two objects from my list for tonight, and left many more hanging, but I'm hoping I bagged a daughter who just might gain some interest in the hobby. It also reminded me of the thrill of using binoculars to visit the night sky and how much we can truly see with just those aids. That was my observing tonight (Sunday night's session was incredible) and again, not sure if anyone likes these, but I wanted to share the experience. It's just wonderful when one's own kids take up an interest in Dad's hobby. No to get the wife . . .

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