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

Cool changes in astronomy
by Joe Bauman 14 Apr '09

14 Apr '09

U. of U. has strengthens commitment to astronomy: http://www.deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,10000034,00.html?bD=20090414

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Trib articles
by Ann House 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

An article by Sheena mentioning some of our University friends: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12094609 Bryce Canyon City to be built up with lands being sold to be developed. Do they know about protecting against light-pollution in the Park? Do you have any input, Kevin Poe? http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12128347 -A

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope donation
by JayLEads 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

On 2009-04-13 16:09, Chuck Hards wrote: > I'm wondering why more teachers aren't making use of the exising SLAS loaner > program. It's a heckuva resource. > Actually Chuck in March and April I had called to borrow a scope to use and the weather just didn't cooperate. I'll be trying again in May as I'm off right now. My goal is to have the students involved do a star party in June so I will probably be calling to arrange for a loaner from May to June to help provide some more coverage. In terms of making more teachers aware I think for many it is just ignorance. Many don't know of the resources available from NASA online and other groups that go into building a good program. I don't think many know about the loaner program that SLAS offers. I know in Granite that Stephanie Wood's is the district science coordinator and I'm sure if we worked up a program whereby teachers were taught how to use the scopes and joined SLAS that more would do it. It is probably an awareness issue for many. I'd be willing to head up contacting Stephanie, though this might be a better question for the board of SLAS than for here. Troy, Thank you! I am in the process of moving (from one house to another in the same city) so my internet access is limited so I haven't been able to stay up on posts or emails. Thanks again, both from me and from my students.

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SPOC star-party Saturday April 18
by Chuck Hards 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

There may be a handful of Mazda RX-8's at SPOC next Saturday night. The local club is having a meet that afternoon, and I mentioned that I was driving out to Stansbury afterwards so I could help run the 32" for the star-party. It seems that several car club members thought that would make a terrific post-meet cruise, so some of them might drop by. Both the car meet and star-party are weather-permitting, so keep your fingers crossed.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope donation
by Jay Eads 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

If Troy changes his mind . . . I know a group of about 15 students that would love to refurbish it and use it. On 2009-04-11 16:37, Ann House wrote: > My neighbor county commissioner gave me his Edmond Scientific (?) 5' > reflector. He thinks it is about 35-40 years old. It needs a bit of work > (broken tripod), but the mirror looks to be in fine shape. Are there any > takers? Would it be a good loaner for SLAS members? > > -A >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Hydrogen-beta filters
by Jim Gibson 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Chuck, I have been reading a lot of good things about filters from this company mostly for AstroPhotography, but I bet the Hb filter will be a good quality filter for visual work as well. Have a look see. http://www.astronomik.com/en/astronomik_uhc_filter.html If you find anything strange, I would like to know. Jim

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] 400 Years of the Telescope
by Canopus56 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

It was great show. It's pretty difficult to cover 400 years of technological development without skipping over something. IMHO, the only thing I would like to have seen was acknowledgement of the contributions of Joseph Franhaufer. In their rush to get from Newton's first 1 inch reflector demonstration telescope to the Keck, the _400 years_ writers made a brief stop in the 1880s and the birth of astrophotography. Franhaufer's contribution to another major theme in modern telescopic astronomy was his devotion to the creation of instruments of ever greater high-precision instruments with systematic improvement to materials. Astronomy and astrometry pretty much calcified after the Herschels due to the inability of telescope makers to build high-precision instruments until Franhaufer turned telescope design and manufacturing into a science. Today's segmented, multi-mirror gaint scopes with shape adjusting acutators controlled by active optics owe their roots as much to Fraunhaufer world-view as to Issac Newton. - Clear Skies - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Fw: Time Lapse
by Joe Bauman 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Very cool! Also, take a look at the one about water in space. Thanks, Joe --- On Mon, 4/13/09, Jim Gibson <jimgibson00(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Jim Gibson <jimgibson00(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Fw: Time Lapse To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 8:50 AM Thought you all might like this time laps video my wife emailed me from accross the room. http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10211 Jim --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Sheila Gibson <s2gibso(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Sheila Gibson <s2gibso(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Time Lapse To: "Jim Gibson" <jimgibson00(a)yahoo.com> Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 7:40 PM http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10211 _______________________________________________ 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: Time Lapse
by Jim Gibson 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Thought you all might like this time laps video my wife emailed me from accross the room. http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10211 Jim --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Sheila Gibson <s2gibso(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Sheila Gibson <s2gibso(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Time Lapse To: "Jim Gibson" <jimgibson00(a)yahoo.com> Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 7:40 PM http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10211

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400 Years of the Telescope
by JayLEads 12 Apr '09

12 Apr '09

The show 400 years of the Telescope will be showing on KUED Channel 7 on the following dates and times. I know I'm looking forward to watching this! Sunday April 12th, 2009 @ 1:00a.m. Tuesday April 14th 2009 @ 8:00p.m. (looks good to me) Thursday April 16th 2009 @ 12;00a.m. Sunday April 19th 2009 @ 6:00p.m. (also looks good to me) Hope you can take time to see this. You can view a preview at either http://www.400years.org/ or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-qwI2w6r8

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