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

A word about moderating
by Patrick Wiggins 18 May '09

18 May '09

Just a reminder that if you have never posted to Utah-Astronomy or it's been a long time since you posted you will find that your initial/ next post will be held for "moderator approval". That's not because of anything anyone here did but because the system was accidentally reset a while back and that caused everyone to be moderated. I removed the moderation from everyone who's email addresses I recognized but a few folks got missed. So please don't take it personally if you get moderated. As soon as any of the moderators realize you're a real person (posting an on topic message will do the trick) the moderation will be removed. Initial moderation, BTW, is intended to keep most hackers off the list. Cheers, patrick UA co-moderator

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Shuttle in Solar Transit
by stormcrow60＠xmission.com 18 May '09

18 May '09

Hey All, Check out this link. It will take you to a real cool picture of space shuttle Atlantis during a solar transit of the Sun. http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/05/17/space-is-the-place.html#more Jon

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star?
by Joe Bauman 18 May '09

18 May '09

Yes and keep watching! The orbit is only 75,000 years -- jb --- On Mon, 5/18/09, Robert Taylor <robtaylor3661(a)comcast.net> wrote: From: Robert Taylor <robtaylor3661(a)comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star? To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 3:12 PM If you can't sleep maybe you should be outside figuring out what the deal is with Alberio. Robert Taylor -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 2:47 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star? Damn you all. I'll not sleep a wink until this is resolved! ;o) _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star?
by Joe Bauman 18 May '09

18 May '09

Hi, I only quoted the APOD caption -- not sure where they got the info! Thanks, Joe --- On Sun, 5/17/09, Kim <kimharch(a)cut.net> wrote: From: Kim <kimharch(a)cut.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star? To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009, 8:20 AM Burnham's is indeed out of date., at least in this instance. I believe that Albireo's true binary nature was only confirmed in the past 20 years or so. As Joe posted in reply, the yellow primary is a spectroscopic binary, although I didn't know that before. I believe that the information that Joe provided is a bit misleading: Albireo is about 380 light years distant from Earth - that isn't the distance between the two components. Joe, did you find the separation given anywhere (in other than angular distance)? Kim > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy- > bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of M Wilson > Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 12:15 AM > To: Utah astronomy blog > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star? > > I found this a few years ago in the 1978 edition of Burnham's (Burnbaum's) > Celestial Handbook Vol. II, page 754, third paragraph: > > "Albireo is believed to be a physical pair, although no evidence of > ortibal motion has been detected since the first observations of F.G.W. > Struve in 1832." > > Most of us, including myself, have been telling the public for years that > the two were gravitationally bound. Looks like the proof is lacking or is > Burnham's is out-of-date? > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > Internal Virus Database is out of date. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2078 - Release Date: 04/24/09 > 07:54:00 _______________________________________________ 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] Tropical Telescopic Tour
by Joe Bauman 18 May '09

18 May '09

I don't know if it's visible this time of year, but I like NGC1300, a lovely barred spiral galaxy that is in the southern realm. I tried to photograph it last November (I think it was) but it was too close to the horizon for a good view. Also NGC 253, the silver dollar galaxy, is a spectacular southern object. -- Hi to Rob, and have fun in Hawaii, Joe --- On Mon, 5/18/09, erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net> wrote: From: erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tropical Telescopic Tour To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 1:27 PM >I also would not neglect the objects in Sagittarius being that they will be much higher in the sky and more spectacular than seen from Utah. Well it is Monday Morning at 8:00 AM. I think that most of the group is > not moving yet. I have been up since 5:00 AM (9:00 AM MDT) because I just > couldn't sleep any longer. I awoke to Jupiter glairing in the condo > window. Since that time I have gone on a nice walk and been going through > the star charts to find the best objects for targets tomorrow night on the > Faulks telescope. > > After a review of the star charts my number one target is the Eta Carinae > Nebula. It will transit at 20:16 but will only be 10 degrees above the > horizon. I am hoping that at the 10, 000' + elevation and the dark skies > we will be able to see detail. It is a magnitude of 5.0 so it might be > good. > > I am sure that we will look at Omega Centauri and the Bug Nebula (C-69) > there are also some fairly bright galaxies that are too far south to see > from Utah and perhaps we can see those as well. The Southern Cross will > transit at 22:00 and Acrux will be 5 degrees above the horizon. > > Any suggestions the group think would be worth looking at will be welcome. > > The group plans to stay on top to see the sun rise from Haleakela which is > reported to be spectacular. > > Thank You, > > Rodger C. Fry > Consulting Geologist > _______________________________________________ > 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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mr. and Mrs. Bennett
by Joe Bauman 18 May '09

18 May '09

Congrats! -- Joe --- On Mon, 5/18/09, erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net> wrote: From: erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen(a)TheBlueZone.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mr. and Mrs. Bennett To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 10:58 AM >Another one bites the dust? or RIP? Seriously congrats to both. BTW, I think Dave is the lucky one. I just wanted to post here a hearty "Congratulations!" to Dave and Kea who > were married on Saturday. Dave has been one of my best astronomy buddies > and > his bride is very fortunate to have married him. Well, of course they are > both fortunate to have found each other, and I consider myself privileged > to > count Kea among my friends, as well. > > > > Best wishes to you both! > > > > Kim > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Tropical Telescopic Tour
by Rodger C. Fry 18 May '09

18 May '09

Well it is Monday Morning at 8:00 AM. I think that most of the group is not moving yet. I have been up since 5:00 AM (9:00 AM MDT) because I just couldn't sleep any longer. I awoke to Jupiter glairing in the condo window. Since that time I have gone on a nice walk and been going through the star charts to find the best objects for targets tomorrow night on the Faulks telescope. After a review of the star charts my number one target is the Eta Carinae Nebula. It will transit at 20:16 but will only be 10 degrees above the horizon. I am hoping that at the 10, 000' + elevation and the dark skies we will be able to see detail. It is a magnitude of 5.0 so it might be good. I am sure that we will look at Omega Centauri and the Bug Nebula (C-69) there are also some fairly bright galaxies that are too far south to see from Utah and perhaps we can see those as well. The Southern Cross will transit at 22:00 and Acrux will be 5 degrees above the horizon. Any suggestions the group think would be worth looking at will be welcome. The group plans to stay on top to see the sun rise from Haleakela which is reported to be spectacular. Thank You, Rodger C. Fry Consulting Geologist

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star?
by daniel turner 18 May '09

18 May '09

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, Spencer Ball <spencer(a)spencerball.com> wrote: > From: Spencer Ball <spencer(a)spencerball.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Albireo: a double star? > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 10:00 AM > Albireo separated by only > 34AU? At 380 light years away, that would > make > them at most `/4 second apart! And they would > revolve around each other in > tens of years at most. They would have to be about > 100 times farther apart > to have a 75,000 year period. > > They must be farther apart. > > > > Spencer Ball Looking at the Wiki data, I see that the pair does not share the same proper motion across the sky. The distance uncertainty is 30 light years. Taking the separation in arcseconds, converting to degrees, taking the SINE, multiplying by the distance, and coverting from lightyears to AU, I get a distance of close to 4000AU. Now that would be the minium distance if they were both in the plane of the sky as viewed from earth, one could easily be a lightyear or more farther from earth than the other. DT

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Tropical Telescopic Tour
by M Wilson 18 May '09

18 May '09

I was there last year, Rodger, and what you guys are planning on makes me envious. I split my time between Maui and the Big Island where I took a tour to the top of Mauna Loa with a professional star gazing tour group that had packed a couple of 12" Meade telescopes. After witnessing sunset amongst the Keck and Gemini telescopes, the group was led back down to about the 2/3's point on Mauna Loa so that we wouldn't all pass out from the thin atmosphere while observing the night sky. Did get a look at Omega Centauri as well as some Deep Sky objects further south. Wouldn't mind being there again with ya' all. --- On Mon, 5/18/09, Rodger C. Fry <rcfry(a)comcast.net> wrote: From: Rodger C. Fry <rcfry(a)comcast.net> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Tropical Telescopic Tour To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 12:02 PM Well it is Monday Morning at 8:00 AM. I think that most of the group is not moving yet. I have been up since 5:00 AM (9:00 AM MDT) because I just couldn't sleep any longer. I awoke to Jupiter glairing in the condo window. Since that time I have gone on a nice walk and been going through the star charts to find the best objects for targets tomorrow night on the Faulks telescope. After a review of the star charts my number one target is the Eta Carinae Nebula. It will transit at 20:16 but will only be 10 degrees above the horizon. I am hoping that at the 10, 000' + elevation and the dark skies we will be able to see detail. It is a magnitude of 5.0 so it might be good. I am sure that we will look at Omega Centauri and the Bug Nebula (C-69) there are also some fairly bright galaxies that are too far south to see from Utah and perhaps we can see those as well. The Southern Cross will transit at 22:00 and Acrux will be 5 degrees above the horizon. Any suggestions the group think would be worth looking at will be welcome. The group plans to stay on top to see the sun rise from Haleakela which is reported to be spectacular. Thank You, Rodger C. Fry Consulting Geologist _______________________________________________ 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] Glob cluster omega Cen observing reports
by daniel turner 18 May '09

18 May '09

--- On Sun, 5/17/09, Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Recent research indicates that omega Cen may not be a true > globular that formed with the Milky Way. Like M54 - the > core of another captured galaxy remnant - the Sagittarius > Dwarf Galaxy, omega Cent may the stripped remnant of another > galaxy that the Milky Way captured and cannibalized. See > Hubble org article above. Based on motion studies of stars > in omega Cen, it is thought there is a medium sized black > hole at its center. > Kurt: We tend to draw boundry lines that really don't matter that much. I don't care if Pluto is a planet and I avoided the debate, but M54 not being a "real" globular cluster is at best a stretch. When some wanted to banish M54, Sue French said that even if we stole it, it's ours now. My take on the subject is this. How do we know that ALL Globulars aren't the cores of extinct dwarf galaxies? We don't. And Omega Centari has several internal populations of stars so that it's possible if not likely that it ate a few neighbors before being eaten itself. Many Globulars are old enough to predate the Milky Way to the point that they crowd the age of the universe. We don't know enough to draw boundry lines through the group. DT

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