March 2010 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Pit N Pole
by Jay Eads 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

Was humid last night out there: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/current/meso.too.php Probably from the storm that came in. I may come out but I would have to leave by 11:30p.m. or 12:00a.m. since I have to work tomorrow. If I go I probably won't head out until 6:30p.m. to get there set up and cool down. If anyone wants to hook up just give me a call. On 2010-03-15 20:14, Joe Bauman wrote: > Thanks much! -- Joe > > > > > > > Joe wrote: > > Hi all, I plan to head to Pit n Pole tonight -- does anybody know the latitude and longitude? > > Pit N Pole Rush Valley Obs Site > +40° 12' 26.23", -112° 16' 4.15" > 40.207286, -112.267819 > > Near Pony Express Monument > > Utah Amateur Astronomy Observing Sites C56 (a Google map) > http://tinyurl.com/yfykfjc > > Scroll down to "Pit N Pole Rush Valley Obs Site" in the list on the lefthand side. Clicking on the title will center the Google map on the site. GPS coordinates are included. The Google "drive to-from" feature can be used to generate written driving directions. The "satellite" map display is helpful for these undeveloped areas. > > Clear Skies - Kurt > > > > > > > >

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CEMAX Eyepieces & Barlow
by Chuck Hards 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

Specifically, does anyone have experience using the CEMAX eyepieces and Barlow lens with their Coronado solar telescope? Thanks.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Pit N Pole
by Canopus56 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

Joe wrote: > Hi all, I plan to head to Pit n Pole tonight -- does anybody know the latitude and longitude? Pit N Pole Rush Valley Obs Site +40° 12' 26.23", -112° 16' 4.15" 40.207286, -112.267819 Near Pony Express Monument Utah Amateur Astronomy Observing Sites C56 (a Google map) http://tinyurl.com/yfykfjc Scroll down to "Pit N Pole Rush Valley Obs Site" in the list on the lefthand side. Clicking on the title will center the Google map on the site. GPS coordinates are included. The Google "drive to-from" feature can be used to generate written driving directions. The "satellite" map display is helpful for these undeveloped areas. Clear Skies - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Messier Marathon 2010 - secondary date
by JayLEads 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

As an FYI in case anyone is interested, if weather is good I'm planning on a trip next Friday and probably Saturday to Pit n Pole (not SLAS related, no secret password required) and anyone can come. Email me if interested. I need a site a little darker than SLAS for the galaxies I'm going after. I MAY try getting out there on Tuesday night as I need to spend so time on those galaxies. Too bad Daylight Savings came back today . . . I wish that bill had passed the Utah House and Senate to have us match AZ. On 2010-03-14 10:38, Patrick Wiggins wrote: > On 13 Mar 2010, at 23:16, Canopus56 wrote: > > > There is a secondary Messier Marathon window on 3-20 and 3-21 - Clear Skies, Kurt > > > > http://seds.org/MESSIER/xtra/marathon/mm2010.html > > The SLAS board decided last week to hold Messier Marathons next Friday and Saturday at SPOC. > > Hopefully the weather will be better. > > patrick >

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Utah Radio Meteor Observing Report Feb 2010
by Canopus56 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

This report concerns radio meteor counts for an observing station in Salt Lake City for the period: Date-UT MJD Solar Longitude 2010-Feb-01 00:00 55228.5 312.0 2010-Feb-28 23:59 55256.5 340.2 based on reflections at frequency 55.250 mhz CW (VHF Channel 2). Daily counts are appended and plots can be viewed graphically at: 2D Plot http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3089 3D Plot http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3087 Directory with data csv and graph files http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2970 Recorded meteor reflection counts can be downloaded from: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3094 http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3091 A value of "0" in the csv file (itemID-3094) means the station was down and not recording during the indicated hour. A maximum monthly hour count of 109-110 was recorded on Feb. 1 10UT-11UT and of 117 on Feb. 2 at 16UT-18UT. No significant meteor shower activity is expected until the April Lyrid shower and in general February's counts were consistent with a normal apex-of-way background count. There was a mild elevated level and peak recorded during first week of February. These elevated counts were consistent with an International Meteor Organization suggestion of a Capricornids/Sagittariids peak on Feb. 1 at 15UT: "The late January to early February spell, during which several new, swift-meteor, minor showers, radiating from the Coma-Leo-Virgo area have been proposed in some recent years, enjoys a waxing Moon for its potential core period, January 20-27. Theoretical approximate timings (rounded to the nearest hour) for the daytime radio shower maxima this quarter are: Capricornids/Sagittariids - February 1, 15h UT; ; and ksi-Capricornids - February 13, 16h UT.. .. ." . .. ." IMO 2010 Calendar url: http://www.imo.net/calendar/2010 . The recording station also captures a spectrograph covering a 20 minute time period between 40 and 59 minutes of each hour. As discussed below, spectrographs recorded ionic disturbances during this month. February saw the return of sunspot activity. From Feb. 8 to Feb. 11, a series of eruptions occured from behemoth sunspot 1045 that generated a series of M-class flares and Type III radio bursts (at 10,000 to 100,000 Hz). http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=08&month=02&year=2010 The NOAA Spaceweather System reported radio 10cm radio bursts on Feb. 11, peaking at 14:16UT. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/lists/radio/radio_bursts.txt As Sunspot 1045 waned, on Feb.12 through the 16th, sunspot 1046 grew and also generated M1-class flares. Two CME's emitted by Sunspot 1045 were directed away from the Earth on Feb. 15 and 16. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=12&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=14&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=20&month=02&year=2010 Around Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, a solar filament formed on the Sun's disk, ending in a subdued Hyder flare when the filament disconnected on Feb. 24. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=21&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=25&month=02&year=2010 (It at the time of this posting (March 7), a new large solar filament has formed. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=07&month=03&year=2010 ). A significiant ionic atmospheric distrubance was recorded on Feb. 11 between 01 and 03 UT and on Feb. 14 04UT. Spectrograph 20100211 02UT (Associated with NOAA 10cm (245MHz) radio burst) http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3079 Spectrograph 20100214 04UT (No NOAA 10cm (245MHz associated radio burst) http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3081 Many smaller ionic distrubances were recorded throughout the month. A representative example occured on Feb. 16 at 09UT. Spectrograph 20100216 09UT http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3085 Since the antenna used is omni directional, the location of the source transmitter(s) is unknown. On Feb. 14 at 17UT, an artificial reflector was recorded. The parabolic trace is interperted as an airplane passing almost directly over a transmitter site. Spectrograph 20100214 17UT Airplane reflection trace http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3083 On Feb. 23 at 13:07UT, a test was run to determine if the International Space Station (ISS) would act as a reflector that could be recorded by this station. The ISS overflight - with a peak visual magnitude of -3.9 and at an observer-to-target distance of approximately 516km - that occured at that time was simulatenously recorded using an all-sky meteor camera and by the meteor radio reflection station. No radio reflection was recorded. The video recording can be seen at url: YouTube recording 2-23-2010 13:07UT ISS overflight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jthSj9HsIDk Characteristics of this meteor recording station are: [Observer]Kurt Fisher [Country]United States of America [City]Salt Lake City Utah [Longitude]111°5256 W [Latitude ]040°4630 N [Frequencies]55.250 mhz CW [Antenna]MFJ-1622 HF [Azimut Antenna]90 [Elevation Antenna]45 [Pre-Amplifier]MFJ-1045C Preselector 55 mhz [Receiver]ICOM PCR1500 [Observing Method]Spectrum Lab software [Remarks]Acer AspireRevo 1.7Ghz [Graphing Software]Colorgramme RMOB Lab v 2.3 The station recording computer was replaced Feb. 5 following persistent overheating problems with the original laptop recording computer. The new station has normally operated without interruption since the replacement and through the date of this post. Clear Skies - Kurt canopus56(a)yahoo.com

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For OAS and Tyler - lunar grazes Mar 19 and 20
by Canopus56 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

For the Ogden Astro Soc and Tyler Allred - Guys, The RASC Handbook at 171 and 173 are showing two upcoming lunar grazes crossing your area: GrazeNo Date/TimeUTEnding 42 Mar 20 ending 4:51UT (Mar 19 10:51pm MDT) 50 Mar 21 ending 2:28UT (Mar 20 08:28pm MDT) Heads up and Clear Skies - Kurt

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mm tonight?
by Michael Vanopstall 15 Mar '10

15 Mar '10

Hi -- I know it's a school night, but given tonight's conditions, it would be almost criminal if noone tried to marathon. So I'll go. Anyone else? If so, email me, and suggest a place, even. The clear sky chart for Lakeside looks almost miraculous, and it's only 1 1/2 hours out of town. I probably wouldn't want to go anywhere less dark, because I'll probably add some Caldwells and Herschels to my personal list. ---- Rev. Michael A. van Opstall Department of Mathematics, University of Utah Office: JWB 313 opstall(a)math.utah.edu

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observers Guide to SLAS 2010 Star Party Schedule
by Canopus56 14 Mar '10

14 Mar '10

Glad you are enjoying. - Kurt, the GOMer (Gruppy Old Man)

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Observers Guide to SLAS 2010 Star Party Schedule
by Canopus56 14 Mar '10

14 Mar '10

Here's an observer's guide for the SLAS 2010 Star Party Schedule. Lists: LST, transiting DSOs, Planets, Double Stars and other events. http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/plan/20100315SLASObservingG… This is an unofficial table not endorsed by or associated with the SLAS management. Clear Skies - Kurt

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Libration Summary Chart for Lunation 1079 Mar Apr 2010
by Canopus56 14 Mar '10

14 Mar '10

Attached find a lunar libration summary chart for lunation 1079 (3-15 to 4-13). Note the very good 1st quarter altitude imaging opportunity. Lunar altitudes are greater than 60 degrees just after astronomical twilight between 3-23 to 3-26 with the terminator sweeping W2 degs to W51 degs. http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/libration/Latest.jpg Historical charts are available in directory: http://fisherka.csolutionshosting.net/astronote/libration/ Similar charts can be found in the BAA Lunar Section Circulars archived at: http://www.baalunarsection.org.uk/circulars.htm Clear Skies - Kurt

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