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

Testing the waters
by Chuck Hards 28 Sep '10

28 Sep '10

Just wondering if there is any interest for a 40" aperture f/5 mirror, 5" thick, priced somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000? It may or may not include a diagonal, I'd have to check. Somebody out there want to spend some of their 401k? This is all just thinking out loud at this point. But it could happen for the right person with the bankroll.

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Starhopping is fun
by Debbie 28 Sep '10

28 Sep '10

I set up my 4" TeleVue refractor last night but forgot the battery pack. I called Dave and had him pick it up at my house since we decided to meet at the Anasazi trailhead just west of Ivins. In the meantime I got the scope set up and started viewing without power,except for my Starbeam red dot finder. I found the Owl Cluster, NGC 457, NGC 7789, M103, and NGC 663 in Cassiopea. Then viewed the Double Cluster in Perseus and M31 in Andromeda. I pointed the scope south and found M7 and M6, then headed north to M8, the Lagoon Nebula. Then north to M24 and M17. Then found M11, the Wild Duck Cluster. Then looked at a couple of double stars in Ophuicus, 36 Oph and Omicron Oph. Then viewed alpha Herculis and Epsilon Lyrae. By this time, Dave showed up by this time with the battery pack so I plugged it in and had power. Power is nice to have but not essential for visual observing. I think beginners to this hobby should learn the sky first before buying fancy computers and Goto mounts. The sky becomes a familiar place and in the process I learn the names of stars in the different constellations. I never bothered to plug in the computer because by 10:10 the moon was rising and we were looking at Jupiter. I then looked at Almach and then compared the view with Albeiro. Both are gold and blue double stars. Seeing was average for the desert so I'm looking forward to some cooler nights in October and November. Debbie

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Aurora monitoring kits
by Dale Hooper 28 Sep '10

28 Sep '10

There was some discussion of studying auroras on the list awhile ago. So I thought that the following kit from a radio astronomy list that I belong to, might be of interest to some of the list members here on U-A. Clear skies, Dale. --------- Hello fellow observers - The Simple Aurora Monitor SAM-III Kits are now ready for ordering. Please visit: http://www.reeve.com/SAMOrderInfo.htm for information. The SAM-III is a 3-axis magnetometer system primarily used in the study of the Earth's magnetic field, but it has other applications as well. The SAM-III Kit replaces the original SAM Kit. If you already contacted me about ordering a SAM-III Kit, you should hear from me by email within 24 hours with details and payment information. If not, it means I lost your contact information and you should write again. If you have an original SAM, I will be offering a retrofit kit for converting it from 1- or 2-axis to 3-axis. After conversion it will be functionally identical to the SAM-III. Happy listening, and watching! Whit ---- Whitham D. Reeve Anchorage, Alaska USA ----

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New ambassadorial position
by Patrick Wiggins 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Gee, I really think the UN should offer the position to a Solar System ambassador (I know one that would volunteer). http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20017655-76.html patrick :)

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The sun is getting more perky
by Gary Vardon 26 Sep '10

26 Sep '10

I noted that a number of spots on the sun lately and even some flaring. I also have a neat application for my Android phone called Solaris. Solaris allows one to see the sun in various wavelengths including 19.5 nm Fe VII, 17.1 nm Fen IX, 28.4 Fe XV, 30.4 nm He II, and 28,4 nm Fe XV, The sun looks different in different wavelengths. Sincerely, Gary Vardon The book DO It Right will help you understand vital ideas leading to your greater success. GO to PublishAmerica.com Consulting For Profit is also available. Learn how to make money as a consultant.

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Smoke on Mirrors
by Jay Eads 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

Ok, I had 2 scopes at home when the fire hit last Sunday. The 14 was in its case, the 10 was not and the 20 Obsession is in its observatory down south so it is just fine (was going to pick it up this weekend but I think I'll wait for another week). I just checked the 10 and it looks like a layer of dust got through the cover and the plastic shower cap I keep on both ends. I'll look at the 14 later this evening as I pull it out for some observing of Jupiter. Is it okay to clean a mirror normally that has been exposed like this to the fine particles from a fire or should I leave it alone and just continue to view? I'm not an avid fan of cleaning mirrors all the time, but I think in this case it might be warranted, but the fine particles in the ash I am perhaps more leery of than the normal wear, dirt and dust that accumulates.

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Pier for sale
by Dale Wilson 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

Hi all, Since my observatory remodel, I have no use for my steel pier. It's solidly welded and sturdy. It supported my 10"lx200 easily. It should be good for the 12" if not 14" as well. Stands at 3' tall. I'm looking to get $75.00 out of it. Of course, best offer accepted also. Cheers, Dale 801-518-7859 http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3850 http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3848

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Saturday night launch
by Patrick Wiggins 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Tomorrow (Saturday) night brings another chance to see a Vandenberg launch. This from the Launch Alert listserve. As before to see it from northern Utah look to the SW at launch time. patrick Brian Webb Ventura County, California kd6nrp(a)earthlink.net http://www.spacearchive.info 2010 September 24 (Friday) 05:02 PDT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH A Minotaur IV booster carrying a military space surveillance satellite is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB Saturday evening. The Minotaur is set to lift-off from south base at 9:41 p.m. PDT, the start of a 9:41 to 9:55 p.m. PDT launch window. Following lift-off, the Minotaur will climb vertically and gradually turn towards the south. Several minutes later, the vehicle will place the SBSS satellite into orbit. Weather permitting, launch should be easily visible to the naked eye within from Santa Barbara County. Observers as far away as San Francisco, Reno, and Baja California have a good chance of seeing the launch if they get away from city lights, have an unobstructed horizon, and know where to look. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Do you see stereo?
by Canopus56 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

> Rob and I have discussed trying it again in a couple of months > when the full Moon will be much higher in the sky. I encourage you both to do so, since to my knowledge a true long-baseline simultaneous amateur stereo image of a lunar limb has never been done because, I suspect, of the difficulty of getting two amateurs on different sides of the globe to take the images at the same time, weather permitting. - Kurt

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More on stereo
by Patrick Wiggins 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Remember that the pair I posted yesterday consisted of one Rob took 2.5 hours before mine meaning that by the time I took mine my position on the planet had moved west 2.5 hours towards the spot Rob had taken his. Tonight I've posted pairs made of ones he and I took at the same time, giving us a much longer baseline. This one has the Utah image on the left and the Hawaii image on the right: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/stereo/uh.jpg This one is Hawaii left and Utah right: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/stereo/hu.jpg Here are the two pairs above stacked one above the other: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/stereo/uhhu.jpg And for a control I put this one together with two copies of the Hawaii image: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/stereo/hh.jpg I'm seeing the same effect in all, including the one with the two Hawaii images which tells me it's all in my head. :) But seriously, I think it's the same effect many of us have reported when using a binoviewer to view the Moon. It's obviously not stereo but since both eyes are being used it seems to somehow trick the brain into thinking it's seeing stereo. BTW, for those new to the list, I tried another collaboration with another guy in Hawaii (J D Armstrong) a few month back where we both imaged minor planet (3833) Calingasta at the same time. The images were shot with wildly different optical systems (his 2.0 meter vs. my 0.35 meter) so his showed way more stars but the stereo effect was plainly visible: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/parallax01.jpg Also for the new folks, here are two shots of the same star field taken 24 hours apart. Take advantage of the stereo effect and Pluto should pop right out at you: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/pluto24hour.jpg Carpe Noctem! patrick p.s. Very nice skies tonight. A bit "mooney" but I'm getting some very focused images which tells me the seeing is great.

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