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

UFO?
by Dale Wilson 07 Sep '10

07 Sep '10

Here it is. Pardon the editing. The time and date are correct. My wife recorded this last night. No news was made on the stations and I am shocked nobody else has reported seeing this. It looks like a comet or a meteorite in slow motion. It was orange and went south-west. I'm open to ideas. Dale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmicX7SNR_c

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NEO photo ops - heads up Patrick
by Canopus56 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Clear Skies - Kurt ---------- ====================================================================== BAA electronic bulletin No. 00511 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== Within the space of less than an hour on September 5, the Mount Lemmon Survey discovered two objects which will both pass by the Earth on September 8 at a distance closer than the Moon! This unprecedented coincidence provides an exciting observing challenge for amateurs although those observing from the UK will not have the best views. The intrinsically smaller object, 2010 RF12, will be the more favourable observing target in that it passes closest at about 0.21 lunar-distance, i.e. about 80,000 km. Tonight from the UK (Sep 6/7) this object will be 17th magnitude but by tomorrow (Sep 7/8) it will be brightening rapidly from 16th to 15th magnitude and be accelerating from an apparent speed of about 30 "/min to 50 "/min. It passes closest around 2100 UT on the 8th but by then it will be difficult from any location on the Earth. The larger object, 2010 RX30, only approaches to within about 0.66 lunar-distances of the Earth but will be more favourably placed for UK observers and should be able to be followed to within about 6 hours of closest approach which takes place around 1000 UT on the 8th. It will be visible all night on Sep 7/8 being 16th magnitude at first but then brightening to 15th mag. The problem however is its apparent speed in that it will be racing across the sky at between 2-5 ARCSEC/SEC. Observers with access to telescopes located in other parts of the world especially in the southern hemisphere could witness 2010 RF12 reach 13th magnitude around 1600-1700 UT on the 8th. As seen visually in a large telescope (30-cm aperture or more), its motion across the sky would be very apparent in real time. Details of the position of the objects can be found at: http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html Instructions for using this webpage are as follows: [snip] Richard Miles Director, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section ====================================================================== BAA electronic bulletins service. E-mail: circadmin(a)britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin(a)britastro.org Bulletin transmitted on Mon Sep 6 11:00:08 BST 2010 (c) 2010 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ==========================================

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Great Basin
by Steve FISHER 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Not to be outdone, this weekend Dale Wilson and I showed up at Great Basin National Park for their public outreach program for Labor Day. It ran only Saturday and Sunday night. Dale and I had independently been in contact with Ranger Kelly Carroll and just showed up at the same time. The skies were spectacular. Saturday was simply awesome. Sunday night turned much colder and the cold front moving in affected the seeing for sure. The winds were calm most of Saturday night and very manageable on Sunday night. Really only breezes. The Great Basin Park is as dark as any other National Park in the country and it is much less crowded than Bryce. I would estimate that there were between 75 and 100 people there to observe each night. We only had five scopes on Saturday night and six scopes on Sunday night. My only complaint would be that the upper lot at the visitor's center is not the optimal observing site since cars for the public are pulling into the lower level during the event. I have it on good authority that they plan on growing the program and I'm sure it won't be long before some significant changes allow for better protection from the publics cars. The staff, volunteers and even the gift shop people couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. Great hiking, (slow walking for me) excellent facilities and the caves are something everyone should see. WOW. Steve

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Capitol Reef
by Lowell Lyon 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Hello: Capitol Reef was beautiful and DARK all three nights of Labor Day weekend. Saturday and Sunday nights were breezy so there were those who did not set up. The real treat for me was looking through Robert Fisher's Bino-Viewer Saturday night attached to a 15" Obsession. The 3-D effect was astounding!! Nate Goodman's beefy Coulter scope had just had its mirrors resurfaced and offered delightful images. His scope was not bothered much by the wind and so it was used quite a bit. I still like this site probably more than any other as there are so many fun things to do during the day. Some SLASers are going down the first weekend in October to support the first annual Wayne County astronomy festival in the town of Lyman. Nate Goodman will know more about this if anyone might be interested in supporting the event. Clear Skies! Lowell Lyon

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Observing tonight
by Kim 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

I'm thinking that between the weekend ATV'ers and the windy weather, Rush Valley, Lakeside and anywhere else in the west deserts will be real dusty tonight. Still, I'd like to go observing if I can avoid the dust. Anyone going to Wolf Creek or somewhere else in the hills tonight? How about the gravel pit? Kim

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Jupiter and Uranus
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Sep '10

05 Sep '10

I don't remember if anyone has mentioned it here so I'll mention that Jupiter continues to close on Uranus. Currently about 1.5 degrees apart. Closest at about half that on the 18th. I was just out looking at them with 7x35 and 10x50 binoculars. Normally I'd be hard pressed to find Uranus with binos but having it so close to Jupiter made finding it a snap even with such small instruments. And fun to see 2 and maybe 3 of the Galilean satellites with just the binos (hand held, no tripod). Ok, now it's back to exoplaneting... patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Sunday night/Monday morning
by Canopus56 05 Sep '10

05 Sep '10

> I've never been there, don't really know how to get to the > observing area [Wolf Creek] (can anyone give fairly exact GPS > coordinates for this?) Here is my google map for Utah Astro observing sites: http://tinyurl.com/ybds2rz Wolf Creek Obs Site DSS +40° 28' 21.84", -111° 3' 13.04" 40.472733, -111.053622 The Google map map and satellite views provide addition direction info. The Wolf Creek site is on bluff at the end of a 2 kilometer road that exits out of the south of the Forest Service campground. Clear Skies - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Capitol Reef National Park
by Debbie 04 Sep '10

04 Sep '10

Anybody going to be at Capitol Reef National Park on Thursday? Weather is supposed to be good all week. Debbie On Tue Aug 31 8:50 , Steve FISHER <sfisher01(a)msn.com> sent: > >Dale: >Is there an admission fee? Is it waived if you bring a scope? I got the invtation on this list but had a few additional questions. >Steve > >> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:02:50 -0700 >> From: dalel2112(a)yahoo.com >> To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Capitol Reef National Park >> >> Hi, >> >> I will be attending the Great Basin Ntl. Prk event. Not having been to Lehman >> caves for 1/4 century is making me want to go. I've spoken with Kelly Carroll. >> They are doing a public observing program on Sat and Sun. So, anyone >> interested, come along. >> >> Dale >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Lowell Lyon bolide(a)sisna.com> >> To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 6:42:27 PM >> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Capitol Reef National Park >> >> Hello: >> >> >> >> I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Capitol Reef >> this weekend. The viewing is at Panorama Point. This is one of the first >> viewpoint turnoffs after you enter the park from the west heading east from >> Torrey. I will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with the 20" >> Obsession. >> >> >> >> Those of you who have never been to Capitol Reef will be in for a real >> treat. I have seen the darkest most spectacular skies anywhere at this >> park. >> >> >> >> I noticed that Great Basin National Park is also doing something Labor Day >> Weekend. It's tough to have to make a choice as to which national park to >> go to. I've been to Great Basin to support their astronomy festival in the >> past. It was a couple of years ago that I enjoyed visiting with Seth Jarvis >> from the Clark Planetarium that was there with some of his family. >> >> >> >> Capitol Reef is usually the "official" SLAS venue for the September and >> October private star parties because there is so much to do during the day >> and the night skies are so dark. This is not a public event, strictly for >> us to have a good time doing our own observing. Hope to see many of you >> there! >> >> >> >> Lowell Lyon >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > >_______________________________________________ >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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Drive home from SPOC
by Steve FISHER 04 Sep '10

04 Sep '10

Patrick: If you had to drive home to the Salt Lake Valley from SPOC on Saturday nights after advanced training you would know that Coast to Coast is still on. It is one of the few radio stations you can get around that time of night on the road. It is now hosted by George Noory and Ian Punnett. Most of their topics are "pretty far out there" but some are interesting and even fascinating on occasion.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Remote viewing???
by Kelly_Carroll＠nps.gov 03 Sep '10

03 Sep '10

Kim, I think you heard a rebroadcast of Coast-to-Coast AM show with Mjr. Ed Dames - one of the Army's former "remote viewers". I would recommend reading the book 'The Men Who Stare at Goats'. It goes in depth and is an interesting read. I picked it up used for $1 at Amazon. --kelly

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