November 2011 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

2005 YU55 animations
by Patrick Wiggins 13 Nov '11

13 Nov '11

First effort at processing and animating images from tonight's 2005 YU55 flyby, one tracking the target and the other at sidereal rate. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=68&g2_page=7 Hopefully better versions will replace these if I can develop a better technique (I'm happy to supply the original FITs to anyone wanting to give it a try).

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Some New/Old Observing Sites Revisited
by Jay Eads 13 Nov '11

13 Nov '11

I did an update on my blog providing information on Pease 1 which I captured last time I was out and I added an entry showing some of the new sites I gathered up. Not sure they will help anyone but there they are. I'm sure for some of you they are just old spots you use to hit and then for some of us, they are new or newer. I also have a couple of sites I want to try out. There seems to be some good spots south of the Vernon Reservoir up in the mountains that might be closer to get to in the summer. So next spring as conditions improve I'll go and check those out. Keep warm! -- Jay Eads

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Your opinion please
by Patrick Wiggins 13 Nov '11

13 Nov '11

The following was in yesterday's issue of News but I was just speaking with someone here on the list that does not receive News who wanted to give his two cents worth on the subject. So I'm posting it here in case there are others in the same position. Note that even non-SLAS members are welcome to express their opinion, especially if the changes being discussed might make it more likely they'd participate in SLAS functions or maybe even join SLAS. Clear skies, patrick Your Opinions Please: Meeting Night and Meeting Venue 1) SLAS may have the option of returning to the meeting hall we had been using up until a couple of months ago. The board would like to hear if you prefer the old venue or the new one. 2) There is a possibility that we could end the mystery of where we'll be holding our monthly meetings by moving them to the new Utah Museum of Natural History building. But to do that we'd need to move the meetings to Wednesdays (next year's SLAS prez Dave Bernson notes that moving the meetings to Wednesdays would mean free pie at ATS after <g>). The board would like to know if you favor moving the meetings to Wednesdays or keeping them on Tuesday. Please email your preferences to board(a)slas.us .

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Fw: Thank you for submitting your public comment
by Joe Bauman 12 Nov '11

12 Nov '11

Hi, Here's a petition I signed. I think it's important we protect the wonderfully clear skies at Bryce, as they are a national treasure. As we all know, the lack of dust- and light-pollution there has led to thousands of people enjoying astronomy. Thanks, Joe ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: CREDO Action <credo-help-4748682-jkw0nTx(a)list.credoaction.com> To: josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 11:03 PM Subject: Thank you for submitting your public comment Thanks for taking action. Here are some ways you can spread the word to make sure the Bureau of Land Management gets the message loud and clear. If you are on Facebook, click here to post the petition to your Wall. If you have a Twitter account, click here to automatically tweet: Tell @BLMnational: Don't allow coal mining next to Bryce Canyon National Park. http://bit.ly/t1bI9J via @CREDOmobile Thanks for all you do. --The CREDO Action Team Here's a sample message to send to your friends: Subject: Protect Bryce Canyon from dirty coal mining Dear Friend, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is on the verge of approving a massive 3,500 acre coal mine right next to Bryce Canyon National Park. The BLM's own analysis shows that the mine will cause major adverse environmental impacts like increased water and air pollution, devastating a huge area directly next to Bryce Canyon's unique eco-system. Despite these concerns the BLM, just released its environmental review proposing that the mine be approved. BLM is currently accepting public comments on its proposal and strong public opposition is needed to convince the BLM to reverse course and reject this dirty coal mine. Tell the Bureau of Land Management: Don't allow coal mining next to Bryce Canyon National Park. http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/protect_bryce_canyon/?r_by=-4748682-5H5… ________________________________ If you've received this email in error, please correct your campaign subscription information at: http://act.credoaction.com/s?i=-4748682-5H5EuSx

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Dew/Frost prevention
by Chuck Hards 11 Nov '11

11 Nov '11

OK, my word isn't good enough, so here's an explanation written in nerdese: http://home.comcast.net/~astrophoto/Articles/Dew.htm It's on the Web, so it MUST be true. All you have to do is warm the optics above the dew point. That temperature varies dependant on humidity. You don't need "warm" optics to prevent dew or frost. In most cases, the optics are still cool to the touch. Mat is on the right track with his dew chaser project. Those of you who are in need should seriously consider attending his next ATM session. A properly designed dew chaser won't consume a lot of current, but will add hours to your observing/imaging sessions when the relative humidity is high. When my work schedule allows, I'll search the S&T archives for some articles they've printed over the years on active and passive dew/frost prevention. I think I get a few days off in late December. :-(

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Sambo's
by bray＠aceweb.com 10 Nov '11

10 Nov '11

My understanding is that the firm claimed to have gotten their name from the first names of the original two partners in the chain, SAM and BOb. As many of you might remember, there was a big flap, several years ago, from complaints that the Sambo name was racist. IIRC, the restaurants even had Little Black Sambo imagery displayed around the walls. The successor to the chain is BAKER'S SQUARE. Thanx, Ray

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Coal Open Mine Clears BLM Land Study
by Jay Eads 10 Nov '11

10 Nov '11

Well here is the study and the story is flying under the wire so to speak: http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-blm-study-blm-releases-study-on-coa… Some highlights: An expanded strip mine near Bryce Canyon National Park would have long-term environmental effects but bring much-needed jobs and additional tax revenue to the area, federal land managers said in a report released Friday. The proposed 3,500-acre coal mine also would pose a significant threat to archaeological and cultural resources in the area, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's draft environmental study. But the report says at least some of the damage could be mitigated during operations and natural habitats likely restored as the coal reserve is tapped. "It's a project with significant impacts," said Keith Rigtrup, a district planner for the BLM office in Cedar City, Utah. "We've built in these mitigations to try to minimize those impacts." Three alternatives are studied in the report, including the prohibition of any mining and another that would reduce the amount of acreage available. Rigtrup said the agency is currently proposing that the full 3,500 acres be permitted for mining, although he emphasized a final decision is at least a year away and will take public comments into account. The project was proposed in 2004 by Alton Coal Development, which already operates the Coal Hollow Mine on 635 acres of adjacent private land near the small southern Utah town of Alton. The BLM estimates the area holds at least 50 million tons of recoverable coal, all of which is owned by the federal government. More than 100 jobs could be created, which would bring a needed economic boost to the area, Kane County Commissioner Doug Heaton said. "There are very few jobs right now that can support a family" in the area, Heaton said. Because the mine jobs pay between $15 and $20 an hour, "we consider this to be a great benefit." Heaton, a lifelong Alton resident who lives within a mile of the existing mine, said there would also be no aesthetic impact for visitors to Bryce Canyon unless people "wanted to see the mine and knew where to look." Environmental groups argue the project will ruin important natural habitats for native species such as the mule deer, and will create dust that will foul the air and reduce visibility for stargazers. "Forsaking all of these diverse benefits for a few years' worth of dirty coal and the profits for one company is not sound public lands management," said Tim Wagner, a representative of The Sierra Club. The BLM has scheduled five public hearings throughout Utah, beginning Nov. 29 in Alton and finishing Dec. 7 in Salt Lake City. Public comments will also be accepted by the agency for 60 days. So jobs, economic growth and profit will win out over the clear skies of Bryce. Does anyone know what the Rangers down at Bryce think of this? Also, anyone going to attend the December 7th meeting? I believe its a Wednesday. Now I need to pay my SLAS fees. I can do that online correct? It will probably be on Wednesday or Thursday if I can do it online. -- Jay Eads

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Happy Birthday Carl Sagan
by Jay Eads 10 Nov '11

10 Nov '11

Carl Sagan would have turned 77 if he was alive today (it was his birthday today). To remember him here is a link to the Pale Blue Dot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g Rest in Peace Mr. Sagan. Your influence on me as a youth will always remain with me. -- Jay Eads

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RTGUI+S Real-Time Astronomy Software for Windows
by Dave Gary 09 Nov '11

09 Nov '11

Joe, Here’s the link to the website for RTGUI. Download it and play around with it. It’s very nice. You can script it, also. The scripting invocation “minalt=” doesn’t work properly, but I’ve informed Robert and he is going to look at it for the next release. The search Wizard is great. His catalogues are very extensive and you can download other catalogues. It should work great with your GPS scope. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It links to Cartes du Ciel, also. For a start, align your scope, then tell RTGUI what COM port your scope is using on your computer via the Options button in the program. It is self-explanatory when you go into that function. Do what it tells you to do. When you’re back on the main program screen, for a start, hit “b” then “g” on your keyboard, then “n” then “g” or “p” then “g”….repeat. If you want to link into Charts du Ciel hit “s”. Of course you have to have Charts du Ciel loaded in your computer, but most astronomy guys that use goto functionality have Charts du Ciel. I think you’ll enjoy RTGUI and I’ve found its pointing is dead-on as long as your alignment is good. I use this program almost exclusively, now. One thing, do not have your GPS scope in Long Format Mode, it’s not on by default when you turn it on, but some guys switch to it for a little greater accuracy when pointing with some programs such as TheSky. This is not high precision pointing, that’s a different thing. RTGUI works fine with high precision pointing, but it does not like long format mode. A pointer, just in case. Too bad it’s a Windoze-only program. http://www.rtgui.com/ Dave

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YU55
by Jay Eads 09 Nov '11

09 Nov '11

I'm sure there are some imaging this. Anyone trying to take a look at it? I am thinking of going in the backyard in Herriman. Anyone around here want to join up? -- Jay Eads

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