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

The Utah Astro observing list
by Hutchings, Mat (H USA) 07 Dec '11

07 Dec '11

Just a quick reminder that if you have favorite deep sky objects beyond Messier that you would like to see included in the Utah Astro observing list, please get them to me quick. I am nearly finished compiling the list and so I expect to have it out to you by early next week. Keep looking up, Mat ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message and any included attachments are from Siemens Medical Solutions and are intended only for the addressee(s). The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to Central.SecurityOffice.Healthcare(a)siemens.com Thank you

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Alton Mine Hearing is tomorrow, Wed. 12-7 - SLAS formal action?
by Canopus56 07 Dec '11

07 Dec '11

Robert wrote: > Getting involved in these types of activities is > express[ly] prohibited by the club's constitution in Article X. Robert, my reading is that Article X is that it is a standard IRS 501(c)(3) disclaimer provision that provides that SLAS may undertake some activity ``influencing legislation,'' as long as it is not a ``substantial part of the [club's] activities.'' My understanding of IRS Code 501(c)(3) restrictions are not intended complete bar against influencing legislation that are directly related to a non-profit's scientific-educational pursuits. But again, this is my understanding of the matter, and it is a question that a lawyer could easily resolve. Respectfully Robert, you are misreading Article X. Article X does not state that it is a complete bar that strictly prohibits any club activity that influences legislation. Clear Skies - Canopus56 Article X of the SLAS Constitution states: The Society is organized as an educational and scientific organization and will take part only in activities that are scientific/educational in nature. No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Society shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf on any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Society shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

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Alton Mine Hearing is tomorrow, Wed. 12-7 - SLAS formal action?
by Canopus56 07 Dec '11

07 Dec '11

The Alton Mine hearing for Salt Lake City is tomorrow: Salt Lake City, UT December 7th, 2011 Salt Lake City Library, 210 E 400 S 6:00pm-8:00pm I have a class in Sandy starting at 7pm, and I will not be there. The comment period ends in January, but the BLM website states that ``ends on January 6, 2012'' and comment may be submitted by email to UT_Kanab_Altoncoal at blm dot gov . I believe that comments will be accepted even if submitted reasonably after the closing date. Since political participation in Utah is best done in groups and not as individuals (in order to avoid the Utah well-known type of employment retaliatory conduct mentioned by others in an early post), perhaps this is something that the SLAS transition board should consider. That the Alton mine comment period expires on Jan. 6 should be a practical barrier. Q1 for discussion: Should the SLAS Board consider filing an organizational comment on the Alton Mine DEIS? I am not suggesting any action related to the Dec. 7 hearing. My suggestion goes to a written organizational comment on the Alton Mine DEIS. While SLAS is an apolitical association, should SLAS as an organization consider other dark sky activities? SLAS is apolitical in that the diversity of its conservative and liberal members results in a social consensus of avoiding political matters, and SLAS is organized as a 501(c)(3) corporation. While I am not a legal expert on 501(c)(3) matters, generally, I understand that although 501(c)(3) cannot make contributions or advocate for the election of any public official, a 501(c)(3) organization can influence and lobby regarding legislation, as long as a substantial portion of its income is not dedicated to lobbying. Q2 for discussion: Should SLAS as an organization pursue federal legislation establishing a framework to establish dark sky preserves on federal lands Utah and or Nevada? Should SLAS as an organization pursue federal legislation to establish a specific dark sky preserve(s) in Utah and or Nevada? In 2009, the International Dark Sky Association recognized Utah's Natural Bridges Monument as an International Dark Sky Reserve. http://data.nextrionet.com/site/idsa/PR_Natural_Bridges_2007.pdf That recognition and designation is private, and it is not legally enforceable. Although the Park Service has legal authority to preserve dark sky values within park boundaries, that authority is practically useless, unless dark sky lighting enforcement authority is recognized and implemented on surrounding federal BLM lands. Although the BLM arguably might have dark sky regulatory authority under the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976, the Alton Coal Mine application demonstrates that whatever authority the BLM may have, will not be applied. In this context, a dark sky preserve means a special service district with the right to enforce lighting restrictions around and outside of a designated dark sky site, e.g. a Utah or Nevada state or federal park. There are many United States and international dark sky preserve zones, both private and public. Some of the public venues have lighting regulatory power. See list at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark-sky_preserve#cite_note-1 Many of the areas in the United States are associated with observatories. Some, like Michigan's State Lake Huron Recreation Area and Pennsylvania's Cherry Hills State Park, are associated with park lands. Internationally, Canada has designated its Jasper Canadian National Park as a dark sky preserve with lighting regulatory authority. But in the United States, public regulated dark sky preserves are principally associated with observatories. For example, in the United States, the MacDonald Observatory, Palomar Observatory, and Kitt Peak have legal authority to regulate lighting varying from 40 to 90 kilometers around each site. Another precedent for electro-magnetic radiation pollution control is the United States National Radio Quiet Zone, that was designated for defense purposes around the Green Banks Radio Observatory across state boundaries of Virgina and West Virgina. An alternative is for SLAS as an organization to take no action and to continue to rely on the efforts of preexisting dark sky advocacy groups like the IDA. Considering that the Alton Mine dark sky expert is an Arizona-based former president of the IDA, maybe SLAS should reconsider the group's default no action practice, and SLAS should reconsider if it should start taking care of Utah's own as an organization. Clear Skies - Canopus56

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A bit o' humor
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Dec '11

07 Dec '11

In an attempt to lighten up the mood here on Utah-Astronomy I present: An excerpt from last week's Science Friday on PBS: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/astrology.mp3 Not astronomy but SJ enjoyed this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR0lWICH3rY

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How to unsubscribe from Utah-Astronomy
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Dec '11

07 Dec '11

Howdy folks, One person unsubscribed from U-A and two others attempted. All in one day. Granted, what's going on here is pretty tame compared to the all out flame wars I've seen on other lists. But I don't think we've ever had three leave on the same day so let's try to calm things a bit. Now, for those wishing to unsubscribe. First go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Near the bottom of the page you'll see "To unsubscribe from Utah-Astronomy...". Enter your email address in the space provided and click on the "Unsubscribe or edit options" button. Clear skies, patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Alton Mine Hearing is tomorrow, Wed. 12-7 - SLAS formal action?
by Canopus56 06 Dec '11

06 Dec '11

Brent wrote: > As an author of the constitution, may I state that the purpose of > Article X was never to assure compliance with 501 (c)(3). > The purpose of article X was to eliminate political activity > from the club. Respectfully, that may have been your personal intent as the document's author, but that is not what is written in Article X, and as a club member in good standing, I am entitled to rely on what is written in the document. Not acting also is be very divisive to the club membership, and resolution of such an important issue should not be left to hot internet postings. Considering the increase in light pollution in Utah since the club was formed in the 1970s, I suggest that another temperature read of the club's membership is in order, and that the matter should be put up for a vote that January meeting. I for one am tired of driving over an hour to get to dark sky, and I do not look forward to driving 2 or 3 three hours in another 10 years, which is where inaction will lead to. I suspect that other club members feel the same. Since the club December party is in a few days, I will drop the discussion at this point in the interest of club fraternity and congeniality. It is the holidays. If you feel that Article X reads how you interpret it, you are free to offer up an amendment to Article X expressly barring any and all political activity, and not allowing such activities as long as they are not ``substantial'' to the point that they come to dominate and diminish the club's purpose. That latter is what Article X states. The former view that Article X means a complete bar might not be in the club's interest, since for example, applying for a government grant might be seen as a political activity that seeks to influence politicians to make a public expenditure, and, under your view of Article X such an application might be seen as being barred by the club's constitution. Thanks for a calm, reasonable response. Again, I will drop the thread in the interest of the holidays, but I ask that the new 2012 board members put the matter on the calendar for January's general meeting, as Bob Taylor, a 2012 board member suggested, in part, up thread. Best wishes and Clear Skies - Kurt

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Startracker for iPhones.
by Daniel Holmes 06 Dec '11

06 Dec '11

For those of you with iPhone 4sen, Startracker is free today: http://itunes.apple.com/app/startracker-for-iphone-4s/id482378748?mt=8 Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh(a)holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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Newly found comet will graze the sun
by Rodger C. Fry 06 Dec '11

06 Dec '11

Nice read. It would be nice if part of this comit did survive its close encounter of a hot kind. Follow this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45570348/ns/technology_and_science-space/ Rodger

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Hubble Milestone
by Steve Fisher 06 Dec '11

06 Dec '11

Back to a less argumentative point. Hubble passed another milestone recently. You can check it out here http://www.spacetelescope.org/announcements/ann1125/ Steve

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Kepler 22-b: Earth-like planet confirmed
by Dale Hooper 06 Dec '11

06 Dec '11

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16040655 Clear skies, Dale.

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