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

Alternate to Dew Controller
by Jay Eads 11 Dec '11

11 Dec '11

Want to make some dew strips but don't have the $100 for the dew controller? Here is an alternative that costs $28.00. Just need source for the power and it will only run one item I believe. http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=7710 -- Jay Eads

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Many thanks SLAS
by Chuck Hards 11 Dec '11

11 Dec '11

Thanks to Ann House and everyone who helped pull-off a terrific SLAS Solstice Party last night! It was good to see old friends and meet some new ones. Kelly and I came home over-stuffed but in great spirits, even though I didn't win the beer in the raffle. :-(

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Eclipse some better than I thought
by Patrick Wiggins 11 Dec '11

11 Dec '11

Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a good bit of color. Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? Rob, how's the view from Maui? patrick

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Moon Games
by Jay Eads 10 Dec '11

10 Dec '11

Another site led me to this site: http://www.pixheaven.net/galerie_us.php?id=22 I thought they were very clever in putting together these clever images of the full moon. -- Jay Eads

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Cloaked object near Mercury?
by D P Pierce 10 Dec '11

10 Dec '11

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mysterious-planet-sized-object-spotted… Deloy Pierce

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Eclipse - and Alton Coal
by Kim 10 Dec '11

10 Dec '11

Hi everyone. I began watching the eclipse on and off beginning around 4:00. I took some pics during the umbral phase, but I won't have them ready to post to my album for a few days. The sky in Tropic was very clear this morning and it wasn't even too cold. The Moon set behind the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon just before totality, but I really enjoyed watching the umbral phase. It was also nice doing so from my warm living room, with a cup of hot cocoa in my hand. While a bit unrelated, this eclipse has me stoked for the annular eclipse next May. Hope to see you all here for that. I was hospitalized for pneumonia just after Thanksgiving and I've missed over two weeks of posts from this group. When I finally opened my email this morning I had over 480 new messages! I didn't count, but most were from UA, and maybe one-third of those were about Alton Coal. Sorry that I rocked the boat so much when I first brought this up, but I just wanted others to be aware of what was happening so they could comment to the BLM if they wished. Please allow me some final (for me) thoughts, inasmuch as I was unable to respond earlier, during these past two weeks. I know you are all burned out by now, but I sort of started this thread and maybe I can help finish it. A recent assignment for my job as Cultural Resource Specialist for Bryce Canyon has been to review the Alton Coal Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and provide comments that relate to cultural resources. Often "cultural resources" are thought to refer only to archeological sites and issues, but in a broader sense, our night skies are also a cultural resource (and are referred to as such in the DEIS). I've also been reviewing the impact of the proposed mine expansion and related increased truck traffic on US 89. The rationale for this is that US 89 is a designated "heritage highway," the route goes through the middle of a national historic district in Panguitch, and Bryce Canyon NP and the Park Service are partners in the Utah Heritage Highway 89/Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area Alliance. I have found significant shortcomings in the DEIS, as have those here who are reviewing other aspects, such as archeology, wildlife, vegetation, etc. In my opinion the BLM should be held to a more rigorous standard. Individuals of this group (Utah Astronomy), with their knowledge of and concern for protecting the night sky as an important natural and cultural resource (I thought, anyway) may have some influence if they choose to "weigh-in" and submit comments to the BLM. That's the reason I brought this all to everyone's attention. (In truth, I think there were one or two earlier posts to mine, but there was little reaction then from UA.) I'd like to offer one final personal observation, and please, this is not directed to any one person but relates to comments I've heard on the radio and by other residents of the area: It seems ironic to me that the BLM is vilified by some for their actions, such as measures that they might take to limit access to public lands, but when the BLM's equally flawed actions (in this case the effort to allow the expansion of the Alton Coal Mine) might boost the area's economy or create jobs, the same people are all in favor of the BLM and its proposals. I think that citizens need to look at all government actions with a more critical eye. It's true that I am personally not in favor of expanding the Alton Coal Mine, but I've tried to make my analysis of the DEIS without regard to my personal feelings. The environmental review (the DEIS) offered by the BLM, so far, is simply flawed and the BLM should be required to do a better job for us all, rather than favoring special interests. That's all folks. Kim

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 106, Issue 98
by baxman2＠q.com 10 Dec '11

10 Dec '11

I spotted it on the Avenues of Salt Lake City. ----- Original Message ----- From: utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Sent: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:37:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 106, Issue 98 Send Utah-Astronomy mailing list submissions to utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com You can reach the person managing the list at utah-astronomy-owner(a)mailman.xmission.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Utah-Astronomy digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Eclipse some better than I thought (Patrick Wiggins) 2. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Chuck Hards) 3. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Debbie) 4. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Siegfried Jachmann) 5. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Ann House) 6. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Rodger C. Fry) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:14:43 -0700 From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> To: utah astronomy utah astronomy listserve <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <B36B1673-62C1-4E76-9285-D3F5C2CEF522(a)wirelessbeehive.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a good bit of color. Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? Rob, how's the view from Maui? patrick ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:18:12 -0700 From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <CAHmuOYpPn9dEYP+mz8UpK+JfGabE5m76gEW0B_Wnm6t+gcYLtw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I just came in myself. Not bad at all! I'm going to see if any of my pics came out now. I had camera trouble but hopefully a few are decent. ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:22:36 -0700 From: Debbie <astrodeb(a)beyondbb.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <CAChSONaiFHtXKoTV_gKydRXcoegLZ+Wunf+KV5T8q-f7hV-hXA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 It was a good view from St George. I had to drive up a hill to get a good view through my Oberwerk 15 X 70 binos. Hands are beginning to thaw now. I saw a couple watching and gave them a view through the binos. Debbie On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM, Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com>wrote: > Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog > didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a > good bit of color. > > Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? > > Rob, how's the view from Maui? > > patrick > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:31:48 -0700 From: Siegfried Jachmann <siegfried(a)jachmann.org> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <CAH4Gk7hN2vdDpBJObju5d9n+sShjLMxoOERr6Ekrnz-RJN0w4A(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Saw it into totality from the top of Wasatch Blvd. Not much of an eclipse. the sky was brightening before totality and it was in the smog. Sig On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM, Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com>wrote: > Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog > didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a > good bit of color. > > Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? > > Rob, how's the view from Maui? > > patrick > _______________________________________________ > 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 > -- Siegfried ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:37:11 -0700 From: Ann House <ann(a)annhouse.org> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <CAAKqo4yYSvUkA8HiFeGkP4M9gT9MhmX497Rw6NMFafTjg9OGkA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Woke up and saw the beginning. Then fell back to sleep and missed the rest. Darn. A On Dec 10, 2011 7:15 AM, "Patrick Wiggins" <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: > Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog > didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a > good bit of color. > > Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? > > Rob, how's the view from Maui? > > patrick > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:37:21 -0700 From: "Rodger C. Fry" <rcfry(a)comcast.net> To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Message-ID: <007c01ccb749$3a201b20$ae605160$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Patrick, I wouldn't miss it. I watched it start to finish. It was well worth getting up a little early for (or in your case, going to be a little late!) Thanks, Rodger C. Fry -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 7:15 AM To: utah astronomy utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a good bit of color. Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? Rob, how's the view from Maui? patrick _______________________________________________ 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 ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ 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 End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 106, Issue 98 ***********************************************

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Eclipse from SL Valley
by garrard55＠xmission.com 10 Dec '11

10 Dec '11

Only saw it from about 0600 on...no color at that point and descended into the trees across the street. Quoting utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com: > Send Utah-Astronomy mailing list submissions to > utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > utah-astronomy-owner(a)mailman.xmission.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Utah-Astronomy digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Eclipse some better than I thought (Patrick Wiggins) > 2. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Chuck Hards) > 3. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Debbie) > 4. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Siegfried Jachmann) > 5. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Ann House) > 6. Re: Eclipse some better than I thought (Rodger C. Fry) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:14:43 -0700 > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> > To: utah astronomy utah astronomy listserve > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: <B36B1673-62C1-4E76-9285-D3F5C2CEF522(a)wirelessbeehive.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the > smog didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse > still showed a good bit of color. > > Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? > > Rob, how's the view from Maui? > > patrick > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:18:12 -0700 > From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: > <CAHmuOYpPn9dEYP+mz8UpK+JfGabE5m76gEW0B_Wnm6t+gcYLtw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > I just came in myself. Not bad at all! I'm going to see if any of my pics > came out now. I had camera trouble but hopefully a few are decent. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:22:36 -0700 > From: Debbie <astrodeb(a)beyondbb.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: > <CAChSONaiFHtXKoTV_gKydRXcoegLZ+Wunf+KV5T8q-f7hV-hXA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > It was a good view from St George. I had to drive up a hill to get a good > view through my Oberwerk 15 X 70 binos. Hands are beginning to thaw now. I > saw a couple watching and gave them a view through the binos. > > Debbie > > On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM, Patrick Wiggins > <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com>wrote: > >> Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog >> didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a >> good bit of color. >> >> Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? >> >> Rob, how's the view from Maui? >> >> patrick >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:31:48 -0700 > From: Siegfried Jachmann <siegfried(a)jachmann.org> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: > <CAH4Gk7hN2vdDpBJObju5d9n+sShjLMxoOERr6Ekrnz-RJN0w4A(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Saw it into totality from the top of Wasatch Blvd. Not much of an eclipse. > the sky was brightening before totality and it was in the smog. > > Sig > > > > > On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM, Patrick Wiggins > <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com>wrote: > >> Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog >> didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a >> good bit of color. >> >> Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? >> >> Rob, how's the view from Maui? >> >> patrick >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > > -- > Siegfried > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:37:11 -0700 > From: Ann House <ann(a)annhouse.org> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: > <CAAKqo4yYSvUkA8HiFeGkP4M9gT9MhmX497Rw6NMFafTjg9OGkA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Woke up and saw the beginning. Then fell back to sleep and missed the rest. > Darn. > > A > On Dec 10, 2011 7:15 AM, "Patrick Wiggins" <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: > >> Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog >> didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a >> good bit of color. >> >> Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? >> >> Rob, how's the view from Maui? >> >> patrick >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:37:21 -0700 > From: "Rodger C. Fry" <rcfry(a)comcast.net> > To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > Message-ID: <007c01ccb749$3a201b20$ae605160$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Patrick, > > I wouldn't miss it. I watched it start to finish. It was well worth > getting up a little early for (or in your case, going to be a little late!) > > Thanks, > > Rodger C. Fry > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick > Wiggins > Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 7:15 AM > To: utah astronomy utah astronomy listserve > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Eclipse some better than I thought > > Just came in from viewing the eclipse. Very low in the west and the smog > didn't help. But despite the brightening sky the eclipse still showed a > good bit of color. > > Anyone in SL Valley try to spot it? > > Rob, how's the view from Maui? > > patrick > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 106, Issue 98 > *********************************************** >

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The Utah Astro Observing List
by Hutchings, Mat (H USA) 09 Dec '11

09 Dec '11

Okay, below is the Utah Astro Observing List. It contains 83 objects. This is the list that this list came up with as your favorite non Messier deep sky objects. The text version below is pretty messy because I could not figure out a quick way to format it well for e-mail. As I mentioned before, I will post a spreadsheet version on some website. I will let you all know the link when it is posted. Look at the first line for the column headings and notice the usual things in a list like this. The last column is labeled "Votes". This is simply a number of votes that each object got. The list below is sorted by votes, then by object. I would recommend you copy and past the list into a word processor program and tab between each field then convert the text into a table. Or better yet, wait until I post the spreadsheet. :) Enjoy, Mat Object Type Con Vmag Size RA Dec Pop. Name Notes Votes NGC 457 OC Cas 6.4 13.0' 01h 19m 10s +58° 20' 02" Owl Cluster Brent Watson says it also looks like an F-14 flying away from you. The owl's eyes are the afterburners. 5 NGC 6826 PN Cyg 8.8 27.0"x24.0" 19h 44m 53s +50° 31' 42" Blinking Planetary 5 NGC 2362 OC Cma 4.1 8.0' 07h 18m 48s -24° 56' 51" To Jay Eads' eye, this is the prettiest open cluster of the winter. 4 NGC 253 Gal Scl 7.2 25.0'x7.0' 00h 47m 35s -25° 17' 01" Edge-on spiral 4 NGC 3242 PN Hya 8.6 40.0"x35.0" 10h 24m 48s -18° 38' 14" Ghost of Jupiter 4 Almaak (γ And.) Double star (triple if you can) And 02h 03m 54s +42° 19' 47" Very pretty turquoise and yellow double. The challenge is to also split the fainter blue component. 3 Cr 399 Asterism Vul 3.6 60.0' 19h 25m 26s +20° 11' 18" Brocchi's Cluster; The Coathanger Once assumed to be an OC; data from Hipparcos spacecraft shows it to be a chance alignment of stars 3 NGC 2264 OC Mon 3.9 30.0'x60.0' 06h 40m 58s +09° 53' 42" Christmas Tree Cluster; Cone Nebula includes naked-eye S Mon (15 Mon) 3 NGC 6960 SNR Cyg 70.0'x6.0' 20h 45m 38s +30° 43' 20" Western Veil AKA Witches Broom Nebula, The Tornado, The Nexus. 3 NGC 6992 SNR Cyg 25.0'x20.0' 20h 56m 14s +31° 04' 20" Eastern Veil Joan Carmen like to call this part of the Veil the "fingers of death". 3 NGC 7293 PN Aqr 6.3 16.0'x12.0' 22h 29m 40s -20° 47' 23" Helical Nebula 3 NGC 7662 PN And 8.6 17.0"x14.0" 23h 25m 57s +42° 32' 44" Blue Snowball Nebula 3 3C 273 Quasar Vir 12 12h 29m 06s +02° 03' 01" Brightest quasar; most remote object visible in modest amateur telescopes (~ 2 billion light years) 2 NGC 2169 OC Ori 5.9 7.0' 06h 08m 27s +13° 56' 59" "37" Cluster 2 NGC 2281 OC Aur 5.4 15' 06h 48m 17s +41° 04' 42" Brent Watson calls this the "Broken Heart Cluster" 2 NGC 2392 PN Gem 8.6 47.0"x43.0" 07h 29m 10s +20° 54' 42" Eskimo Nebula; Clown Face 2 NGC 2419 GC Lyn 9.1 6' 07h 38m 09s +38° 52' 55" The Intergalactic Wanderer. 2 NGC 281 OC + BN Cas 7.4 4 00h 52m 48s +56° 37' Pacman Nebula Best with an OIII filter 2 NGC 4038 Gal Cor 10.3 2.6'x1.8' 12h 01m 53s -18° 51' 55" The Antennae; Ringtail Gal Interacting with NGC 4039 2 NGC 4039 Gal Cor 10.6 3.2'x2.2' 12h 01m 54s -18° 53' 07" The Antennae Interacting with NGC 4038 2 NGC 4565 Gal Com 9.6 15.5'x1.9' 12h 36m 20s +25° 59' 23" Bernice's Hair Clip Classic edge-on spiral with dust lane. A favorite of John Dobson. 2 NGC 4567 Gal Vir 11.3 3.0'x2.5' 12h 36m 33s +11° 15' 33" Siamese Twins Overlaps NGC 4568 2 NGC 4568 Gal Vir 10.8 5.1'x2.4' 12h 36m 35s +11° 14' 17" Siamese Twins Overlaps NGC 4567 2 NGC 5139 GC Cen 3.7 36.3' 13h 26m 46s -47° 28' 45" Omega Centauri Pit-N-Pole has a great southern horizon from which it is visible. 2 NGC 6210 PN Her 9.7 20.0"x13.0" 16h 44m 30s +23° 48' 46" Turtle Nebula Use a filter. 2 NGC 6302 PN Sco 7.1 1' 17h 13m 44s -37° 06' 16" Bug or Butterfly Nebula 2 NGC 6543 PN Dra 8.3 22.0"x16.0" 17h 58m 36s +66° 38' 17" Cat's Eye Nebula 2 NGC 6818 PN Sgr 10 22"x15" 19h 44m 00s -14° 09' Annular, near NGC 6822 2 NGC 6939 OC Cep 7.8 8.0' 20h 31m 27s +60° 38' 22" Very near Gal N6946 2 NGC 6946 Gal Cep 10.5 14 20h 34m 48s +60° 09' Diffuse, face-on. Very near OC N6939 2 NGC 7009 PN Aqr 8.3 28.0"x23.0" 21h 04m 15s -11° 21' 49" Saturn Nebula 2 Polaris (α Umi) Double star Umi 2 02h 31m 49s +89° 15' 51" Brent Watson points out that Polaris is the diamond in a circlet of stars that make up "The Engagement Ring of Polaris". 2 Rasalgethi (α Her) Double star Her 2.9 / 5.4 17h 14m 39s +14° 23' 25" Good color contrast in this double! 2 Albireo Double star Cyg 3.1 19h 30m 45s +27° 57' 55" The Cub Scout stars Superb double star; blue/gold 1 B 59, 65-7 DN Oph 300.0' 17h 21m 02s -26° 59' 58" Pipe Nebula (stem) 1 B 78 DN Oph 200.0' 17h 33m 02s -25° 59' 58" Pipe Nebula (bowl) 1 B 86 DN Sgr 5'x3' 18h 03m 00s -27° 52' Ink Spot Very cool that it is right next to NGC 6520. One of the nicest contrasts in the sky. 1 h3945 Double star CMa 5.0 / 5.9 07h 16m 35s -23° 19' Winter Albireo Yellow and blue coloration, but your eyes may see different colors. 1 IC 2163 Gal CMa 11.6 3.0'x1.2' 06h 16m 28s -21° 22' 33" Colliding with NGC 2207 1 IC 418 PN Lep 10.7 14.0"x11.0" 05h 27m 30s -12° 41' 32" Try different filters on this one. 1 Kemble's Cascade Cam 03h 57m 30s +63° 04' 13" First described by Canadian amateur Lucian J. Kemble; beautiful chain of about 20 mag. 5...9 stars; coordinates are for SAO 12969, a mag. 5 star in the middle of the Cascade 1 Markarian's Chain Gal chain Vir 12h 25m 04s +12° 53' 16" String of bright galaxies; covers 3 degrees of sky, starting with M84 & M86 in Virgo, ending with NGCs 4459 & 4474 in Coma Berenices; coordinates are for M84. Look for the face. 1 Mizar/Alcor Double star Uma 2.2 / 4 13h 23m 56s +54° 55' 31" The Horse and Rider A telescope reveals Mizar to be a double itself. Each of those components are spectoscopic doubles, so Mizar is a quadruple star. Alcor is also a double, so you are really gazing upon 6 stars. 1 NGC 1097 Gal For 10.2 9.3'x6.3' 02h 46m 19s -30° 16' 30" Barred spiral galaxy. It is a Seyfert galaxy. 1 NGC 1232 Gal Eri 10.5 8x7 03h 09m 42s -20° 34' Face-on spiral 1 NGC 1360 PN For 9.4 11.0'x7.5' 03h 33m 15s -25° 52' 18" Use a filter. 1 NGC 1365 Gal For 10.3 11.2'x6.2' 03h 33m 36s -36° 08' 25" The Great Barred Spiral Galaxy Current opinion is the Milky Way Galaxy may resemble this galaxy. 1 NGC 1398 Gal For 9.8 7.2'x5.1' 03h 38m 54s -26° 20' 14" Barred spiral galaxy. 1 NGC 1514 PN Tau 9.43 2.2' 04h 09m 17s +30° 46' 33" Crystal Ball Nebula This object caused Herschel to rethink the construction of the heavens. 1 NGC 1535 PN Eri 10.4 20.0"x17.0" 04h 14m 16s -12° 44' 16" "Little Eskimo". Shows multiple shells and the central star is observable. Use a filter. 1 NGC 2207 Gal CMa 12.2 4.3'x2.8' 06h 16m 22s -21° 22' 22" Colliding with IC 2163 1 NGC 2261 BN Mon 2.0'x1.0' 06h 39m 13s +08° 44' 01" Hubble's Variable Nebula 1 NGC 2359 BN Cma 8.0' 07h 17m 48s -13° 12' 54" Thor's Helmet; Duck Nebula Wolf-Rayet remnant 1 NGC 2683 Gal Lyn 10.6 9.3'x2.2' 08h 52m 41s +33° 25' 19" The UFO galaxy Spiral galaxy with no bar. 1 NGC 2903 Gal Leo 9 13.3'x6.0' 09h 32m 10s +21° 29' 58" Tilted spiral galaxy with a bright core and details within are viewable. 1 NGC 3521 Gal Leo 10.1 13.5x7.0 11h 05m 48s -00° 02' Large, bright 1 NGC 436 OC Cas 8.8 6.0' 01h 15m 58s +58° 48' 42" Mat Hutchings refers to this as the Owl Dropping, it is located just under the Owl Cluster. 1 NGC 4361 PN Cor 10.3 1.3' 12h 24m 30s -18° 47' 38" Use a filter. 1 NGC 4449 Gal CVn 10 6.0x4,5 12h 28m 12s +44° 06' Bizarre rectangular shape 1 NGC 4762 Gal Vir 11.1 9.0x2.0 12h 53m 00s +11° 14' A very flat galaxy 1 NGC 5907 Gal Dra 10.3 12.8'x1.8' 15h 15m 52s +56° 19' 48" 1 NGC 6207 Gal Her 12.5 3.3x1.2 16h 43m 06s +36° 50' Within about 1 degree of M13. It has no definite nucleus 1 NGC 6231 OC Sco 2.6 15.0' 16h 54m -41° 48' False Comet cluster 1 NGC 6520 OC Sgr 7.6 6 18h 03m 24s -27° 54' 60 stars, compact, near B86 1 NGC 6522 GC Sgr 9.9 5.6 18h 03m 34s -30° 02' 02" One of the "double globs". Possibly the oldest known glob in our galaxy, with an age of more than 12 Gigayears. 1 NGC 6528 GC Sgr 9.6 3.7 18h 04m 50s -30° 03' 21" One of the "double globs". 1 NGC 6712 GC Sct 8.2 7.2 18h 53m 06s -08° 42' PN IC 1295 in field 1 NGC 6888 BN Cyg 20.0'x10.0' 20h 12m 14s +38° 20' 21" Crescent Nebula 1 NGC 7027 PN Cyg 9.6 18"x11" 21h 07m 06s +42° 14' Proto-planetary, unique. Use highest power possible. 1 NGC 7331 Gal Peg 9.5 11.4'x4.0' 22h 37m 08s +34° 25' 27" Little And Gal 1 NGC 7479 Gal Peg 11.6 4.1'x3.1' 23h 04m 57s +12° 19' 22" Barred spiral galaxy. It is a Seyfert galaxy. 1 NGC 7789 OC Cas 6.7 16.0' 23h 57m 04s +56° 44' 09" White Rose Caroline Herschel discovered this OC, so it is also called Caroline's Rose. 1 NGC 869 OC Per 5.3 30.0' 02h 19m 03s +57° 08' 58" Double Cluster w/NGC 884 1 NGC 884 OC Per 6.1 30.0' 02h 22m 27s +57° 06' 57" Double Cluster w/NGC 869 1 NGC 891 Gal And 9.9 14.0'x3.0' 02h 22m 36s +42° 20' 50" Edge-on spiral w/prominent dust lane 1 R Leporis Carbon star Lep 5.5 - 11.7 04h 59m 36s -14° 48' 23" Hind's Crimson Star Hind reported that it appeared like a drop of blood on a black field. 1 S Cephei Carbon star Cep 7.4 - 12.9 21h 35m 13s +78° 37' 28" Also a Mira type variable star with a period of 486 days. 1 STF 1659 Asterism Cor 12h 35m 59s -12° 03' 09" The Stargate (refers to a Buck Rogers stargate not an SG1 stargate) Look for a triangle within a triangle. The name STF 1659 is in reference to a double star, and that double is part of this asterism. 1 The Fairy Ring Asterism Cyg big! 20h 04m +38° 20' Six doubles arranged in a hexagon. 1 ε Lyrae Double star Lyr 4.7 / 5.1 18h 44m 20s +39° 40' 12" The double-double Split the widest with your eyes, then see what the lowest magnifcation you can split the close ones with. 1 ι Cassiopeiae Triple star Cas 4.6 / 6.9 / 8.4 02h 29m 04s +67° 24' 09" White, yellow/white and yellow stars. 1 μ (mu) Cephei Carbon star Cep 4.1 21h 43m 30s +58° 46' 48" Herschel's Garnet Star One of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. 1 ν (nu) Draconis Double star Dra 4.9 17h 32m 13s +55° 11' 13" Ann Blanchard reports that this double star looks like car headlights coming at you out of a sea of blackness! 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message and any included attachments are from Siemens Medical Solutions and are intended only for the addressee(s). 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Back-yard naked-eye astronomy
by Chuck Hards 09 Dec '11

09 Dec '11

Taking a break from the shop for a few minutes, I took my Irish whiskey and water outside for a peek at the sky. The full moon is rising rapidly in the north-east. The night's main event is drawing ever closer! With due respect to those who marginalize a lunar eclipse who's full extent isn't quite visible from our locale, I can't wait. I've taken a full three days off for my surgery (the first time in months that I've had more than ONE day off in a two-week period) and I plan on seeing whatever I can from my admittedly light-polluted back yard in the middle of the Salt Lake valley. Venus lies low in the southwest, a brilliant beacon in the twilight, as sunset fades. I recall nights as a kid growing up on the east side of Salt Lake, riding my bike on summer nights around the UofU district, and seeing Venus in a similar postion up until nearly ten PM. Venus is an old friend. Jupiter shines halfway up in the east-southeast, almost as bright as Venus. It must be a HUGE planet to shine so bright, some 440 million miles from the sun. Were it a bit more massive, it could have become a 'brown dwarf', and then who knows what our night sky would have looked like, from a darkness perspective, had it been so. The King of Planets is another old friend, whom I'm glad to re-connect with from time-to-time. Carry-on, your Majesty. Jupiter is the very first object I can remember locating in a telescope all by myself, back in the late '60's. Even before the moon. I remember the awe I experienced as I saw the bands and belts, the moons astride the huge planet- and the exhaulted Great Red Spot! What a wonderful long-term memory to hang onto, even if I lose my short-term memory as human aging advances and takes it's toll on cerebral treasures. Jupiter is sometimes called the "Amateur's Planet". So be it. I started as an amateur, and I will end my life as one. There is no shame. Jupiter is amazing, as a system unto itself and even as a naked-eye object. I am eternally grateful for Jupiter. The wonder in the eyepiece never ends. The full moon dominates the celestial dome this early December evening. The wondrous specatcle that is a Lunar Eclipse is just hours away! Well, there is chicken to brown and a casserole to fabricate, awaiting me in the kitchen. My GF worked hard today, long hours at an unsatisfying job, and I am happy to prepare supper for her and I, while she dozes angelically on the sofa, the big plasma TV acting as both lullaby and white noise, erasing her cares accumulated during the workday. Thank You, Philo T. Farnsworth. The moon (and Jupiter) will still be there in a few hours. :-)

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