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

Wheeler Farm SP
by D P Pierce 24 May '11

24 May '11

Hi, I can get to the Wheeler Farm SP Friday night via UTA but I will need a ride to Advanced Training and then home (by Bangerter and 6200 South) afterwards. My brother and sister are both out of town this weekend. My folded up wheel chair would need to fit in your vehicle. Please and thank you. Dark skies, Deloy Pierce

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Memorial Day Weekend at Great Basin National Park
by Kelly_Carroll＠nps.gov 24 May '11

24 May '11

Hello everyone! Can you believe that summer is almost here? Please tell that to the weather since we have snow forecasted here for tomorrow. I just wanted to invite everyone to come to Great Basin NP for Memorial Day Weekend. We are having two star parties on both Saturday and Sunday night (May 28 & 29). If anyone would like to come and help out there will be free camping available. We'd love to see you. FYI, we are having star parties in the park every Wednesday and Saturday night, plus holiday weekends. Please know that you are welcome anytime. Contact me for more info. Best and clear skies, Kelly Kelly Carroll Great Basin National Park http://www.nps.gov/grba/ Experience your America

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NASA Announces Milestone For Future Human Spaceflight
by Patrick Wiggins 23 May '11

23 May '11

NASA will host a media teleconference tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. MDT to discuss an agency decision that will define the next transportation system to carry humans into deep space. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_M11_099_Next_Transport.html pw

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Family Odyssey star party
by Kim Hyatt 23 May '11

23 May '11

All: I agreed to assist with a star party at a nearby scout camp in July, but due to the offer of a new job I won’t be here to do it. I’m looking for help from anyone who might be interested. The event is scheduled for the night of Tuesday, July 26th, at the Utah National Parks Council’s Camp Tifie, just outside of Mt. Pleasant. The Moon will be a waning crescent – Full Moon is the following Sunday. The camp is a Wood Badge event. (Wood Badge is a week-long training camp for adult scout leaders.) Families of those attending Wood Badge are invited to join for the week so there will be scouters, wives and their children. Last year even with lots of clouds we had maybe 50 people at three telescopes. More about the camp is at: http://www.facebook.com/FamilyOdyssey I think this is a worthy event. I wouldn’t have asked this group to help if I could take care of it myself, but I’m simply not able to do so now. If anyone is willing to help, please contact me off-list for more information. Thanks to all, Kim

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Whats Wrong With this Picture
by gazebo4sale＠comcast.net 23 May '11

23 May '11

Dear Utah-Astronomy, I am just starting to learn to take some astropics and would love to get some input as to my mess so far. Each mess is a learning experience however. I am set up for Afocul Photography. the photo I am using to show my problems so far is at: http://home.comcast.net/~galico/Astropics/comae berenice.jpg It is an attempt to take a photo of NCG5024 (M53) the beautiful Open Cluster in Comea Berenice. This is a 500 second exposure Here is my equipment I am using for this shot. Celestron Nexstar GPS 11 with most current hand control software. Celestron Heavy Duty Tripod Celestron Heavy Duty Pro Wedge Canon, unmodified, Rebel XTI (10 MP) Shooting Through the Diagonal. CNC Wide Mouth T Adapter. Canon Remote Shutter Controll-Not a wireless. I was set up on a very clear night in Mesquite Nevada (Moderate Light Pollution). Coma Berenice was at about 65 Degrees ALT. I was set up on the lawn with antivabration pads. It was about 65 degrees F. I used the Nexstar Equatorial North Allighment technique, then I used the Polar Mount Alignment routine included in the Celestron Software. I used a 12.5 mm illuminated cross-hair reticule for polar alignment and I felt that the polar alignment was vis ually pretty good. I used the Precise Traking routine on the Celestron Hand Control-selecting Diadem as a guide star. Here is what I think is going on: There are tracks showing that I am not precisely polar allignd, but I have helix shapped tracks of the stars. The equitorial alignment is not good enough and the helix star tracks are the result of the telescope correcting itself in both ALT and RA. If it were just an allingment problem I don't think I would get the helix shapped tracks and I would just have arc shapped lines. I used 2nd mirror lockup and a cable attached shutter controll. Could there be vibration problems with my just tippi toeing around the telescope? There is a great deal of dark current shown which I guess is handled by software and/or having a modified camera. I think that if I shut off the GPS and used the RA only option, after using the Celestron routine, I could drift align the mount to a more precise alignment. Your input would be most appreciated. Thanks Steve Gallenson .

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Heavy duty grinding machine
by RON VANDERHULE 22 May '11

22 May '11

ATM'ers I just posted my grinding machine on Astromart, ad # 733340. Lots of pictures. If you are still pushing plaster time to modernize. Have grit and polish for local buyers. Check it out. Call or text 10am to 10pm. 801 726 8554 Thanx, Ron

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Meteorites
by Joe Bauman 21 May '11

21 May '11

A report with pics about Barrett and Roxanne Flowers' talk to SLAS concerning meteorites: http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/47/10011925/Nightly-news-astronomy-Touching… -- Thanks, Joe

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End is postponed!
by Steve Fisher 21 May '11

21 May '11

I have an announcement to make. Today's ending of the world has been postponed one week. This was arranged in order to allow for Oprah's final show. Which is the bigger deal?

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] End is postponed!
by jayleads＠gmail.com 21 May '11

21 May '11

I thought the final Oprah show was the Rapture. Sent from my LG phone Steve Fisher <iotacass1(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > >I have an announcement to make. Today's ending of the world has been postponed one week. This was arranged in order to allow for Oprah's final show. Which is the bigger deal? >_______________________________________________ >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

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Stephen Hawking vs. Kirk Cameron: A heavenly debate
by Canopus56 21 May '11

21 May '11

On a more serious note, hopefully there will not be another group of delusional cult members like the Heaven's Gate or that Swiss group who do a mass suicide when the end does not occur. - Kurt

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