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

OT: EPOD Big Rock Candy Mtn
by Canopus56 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

Today's (8-4) EPOD is an excellent entry by Ray Boren about Utah's Big Rock Candy Mountain. - Kurt http://epod.usra.edu/

2 1

Northern Lights?
by Ann Blanchard 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

Any opinions on Len Randolf's Northern Lights prediction? Much drier air will be over Utah tomorrow, so there will then be a huge drop in the humidity levels. Blue skies and plenty of sunshine will then become the weather order of the day through at least the middle of next week. On an astronomical note; there is a 20-40% chance of seeing a very small part of the Northern Lights tonight and Friday night. Meteorologist Len Randolph, Live 5 Weather HD. Thursday, 4 August 2011. Live 5 Weather Video Forecast Video Embed: 05:39 am

1 0

CME Alert 8-5-2011 13:55 UT +- 7 hours
by Canopus56 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

A CME will arrive during daylight at dawn tomorrow plus or minus 7 hours. May be worth following the usual planetary and Boulder kp meters to see if the kp approaches 7 and might be seen in Utah. Kp 6 is iffy in Utah, Kp 7 is visible in Utah. If someone has a Spaceweather phone alert account and gets a signal in the wee hours of the morning, please the alert post here. - Kurt Summary from Spaceweather.com Moving at an estimated speed of 1950 km/s, this CME is expected to sweep up two earlier CMEs already en route. Analysts at the GSFC Space Weather Lab say the combined cloud should reach Earth on August 5th at 13:55 UT plus or minus 7 hours: "The impact on Earth is likely to be major. The estimated maximum geomagnetic activity index level Kp is 7 (Kp ranges from 0 - 9). The flanks of the CME may also impact STEREO A, Mars and Mercury/MESSENGER." High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. ------------- Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center Boulder, Colorado, USA SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #11- 1 2011 August 04 at 10:58 a.m. MDT (2011 August 04 1658 UTC) **** GEOMAGNETIC STORM EXPECTED **** Space Weather Bulletin August 4, 2011 NOAA Region 1261, very active over the past few days, produced the third of a sequence of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and Solar Radio Blackout Events early today. The net effect of that activity is convergent CMEs expected to disturb the geomagnetic field in the early hours, Universal Time (UTC) of August 5. G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm conditions are likely as well as a distinct chance of S2 (Moderate) Solar Radiation Storm levels being surpassed. NOAA 1261 is still in a prime position, relative to Earth, for more geoeffective activity in the next few days. New Solar Cycle 24 is in its early phase now, and this level activity is typical for this time interval. Expect increased space weather activity over the next few years as the Sun erupts more frequently. --------------- Links for kp Planetary kp http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/ Costello index (prediction) http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rpc/costello/pkp_15m_24h.html NOAA POES Auroral Activity http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/ Boulder Magnetometer real time http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/bou_12h.html --------------

1 0

Science project closes airport
by Patrick Wiggins 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

Better watch it if you are doing any science experiments near an airport. :) http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/296e460844bb4747b1a188f751d3d096/NE--… patrick

1 0

Lakeside Thursday
by Michael Vanopstall 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

Nice looking Thursday again. Maybe Lakeside at 10:30-11:00 (little moonlight to set up, then down to business). Anyone else going out? Honestly, Friday looks pretty good, but I don't usually do weekends. And we know how it turned out last week... ---- Rev. Michael A. van Opstall Department of Mathematics, University of Utah Office: JWB 313 opstall(a)math.utah.edu

3 2

Heated winter observatory
by Chuck Hards 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

I'm thinking of using one of my 6" Jaegers objectives in a small, backyard observatory that I can heat in winter. A refractor is ideal for this, with the closed tube and objective situated outside the insulated, heated observing compartment. The telescope itself could be covered, retracted, or brought indoors when not in use. I had originally thought of a camera obscura, using the now unused swamp cooler duct leading from my upstairs hallway straight up to the roof, but that would result in much limited sky coverage, as well as snow removal problems. Keeping the observatory in the backyard makes maintenance much easier. If I had a south-facing window, I'd go for a Gerrish mount, but again that limits sky coverage- and I don't have a south-facting window, lol. I'm tossing the idea out for comment by list members. Thanks!

2 3

Re: [Utah-astronomy] anyone going out tonight?
by Jorge Gutierrez 03 Aug '11

03 Aug '11

I had no idea such group existed > > > On 2011-08-02 02:08, Chrismo wrote: > BTW, how many here are members of the facebook "Utah Astronomy Group"? > > On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 8:07 PM, Chrismo <djchrismo@???> wrote: > > > looks good so far, high 60's tonight, clouds moving out... good enough for > > me! > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 7:56 PM, Jorge Gutierrez <gotfoxx@???>wrote: > > > >> Maybe out the front lawn if the weather holds, good luck out there though > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> On 2011-08-01 22:42, Chrismo wrote: > >> > I'm thinking Lakeside might be a bit muddy, giving some thought to Echo > >> > Reservoir. > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Utah-Astronomy mailing list > >> Utah-Astronomy@??? > >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >> Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php > >> > > > > >

5 7

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah Astronomy Group on Facebook (Chuck Hards)
by erikhansen＠thebluezone.net 02 Aug '11

02 Aug '11

> Elvis impersonators are like the number one profession, especially in Las Vegas. Elvis is very much alive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQC3uqp1Sc8 > Or so they would have you believe ;) > > >> Elvis has left the planet! >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >

2 1

NEED RIDES
by D P Pierce 02 Aug '11

02 Aug '11

Greetings SLASlings, I will need a ride to the Bangerter Crossing Harmon's(125 E 13800 S) Star Party. I don't need a ride back. I also need a ride to the STARBQ at SPOC on Saturday. I live at 6200 S & Bangerter. I am in a fold up wheelchair which weighs about 37 lbs. It fits in trunks and most hatchbacks and back seats. Clear and Dark Skies, Deloy Pierce, Large Bored Member .

3 2

Re: [Utah-astronomy] anyone going out tonight?
by Jorge Gutierrez 02 Aug '11

02 Aug '11

Maybe out the front lawn if the weather holds, good luck out there though > > > > On 2011-08-01 22:42, Chrismo wrote: > I'm thinking Lakeside might be a bit muddy, giving some thought to Echo > Reservoir. >

8 14