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

Royal Observatory Greenwich Astrophotography of the Year Images
by Jay Eads 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

Here is a link to the winners and impressive they are! http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year/ Damian Peach won overall with a wonderful image of Jupiter. -- Jay Eads

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Heritage Starfest - Wayne County, Sept 30, 2011
by Chrismo 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

This was posted in the Utah Astronomy facebook group, and I thought I'd pass it along for anyone who might be interested. http://www.heritagestarfest.com/

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ATM on the 17th and Dew Strips
by Jay Eads 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

Okay, I did some research and am wondering if there is anyone like me that is wanting to make dew strips? First thing, we are not going to make a controller so you will have to pick one up or find out how to make one yourself. Here are some options: High End: Dew Buster found here http://www.dewbuster.com/ cost is $170.00 but top of the line Astrozap Controller for $105.00 at http://astrozap.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=58 Thousand Oaks Dew Controller http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/dew.html cost $109.00 (the one I've decided on). Please note they list their dew strips here and for the cost of one strip, you can make between four to six strips on your own. Here someone built their own controller for a Meade SCT: http://www.backyard-astro.com/equipment/accessories/dewheater/dewheater.html Andrew Cooper over in Hawaii who works up at the telescopes there made his own and that can be found on his blog here: http://www.darkerview.com/darkview/index.php?/archives/178-A-Dew-Heater-Con… I have decided that I need the following items covered by a dew strip in the fall and spring on my 14 inch dob: 1. Finderscope (if used a must) 2. Telrad or Rigel (a must) 3. Eyepieces a must 4. Secondary kinda of but not so critical That are all the items I am going to do as I have never had a primary dew up even in 90% dew (by then I am usually packing up). I have a dew strip for my Telrad so I am going to make a dew strip for the finderscope, and my eyepieces (one for the Pentax XW's I use and one for the Panoptic). Since I have a new Zambuto mirror in the works for the 14 I will wait for the secondary mirror to put a heater strip on it until after I get done upgrading when the mirror is done. I have found in the 14 inch that my secondary has only dewed up one time on me and that is when Mat and I were observing together last February in -6 degree F temperatures (but the seeing and transparency that night were awesome until the dew hit about 1:00a.m.). To remind everyone this is the [url= http://www.dewbuster.com/heaters/heaters.html]site[/url] that tells one how to make their own dew strips. I can get the 330-Ohm strips cheap online, a 100 for about $5.00 with shipping, but I can also get them at Radio Shack for $1.19 for 5. Since I'll need 15 to make one strip (I'm guessing) and I want to make 3 strips that will be around $11 if I use Radio Shack (1/2 if I order in bulk online). If more than me want to make these I may order a bunch of the 330-Ohm strips online so let me know like really soon. The solid hookup wire I can get at Radio Shack for $4 to $8 depending on the AWG I want to use. Speaker wire with the RCA jacks on them are about $9 each so that is $18 The Velcro is about $5, the insulation foam strips are about $4 and duct tape is about $7. My total investment then is about $45 to $53 which is about the cost of one strip. So I am going to go ahead and make a few and see how they work (we'll test them out before they touch a eyepiece or piece of equipment). If your interested, please let me know. If not, that is fine also but I am going to make me a set and if someone is brave enough who is good enough with electronics I'd give it a go to make my own controller as well. Now, Mark Shelton, I need to talk to you about using your shop and you to make an observing chair and to talk about your sling on your dob as a virtual counterweight. -- Jay Eads

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Motorcycles, Flags and Firetrucks
by Steve Fisher 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Utah Astronomy friends. I skipped the SLAS solar party today and took my family to the Sandy Healing Field today. I would encourage you to go if you get the chance. This has nothing to do with astronomy so it is very much off topic but If you like flags, fire engines and motorcycles, LOTS of Motorcycles check out my video from today. An estimated 2000 motorcycles on their way from Sandy to Ogden. If not, just hit delete and have a great night. Steve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SpGNbG5F0c

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Sun party Sept. 10
by Chuck Hards 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

What time does the sun party start on Saturday? I can't find a time on the SLAS website. Thanks.

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Japanese Tsunami Viewed From A Car
by Dave Gary 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Not astronomy-related. However, it was done with a camera. http://www.flixxy.com/japanese-tsunami-viewed-from-a-car.htm

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Liver and Onions subcommittee meeting
by Chuck Hards 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

For those recently subscribed to the list: The L&O subcommittee is just an excuse for a bunch of society's most distinguished, experienced citizens and friends to get together periodicaly to enjoy the greatest meal on the face of the earth, among like-minded peers, (sans dietary comments and insults from the ones we love most) while discussing important accademic, scientific, and engineering issues of the day and speculating on humanity's place in this amazing and expanding universe. Topics discussed are almost always science-related and of course astronomy and the assembled company's latest astro projects are featured, although gossip, rumors and libel at the expense of those absent often figure large into the agenda. Don't be surprised if some of us digress into vintage aircraft, paleontology, Bettie Page, or other more esoteric and refined subjects. All are invited to this semi-regular scientific/social extravaganza. Please join myself, sub-committee 2nd assistant sub-director Bau, and our esteemed colleagues, in a delicious repast of unsurpassed organ meat victual delight. Oh yeah, and the discussion thing too. The ONLY hard-and-fast rule is that, though you need not order liver and onions to attend, ABSOLUTELY NO negative commentary on same is tolerated. We all carry tar and feathers in our trunks just in case. Note to regular members, as usual, attire is casual. We do not require the gold-encruseted, silk robes usually worn to induction ceremonies. Ceremonial sword, sash, and tricorn hat also not required. Mardi-gras beads are optional. Thank you. Chuck L&O subcommittee El Presidente

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Mars in 3D
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Grab a red/blue stereo viewer, sit back, relax and think back to high school science class movies of days gone by. http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00003178/ patrick

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L & O heatcount
by Larry Holmes 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Here is the headcount, so far as of noon today: favoring 1P 1, Mark S favoring 2:30P: 4, Joe B, Eric H, Roger F, Larry H Looks like 2:30P. Can you make it then, Mark? Also, I'd like to give the Left Fork an idea of how many are coming. To my knowledge, above is all that have actually confirmed. How about it? If you can make it at that time, let me know, rather than just showing up. I think that w/be the courteous thing to do. How about you, Chuck? Can you two make it now? For those of limited taste, remember the _LF_ has other mouth-watering tidbits and it is a good chance to gab and see what others look like in the light of day. Scary thought, huh? (not like the vampires at the Belgian Waffle House near O dark 30) 73, lh

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Solar filters for a large binocular
by Chuck Hards 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Here is a link to an album with pics of my 70mm bino on a home-made parallelogram mount. http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/JethroTull1958/ATM/ The parallelogram is made from maple and MDF, on a commercial tripod from Sky Instruments. The feature to note on this parallelogram is that the bino can be panned in azimuth without having to walk around the tripod, as many commercial units require. This is the perfect mount for "chaise lounge" binocular observing. The Quickfinder is installed for night-time use only. It is not required for solar observing. The filters use Baader mylar and are made from PVC pipe fittings. They grip the rubber bino armor securely and cannot fall off. I've used this setup for partial solar eclipses and solar observing in white light, and it's perfect. I use both 15x and 20x 70mm binos, either provides excellent image scale for the sun. I've also used a cardboard shield, or "gobo", as Rob would call it, installed around the binocular for eclipses. You can usually set up in the shadow of a building for regular solar observing, moving the tripod if needed as the sun moves across the sky.

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