March 2012 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

M57 +73PSW-3
by daniel turner 27 Mar '13

27 Mar '13

Mark your calendar for early evening May 7. Their will be a close encounter between the Ring nebula and periodic comet 73P. The comet will be close to earth so its exact position in the sky will depend stongly on your location on the globe. Go to spaceweather.com and use the link at the bottom of the page for "Observable Comets". 73p is in the list and includes orbital elements and a link for daily ephemerides. DT __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

8 8

K12E05G / 2012 EG5 approach animation
by Patrick Wiggins 01 Apr '12

01 Apr '12

A 9 frame animation covering 40 minutes of K12E05G / 2012 EG5 on approach tonight: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4920 patrick

4 3

Bright New Comet Promises Great Observing in 2013
by Jay Eads 30 Mar '12

30 Mar '12

Wonderful article from Space.com about a new found comet named Comet PANSTARRS after the telescope that found it since so many were involved. On March 9, 2013, the date of perihelion, Comet PANSTARRS will pass to within 28 million miles (45 million kilometers) of the sun on that date. It was discovered in Libra at mag. 19 last year and on February 15th, 2012 it was down to Mag. 14.5. >From the article: "Estimates (or maybe really "guesstimates") suggest that at perihelion on March 9, the comet might become as bright as zero magnitude, placing it in the same rank as the stars Arcturus, Vega and Capella; which are some of the brightest stars in the sky. Thereafter, the comet's rapid northward motion, owing to its orbital inclination of 84 degrees to the plane of the solar system will gradually carry it away from the sun and into the western evening sky. If there is a significant tail, it would probably be seen protruding almost straight up and perhaps tilted slightly to the right, relative to the horizon. But as is the case with the comet’s brightness, we can only guess just how long it will be. . . " Here is the [url= http://www.space.com/15108-comet-panstarrs-skywatching-countdown-2013.html]… ] -- Jay Eads

4 5

Patrick Wiggins and Phun with Physics
by Ann House 30 Mar '12

30 Mar '12

I got into work this morning and picked up a copy of the U's The Daily Utah Chronicle only to see that our Patrick Wiggins is on the front page. If you would like to read about his demonstrations to kids at the Natural History Museum of Utah, here is the link: http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/ -A

7 11

Lakeside tonight, sorta worth it
by Chrismo 29 Mar '12

29 Mar '12

So I've been itching for a night out. Weather maps all looked like it might be 'clear enough' for me and I went for it. Wasn't the best seeing, but it wasn't the worst. Some parts of the sky were particularly clear. They've recently graded the road, so it's not bumpy at all. I arrived around 10 and got lots of viewing time in. After my third coyote visitor though, I decided to call it a night. I've never had that many come so close. The second one was probably about 20 ft away when I heard him moving around in the grass. The other two were a little farther. I spotlighted the second one with my flashlight and tried to hold him still while I got the camera lined up, trying to put him in a picture with Canis Major (THAT would've been ever so cool), but he bailed before I got it ready. Then I saw another one on the median of the highway just after I headed out around 12:30 am. -- Chrismo I fix things, all kinds of things... (801) 897-9075

9 25

Out in the sticks
by D P Pierce 29 Mar '12

29 Mar '12

I've never had a problem when out in the sticks or up in the hills. I have often had a pistol on my hip. I would tell people it was my snake gun. When told no snakes had been seen in the area I would tell them some snakes have 2 legs. Of course you have to avoid BATF roadblocks. The BATF(Bureau of Astromical Telescopes and Focusers) wants to confiscate full auto(computerized) scopes and scopes with sawed off barrells(short focal lengths and SCTs). Deloy Pierce

2 1

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Lakeside tonight, sorta worth it
by Jay Eads 29 Mar '12

29 Mar '12

Have I been scared? Nope. Do I like to know what is around me? Yep, for run. At the Pit I have noticed if you go during the week there is no problem. No one is out there. There have been people shooting at night but I got a phone number for the BLM and the sheriff to call since that area is in the no shoot zone. Usually though I just have a big light I shine in their direction so I don't have to worry about them shooting my way. Problem with that though is it usually brings them driving by to see what we are doing. Out at Vernon I haven't been disturbed ever. I'm west of the reservoir so I don't run into anything but big owls, antelope and coyotes. We'll see if summer changes that. Oh, at the Pit this last time there were some pretty decent size coyote tracks out there from that rain/snow storm a couple of Monday's ago. So animals don't bug me. I do carry a nice can a bear spray in the Pathfinder, though not for bears. I haven't seen one of those at Wolf Creek yet. I carry that for wild homo sapiens who may need to be put on the ground. I just need to make sure I am away from the scopes. So if you observe with me and an unknown vehicle comes down the dirt road and I step away from everyone and the equipment you know why. At Lakeside the only time I got nervous was the night (Joe and others may remember this) when Joe had to drive back home for a part he forgot and while he was gone a car had been shooting in the far distance by those mountains to the west. They came our way, and stopped, shinning their lights on us, and then they went black. I knew they were looking at us probably in some thermal camera or something and then they drove out as Joe came back in. Joe talked with them and it was a man and a woman who looked like they belonged in the movie Deliverance. I'm fine as long as no one says squeal like a pig. I know Mike V. who use to post about his outings here and teaches at the UofU had a weird experience one night at Lakeside. I remember reading about that. Oh, one other time I was out just past the pass on Simpson Springs Road (the dirt part of Pony Express Road on the way to Simpson Springs etc.) when I was asked by armed DEA agents to pack up and leave the area. Seems something was going on and they didn't want me at the pass. I packed up and left and haven't been back to that area since at night. It was one of my expeditions to find good solo places that are still within a reasonable drive of home. Never had a problem up at Wolf Creek or another spot I use up that way. For fun, the Bigfoot Hunters from Animal Planet were in Utah up in Logan and up by Hardware Ranch claim they have a Bigfoot calling out. Now, those who observe with me I point out all the time that "It's a Bigfoot" when we hear or see something in the night. So anyone up in Logan or up at Monte Cristo or the Uintah's run into a hairy beast? I thought that Bigfoot might have gone techno and is coming for a look through the eyepiece. It was probably my 18 year old son who could pass for one in the dark.

3 2

Out in the sticks
by Dave Gary 28 Mar '12

28 Mar '12

I, rarely, see anyone when I’m out observing. When I do, they’re pretty weird. One night I was out near Ken’s Lake (south of Moab) and a woman drives up because she noticed my vehicle and telescope. I thought that was unusual for a woman, by herself, in the first place. Driving up to a large, angry-looking man (her headlights were on high-beam) usually gives them pause. However, subsequent conversation brought home the fact that little in this woman’s life had ever given her pause. She was annoying. I was diplomatic, “yes, ma’am”, “no, ma’am”, “I don’t think so, ma’am”. Then the kicker. “You’re really into astrology, aren’t you?” “No, ma’am. I’m into astronomy…n-o-m-y, not l-o-g-y.” So much for that. She was lost in the intricacies of the alphabet. However, all was not lost because I got the lesson of a lifetime in all things astrologic. If only I’d listened more closely. A lot of stuff about the zodiac and my birth sign. “What was my birth sign?” I told her I didn’t know what she was talking about. With that she realized she was dealing with a mental decrepit and exited stage left. Ever since, being a little on the stupid side has worked wonders for me. Just ask anyone who knows me. Oh, and a word of advice to those out with the red neck shoot-em-ups. Next time take Patrick along with you. Nothing scares a red neck more than an old vegan. Dave

2 1

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Annular Eclipse - “Sweet Spot” found in Southern Utah
by Jay Eads 28 Mar '12

28 Mar '12

Hmmm . . . I'll see the soda and the ice water for like $2.00 a container and then you can charge $2.00 to use the porte potty. >

2 1

Looking for a few folks, still
by Steve Fisher 28 Mar '12

28 Mar '12

UA members. Like the Marines, I'm still looking for a few good people to help out with a day at the museum on June 5th for the transit of Venus. Many, many items have come together and are still "gelling" but the museum, SLAS, myself and the program coordinator at the museum still think there is more room for improvement if we can find people willing to participate. As I have mentioned before a "hands on" presence at the museum during the event is preferred. I would like to develop a booth/table with a constant loop video playing in the background and some people there to engage the public in discussion about observing. I would like to see several seasoned observers who would like to spend the day talking with the public, young and old about observing and observing experiences. This would include handouts, recommendations for equipment (everything from bino's to observatories) If you are an observer and would like to participate please get hold of me off list. I have wide open area for Imagers/astrophotographers! Would you like to share your ideas and equipment, photos, slides and things with the public? Contact me. Meteors and meteorites!!! Barrett, are you interested or do you know someone interested in getting involved with a "hands on" presentation? This event is shaping up nicely and should be one to remember.Thanks in advance.Steve Fisher

1 0