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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] White balance / charge your batteries
by Joe Bauman 19 May '12

19 May '12

Will you post them, Patrick? ------------------------------ On Fri, May 18, 2012 7:11 PM MDT Patrick Wiggins wrote: >Just in case anyone else is having this problem: > >This will be my first attempt to shoot an eclipse with a digital camera so I set up today and shot several images using a Nikon D70 attached to a C-5 with f/5 telecompressor and off axis solar filter. > >The pictures were nicely centered and focused but there was no color. Nice B&W shots. > >Never had that problem with film... :) > >So I pulled out the owners manual and found a page on color balancing. Happily once I adjust the balance for "full sunlight" the color returned. > >Also, a suggestion: Charge your batteries (something I nearly forgot to do). Laptop, camera, telescope drive power pack, whatever. Get them all charged before heading south Saturday. > >patrick >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Ziggy
by D P Pierce 19 May '12

19 May '12

Reminds me of the joke: Q. Why do Mormons lock their cars when they go to church in the summer? A. So they don't get a back seat full of zucchini. Deloy

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barlow, etc? i got cash.
by Chrismo 19 May '12

19 May '12

Been looking all over town to no avail... does anyone have a 2" barlow i can borrow or buy? or a 1.25" t-ring assembly for a canon EOS that they aren't using and would like loan or sell? -- Chrismo I fix things, all kinds of things... (801) 897-9075

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Kanarraville "closed"
by Patrick Wiggins 19 May '12

19 May '12

I just got off the phone with one of the folks organizing things down south and learned that Kanarraville is "closed". So no getting there real early and overnighting. Kanarraville will be open tomorrow morning but they don't know what time. 1,200 people at today's festival in Cedar. They are out of glasses. (I'm beginning to think I could make a killing selling the 100 or so NASA sent me to give away <g> ). Very few rooms still available. By tonight maybe none except for possibly B&Bs. Tomorrow could be interesting. patrick

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SpaceX update
by Patrick Wiggins 19 May '12

19 May '12

Update on SpaceX COTS 2 Test Launch May 19, 2012 Today’s COTS 2 Demonstration launch was aborted half a second before liftoff when the flight computer detected slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber. We have discovered root cause and repairs are underway. During rigorous inspections of the engine, SpaceX engineers discovered a faulty check valve on the Merlin engine. We are now in the process of replacing the failed valve. Those repairs should be complete tonight. We will continue to review data on Sunday. If things look good, we will be ready to attempt to launch on Tuesday, May 22nd at 3:44 AM Eastern. The next launch attempt will be webcast live at www.spacex.com.

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Site for Eclipse with cameras and telescope
by Ruben Ruiz 19 May '12

19 May '12

Fellow Eclipse Chasers, I will be flying tomorrow to Vegas and then drive north to Cedar City. I am planning on seeing the eclipse either in Kanarraville or in Beryl Junction. I will bring 3 cameras, one telescope, etc. Of course I would need a clear view to the west without people in front of my cameras. Having said that, would it be crazy to try Kanarraville? I would be in the area at around 2pm. Thanks! Ruben www.eclipse.org.mx

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Solar Observing
by jcarman6＠q.com 19 May '12

19 May '12

Ahhhhh the 22" dobsonian - and it could catch frisbees too.

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Solar observing
by Kim Hyatt 19 May '12

19 May '12

I found a really interesting webpage about solar observing, one that addresses a few myths that I admit I have also held for years. I recommend reading before tomorrow's eclipse, especially for those who will be interpreting the event for the public: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/vision/Galileo.html. Have a great eclipse! (Even if you do go to Kanarravile.) Kim

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White Balance
by jcarman6＠q.com 19 May '12

19 May '12

So many posts :) and just a few to comment on. Joe, your picture of the sun with the clouds was very nice. I recall many years ago, when Voyager first went past Jupiter, it sent back to earth some really spectacular pictures. First time ever seen . Carl Sagan submitted a close up of Jupiter, with the bands and swirls to an art gallery and it was very favorably received. Your picture would probably get a similar reaction. Exposure times for the sun and the eclipse are deeply dependent on your equipment and camera (and the number of optical surfaces in play). There are no set rules. That's why everyone is taking test shots. With the eclipse, the time will be short and the conditions changing every second. SO -bracket bracket bracket. I found (and it may not be exactly true for you) my best solar shots, prime focus, through a C-8 with mylar filter were around 1/80 of a second, but I will still take pictures at 1/100 and 1/60. The larger the image (eye piece projection) the longer the exposure (my longest exposure was about 1/10) . Today looks like it will be clear, so now is the time to test, but tommorw, with the moon partially obscuring the sun, with a different amount of obscuration every second, go with the flow. Digital cameras with lots of memory are a blessing and the image pops up in the LCD, so you can adjust your exposure times on the run. A lot of what was just said is old hat to some, hope it helps others. Sieg, I don't know if you want a lot of company where are are going. I am planning on Cedar Breaks, but I may have to "go with the flow" and change location at the last minute. There will be four of us in my car. If you will post your cell phone number , I will keep it as a back up. My plans are Cedar Breaks first, Ka naraville second. T hought of the airport at Berly Junction too :) Patrick is so right - recharge all batteries.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Newcastle
by Joe Bauman 19 May '12

19 May '12

Sig, can you send me your cell? If things get too awful we may want to hook up with you and Bruno on the private land. Thanks, Joe ------------------------------ On Sat, May 19, 2012 7:41 AM MDT Siegfried Jachmann wrote: >When Bruno and I visited the convenience store they indicated they would be >closed on Sunday. Things may have changed with time. > >We tried to work a deal with the church to open the building. They wouldn't >do it. Facilities may be scarce. > >Bruno and I will be in Kanarraville where we have worked out a deal with a >private land owner. > >Siegfried > >On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 6:24 PM, Brent Watson <brentjwatson(a)yahoo.com>wrote: > >> In my attempts to find the condition of the airstrip at Beryl Junction I >> met a fellow from that area. His name is Rock Tucker. He used to fly his >> twin engine Cessna from the airstrip at Beryl Junction. He has been kind >> enough to stay in touch with me for the last three or four weeks. >> >> He just called me and indicated that there are many people who are looking >> at this area to view the eclipse. He told me about one group who is there >> today scouting the area for locations to set up. They did not like the >> school at Beryl Junction because of the trees to the west. The airstrip >> does not suffer from that problem, and he can think of no obstructions for >> viewing the eclipse from the airstrip. >> >> The reason he called me is to tell me of this group who will be setting up >> in the parking lot of the Post Office in Newcastle, and offered me a ride >> over there if I wanted it. (Others on this list have made the same offer - >> Thank You!) He says this group looked at the church parking lot in >> Newcastle but choose the post office because it is more on the center line. >> There is a C store about a block away they are planning to use for >> bathroom facilities and soft drinks. >> >> This group will also be doing a presentation on other eclipses from around >> the world including south america and the arctic. Those of you planning on >> Newcastle might want to be aware that there has been a continuous stream of >> folks evaluating locations there. You might want to arrive early. >> >> We will be landing at the airstrip between 4:30 and 5:00 and do not >> anticipate any crowds at all. It is only about 300 feet north of the >> center of annularity. Since it is a charted airstrip I do not think anyone >> will interfere, but we'll be watching. I have talked to several pilots >> about joining us there, and there is only one who has expressed any >> interest. There may be two aircraft in our group, but I don't think any >> one else from another location will be there. It is charted as a private >> strip with private use - prior permission required. >> >> Conditions today are rain off and on this morning, but it has cleared up >> and the wind is out of the north. Rock believes these conditions will hold >> through the weekend. >> >> If any of you run into Rock, give him a big thanks from me. I hope >> he'll come over and visit us as well. >> _______________________________________________ >> Utah-Astronomy mailing list >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >> Send messages to the list to >> Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >> The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >> To unsubscribe go to: >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >> "Unsubscribe or edit options". >> > > > >-- >Siegfried >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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