December 2013 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Venus tonight
by Chuck Hards 31 Dec '13

31 Dec '13

I shot this tonight from my driveway. One still frame grabbed from a 30-second video with the Pentax K-30 DSLR in video mode. High cirrus, some thin ground fog forming, and high-altitude turbulence. It's a good thing Venus is so close and huge right now. The smallest bino or finderscope will reveal the crescent. C-6 using eyepiece projection with an 18mm Kellner, on my old Edmund 5/8" shaft mount. http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/JethroTull1958/Venus001_zps934a1ebe…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Venus tonight
by Joe Bauman 31 Dec '13

31 Dec '13

NIIIICE! ------------------------------ On Mon, Dec 30, 2013 7:14 PM MST Chuck Hards wrote: >I shot this tonight from my driveway. One still frame grabbed from a >30-second video with the Pentax K-30 DSLR in video mode. High cirrus, some >thin ground fog forming, and high-altitude turbulence. It's a good thing >Venus is so close and huge right now. The smallest bino or finderscope >will reveal the crescent. > >C-6 using eyepiece projection with an 18mm Kellner, on my old Edmund 5/8" >shaft mount. > >http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/JethroTull1958/Venus001_zps934a1ebe… >_______________________________________________ >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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Wanna buy a name?
by Patrick Wiggins 28 Dec '13

28 Dec '13

Those who have been on this list a very long time might remember that back in 2007 I spotted a little dot on one of my images that moved from picture to picture that turned out to be an unknown minor planet. I gave it the temporary name UOFU08 (for Univ. of Utah find #8). The Minor Planet Center checked and when they decided it was in fact a new find they called it K07V08N / 2007 VN8. Going through my correspondence from back then I saw I'd posted to this list that it would probably be a couple of years before I'd be able to name it. Turned out to be longer than that. However, a couple of hours ago I received my second cosmological birthday present (the first being the GRB) in the form of an email from MPC giving my little rock a number: 361690 So, what am I bid for naming rights? :) Just kidding as the rights were gone long ago. Some here might also remember that following my (with wife Holly) first find back on 03 November 1999 and my solo find a couple of weeks later I was thinking this was going to be easy. So easy that I gave naming rights to my next find to KCPW to auction off during one of their telethons. And from what I remember, they got a handsome sum. Little did the winner (or I) know that next find would be 8 years later. And that the ability to name it would come 6 years after that. So I just sent the winning bidder an email to the address I had for him in 2007. So far it has not bounced. I'm really interested to see how he'll respond. Clear skies, patrick

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AWB OneSky 5 inch Scope
by Jay Eads 27 Dec '13

27 Dec '13

Oh, two things I left off. The scope has a red dot finder like the Orion EZ Finder that Gary says works quite well. Also, on page 64 (the page after the review ends) are plans for a table top tripod that can be built to put the tabletop scope on.

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AWB OneSky 5 inch Scope
by Jay Eads 27 Dec '13

27 Dec '13

Gary Seronik gives a very favorable review of this scope in February S&T. I think for outreach giveaways this is the scope to give away if your going to give one away. You won't do as much but it seems to Gary to hold collimation, though collimation should be checked before giving it out as the secondary was out of whack from being shipped and handled roughly. There is a counter weight system, motions are good, gives good views, he split the double double one night with it, and it has a helical focuser; the only bad part of the helical is here the eyepiece can be turned right out of the focuser. With some basic support it would be a fine first scope and show the moon, doubles, and the basic summer objects (Messier) off quite well I would think. Mirror had no evidence of a TDE or astigmatism just under corrected. The size ensures a brighter image then other table top versions. Mirror was 5.3 inches with f4.8. The extra inch goes to providing more brightness and if your purchase. you supporting AWB which is a worthy cause. Anyway, if you get S&T read the review. Quite favorable by a man who knows scopes.

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Excellent ISS pass in a few mintues
by Wiggins Patrick 26 Dec '13

26 Dec '13

Per CalSky: Thursday 26 December 2013 Appears 18h44m13s 0.8mag az:305.7° NW horizon Culmination 18h49m42s -4.1mag az:217.5° SW h:85.0° distance: 423.2km height above Earth: 423.0km elevation of Sun: -19° Disappears 18h50m35s -3.7mag az:133.0° SE h:46.3° patrick

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Fast rotator = Chang'e 3 booster
by Wiggins Patrick 26 Dec '13

26 Dec '13

It would appear the fast rotating object I imaged and posted about early this morning is Chang'e 3's booster. http://www.projectpluto.com/pluto/mpecs/che3.htm

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101 Astronomy Events for 2014
by Jay Eads 26 Dec '13

26 Dec '13

The 2014 Utah Star Party isn't on there yet. But there will be one, that I promise.

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101 Astronomy Events for 2014
by Jay Eads 26 Dec '13

26 Dec '13

Again, a list by month of the astronomy events for 2014 from The Universe Today. Some fun things coming up to look forward too. http://www.universetoday.com/107259/101-astronomical-events-for-2014/#more-…

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ISON
by Jay Eads 26 Dec '13

26 Dec '13

On December 18th Hubble slewed to where ISON should have been and looked down to the 25th magnitude. The result. Nothing. Here is the article at The Universe Today: http://www.universetoday.com/107407/hubble-looks-but-finds-no-trace-of-come…

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