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

Solstice Party
by Chuck Hards 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Does anyone know off the top of their head what the minimum age is at Golden Corral to be elligible for the Senior discount?

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Meteor activity
by Wiggins Patrick 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

This from Spacewather.com. patrick METEOR OUTBURST: The Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar is detecting echoes from a meteor outburst in the constellation Andromeda, in progress on Dec. 8th. It appears to be debris from old Comet Biela, which broke apart in the 19th century. Observers in the northern hemisphere, especially Europeans, should be alert for Andromedid meteors on the night of Dec. 8-9. More information may be found athttp://spaceweather.com.

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Looking for testers
by Wiggins Patrick 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

I've put together an ics file containing data on SLAS's proposed 2014 public events (meetings, star parties and Sun parties) and I'd appreciate it if folks here could try it out. I made it on an iMac and have tried it on iCalendar on the iMac, an iPhone, an iPad2 and a MacBook so I'm pretty sure it works on iOS. But it would be nice if those running iOS would make sure it works on their devices just the same. And, while you're at it check the data for accuracy. The big question is will it work on non-iOS devices? Judging from what I've read on line I think it should work but wont know until someone tries it. Find it in a ZIP file here: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/slas/SLAS2014ICS.ZIP The unzipped file is called SLAS2014.ics. With iOS all I've had to do to install it is double click on it and the system asked where it should go. I told it and it went there. All of the events then show up on the calendar and can be clicked on for additional information. The only snag I've run into is when running it on the Cloud the Cloud complained if I already had the same event on the same day already entered manually. That was easily fixed by first removing the manual entries. If the installation procedure is different on non-iOS devices I'd like to hear about it. BTW, for those who may not be familiar with ics files, they are really handy ways to enter all kinds of data into electronic calendars. I found one that enters the dates and times of the starts of seasons, another enters the dates and times of the phases of the Moon and yet another shows holidays of the country of your choice. Some here will be happy to learn that all of the times are in local times (for many there that's MST or MDT as appropriate), not UT. Note that while the star and Sun party data contained in the file are accurate, the dates and times of the various meetings will be officially determined at next month's SLAS general membership meeting. Chances are there wont be any changes but this statement is meant to CMA. :) (No, not Country Music Awards...) patrick

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EPOD / APOD?
by Bruce Hugo 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

Hey Patrick, I got a photo on APOD back in 2004. My girlfriend (now wife) and I spent the night with Adam Block at Kitt Peak on their visitor scope. We took 3 great photos that night. The photo of NGC4565 made APOD. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040409.html Bruce Hugo Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science. - Edwin Powell Hubble

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EPOD / APOD?
by Wiggins Patrick 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

It's been suggested that EPOD and APOD (and any other science related PODs) by current and former SLAS members be added to the SLAS history document. Great idea! Here's what I've come up with so far. Please let me know about any that I've missed. Thank you, patrick Mike Wilson Astronomy Picture of the Day A Quadruple Sky Over Great Salt Lake 13 September 2005 http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050913.html Brent Watson Earth Picture of the Day Sunset over the Great Salt Lake July 24, 2012 http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2012/07/sunset-over-the-great-salt-lake.html Great Salt Lake Causeway Sep 5, 2012 http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2012/09/great-salt-lake-causeway.html Kelly ricks Earth Picture of the Day Lake Michigan Ice Mar 21, 2012 http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2012/03/lake-michigan-ice.html Joe Bauman Earth Picture of the Day Window Glass Frost Crystals Apr 23, 2011 http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2011/04/window-glass-frost-crystals.html Reflection of Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake May 19, 2012 http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2012/05/reflection-of-antelope-island-in-great-sa…

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Web telescope deployment movie
by Wiggins Patrick 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

NASA video showing how JWST is designed to deploy: http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/videos/09jwsta_depall_720x488_2mbps.mov Looks pretty complicated but less so than MSL's landing on Mars. patrick

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download the apod calendar (it's awesome and free)
by Richard Tenney 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Here's the link. I believe kinkos or similar places can print it for you. Enjoy. http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=32474

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Is it cold enough for you guys up there?
by Dave Gary 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

It’s nice and clear in St. George. It’s also about 18°F (that’s -7.78°C for Joe and Patrick) outside at the moment. I was going to image last night, but was too much of a wimp to attempt it. It seems unusually cold for this time of year. This is more like January-conditions for St. George. I may have to think about wearing a coat to observe. Bummer. It even snowed and inch or two here the other day. However, this go-around St. George must have been prepared because they didn’t shut the schools down. The last time it snowed a couple of inches the schools were shut down for the day. I guess people were reeling from the shock of it all. Dave

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Bruce Hugo 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Back on Nov 22nd, I purchased dinner and it came to $6.03. I gave the cashier $10.05 and she says "oh shit!" and walks off, rummages around, rummages around and finally finds a calculator. She entered $10.00 in the register before I handed her the change so the register didn't tell her what change to give me. I started to say something but decided to let it ride... it took her 3 tries on the calculator to come up with the correct change to give me. Sad. Bruce Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science. - Edwin Powell Hubble

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ISON Obituary
by Wiggins Patrick 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

This was on NPR. patrick In Memoriam Submitted by Karl Battams, NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) Born 4.5 Billion BC, Fragmented Nov 28, 2013 (age 4.5-billion yrs old) Born in a dusty and turbulent environment, comet ISON spent its early years being jostled and struck by siblings both large and small. Surviving a particularly violent first few million years, ISON retreated to the Oort Cloud, where it maintained a largely reclusive existence for nearly four billion years. But around 3-million B.C., a chance encounter with a passing star coerced ISON into undertaking a pioneering career as a Sungrazer. On September 21, 2012, ISON made itself known to us, and allowed us to catalog the most extraordinary part of its spectacular vocational calling. Never one to follow convention, ISON lived a dynamic and unpredictable life, alternating between periods of quiet reflection and violent outburst. However, its toughened exterior belied a complex and delicate inner working that only now we are just beginning to understand. In late 2013, Comet ISON demonstrated not only its true beauty but a surprising turn of speed as it reached its career defining moment in the inner solar system. Tragically, on November 28, 2013, ISON's tenacious ambition outweighed its ability, and our shining green candle in the solar wind began to burn out. Survived by approximately several trillion siblings, Comet ISON leaves behind an unprecedented legacy for astronomers, and the eternal gratitude of an enthralled global audience. In ISON's memory, donations are encouraged to your local astronomy club, observatory or charity that supports STEM and science outreach programs for children.

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