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

laser report
by Kim Hyatt 02 Feb '13

02 Feb '13

I ordered a 30mw laser from Optotronics on Monday and it arrived via US Mail yesterday. I certainly can't complain about the rapid shipping. I was disappointed with a couple of features such as an off-center and stiff switch, but the owner called me personally and said that he would replace it, no questions. He was very gracious and accommodating. Oh, and I need to include the following disclaimer: I have no intention of using the 30mw laser as a pointing device in public but as a research tool. Honest. I was surprised that to the naked eye the 30mw appears only a little brighter than my 5mw. It tested at 33mw, so I'm sure the difference is solely in perception. I think the 30mw could safely be used in a regular crowd of star party attendees without anyone thinking that it is too bright - it just isn't in my opinion. And since the point (no pun intended) isn't to draw attention to the laser but to just have it visible in moderate light pollution or moonlight, I don't think that I would be inclined to go brighter. I don't need to burst balloons, light matches, burn through CD's or go to prison. Kim

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The Sun -Groundhog Day-
by Chuck Hards 02 Feb '13

02 Feb '13

This morning I saw something I've never seen in the PST before. A detached piece of prominence is suspended above the solar limb. There is a nice little limb prominence below it, but the detached piece is floating above it with empty space between them. Dim, very large, but definitely there. Wish I could have seen this an hour or three prior, and watched it detach and float away from the limb. This is really neat and I'm going to be watching for this phenomenon more often. I tried a head drape today (big dark towel) and it really helped with the PST. The seeing isn't as good as one would expect with the clear skies, so I'm going to try again when the sun climbs a bit. Too, there could be a rising heat plume from a house along my line of sight at the moment.

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ISON 02 FEB
by Patrick Wiggins 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

I can't say for sure but this evening's raw images seem to show a hint of a tail. But once I applied the master dark and flat the tail, or whatever it was, went away. However ISON is passing by a tiny edge-on spiral galaxy tonight. Cute. :) http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/C_2012_K5.2013FEB02.JPG patrick

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Observing Friday Night (Tonight)
by Jay Eads 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Just so others know. A small group of us are going out observing tonight near Pit n Pole or at the Pit depending on conditions. If your interested in joining us give me a call at eight zero one, six eight two, seven four one zero so you can know where we end up. I am packing right now and leaving at 5:00pm. We have another member showing up at 7:00pm so that is fine. We will have my 14 inch Zambuto and a new 17.5 star structure out and Mat's 16 inch as well. Feel free to come on by even if you don't want to set up. We'll be your go to! Oh, dress WARM!! We will have a portable heater out there for those who hate the cold. Jay

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Antelope Island sunset
by Joe Bauman 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Nice! ------------------------------ On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 1:27 AM MST Patrick Wiggins wrote: >Headed into SLC last evening the sunset colors on Antelope Island and the background made for a very nice site. Really nice the way the distant mountains punched up into the clouds. > >Of course I'd forgotten to bring my camera so all I got were a couple of iPhone shots. > >http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/antelopeisland.jpg > >patrick > >p.s. Note to self: Always have the camera handy when airborne... >_______________________________________________ >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] ATM report
by erikhansen＠thebluezone.net 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

>Why not liver and onion pizza? You know, she likes liver and onions. She might be up for making it for > the next session. I'm sure we can have pizza available for the non organ > eaters. > > Mat > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck > Hards > Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 2:32 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] ATM report > > How is she with liver and onions? > > It's an established fact that liver in the diet will gain you half a > magnitude at the eyepiece. It's on the Internet so I know it's true. ;-) > > On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 12:13 PM, Hutchings, Mat > <mat.hutchings(a)siemens.com>wrote: > >> We were treated to a great lunch of "white chicken chili" made by my >> wife; >> it was awesome! >> >> > _______________________________________________ > 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". > > This message and any attachments are solely for the use of intended > recipients. The information contained herein may include trade secrets, > protected health or personal information, privileged or otherwise > confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, > copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited > and may be unlawful. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby > notified that you received this email in error, and that any review, > dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is > strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please > contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your > system. Thank you for your cooperation > > _______________________________________________ > 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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OT - Heinlein/sci-fi
by Kim 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

A couple of semi-random thoughts this morning: I saw Robert Heinlein mentioned in a thread posted earlier and it reminded me of a couple of things he wrote. Heinlein was one of my favorite sci-fi authors. About the earliest novel I remember reading was "Rocket Ship Galileo", which sparked my interest in space travel and seeing the US go to the Moon. Heinlein also introduced me to the initialism, "TANSTAAFL", from "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". ("There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch") Words to live by. Congress should take some kind of lesson there. Kim

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Brookhaven slated for closure
by Chuck Hards 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Particle physics under the budget axe: http://news.yahoo.com/decelerating-american-physics-panel-advises-shutdown-… A disturbing national trend continues. Teach your children to speak Chinese, and make latte. They cetainly won't have a career in science in this country.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Antelope Island sunset
by Kelly Ricks 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Really gorgeous pictures Patrick. Even if you'd had the nice camera, it likely still would never have lived up to the experience of the original scene. ~Kelly > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2013 01:16:16 -0800 (PST) > From: Howard Jackman <sumoetx(a)yahoo.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Antelope Island sunset > Message-ID: > <1359710176.95729.YahooMailClassic(a)web162801.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Sweet shots Patrick and I guess lesson learned...or as a possible > alternative always have a Howard in the plane with you because I always > have a camera! > > --- On Fri, 2/1/13, Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: > > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> > > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Antelope Island sunset > > To: "utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy" < > utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > Date: Friday, February 1, 2013, 1:27 AM > > Headed into SLC last evening the > > sunset colors on Antelope Island and the background made for > > a very nice site.? Really nice the way the distant > > mountains punched up into the clouds. > > > > Of course I'd forgotten to bring my camera so all I got were > > a couple of iPhone shots. > > > > http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/antelopeisland.jpg > > > > patrick > > > > p.s.? Note to self:? Always have the camera handy > > when airborne... > > _______________________________________________ > > 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". > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php > > End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 120, Issue 1 > ********************************************** >

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ISON
by Patrick Wiggins 31 Jan '13

31 Jan '13

Comet ISON tonight: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/C_2012_K5.2013FEB01.JPG It will be fun to compare these early images many of us will be taking in the fall. As before, field 18'x26', 10 minutes apart. patrick

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