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

Sorry to hear about your situation, Joe.
by Dave Gary 27 May '13

27 May '13

Joe, Larry, Tyler: Thanks so much for the concern. To answer Larry, they don't wrap ribs any longer. It's been shown that wrapping fractured ribs (at least in us old folks) can lead to pneumonia because of compromised lung function. It's hard enough to breath without the wrap. I guess if I was 30 years younger it wouldn't matter much, but I've found the wrap (I did try it at home) seemed to make things worse. I may be able to sleep in a bed in a week or two, we'll see. Fortunately, I'm one of those blessed individuals who can sleep standing up if need be. When I go to bed I'm, usually, out in just a few minutes. Even with fractured ribs I've been nodding off in less than 20 minutes. That's with no drugs. The wife says she wishes she could do that. Granted, it's a gift. I'm sorry to hear, Joe, that you have been having problems, too. I'm fortunate to have not injured my back. I've never had hip problems. However, as with the ribs, I could see that you couldn't do much of anything without pain. Lifting that 12" scope would be a major chore. I was wondering why you hadn't posted any photos this year. Believe me, I understand better-safe-than-sorry at this point in time. I won't be doing anything with any of my scopes for at least another couple of weeks. I sort of tremble when I see a ladder. Thanks for the reply, Tyler. I'm trying to see the bright side. When I fell off the ladder I was right next to my pool. Good thing I didn't roll into the pool. I have no small cranes near my pool, so I don't know what the wife would have done had I gone in. It would have been ugly and I would have been upset about getting blood in the water. Fortunately, I just splatted on the concrete. Lucky, I guess. Thanks, guys. Dave Sent from my iPad

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New Image Posted - The Splinter or Knife-Edge Galaxy NGC 5907 - Nocturne Observatory
by Tyler Allred 26 May '13

26 May '13

Hi All. I just posted a new galaxy image to my website. It shows the Splinter Galaxy, or Knife-Edge Galaxy, NGC 5907. I shot the image over two nights, separated by a week or so. Between sessions, I rotated my camera and forgot to rotate it back... DOH!! As such, the color data does not match the orientation of the luminance data, but it doesn't detract too much from the image. I collected the color data last night, with a full moon and a gusty wind, so it was a challenge to process, but it turned out pretty good. I finally feel that the scope is completely dialed in and everything is working beautifully. [Description from Wikipedia] NGC 5907 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 50 million light years from Earth. It has an anomalously low metallicity and few detectable giant stars, being apparently composed almost entirely of dwarf stars. It is a member of the NGC 5866 Group. NGC 5907 has long been considered a prototypical example of a warped spiral in relative isolation. Then in 2006, an international team of astronomers announced the presence of an extended tidal stream surrounding the galaxy that challenges this picture and suggests the gravitational perturbations induced by the stream progenitor may be the cause for the warp. NGC 5907 is also known at the Knife Edge or Splinter galaxy. The galaxy was discovered in 1788 by William Herschel. Supernova 1940A was in this galaxy. Here is a link to my website. Be sure to click on the image a couple of times to get to the full version. http://www.allred-astro.com//viewer.php?id=130 <http://www.allred-astro.com/viewer.php?id=130&cat=1&sub=101> &cat=1&sub=101 Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Cheers, Tyler

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Reminder of planets gathering
by Patrick Wiggins 25 May '13

25 May '13

Just a reminder that Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are currently coming together in our skies. They will be at their closest tomorrow (Sunday) evening. I've been watching them the past few evenings and have been surprised at just how quick they are closing on one another. Here's NASA's take: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/10may_sunsettrian… patrick

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Meritline Lasar Pointers
by Ray Druian 25 May '13

25 May '13

Meritline has been around for years supplying all sorts of chatchkeys for electronics and others. They have the powerful laser pointers that people crave but won't ship them to US addresses. If anyone knows how to pry them out of the company, here's a link: http://www.meritline.com/50mw-green-laser-pointer-pen---p-72787.aspx

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Flare (+unrelated preview)
by Joe Bauman 24 May '13

24 May '13

Oh I thought the small marks were estimates. What's the difference between the symbols? Thanks, Joe ------------------------------ On Fri, May 24, 2013 1:57 AM MDT Patrick Wiggins wrote: >Hi Joe, > >Both he and I were shooting at that time (by prearrangement) as for who got more data it was actually him. I spaced my shots about 300 seconds apart while he shot one right after another. If you look closely at his plot note that every one of those tiny Xs is a separate shot. So while I only got 6 shots during the flare's fade he got 20 or so. > >He suggested I shoot more often so tonight I did a bunch one right after another and am currently spacing them 60 seconds apart and will compare when I process them. > >BTW, on a totally unrelated and OT subject I just saw that Disney has released their latest preview for Planes. I think I've seen them all and this one's my favorite so far: > >http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2013/130520official-trailer-for-disne… > >Cheers, > >patrick > > >On 24 May 2013, at 00:39, Joe Bauman wrote: > >> Interesting, Patrick. You seem to be the only one who was making measurements at the height of the flare, if I read the charts right. The guy Gary from Arizona simply extrapolated a big flare from only a couple of points that were before and after the big brightness, it seems. Or am I reading them wrong? Congratulations! -- Joe >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> >> To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >> Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:47 PM >> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Flare >> >> >> In my continuing albeit apparently fruitless effort to interest folks here in "taking data" I'll share a fun light curve I got a couple of nights ago of a red dwarf star called NSV 19335 that (quite by accident) caught a pretty impressive flare: >> >> http://brucegary.net/pawm2/NSV19335/nsv19335.htm#Present_Light_Curve_Observ… >> >> That should take you right to the graph but if not the plot in question is 8 images down from the top of the page. >> >> Gee, just think what it would be like if the Sun ever did that... >> >> Note that even at its faintest it never got below mag 12 so it could easily be worked by most anyone with a medium sized scope and a decent imager. >> >> BTW, this reminds me of something said in one of my NASA training seminars where the speaker (who is also a data-taker) noted that "Some people get excited by pretty pictures. I get excited over squiggly lines." >> >> Ok, have I got any converts yet? >> >> Clear skies (which we have in abundance tonight)! >> >> 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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Flare
by Patrick Wiggins 24 May '13

24 May '13

In my continuing albeit apparently fruitless effort to interest folks here in "taking data" I'll share a fun light curve I got a couple of nights ago of a red dwarf star called NSV 19335 that (quite by accident) caught a pretty impressive flare: http://brucegary.net/pawm2/NSV19335/nsv19335.htm#Present_Light_Curve_Observ… That should take you right to the graph but if not the plot in question is 8 images down from the top of the page. Gee, just think what it would be like if the Sun ever did that... Note that even at its faintest it never got below mag 12 so it could easily be worked by most anyone with a medium sized scope and a decent imager. BTW, this reminds me of something said in one of my NASA training seminars where the speaker (who is also a data-taker) noted that "Some people get excited by pretty pictures. I get excited over squiggly lines." Ok, have I got any converts yet? Clear skies (which we have in abundance tonight)! patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] C.L.Tomorrow (Friday) Night
by Joe Bauman 23 May '13

23 May '13

Chuck, give Kelly our very best wishes for a speedy recovery. -- Joe ------------------------------ On Thu, May 23, 2013 2:25 PM MDT Chuck Hards wrote: >We have to take things day-by-day. Kelly is home from the hospital now >(the surgery went well), but she's weak and I am staying at her side until >she regains her strength and heals-up a bit. I'm on the "maybe" list for >all activities for another week or two. >I'm not a fan of chopped liver, go figure. But pastrami definitely has my >number. >_______________________________________________ >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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Friday AM school star party
by Larry Holmes 23 May '13

23 May '13

Had a nice turnout today: Jamie, Zig, Bob (teacher has pst), Don, & myself. Kids were fantastic. Hope you can make tonight's star party. Tomorrow, at Millcreek Elementary (roughly 11th E, just North of 39th So), a sun party is scheduled for 0930A til 11:30A (could use 2 more 'scopes) as well as an evening star party there. This, I believe, concludes our school parties for the spring and will look forward to resuming in the fall. Will have some summer camps, etc., and will keep you posted. Thanks all for your help! lh

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Meade bought out by Chinese
by jcarman6＠q.com 23 May '13

23 May '13

No law firm in the world would make such an announcement if they didn't smell greenbacks and lots of them. The value of the stock was $6.40 per share but they are selling the company for $3.45 per share? Sounds to me like the board of directors have negotiated golden parachutes and the the stockholders are left holding the bag. Sort of like the wall street bailout of 2008. As soon as the billions poured into the coffers, the CEOs and other management took many millions in bonus money for themselves. Besides the larger telescopes, Meade has sold a grundle of "trashcos" to the less informed members of the public. For a $100 you get a 60mm "refractor" on a rickety tripod. Perfectly priced for all those parents who want to inspire their children, but not spend too much. I have a Meade refractor in my garage, purchased at DI for $25 (gah, my niece was going to buy it, but checked with me to see if it was a good scope) to be an example of what NOT to buy. Oh, it's not obvious it was manufactured by Meade, their name is in the small print on the back of the box, but it's Meade nonetheless. However, I have seen the Meade name proudly displayed on other boxes of trashcos in Walmart and Costco. Meade has made lots and lots of money and so this sale is very, very suspicious. Go get him law firm.

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C.L.Tomorrow (Friday) Night
by Ray Druian 23 May '13

23 May '13

Just a reminder that the first meeting of the C.L. (Chopped Liver) Subcommittee will take place tomorrow (Friday) evening at: FELDMAN'S DELI 2005 E. 2700 South 801-906-0369 FeldmansDeli.com <http://www.feldmansdeli.com/> For a review of the place, see * http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-297-16921-feldmans-deli.html.* Also, I understand that the SL Trib has also written a review. Mike and Janet Feldman are both customer centered and proud of the products they serve. The reason for holding this meeting as a Friday dinnertime event is that Chopped Liver is a Friday only special so far, and I figured that some folk might be working during the lunch hour. Hopefully, as their business expands, chopped liver will become a regular menu item and we'll be able to hold our meetings at noon on Saturday, just like the L.& O. subcommittee (BTW, shouldn't that group be meeting soon?). I also figured that new moon, first quarter, and second quarter Fridays are taken up with star parties, either public or private, so the full moon Friday is the only one available. If I'm the only one there, so be it. but even if you just want a sandwich, they're huge and taste great. Hope y'all come.

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