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

Patch Springs fire
by Chuck Hards 13 Aug '13

13 Aug '13

6300 acres and spreading, looks like it's reached the peak of the Stansbury mountains and may be moving down the other side toward Hickman. http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/ The plume is now moving ENE and is bisecting the SL valley at high altitude. I can smell smoke, but it's not as strong as one would expect. Patrick (or anyone else in or near Tooele or Grantsville), what's the situation over there? Looks pretty bleak from this side of the Oquirrhs. I'm wondering if this fire could actually make it to Grantsville... No sun viewing for me this afternoon.

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Perseids
by Patrick Wiggins 13 Aug '13

13 Aug '13

The International Meteor Organization showed a peak in activity yesterday followed by a sharp drop off. So sharp I thought we'd missed it. But I just checked again and they are showing that as of 0150 UT (about 4 hours ago) the zenith hourly rate had increased to about 50 per hour =/- 6. From here in Stansbury the smoke is clearly evident but happily thin enough that I'm able to spot Polaris naked eye. NWS is calling for the wind to shift to out of the SE tonight so hopefully by prime meteor observing time that will have happened and the smoke will go away. Fingers crossed, patrick

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SCTs
by Joe Bauman 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Re. our discussion of the relative merits of different telescope configurations, the group may find this note enlightening. It was posted in the LX200GPS discussion group, of which I'm a member: -- Joe Hi all, I was looking at NASA's New Horizons spacecraft which is currently on the way to Pluto and found that it's major imager is a 10 inch SCT telescope with a F10 focal length and a 1024x1024 CCD camera. I doubt that it's Meade (couldn't find out) but for those of us with the 10inch LX200 I'm sure you can relate. Just thought it was interesting... Larry

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Perseids popping
by Patrick Wiggins 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

As of a few minutes ago the IMO is reporting Perseids at ZHR of 136 ±15. patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Patch Springs Fire Photos from Sunday Night
by Joe Bauman 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Thanks, Jay. ------------------------------ On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 3:46 PM MDT Jay Eads wrote: >Just in case some are interested here. Here are the shots I took both on >the way out and at the observing site. You can see the smoke cloud is >moving to the north and had no bearing on observing. Unless you waited for >Ursa Major to get down near the horizon and you wanted to observe M81/82, >M101 etc. Then the smoke would have interfered. Oh, forgot to mention. >Mizar and Alcor were an easy visual split last light. I'm also working on >a list that Brian Skill at Lowell keeps on visual naked eye observations. I >posted the list on my Google Docs and you need the link to see it. It is >here: > >Naked Eye Observing List > >https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz7NMp82LdUbVHpxSkx6R1VBRzQ/edit?usp=sharing > > >I have seen M6, M7, M8, M11, M13, M15, M16, M17, M16, M17, M20, M24, M31, >M33, M35, M36, (I haven't tried for M37 or M38), M41, M42, M44, M45, M46, >M47, M48, M81 I am not sure 100% so I don't count it but others have seen >it; NGC 1499 California Nebula with a UHC or H-Beta filter held to the eye. >H-Beta was the better view for me; NGC 2244 Rosette Open Cluster, need the >UHC or OIII Filter to see the nebula naked eye; NGC 5139 Omega Cen.; NGC >869 & 884. That's enough for now. More to do. > >>From the Observing Site Patch Springs Fire Photo's > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202536_zps2ab6… > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202532_zpsdfb6… > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202523_zps2530… > >>From the Pony Express Marker at Faust > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11195905_zpsdfd4… >_______________________________________________ >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] Patch Springs Fire Photos from Sunday Night
by Joe Bauman 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Thanks, Jay. ------------------------------ On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 3:46 PM MDT Jay Eads wrote: >Just in case some are interested here. Here are the shots I took both on >the way out and at the observing site. You can see the smoke cloud is >moving to the north and had no bearing on observing. Unless you waited for >Ursa Major to get down near the horizon and you wanted to observe M81/82, >M101 etc. Then the smoke would have interfered. Oh, forgot to mention. >Mizar and Alcor were an easy visual split last light. I'm also working on >a list that Brian Skill at Lowell keeps on visual naked eye observations. I >posted the list on my Google Docs and you need the link to see it. It is >here: > >Naked Eye Observing List > >https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz7NMp82LdUbVHpxSkx6R1VBRzQ/edit?usp=sharing > > >I have seen M6, M7, M8, M11, M13, M15, M16, M17, M16, M17, M20, M24, M31, >M33, M35, M36, (I haven't tried for M37 or M38), M41, M42, M44, M45, M46, >M47, M48, M81 I am not sure 100% so I don't count it but others have seen >it; NGC 1499 California Nebula with a UHC or H-Beta filter held to the eye. >H-Beta was the better view for me; NGC 2244 Rosette Open Cluster, need the >UHC or OIII Filter to see the nebula naked eye; NGC 5139 Omega Cen.; NGC >869 & 884. That's enough for now. More to do. > >>From the Observing Site Patch Springs Fire Photo's > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202536_zps2ab6… > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202532_zpsdfb6… > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202523_zps2530… > >>From the Pony Express Marker at Faust > >http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11195905_zpsdfd4… >_______________________________________________ >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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Patch Springs Fire Photos from Sunday Night
by Jay Eads 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Just in case some are interested here. Here are the shots I took both on the way out and at the observing site. You can see the smoke cloud is moving to the north and had no bearing on observing. Unless you waited for Ursa Major to get down near the horizon and you wanted to observe M81/82, M101 etc. Then the smoke would have interfered. Oh, forgot to mention. Mizar and Alcor were an easy visual split last light. I'm also working on a list that Brian Skill at Lowell keeps on visual naked eye observations. I posted the list on my Google Docs and you need the link to see it. It is here: Naked Eye Observing List https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz7NMp82LdUbVHpxSkx6R1VBRzQ/edit?usp=sharing I have seen M6, M7, M8, M11, M13, M15, M16, M17, M16, M17, M20, M24, M31, M33, M35, M36, (I haven't tried for M37 or M38), M41, M42, M44, M45, M46, M47, M48, M81 I am not sure 100% so I don't count it but others have seen it; NGC 1499 California Nebula with a UHC or H-Beta filter held to the eye. H-Beta was the better view for me; NGC 2244 Rosette Open Cluster, need the UHC or OIII Filter to see the nebula naked eye; NGC 5139 Omega Cen.; NGC 869 & 884. That's enough for now. More to do. >From the Observing Site Patch Springs Fire Photo's http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202536_zps2ab6… http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202532_zpsdfb6… http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11202523_zps2530… >From the Pony Express Marker at Faust http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f203/ArathornJax/2013-08-11195905_zpsdfd4…

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Observing Sunday Night August 11th
by Jay Eads 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Joe et al. **** Jorge and I had a very good night. The fire was well to the north and had zero impact on us. Breeze yesterday evening was blowing from the south so the smoke went that way as did the fire .As I was leaving Herriman and going out 73 I could see the smoke in the sky. By the time I went down the Faust Road you could see that the fire was well to the north and on a mountain. During the night if you looked that way you could see the glow from the fire as it worked down, but no biggie as only Ursa Major was that low and that is too low for me to want to observe something there. I’ll wait for spring on that. I worked a few galaxies in Bootes, some planetary nebula in Aquila and some objects in Cygnus (Sharpless 2-91,92 a SNR in Cygnus by Alberio; the Veil is about 7000 years old, this one is about 30000 years old but can be seen visually with an OIII filter and is easily photographed), Campbell’s Hydrogen and I wanted to sketch the Crescent but never got to it as I got distracted by some PN’s there. By 1:30a.m. the wind had come up and was gusting pretty good so around 2:00, I broke down the scope, got everything ready to go to bed then for an hour just watch a decent Perseid shower. Both Jorge and I had been watching them on and off and there were many small and quick ones, but there were many significant ones. The brightest Jorge saw as it streaked and broke into 3 pieces. However I think we both saw the brightest, a large one that streaked for a long time and then blew up literally over the Depot or Tooele. All in all, not an excellent night but it was good to very good. The Swan M17 was just terrific both without and with a filter on it. The filter really brought it out. Finally got red out of Campbell’s Hydrogen Star (a PN in Cygnus near Alberio). Slept from about 2:40 until 7:45a.m. then drove home and now am typing this up. If the wind had been less later I would have probably stayed up til 3:00 or 4:00a.m. observing. FYI, I sent this once but it did not post so I'll post it again.

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Grilling King Question [WAS: Dark sky]
by John M. Craig 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Gentlemen, gentlemen, Clearly you need a disinterested party to adjudicate this dispute. I am happy to volunteer to help you out in this way. I would propose a multi-session sitting with different meats: steak, ribs, chicken, and one alternative item chosen by each of the parties in the dispute. I would not require you to come to me--I'm happy to travel as necessary. I'm sure my wife would be glad to help and since two people's votes could be different, my adult daughter could join to complete a three-judge panel. We'll be happy to post results (including photographs of the samples or other types of evidence deemed appropriate). Feel free to contact me off the list to make arrangements. And may the best grill-meister win. John

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Sunday Night August 11th
by Jay Eads 12 Aug '13

12 Aug '13

Joe et al. Jorge and I had a very good night. The fire was well to the north and had zero impact on us. Breeze yesterday evening was blowing from the south so the smoke went that way as did the fire .As I was leaving Herriman and going out 73 I could see the smoke in the sky. By the time I went down the Faust Road you could see that the fire was well to the north and on a mountain. During the night if you looked that way you could see the glow from the fire as it worked down, but no biggie as only Ursa Major was that low and that is too low for me to want to observe something there. I'll wait for spring on that. I worked a few galaxies in Bootes, some planetary nebula in Aquila and some objects in Cygnus (Sharpless 2-91,92 a SNR in Cygnus by Alberio; the Veil is about 7000 years old, this one is about 30000 years old but can be seen visually with an OIII filter and is easily photographed), Campbell's Hydrogen and I wanted to sketch the Crescent but never got to it as I got distracted by some PN's there. By 1:30a.m. the wind had come up and was gusting pretty good so around 2:00, I broke down the scope, got everything ready to go to bed then for an hour just watch a decent Perseid shower. Both Jorge and I had been watching them on and off and there were many small and quick ones, but there were many significant ones. The brightest Jorge saw as it streaked and broke into 3 pieces. However I think we both saw the brightest, a large one that streaked for a long time and then blew up literally over the Depot or Tooele. All in all, not an excellent night but it was good to very good. The Swan M17 was just terrific both without and with a filter on it. The filter really brought it out. Finally got red out of Campbell's Hydrogen Star (a PN in Cygnus near Alberio). Slept from about 2:40 until 7:45a.m. then drove home and now am typing this up. If the wind had been less later I would have probably stayed up til 3:00 or 4:00a.m. observing. On 2013-08-12 05:37, Joe Bauman wrote: > Hey all, I was headed out to Lakeside this afternoon when I saw a gigantic plume of smoke. The range fire was so bad that I knew seeing would be awful so I turned around and came back to SLC. Later we heard the fire was in Skull Valley, so I imagine it disrupted Jay too. Can you give us a report, Jay? -- Joe > > > > > > Hello, > > I am heading out observing tonight, solo right now and that is fine. I know > it is a Sunday and many work but it will be my last hurrah as I go back to > teaching this week. So if your available and want to hook up let me know. > Either Pit n Pole or Vernon is where I am leaning. > > Send messages to the list to > Utah-Astronomy@??? > > 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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