October 2014 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

The Sun
by Joan Carman 04 Oct '14

04 Oct '14

The line between amateur and professional in astronomy has been blurring for many years. Perhaps it is blurriest when observing the sun. The equipment available to amateurs rivals any equipment a professional would have at his/her disposal, but probably the more important is the amount of time spent actually observing. Lowell Lyon purchased a Lunt solar observing system, 4" f7, single and double stacked. It recently arrived and today he set up the single stack system in his back yard on his Meade goto refractor tripod with a 5mm Pentax eyepiece. When he looked through the eyepiece for the first time he saw an incredible number of prominenc es. He called and invited me over to share the view. I am close to speechless It was extraordinary. The downside is we had to keep pushing the ra and dec buttons on the tripod, cause, silly Lowell, hadn't polar aligned in broad daylight, but OMG oodness. THE VIEW! ! There were EIGHT prominences on one edge of the sun. One was the classical loop structure seen in spectacular professional photos. Over the length of 45 minutes, you could see the loop dissipate. Another spike disappeared altogether. THEN he looked at the opposite edge of the sun, almost a full 180 from the prominences we were observing. and HOLY COW , once again, knock your socks off. If the loop was spectacular, the prominence on the other edge was phenomenal, mind-blowing, We tried to figure out how many earths would fit end to end in the structure. I'm only guessing 7-10 . It wasn't a loop, it was "solid" gaseous material extending well away from the surface. There were a couple of holes in the material (probable close to Mars size) . There was another prominence, two-pronged, "nearby." Between the two was a sharp spike that dis appeared while we were observing. Another smaller spike appeared nearby The surface detail around a single sunspot visible showed, for lack of a proper word, phlanges, curving away from the spot. All in all a rare view . Look for Lowell at future sun parties (now he has to go hehehe). I have a whole new appreciation for solar observing and have an inkling as to what Chuck means when he talks about his double stack Coronado(?) system.

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Liver & Onions Subcommittee meeting
by Chuck Hards 04 Oct '14

04 Oct '14

It's that time again, fans of liver and onions! What does everyone think of getting together on Saturday, October 4th? Noonish? Please suggest alternate dates if most of you can't make it on the 4th. Remember, all are welcome, and you need not order the liver and onions to join us for friendship, fellowship, and good conversation. Let's see some new faces, as well as the usual gang of regulars.

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Amazing Bolide Just Now
by Joan Carman 03 Oct '14

03 Oct '14

Apparently, the "experts" like Rodger and Patrick are just covering up a UFO sighting. Inquiring minds want to know the truth, as long as the truth is it was a UFO. http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/568587/20141003/ufo-sighting-fireballs-utah.…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bolide video sought VIDEOS
by BWFlowers 02 Oct '14

02 Oct '14

>From Dirk in Tokyo....... Barrett and All, I have just posted on the UTAH meteor w/ map- I have received ONE photo from a video which I have been unable to confirm/ yet unposted. http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.jp/2014/10/ut-id-fireball-meteor-02oct 2014.html Dirk Ross...Tokyo -----Original Message----- From: Rodger C. Fry [mailto:rcfry@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 2:06 PM To: 'BWFlowers' Subject: FW: [Utah-astronomy] Bolide video sought Importance: High Barratt, I went on line and submitted a report. From what I observed it was high (>150K feet) and traveling fast (most likely an asteroid not de-orbiting satellite). Its path was I estimate was about an azimuth of 150 degrees. It was also to the west of my point of observation which is about 8th west and 59th south in SLC. I did observe some break-up and it had a vapor trail and showed color of green and orange. It was also very bright (mag. -15 to -20). I listened for a sonic boom but didn't hear anything. This is one reason I feel it was very high and moving fast. From the time I saw it until I lost it was about 8 seconds. Thanks Rodger c. Fry SLAS President -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of BWFlowers Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 12:28 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy'; 'drtanuki'; 'Michael McFall' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bolide video sought Importance: High Been busy around here also. I've not found any video yet either, and still looking for any info and formal reports submitted to Dirk. He's still asleep in Tokyo! Lol http://thelatestworldwidemeteorreports.blogspot.com/ www.FallenStarHunters.com We need many more reports, videos or possible radar returns from the weather and air traffic radar returns. Yes- they do show up on radar if the operator knows what to look for. It is VERY important that we can locate this meteor(ite) if in fact it did fall to the ground! Rally the troops! Make reports! Thanks! -Barrett Flowers 801-381-9858 -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Wiggins Patrick Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 12:19 PM To: Astronomy Utah Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Bolide video sought Busy media day today. 3 TV interviews about the bolide plus one radio and one newspaper and all asked about video. Anyone here know of any such video? Thanks, 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". _______________________________________________ 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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Spots near Sun
by Wiggins Patrick 02 Oct '14

02 Oct '14

KSL just rang saying they have reports of 3 white spots near the Sun. Anyone here seeing them? patrick

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Bolide video sought
by Wiggins Patrick 02 Oct '14

02 Oct '14

Busy media day today. 3 TV interviews about the bolide plus one radio and one newspaper and all asked about video. Anyone here know of any such video? Thanks, patrick

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Amazing Bolide Just Now!
by Rodger C. Fry 02 Oct '14

02 Oct '14

I was just leaving the house at 4:32 this morning and saw a huge bolide traveling northwest to southeast about 45 degrees off the zenith. It was big, bright and broke up into pieces. I hope others had the chance to see it. Thanks Rodger C. Fry

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Fwd: RE: meteor or shooting star?
by Ann House 02 Oct '14

02 Oct '14

>From Mary Richards at KSL: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Mary Richards" <mrichards(a)ksl.com> Date: Oct 2, 2014 7:06 AM Subject: RE: meteor or shooting star? To: "Ann House" <ann(a)annhouse.org> Cc: Here's what people told us via text and email: Looked like ball of light was over Ogden area. (received 4:56 AM) Flash of light streaking through the sky at 4:35 am. Then blows up. (received 4:48 AM) Holy cow a giant green streak just went across the salt flats right enough to light up the ground about 3 minutes ago literally had flames streaking behind it I was driving to work traveling south on 5600 about to cross over 201 in West Valley when I saw an asteroid. It was traveling east and appeared very close. The tail was blue and at least 100 feet long. Then as I watched it began to break apart, I could see three distinct pieces and then the fire went out and it was too dark to see exactly where it hit. This happened this morning, October 2, 2014 at approximately 4:45am. Witnessed a large fireball descend in the southern sky at 4:38 am. I was 12 miles west of Ogden at the time. I am sitting in my office at home, looking south, and just observed a fireball heading southeast towards the mountains east of Centerville/Bountiful I\'m not sure if it could be seen in salt lake but I just watched a shooting star light up the entire atmosphere almost as bright as day. If happened around 4:39am. I remember you guys did a story on one like this 5 years ago or so. Might be a fun story... Mary Richards Reporter KSL Newsradio Salt Lake City 801-575-6397 newsroom 801-558-4382 cell ------------------------------ *From:* Ann House [ann(a)annhouse.org] *Sent:* Thursday, October 02, 2014 7:00 AM *To:* Mary Richards *Subject:* RE: meteor or shooting star? One of my astronomy group members says it was large, bright and broke up into pieces. On Oct 2, 2014 6:58 AM, "Ann House" <ann(a)annhouse.org> wrote: > The term covers meteors or meteorites. Call also call it a "fireball." > On Oct 2, 2014 6:55 AM, "Mary Richards" <mrichards(a)ksl.com> wrote: > >> What is that? KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman is also wondering. >> >> Mary Richards >> Reporter >> KSL Newsradio Salt Lake City >> 801-575-6397 newsroom >> 801-558-4382 cell >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Ann House [ann(a)annhouse.org] >> *Sent:* Thursday, October 02, 2014 6:49 AM >> *To:* Mary Richards >> *Subject:* Re: meteor or shooting star? >> >> Mary, it was a bolide. >> On Oct 2, 2014 6:18 AM, "Mary Richards" <mrichards(a)ksl.com> wrote: >> >>> Ann, >>> >>> We got a lot of texts and emails about a shooting star or meteor or >>> fireball in the southwest sky I believe. People contacted us from Ogden, >>> Bountiful, downtown, out west, etc. >>> >>> Can you tell us anything more about it? >>> >>> Mary Richards >>> Reporter >>> KSL Newsradio Salt Lake City >>> 801-575-6397 newsroom >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>>

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Equipment for sale
by Siegfried Jachmann 01 Oct '14

01 Oct '14

This is the first notice of this anywhere. A good friend recently passed away. Today his widow called me for advice on how to sell his extensive astronomy equipment. There are numerous items including some premium telescopes. I have not determined a price yet but I will look to establish a fair market value price for these items. Contact me if you have an interest. The telescopes are: 200mm F/9 TEC APO refractor, serial #1 160mm F/7.5 Astro-Physics Starfire APO refractor 105mm F/6 Astro-Physics "Traveler" 85mm Televue 10" F/6, or so, Dob mounted Newtonian with a rotating tube. Excellent workmanship. I have not determined the mirror maker. The telescope is from Santa Ana, CA In addition there are mounts. There is a Losmandy Titan with Gemini Goto that supported the 200mm TEC, a Losmandy G11 that had the 160mm on it. There is a mount for the 85mm and also a tripod with GEM that the Traveler might have been mounted on. I have looked through and used the 200mm and the 160mm and can attest that both are superb telescopes. The 200 is quite massive and I consider it a 2 man telescope. Bill had it in a shed on a roll-able platform. There are at least 4 aluminum cases of eyepieces, many are Televues. I am getting the entire inventory organized and will have pictures available in a few days. The plan is to advertise this on Astromart and Cloudy Nights for starters. This notice is to give you first shot at this equipment. Let me know if you are interested. Siegfried(a)jachmann.org 801-520-2271 -- Siegfried

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Night sky friendly lighting
by Wiggins Patrick 30 Sep '14

30 Sep '14

Just saw this piece in today's Trib. mostly about the new traffic light but at the end the super at Bryce Canyon NP notes the area's night sky friendly lighting. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58468899-90/bryce-canyon-county-elect… patrick Sent from my iPad

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