January 2015 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Check page please
by Wiggins Patrick 31 Jan '15

31 Jan '15

I've moved a bunch of files around on the part of my website pertaining to the concrete navigation arrows that were discussed here a while back. Everything works fine now at my end but I'd appreciate it if a few folks could try it from their end just to make sure all is well. If interested go to: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw Scroll down to near the bottom and click on the link entitled: CONCRETE AIR NAVIGATION ARROWS IN NORTHERN UTAH First see if all 21 thumbnail images are displayed ok. Then click on each image to see if the larger versions work ok. No need for more than a few to do this so please post results here so a whole bunch of folks don't end up testing the page. Many thanks! patrick

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ISS to transit Moon Suday
by Wiggins Patrick 30 Jan '15

30 Jan '15

Wx permitting those along or very close to this ground track may have a chance to spot ISS transiting the Moon Sunday evening. http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/iss.jpg The transit last less than a second so don't blink. Here are specifics from CalSky for Stansbury Park. Times for further along the track should differ by a second or less. patrick Time=20h40m51.33s Crosses the disk of Moon. Transit duration=0.51s Angular diameter=51.7" size of ISS=109.0m x 73.0m x 27.5m Satellite at Azimuth=114.2° ESE Altitude= 48.0° Distance=534.7 km (in shadow) In a clock-face concept, the satellite will seem to move toward 8:20 Angular Velocity=45.7'/s

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SLAS 2015 Star & Sun Party Schedule
by Wiggins Patrick 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Here's SLAS's 2015 public star and Sun party schedule: http://slas.us/slasbooks/2015sp.jpg patrick

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NASA TV Coverage for Tomorrow's Launch of SMAP Earth Mission
by Wiggins Patrick 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

This just in from NASA. patrick NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission (SMAP) launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, now is scheduled for 7:20 a.m. MST Friday, Jan. 30, with a three-minute launch window. The launch of the United Launch Alliance/Delta II rocket was scrubbed Thursday due to a violation of upper-level wind constraints. Launch managers have initiated a 24-hour recycle. The weather forecast for this launch window shows a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions. NASA Television coverage of the launch Friday will begin at 4 a.m. PST. SMAP will provide high-resolution, space-based measurements of soil moisture and its state -- frozen or thawed -- a new capability that will allow scientists to better predict natural hazards of extreme weather, climate change, floods and droughts, and help reduce uncertainties in our understanding of Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles. The mission will map the entire globe every two to three days for at least three years and provide the most accurate and highest-resolution maps of soil moisture ever obtained. The spacecraft's final circular polar orbit will be 426 miles (685 kilometers), at an inclination of 98.1 degrees. The spacecraft will orbit Earth once every 98.5 minutes and repeat the same ground track every eight days. For an updated schedule of prelaunch events and NASA TV coverage, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/1xaYUzD For in-depth prelaunch, countdown and launch day coverage of the liftoff of SMAP aboard the Delta II rocket, go to: http://blogs.nasa.gov/smap For NASA TV schedules and video streaming information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv For more information about the SMAP mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/smap

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RTMC
by Mark Shelton 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Hi Has anyone on this list been to the RTMC (RTMC Astronomy Expo) in Big Bear Calif. I am thinking about going this year.Is it worth going to?Camping conditions?Any advice etc. etc. Thanks for any advice Mark SheltonToquerville

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2004 BL86 still with us
by Wiggins Patrick 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Though much further away 2004 BL86 is still in our (N Utah) skies. Currently about 2/3 up our NE sky. Another couple hours and it'll be 71 degrees up and due north. Mag 12-13 so tough with the eyeball but still plenty bright for pictures. patrick

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2004 BL86 animation - first try
by Wiggins Patrick 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

2004 BL86 just barely cleared my roof and the seeing down that low is poor but I did get these 50 10 second exposures between 0242 and 0254 UT. Hope to get better images later tonight when it's higher in the sky. Note that the file is nearly 20 MB so it might take a while to download. http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/2004BL86-01.gif I've run it on Safari and Firefox and it worked on both. Please let me know if it does not work for you. patrick

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More stuff
by Brent Watson 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

I have liberated three precision linear stages from my shop. two are made by Micro Crontrole (french) and have a 40mm travel, and have markings allowing .01 mm resolution in the travel. The third is made by Oriel (US) and has 50 mm travel. The micrometer portion is made my Mtiutoyo and also has .01 mm resolution. Any interest?

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You got a moon with that asteroid!
by Daniel Holmes 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Radar data shows the asteroid had a follower... http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4459 Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh(a)holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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2004 BL86 update
by Wiggins Patrick 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

2004 BL86 is currently at 08h39m +12d 13m which from here in N Utah puts it about 9 degrees above azimuth 81. MPC puts the current mag at 9.2 and moving 136"/min (aka ZOOM). patrick

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