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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Last night's lecture
by Joe Bauman 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

Brent, speaking of the ISS, I have wondered if it could be put into an orbit that continuously cruised between Earth and Mars. When it swung by Mars it could drop off and retrieved crews. I don't see how the radiation would be any worse than the ISS crews are already exposed to. ------------------------------ On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 8:18 AM MST Brent Watson via Utah-Astronomy wrote: >I attended the lecture last night on trajectories. It was really a good, stimulating talk. Thanks for passing the word along. >There were some interesting side comments made about our launch capabilities and the Mars One effort. Mr. Adamo was not at all enthusiastic about the Mars One effort. His opinion is that the effort is doomed because there is not really a way to assure that folks going there would be safe - primarily from radiation. He has done some work with a former flight surgeon on designing a spacecraft to go to Mars. Their result is that in order to get sufficient shielding (using a water jacket), the spacecraft's mass would be around 380 metric tons. That is for a small crew, probably only about 5 members. For a point of comparison, the ISS mass is 400 metric tons. He made the comment that an astronaut who made this trip could only go to space once in this craft, and then he would be at the limit of radiation exposure for his life. The NASA limit is an increased risk of developing cancer of 5%. >That brings us to our current launch capability. Our latest heavy lift rocket - the one we are currently developing - will have the capability to lift 130 metric tons to a very low earth orbit. So low, in fact, that it would burn up at perigee. The Apollo 17 Saturn 5 rocket lifted 140 metric tons into earth orbit -- higher than the new rocket will go. (I am sorry, but my mind will not allow me to recall the name of our currently being designed rocket.) Recall that it took several dozen shuttle launches to assemble the ISS. The Mars One vehicle would require either a hugely more massive launch rocket or a similar effort to build the craft. >As I mentioned, it was a very intellectually stimulating lecture and did involve several ordinary differential equations. They were nicely explained in English by Mr. Adamo. This was the first time I have seen some real math put to Kepler's laws. There were many charts showing what it takes to leave the earth and go to the moon or Mars. It was a very well done lecture. >The above is my recollection of the lecture, and may not actually represent the opinions of Mr. Adamo. It is only my interpretation of what he said. He knows his stuff, that is apparent. Thanks Patrick and Dr. Sohl for passing the word along. >_______________________________________________ >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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MESSENGER: The Final Message (impact today)
by Wiggins Patrick 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

Here’s the latest information from Phil Davis and Courtney O’Connor of the Solar System Team at JPL for you to share with your audiences… The MESSENGER spacecraft will crash into Mercury around 13:26 MDT this afternoon. It will be on the far side of the planet, so we won’t get the closest images back. Bill Dunford created this nice tribute video (used in Jim Green’s press conference two weeks ago). http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/video-view.cfm?Vid_ID=4584 There's also a 15-second version of the tribute video available for social media. Download here: https://vimeo.com/125304262 Farewell MESSENGER, patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] The time has come - maybe
by Joe Bauman 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Where are you going, Brent? Good luck wherever it is. -- Joe ------------------------------ On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 8:56 AM MDT Brent Watson via Utah-Astronomy wrote: >Well, I have two weeks left in the US. That isn't much time, but just in case anyone is interested, I am offering the following for sale: >8" f 13.3 doublet Refractor. Lens manufactured by R. E. Brandt in about 1979. All four surfaces are magnesium fluoride coated. It is in a painted aluminum tube with adjustable lens cell. It has a Telrad mount and a Lumicon 80 mm Super Finder. Included are a pipe mount, a 2 inch eyepiece adapter, a 2" mirror diagonal, and a minus blue filter. I am looking to get $4,500. This is a great scope and has given some of the best views of the planets and double stars. >10" f10 planetary reflector. The primary mirror was produced by Vaughn Parsons at Intermountain Optics and is made of Astro Sital, a zero expansion ceramic. There is no spider, but rather the telescope has a 1 inch thick BK7 optical window in the front of the telescope that is magnesium fluoride coated on both surfaces. The secondary minor axis is 7/8" and the focuser is an Astro Physics Crayford type focuser. This scope is also mounted in a painted aluminum tube and comes with an 80 mm Lumicon Super Finder and a Telrad mount. There is a 12 volt cooling fan in the all aluminum mirror cell. The inside of the tube is flat black painted cork. The mounting for this scope is a Byers 812 German Equatorial mounting on a 3" pipe pier. I custom built this telescope to come as close to refractor performance as possible. The optics are excellent and it performs on par with the 9 inch Clark owned by an illustrious member of this list. I am asking $5,500 for this scope. >Now, some may accuse me of selling out. In a way I am, but I just don't get the time with these scopes they deserve. I especially will not use them for the next two years, but will possibly have limited access to a 60 inch scope. I would much rather see them used than sitting and gathering dust. Because time is short, sale will have to be completed by May 8. I am not interested in selling only parts. The scopes are for sale as complete telescopes only. >_______________________________________________ >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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The time has come - maybe
by Brent Watson 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Well, I have two weeks left in the US. That isn't much time, but just in case anyone is interested, I am offering the following for sale: 8" f 13.3 doublet Refractor. Lens manufactured by R. E. Brandt in about 1979. All four surfaces are magnesium fluoride coated. It is in a painted aluminum tube with adjustable lens cell. It has a Telrad mount and a Lumicon 80 mm Super Finder. Included are a pipe mount, a 2 inch eyepiece adapter, a 2" mirror diagonal, and a minus blue filter. I am looking to get $4,500. This is a great scope and has given some of the best views of the planets and double stars. 10" f10 planetary reflector. The primary mirror was produced by Vaughn Parsons at Intermountain Optics and is made of Astro Sital, a zero expansion ceramic. There is no spider, but rather the telescope has a 1 inch thick BK7 optical window in the front of the telescope that is magnesium fluoride coated on both surfaces. The secondary minor axis is 7/8" and the focuser is an Astro Physics Crayford type focuser. This scope is also mounted in a painted aluminum tube and comes with an 80 mm Lumicon Super Finder and a Telrad mount. There is a 12 volt cooling fan in the all aluminum mirror cell. The inside of the tube is flat black painted cork. The mounting for this scope is a Byers 812 German Equatorial mounting on a 3" pipe pier. I custom built this telescope to come as close to refractor performance as possible. The optics are excellent and it performs on par with the 9 inch Clark owned by an illustrious member of this list. I am asking $5,500 for this scope. Now, some may accuse me of selling out. In a way I am, but I just don't get the time with these scopes they deserve. I especially will not use them for the next two years, but will possibly have limited access to a 60 inch scope. I would much rather see them used than sitting and gathering dust. Because time is short, sale will have to be completed by May 8. I am not interested in selling only parts. The scopes are for sale as complete telescopes only.

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Astounding prominence (some pics)
by John M. Craig 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

It took me a while but I've got some pics of the wildly tall/wide proms from last week up if you care to take a look. These are unprocessed, uncropped shots taken by holding the camera up to the eyepiece--the camera's snout just happens to fit nicely into the eyecup. So, there's nothing special about any of them, but if you're curious/bored, take a look. Here's a couple of the big prom from last week (one emphasizes the structure of the prominence group; the other more the face): http://user.xmission.com/~johncraig/astrogoo/solarpics/Proms/DSCN7105.JPG http://user.xmission.com/~johncraig/astrogoo/solarpics/Proms/DSCN7104.JPG And from the next day when it was still impressive: http://user.xmission.com/~johncraig/astrogoo/solarpics/Proms/DSCN7108.JPG If you're really bored (or have to look at more because you can't believe how bad they look--or whatever), you can check this out (it has three sections somewhat arbitrarily grouping shots with more interesting stuff on the face of the sun, in prominences, or both). http://user.xmission.com/~johncraig/astrogoo/solarpics/ I'm open to suggestions for processing and so on, but I don't know that I'll find the time so if you offer a suggestion, I do not advise holding your breath! John

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The Horse Prominence
by John M. Craig 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

I meant to include the link to this one--you know the Horse-head Nebula, of course, well here's the whole horse (not to compete with the nebula, it's small too): http://user.xmission.com/~johncraig/astrogoo/solarpics/Proms/DSCN6706.JPG John

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope Mirror Available For Purchase
by Bruce Hugo 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

I just looked at the link. It is listed as SOLD! Agreed on a lot of cash for that aperture. Guess you are paying for the history bragging rights. Bruce Hugo

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ATM session - yes, you read that correctly!
by Hutchings, Mat 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

I will be hosting an ATM session on May 9th in my garage. As always, the ATM sessions are open to whatever projects that you have in progress. Since the current season is known for being a time to clean things up, I thought that this session could have a spring cleaning theme. So if you have a scope that is in need of cleaning, or other attention, feel free to join us. If you have questions about what ATMing is, or need directions to my house, please contact me off list. Happy mirror grinding! Mat 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

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fun story
by Joe Bauman 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

Just passing on an item that seems interesting. http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/28/nasa-may-have-invented-a-warp-drive

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Telescope Mirror Available For Purchase
by Rodger C. Fry 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

If only I had the money! http://m.ebay.com/itm/271824934123?_mwBanner=1

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