October 2019 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Intelligent life out there
by Joe Bauman 31 Oct '19

31 Oct '19

For those who care about questions of exobiology: https://the-nightly-news.com/blog/blog-93-where-is-everybody-part-2 Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 200, Issue 9
by WAYNE A SUMNER 22 Oct '19

22 Oct '19

I'll never forget my first RTMC with Brent Watson when we demonstrated Digistar back in the mid 1980's. As I recall, we got a standing ovation. Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36> ________________________________ From: Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com> on behalf of utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com <utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2019 8:00:04 PM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 200, Issue 9 Send Utah-Astronomy mailing list submissions to utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com You can reach the person managing the list at utah-astronomy-owner(a)mailman.xmission.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Utah-Astronomy digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: RTMC is no more (Brent Watson) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2019 15:36:11 +0000 (UTC) From: Brent Watson <brentjwatson(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] RTMC is no more Message-ID: <496440634.10528072.1571499371701(a)mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 I agree with Chuck.? Home built scopes truly do outperform the mass produced scopes of today.? The big apo refractors available today are a possible exception.? There is great satisfaction to be had by "rolling your own" so to speak. The mass produced scopes are usually more sophisticated with go to mounts, but I feel like many folks who have them really don't have an appreciation for visual astronomy.? That includes knowing constellations and individual stars as well as feel for where things are in the sky.? Not all, but many fit this category.? There is a great appreciation that comes with the meaning of the rising of Capella or seeing the first of the winter hexagon appear. I will continue to bring my home made scopes to star parties that I attend.? That's all I have.? I have never owned a commercial scope for more than a couple of weeks. BTW, I just finished a new telescope.? It employs a 13.1?inch f6?mirror made and signed by John Dobson at a workshop at my house almost 30 years ago, and is on a Dobson mount.? I call it John's Dobson.? Its going to Phoenix with me and I expect to engage in a bit of sidewalk astronomy with it through the winter months. On Thursday, October 17, 2019, 01:09:06 PM MDT, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> wrote: I don't doubt what you are saying, Joan, I just don't see ATMing suffering at all today.? Dobson did breathe new life into it, but his death didn't diminish it.? Still going very strong today. On Thu, Oct 17, 2019 at 12:45 PM Joan Carman <jcarman6(a)q.com> wrote: > It's not that I disagree with you Chuck, it's just that we have different > focuses for our interest in astronomy.? There is a vast need, particularly > now, for science education in America and astronomy is the oldest science > and perhaps the easiest to share with the masses.? There is a great thirst > for such information even in Utah.? Dobson started the Sidewalk > Astronomers and continued to do it almost to the day he died.? He very much > wanted to share the night sky with everyone.? Reconnect to the universe, if > you will.? How an individual explores his interest in astronomy is up to > the individual.? If you want to do if for your own pleasure or the > challenge of building something, you're not wrong, just different.? And > different is the spice of life.? :) > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Chuck Hards" <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2019 11:19:52 AM > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] RTMC is no more > > Joan, I was an ATM before I heard of John Dobson.? To me, what he proved is > that a large alt-az mounted Newtonian could be a useful telescope. > Everything else about his design was crude and minimalist.? They worked, > but not optimally.? It doesn't diminish what he did, but establishing a new > paradigm was his true contribution- not showing how to build a budget > telescope from whatever is on-hand.? That tradition predated Dobson by > decades. > > > > > > On Thu, Oct 17, 2019 at 10:17 AM Joan Carman <jcarman6(a)q.com> wrote: > > > John Dobson, RIP, made telescopes and the night sky available to everyone > > by creating a low cost telescope (port hole glass for mirrors). Engineers > > and scientists using 3D printers do not support that vision.? You're > > probably right in that ATM is alive and well, it's just way out there in > > right field and has lost touch with the common person (trying not to be > > gender specific :)) > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Chuck Hards" <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> > > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 1:02:04 PM > > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] RTMC is no more > > > > When was the last time you saw *me* at a star party?? ;) > > > > Home-made scopes are all I use when actually "observing", even though I > > have collected quite a few commercial scopes over the years.? They rarely > > see action because my home-made scopes have much better optics. > > > > ATMing is now a bit of an industry all it's own.? Many of it's > > practitioners are professional engineers or scientists, and are using > > digital advances to aid in their work.? Technology moves on, the tools of > > the ATM have changed, but they are still out there in large numbers. > > > > John Dobson wasn't really in the mainstream ATM tradition, but his ideas > > live-on today.? He wasn't interested in making the design better because > > his interest was only in seeing.? The scope was merely a means to an end, > > whereas most ATMs enjoy the activity of telescope design and construction > > as much or more than observing. > > > > The Salt Lake club started out heavy with ATM people, I remember the > 70's. > > Today it has become more of a social event, an excuse for people to get > > together.? The activity of astronomy is very much second these days. > Back > > in the old days, we came up with events for members only, today it's > > largely focused on outreach.? The more technically savvy ATMer of today > is > > typically a lone wolf, not a socializer. > > > > Just a couple of weeks ago, I met a gentleman from Ogden who is older > than > > I am (I'm 61) and has been interested in astronomy for decades.? He owns > a > > very large Dob and is currently building a large Newt for his weekend > > get-away home in a rural area.? Yet he has never joined a club and has > no > > interest in joining a club.? I think there are a lot more "no club" types > > out there than there are regular club meeting types. > > > > It may be that the traditional astronomy club is actually the living > > fossil. > > > > > > > > On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 12:43 PM Joan Carman <jcarman6(a)q.com> wrote: > > > > > I'll bend to your knowledge Chuck, but I doubt John Dobson would have > > > appreciated 3D printers :)? or when was the last time you saw a home > > built > > > telescope at a star party (Watson excepted) :) > > > > > > ubscribe 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". > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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". > > _______________________________________________ > 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". ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php ------------------------------ End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 200, Issue 9 **********************************************

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Amazing discoveries in astronomy
by Joe Bauman 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

Folks not on my mailing list might wish to read my latest blog, about some truly surprising findings in astronomy, which were reported by a native Utahn. https://the-nightly-news.com/blog/blog-92-a-new-type-of-supernova

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RTMC is no more
by Chuck Hards 19 Oct '19

19 Oct '19

The half-century tradition of Riverside has officially come to an end. Thanks to Steve Dodds for the heads-up. http://rtmcastronomyexpo.org/ Sad news.

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Was at Association of Space Explorers Meetings
by baxman2＠q.com 16 Oct '19

16 Oct '19

Members of the Utah Space Association were invited to attend the meetings of the Association of Space Explorers. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov smiled at me when I looked his direction. I told this to my brother's adopted Russian sons, and they were impressed by that. I also met Gordon Cooper, and other later astronauts.

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Alexi Leonov
by Joe Bauman 16 Oct '19

16 Oct '19

Alexi Leonov, the first person to walk in space, was laid to rest today. In the brief time I saw him I was impressed with his friendly and humorous personality. Here's an article I wrote for the Deseret News in 2005 about a gathering of astronauts and cosmonauts in Salt Lake City, during which Leonov talked about that dangerous walk. https://www.deseret.com/2005/10/11/19916737/space-travel-s-pioneers-gather-…

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Free Carton 60mm classic long refractor FREE
by Chuck Hards 07 Oct '19

07 Oct '19

I have a classic Carton brand 60mm refractor, about f/15, on factory EQ mount. This is an old, made-for-export Japanese refractor with amazingly good optics. Get a hybrid diagonal for about thirty bucks and you can use modern 1.25" eyepieces with it. Comes with no diagonal or eyepieces but otherwise ready to use. I cannot package or ship, you will have to come pick it up. Free to a good home, would be a terrific starter scope for an interested youth or a grab-and-go backyard scope for quick looks. Contact me off list if you want it, the first to come and get it will be the new owner. Did I say it was FREE? Thanks for your time.

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For Sale: Unitron 105
by Chuck Hards 06 Oct '19

06 Oct '19

If you ever just wanted to own a Unitron, here is your chance without breaking the bank. I have a Untron 105 for sale, in excellent condition. It is a 50mm scope, the "baby Unitron" made in the 80's in the last years of Unitron's telescope sales period. They are still in business today but no longer import telescopes. Looks almost brand-new. It comes with one Unitron eyepiece and star diagonal, .965" size but 1.25" visual backs are made to fit Unitrons to this day. These were not sold in wooden boxes, but cardboard. I do not have the original cardboard box, this is the telescope and mount/tripod only. You can carry this cute yet capable scope in one hand, set up. A terrific backyard scope for casual looks at the moon and bright planets, or brighter DSO's. Also looks terrific just set-up for display, and takes up very little space. Would be a dream scope for a young novice who is capable of taking care of their equipment. Asking $200 for this highly collectible Unitron. Cannot ship, I ask that the buyer pick it up at my home in the middle of the SL Valley. Can send pics to interested parties, contact me off-list. Thanks for your time.

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Cave Optical Co. 10" Astrola For Sale
by Chuck Hards 06 Oct '19

06 Oct '19

Folks, circumstances have forced me to sell the beautiful Cave 10" f/6 Custom Super Deluxe Chrome that I acquired from Don Colton (the original buyer) some years ago. I hate letting this dream scope go, but my wife's ongoing medical & related expenses require it. I can send pictures to those seriously interested. This is a large, classical Newtonian on a beautiful, heavy-duty mount. It comes with a Byers 8" drive already installed but the original drive parts are included should a new owner decide to return it to stock. It comes with two mirrors, the original, serial-numbered Cave mirror, as well as a second mirror made by Galaxy Optics, if memory serves. It comes with the original drive corrector. JMI 2" motofocus focuser. I also replaced the original 60mm guidescope with a 3" guidescope made by Royal Astro. No eyepieces are included. This telescope is too large to ship and I no longer have a vehicle large enough to transport it, so the buyer will have to pick it up. You'll need full-size SUV or pickup truck, I can do the heavy lifting to load it up. The current market prices these at somewhere between $1500 and $2000 even without the Byers drive, but I will think about all offers. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I have enjoyed owning and using it for the last several years. It breaks my heart to let it go but it can't be helped. I can no longer transport it to dark-sky sites so someone else should enjoy and use it now. Contact me off-list for pics or further details. Thanks for your time.

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