February 2020 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars occultation & question
by John M. Craig 21 Feb '20

21 Feb '20

Hi Folks, Sorry for the long chain of emails attached to this original question; tried to clean it up :-\ Thanks Mat & David for the site suggestions! Anyone else see the occultation and how'd it look for you? (My email client wants me to "correct" that to "auscultation"!) I decided not to try for the disappearance, but the reappearance was great! The non-amateur astronomer friend I was with was just completely astounded. One thing was that it didn't seem like it took more than a second or two for Mars to reappear--maybe didn't have eye on the right spot or was using too low a power to see it really peaking out. In the interest of sharing observing sites: on Wednesday, a friend and I observed from up at the top of South Fork in Provo Canyon (right before you get to the Trefoil Ranch gate there's a spot off to the right whose signage makes it sound like an official city park--more like a gravel area maybe 150' in diameter). The sky not as dark as farther from cities, but not bad to the east and south particularly; overhead is great. It was easy to see the nebulousity around the Pleiades, for instance in both a 4" and 6" refractor. It's not too bad a spot for being so close to Provo & Orem--you do get the occasional car or truck driving up the road (it's probably a make-out spot). Seeing was okay, disappointingly it got somewhat worse as it got darker--maybe that's expected. This time of year, I recommend having some cheap sleeping pads to put down on the ground around your scope (a very useful observing accessory I've never heard mentioned, I don't think). Or you might want to wear some ice cleats or something of the like: very hard ice and frozen mud. It was cold, but other than fighting with the buttons on a mount hand-controller with gloves off (so I only pressed one button at a time), we were dressed for it and I enjoyed it. Although my friend's parting comment was: let's do that again. . . when it's warmer! Clear skies/no wind! John

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Mars occultation & question
by John Craig 21 Feb '20

21 Feb '20

Hi All, Question first so I don't forget. Is there still a little airfield out by Cedar Fort where you could observe from the parking area? Are airport lights on all night? I'm trying to find a place that's moderately dark near Eagle Mountain--for the convenience of a new friend. Open to other suggestions, of course. Had an excellent view of the reappearance from Orem Lakeside Sports Park. Amazing to see Mars peak out and suddenly be easy to see naked eye. One of the coolest thing I remember seeing was Mars occulting many of the Pleiades. I have not been able to find any info on when that should happen again. Just a great memory. On Feb 16, 2020, 2:25 PM, at 2:25 PM, utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com wrote: >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: Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday a.m. > (Jamie Bradley) > 2. Re: Mars occultation info (John Craig) > 3. Re: Mars occultation info (Chuck Hards) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 13:35:55 -0700 >From: Jamie Bradley <astro(a)jamiebradley.com> >To: Utah Astronomy <Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Info on the occultation of Mars on > Tuesday a.m. >Message-ID: > <CAK_rPoMQgB0wdhwr03a51zg=biX=iMBUbWTiRuF=7JFhp1S7kA(a)mail.gmail.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > >Thank you, I was going to find this info later tonight. >I guess that changes my planned viewing of this. > >Jamie B > >On Sun, Feb 16, 2020, 9:41 AM John M. Craig <jmcraig(a)xmission.com> >wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I just put together some info from a long list of timings (from >> occultations.org) of the disappearance & reappearance of Mars and if >> anyone's interested in having a look, I've shared it here on Google >Sheets: >> >> >> >https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15_kCgqU2o7B4uVL5LzbC8KEfr4o5VtyuuG_… >> >> The most significant issue is the altitude of the disappearance. To >see >> it from anywhere on the Wasatch Front, you'll need as low a visual >> horizon as you can get toward azimuth 126 degrees (East is 90, so >it's >> sort of East-South-East) because the altitude is only 4 degrees. >> >> Note that based on other entries, the farther south you are from SLC >> (not sure the exact coordinates used for it by the program that >produced >> the data), the higher in the sky the event will be (and there is no >> correction factor for that, but Phoenix shows 11 degrees as opposed >to >> SLC's 4). So, heading farther south will get things a bit higher, but >> the opposite is also true: farther north means lower. >> >> Hope this is of use! And hoping to find a low horizon on Tuesday >> morning--and fewer clouds than predicted! >> >> John >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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". >> > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 13:55:26 -0700 >From: John Craig <jmcraig(a)xmission.com> >To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars occultation info >Message-ID: <d86ba771-c64a-4cfd-a103-541df229b98e(a)xmission.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > >I didn't read carefully enough. The latitude/longitude used for >calculating the alt/az & timings for SLC is apparently near the center >of the airport property. As best I can get Google maps to show me, >that's about 2/3 of the way down the B concourse, on the east side. >Good luck getting scope and mount thru security ;-) > >? 40 degrees 47.3' N >111 degrees 58.7' W?? > >I'd be interested to hear what you manage to see. > >John > > > >? > >On Feb 16, 2020, 12:00 PM, at 12:00 PM, >utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com wrote: >>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. Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday a.m. (John M. Craig) >> >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>Message: 1 >>Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 09:40:57 -0700 >>From: "John M. Craig" <jmcraig(a)xmission.com> >>To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >>Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday >> a.m. >>Message-ID: <5E497099.10002(a)xmission.com> >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >>Hi, >> >>I just put together some info from a long list of timings (from >>occultations.org) of the disappearance & reappearance of Mars and if >>anyone's interested in having a look, I've shared it here on Google >>Sheets: >> >>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15_kCgqU2o7B4uVL5LzbC8KEfr4o5VtyuuG_… >> >>The most significant issue is the altitude of the disappearance. To >see >> >>it from anywhere on the Wasatch Front, you'll need as low a visual >>horizon as you can get toward azimuth 126 degrees (East is 90, so it's > >>sort of East-South-East) because the altitude is only 4 degrees. >> >>Note that based on other entries, the farther south you are from SLC >>(not sure the exact coordinates used for it by the program that >>produced >>the data), the higher in the sky the event will be (and there is no >>correction factor for that, but Phoenix shows 11 degrees as opposed to > >>SLC's 4). So, heading farther south will get things a bit higher, but >>the opposite is also true: farther north means lower. >> >>Hope this is of use! And hoping to find a low horizon on Tuesday >>morning--and fewer clouds than predicted! >> >>John >> >> >> >> >>------------------------------ >> >>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 204, Issue 2 >>********************************************** > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 14:25:27 -0700 >From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> >To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars occultation info >Message-ID: > <CAHmuOYovzQ7f0Gh1xu52zua7vVz2uinm8qwVekiSDDf_9Pd+qQ(a)mail.gmail.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > >I will actually be within just a couple of miles of the airport but up >against the mountains, so will probably have to catch it online later. > > >On Sun, Feb 16, 2020 at 1:56 PM John Craig <jmcraig(a)xmission.com> >wrote: > >> I didn't read carefully enough. The latitude/longitude used for >> calculating the alt/az & timings for SLC is apparently near the >center of >> the airport property. As best I can get Google maps to show me, >that's >> about 2/3 of the way down the B concourse, on the east side. Good >luck >> getting scope and mount thru security ;-) >> >> 40 degrees 47.3' N >> 111 degrees 58.7' W >> >> I'd be interested to hear what you manage to see. >> >> John >> >> >> >> ? >> >> ions". > > >------------------------------ > >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 204, Issue 3 >**********************************************

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The Radcliffe Wave as shown the World Wide Telescope
by Sue Ellen Ebertz 19 Feb '20

19 Feb '20

http://worldwidetelescope.org/webclient/?tourUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffaun.rc.fas.h arvard.edu%2Fczucker%2FPaper_Figures%2FRadWave_AAS_Press.WTT Hiya, forgot to add this. Hope the link works. Best, Shoshana

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The Radcliffe Wave_"We were sitting next to a Giant and didn't know it"
by Sue Ellen Ebertz 19 Feb '20

19 Feb '20

Hi everyone, I just enjoyed this talk by Joao Alves (tilde over the first o) from Radcliffe Institute at Harvard about the discovery of the Radcliffe Wave that puts to rest the Gould circle. It's ginormous. What do you think after listening? Is it a newly noticed arm? He is fun to listen to and for me explained the process and discovery very nicely. All the best, Shoshana Listen and watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZjiE81ofFM&feature=youtu.be

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New Reports from Parker Solar Probe and Scientific Papers
by Sue Ellen Ebertz 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Hi everyone:) New reports have just come out Feb 5, 2020 with new understandings. The sun is so fascinating! http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/ https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe (five features seen by Parker Solar Probe as seen in one of the YouTube videos) Clear Skies All the best, Shoshana

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars occultation info
by John Craig 16 Feb '20

16 Feb '20

I didn't read carefully enough. The latitude/longitude used for calculating the alt/az & timings for SLC is apparently near the center of the airport property. As best I can get Google maps to show me, that's about 2/3 of the way down the B concourse, on the east side. Good luck getting scope and mount thru security ;-) 40 degrees 47.3' N 111 degrees 58.7' W I'd be interested to hear what you manage to see. John ⁣ On Feb 16, 2020, 12:00 PM, at 12:00 PM, utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com wrote: >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. Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday a.m. (John M. Craig) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 09:40:57 -0700 >From: "John M. Craig" <jmcraig(a)xmission.com> >To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday > a.m. >Message-ID: <5E497099.10002(a)xmission.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >Hi, > >I just put together some info from a long list of timings (from >occultations.org) of the disappearance & reappearance of Mars and if >anyone's interested in having a look, I've shared it here on Google >Sheets: > >https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15_kCgqU2o7B4uVL5LzbC8KEfr4o5VtyuuG_… > >The most significant issue is the altitude of the disappearance. To see > >it from anywhere on the Wasatch Front, you'll need as low a visual >horizon as you can get toward azimuth 126 degrees (East is 90, so it's >sort of East-South-East) because the altitude is only 4 degrees. > >Note that based on other entries, the farther south you are from SLC >(not sure the exact coordinates used for it by the program that >produced >the data), the higher in the sky the event will be (and there is no >correction factor for that, but Phoenix shows 11 degrees as opposed to >SLC's 4). So, heading farther south will get things a bit higher, but >the opposite is also true: farther north means lower. > >Hope this is of use! And hoping to find a low horizon on Tuesday >morning--and fewer clouds than predicted! > >John > > > > >------------------------------ > >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 204, Issue 2 >**********************************************

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Info on the occultation of Mars on Tuesday a.m.
by John M. Craig 16 Feb '20

16 Feb '20

Hi, I just put together some info from a long list of timings (from occultations.org) of the disappearance & reappearance of Mars and if anyone's interested in having a look, I've shared it here on Google Sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15_kCgqU2o7B4uVL5LzbC8KEfr4o5VtyuuG_… The most significant issue is the altitude of the disappearance. To see it from anywhere on the Wasatch Front, you'll need as low a visual horizon as you can get toward azimuth 126 degrees (East is 90, so it's sort of East-South-East) because the altitude is only 4 degrees. Note that based on other entries, the farther south you are from SLC (not sure the exact coordinates used for it by the program that produced the data), the higher in the sky the event will be (and there is no correction factor for that, but Phoenix shows 11 degrees as opposed to SLC's 4). So, heading farther south will get things a bit higher, but the opposite is also true: farther north means lower. Hope this is of use! And hoping to find a low horizon on Tuesday morning--and fewer clouds than predicted! John

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Will the Sun’s planetary be fancy or plain?
by Joe Bauman 10 Feb '20

10 Feb '20

https://the-nightly-news.com/blog/blog-100-a-beautiful-collision?fbclid=IwA… Sent from my iPhone

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