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No astronomy events!
by Chuck Hards 29 Aug '14

29 Aug '14

I am actually going to get a three-day weekend! So I went to the SLAS calendar, and was a bit surprised to see absolutely no star parties or events of any kind scheduled for the long Labor Day weekend. So it goes. The backyard again.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] No astronomy events!
by Joe Bauman 28 Aug '14

28 Aug '14

One major reason we have no events planned is that this is the new moon period. ------------------------------ On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 2:32 PM MDT Hutchings, Mat wrote: >Last night was great. The Milky-Way from my driveway was very naked eye evident. Not bad for suburbia! > >Mat > >-----Original Message----- >From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards >Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2014 4:15 PM >To: Utah Astronomy >Subject: [Utah-astronomy] No astronomy events! > >Last night was fantastic, too bad I had to hit the sack at 10:00. It was >clear as a bell again at 4:00 AM this morning. > >Tonight may not be too bad, after the heating of the day is over most of >the clouds will disappear. > > >On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 12:34 PM, Joan Carman <jcarman6(a)q.com ><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jcarman6(a)q.com');> wrote: > >> Nothing wrong with the backyard, especially compared to Harmons :) But >> the weathermen say cloudy and/or rainy all weekend. If you two have a >> cloud filter and not sharing that with the rest of us- shame on you! >> >> >> >_______________________________________________ >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". > >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 > >_______________________________________________ >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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015
by Bruce Hugo 28 Aug '14

28 Aug '14

You are correct Chuck. I've seen the "greying" of clubs too. The Lake County Astronomical Society in IL (my former home) and the Utah Orchid Society also have the same problem. I fear it will only get worse as kids and adults feel the Internet is the access to all knowledge and don't understand the benefits of Clubs like ours. The social aspect of the club exposes you to topics and knowledge you never think to search for on the Internet. Every time I attend a club meeting or star party I "accidentally" learn something new! I also notice that I don't see kids outside playing in my neighborhood. I know we have a ton of kids, but where are they?! When I was a kid, my parents had to drag me in at the end of the day. I'm afraid the next generation will want to stargaze though the TV or computer, no urge to venture outside or be social in a club! Bruce Hugo Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:34:39 -0600 From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 Message-ID: <CAHmuOYq-VKAKZQ4kbC1mp+YjOSWLWhAFnu_s3mZe6MBteHAPaw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Lack of willing people to run for office may be a sign of the times. To be active in a club like this requires a certain amount of free time on a regular basis. More and more, the main demographic for people who have such time are those who are retired or whose jobs have flexible hours with regular access to paid time-off. Most new jobs I've seen don't have flexible hours, at least around here, in my line of work. We take our time-off during slow periods or between contracts- when they happen. Time-off can't be scheduled in advance, typically a few days notice is all you get. Such is the nature of custom manufacturing. We don't build inventories. I've also seen the workday start gradually earlier over the last 30 years, from 8AM to now 5AM in many related industries. That precludes weeknight meetings, period. The club has greyed over the years (most astro clubs across the country have, from what I read). As the economy shifts and jobs change, it's likely that the average worker will have less and less regular free time as the 21st century progresses. I've read that Americans have the longest workweek in terms of hours on the job, of just about any developed nation. The pool of potential candidates is probably only going to get smaller over the next few decades.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 - off topic
by Bruce Hugo 28 Aug '14

28 Aug '14

That's very cool to hear Joan! Thanks for passing that along! It gave me a smile! Bruce Hugo Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 16:23:19 -0400 (EDT) From: Joan Carman <jcarman6(a)q.com> To: Bruce Hugo <bruce.hugo(a)yahoo.com>, Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 Message-ID: <289087337.1008637.1409170999698.JavaMail.root(a)md30.quartz.synacor.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 It was my intention to stay off this thread, but Chuck, Rich and Bruce have made strong valid points about the greying of SLAS and clubs in general and what the future of such organizations may be. The recent appearance of Neil DeGrasse Tyson suggests all is not lost. Kingsbury Hall seats 1,700 people and it was sold out. The overflow auditoriums made available were at capacity, suggesting another thousand. Standing in line, waiting to get in to the Marriott Library auditorium, I saw people of all ages, including teenagers and kids, men and women. They are out there - and they are interested. Yeah - headed for something corney - If ya build it, they will come. :)

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS President
by Thomas Sevcik 28 Aug '14

28 Aug '14

The greying of the SLAS membership is a given. What I would suggest is that a newly appointed board position be installed with that official having the sole responsibility of recruiting and retaining youth for the membership. The appointee would be in charge of activities specifically aimed at ages 7 through 15. I'm sure many of the "greys" remember Christopher Robinson, the club's first Junior Astronomical League Coordinator back in 2001. However, this appointee would report back solely to the SLAS board of directors to keep things simple. At least 1-1/2 hour before star parties, no matter it be at Harmons or SPOC, the person in charge would have interactive activities such as making simple planispheres, constructing paper satellites, making a comet, etc. The appointee could ask for volunteers among the youth to research and then tell the story behind a constellation at their next star party. These activities could be announced in the press releases so parents could arrive early enough with their youngsters and leave them with the appointee while they attend the regular pre-star party program aimed at the adults. Perhaps this individual could help form a carpool of parents so that as many youngsters as possible, who otherwise might not have transportation available at the time, could attend either the meetings and/or activities at the star parties with other youths.Just a thought from a greying old man. Tom Sevcik

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Nice Panoptes video
by Wiggins Patrick 27 Aug '14

27 Aug '14

Here's a nice time lapse video of the prototype Panoptes unit on Mauna Loa: https://www.flickr.com/photos/twilight-landscapes/15032803716/ And a YouTube video with information on the Panoptes project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytsz3I5-n2c patrick

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It's back (Mars hoax)
by Wiggins Patrick 27 Aug '14

27 Aug '14

I thought we'd be done with this by now but I was just stopped by someone who recognized me as someone at SPOC and asked about seeing Mars as big as the full Moon tonight. Ugh! What happens on the web stay on the web. Forever! patrick

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SLAS Pres 2015
by Rodger C. Fry 27 Aug '14

27 Aug '14

All, This debate has gone on much too far with little or no valuable results on any side of the coin. The point is, we have a great society and it has become that by the dedicated work of its officers and the volunteer contributions of all the members. I am certain that when it is all said and done, we will be able to have all board positions filled with capable volunteers that will bring something to add to the strength of the society in the future. If we can't do this, perhaps it is time to disband the society I suggest we allow the board to take the necessary steps that is under our control and vested in us by the member votes that placed us on the board. Thank You, Rodger C. Fry SLAS President

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Stonehenge
by Joan Carman 27 Aug '14

27 Aug '14

It's been about 50 years since Gerald Hawkins wrote "Stonhenge Decoded." While many of the claims in his book may be a "wee beyond" believability, Stonehenge is well-known for its summer solstice align ment. Have been keeping my eye on the continued research regarding the entire area, but this is a new twist. The article itself is rather simplistic, without a lot of solid information, but the potential is intrigu ing. Dave Gary, maybe you would have some imput on the subject. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/new-light-on-stonehenge-11706891/

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015
by chuckhards 26 Aug '14

26 Aug '14

I thought surely mention of fracking would draw Erik out. He must have canceled his Internet service. Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: daniel turner via Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date:08/26/2014 5:52 PM (GMT-07:00) To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Cc: Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 I'm rather disappointed in this particular tempest in a teapot. No one has left the list in a high dudgeon or threatened to sue. Even Joe and Siegfried are trying to be nice. I'm guessing the missing element is Eric Hansen. His posts starting at the first > that always seem to get lost among the quotes from other posters. But when wound up he will respond to every post oh the list thus doubling the entry count single handedly. Where are you Eric? What are your views on the SLAS constitution? DT >________________________________ > From: "Hutchings, Mat" <mat.hutchings(a)siemens.com> >To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 2:20 PM >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 > > >Yep, bring on the popcorn. I suggest we add Bigfoot to your list of possible subjects, Chuck. > >Mat > >-----Original Message----- >From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards >Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 3:18 PM >To: Joe Bauman; Utah Astronomy >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS Pres 2015 > >Where's my popcorn? > >Maybe we can talk about fracking, climate change, or healthcare reform >after this. No, wait- immigration policy or UFO conspiracy cover-ups! > >;-) >_______________________________________________ >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". > >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 > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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