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Is Joe part of the coverup?
by Patrick Wiggins 16 Mar '05

16 Mar '05

Now how is it that we had to learn about this in the Tribune? Hmmm, maybe Joe Bauman is part of the coverup... :-) http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_2609231 (I hope this does not go out twice. I first tried sending it this afternoon but that post does not seem to have posted.)

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] ST-4 back on the block
by astrodeb＠charter.net 16 Mar '05

16 Mar '05

Patrick, Don't you need a flip-mirror to find a guidestar with the ST-4? I mean isn't it harder to find a guidestar without one? I'm still a newbie to astrophotography. Debbie > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > Date: 2005/03/15 Tue PM 09:42:38 MST > To: utah astronomy listserve <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] ST-4 back on the block > > I just heard back from the guy that had the option on my ST-4 and > learned he's not ready to buy just yet and has released his option. > > So it's back up for grabs. > > Patrick > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Good news & I need some help!
by Canopus56 16 Mar '05

16 Mar '05

--- Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I just got off the phone with a local reporter who > wants to do a story on light pollution . . . > 2. The local paper wants to do an interview (with > pictures) about . . . saving money . . . >From the ISDA Whitepaper "Why We Don't Like the 175 Watt Mercury Fixture" "Thus it is quite possible that the nation is wasting $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars!) merely to light the sky and produce glare." http://www.darksky.org/infoshts/is003.html See the ISDA Whitepaper "Operating Data and the Economics of Different Lamps" If you reduce the wattage of a low sodium pressure lamp by 1/2 from 180W to 90W, and still project the same security light on the ground (you're just wasting less by light lost to the sky), you save about $30 a year per fixture. http://www.darksky.org/infoshts/is004.html ISDA PowerPoint Presentation Contains good illustrative photographs on good and bad lighting http://www.darksky.org/mu-media/Web%20IDA%20Basic_files/v3_document.htm IDSA Papers on Basic Lighting Data and Information http://www.darksky.org/infoshts/istopic.html#2.01 IDSA Papers on Economic Issues http://www.darksky.org/infoshts/istopic.html#2.03 ISDA Education Center Topical List http://www.darksky.org/infoshts/istopic.html ISDA Homepage http://www.darksky.org/ I also checked the Salt Lake City Corp. website << http://www.slcgov.com/search/search.asp >> but did not find anything helpful. Clear Skies - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Good news & I need some help!
by Richard Tenney 16 Mar '05

16 Mar '05

I just got off the phone with a local reporter who wants to do a story on light pollution in my local town (Pleasant Grove / Lindon) on the heels of me showing up to the last city council meeting and making an impromptu, passionate speech about how they should adopt a sensible, dark-sky friendly outdoor lighting policy. Apparently my message resonated with enough people that: 1. The City told Utah Auto Sales, who wants to expand across the street, and the soon-to-be-built Low Book Sales, that they must change their planned lot lighting to be more dark-sky friendly! 2. The local paper wants to do an interview (with pictures) about the things I spoke of (dark sky, saving money, safety issues, etc.). Anyway, I'm pretty happy; it just goes to show that even one voice in the right place at the right time can make a difference. Here's where I'd like some help. Last year SLAS had a guy from SLC present on some of Mayor Anderson's efforts towards better downtown lighting, and in the course of his talk mentioned that the lighting redesign of one of the city/county buildings downtown resulted in a tremendous amount of money saved; it seemed that he tossed out a number something like $20 or $30k / year savings on that building alone. Is my memory flawed? Do any of the list/SLAS members recall what that amount was, what the building is, and who the speaker was so that I might contact him and get the actual numbers/facts straight so that I can pass this info along in the article? Thanks, Rich PS, attend YOUR next city council meeting and see if you can put in your $.02 on them adopting sensible outdoor lighting policies where you live. The 15 minutes I spent at mine have apparently already had a positive impact... __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/

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ST-4 back on the block
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Mar '05

15 Mar '05

I just heard back from the guy that had the option on my ST-4 and learned he's not ready to buy just yet and has released his option. So it's back up for grabs. Patrick

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy
by astrodeb＠charter.net 15 Mar '05

15 Mar '05

Patrick, What autoguider did you get? I hear the ST-4 is the standard for autoguiders. Debbie > > From: Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> > Date: 2005/03/14 Mon AM 08:31:52 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy > > Oops, I noticed the time you sent it -- I simply got it in the > daylight, but you sent it at 3:14. So you ARE in bed! That's the > Patrick I know. -- Joe > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Too easy
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Mar '05

15 Mar '05

Remembering back to when I first started dabbling in astrophotography I remember all to well the frozen fingers, uncomfortable sitting positions, difficulty finding a guide star, even more difficulty guiding and (shudder) those long exposures it took to get enough photons from those faint fuzzies to register on the film. And now it's so much easier (albeit at a higher cost). Specifically I'm referring to tonight's play time with my brand new, self guiding, imager. Sitting warm and cozy in my library I pushed a few buttons and 10 minutes later the following picture of M-95 appeared on the monitor: http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/temp/M9510MIN.JPG Or if you'd like the FITS image so you can play with it yourself: http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/temp/M9510MIN.FIT Note that these are just as they came out of the camera. No flat field, no Photoshop. Just the raw image shot through the C14 at f/11 (3,900 mm focal length). Patrick

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy
by astrodeb＠charter.net 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

I need a CCD camera first. I did mostly visual observations of Arp and Messier galaxies Friday with my 15". I need more clear nights down here. Debbie > > From: Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> > Date: 2005/03/14 Mon PM 01:14:40 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy > > Post 'em Deb!!!! Thanks, Joe > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy
by astrodeb＠charter.net 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

I got a wonderful view of M104 Friday. I would also vote for the NGC 4631 and the NGC 4656 combo. It is one of my favorite pairs. Debbie > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > Date: 2005/03/14 Mon PM 01:13:08 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Too easy > > Hey, > > Joe Bauman wrote: > > > Patrick, While you're trolling, see if you can hook M104... > > Ok. > > > Also, have you angled for M51? > > Kind of low in the sky now but it is on my "must get" list. > > Patrick > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Friday night at the Wedge Overlook
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

I had a great time at the Wedge on Friday, too. The weather was pretty cooperative and it didn't feel as cold as I had worried about. The breeze wasn't bad, but the light pollution from the nearby towns annoyed me. Rob, Brent, and I set up our scopes right on the edge of the cliffs. I was pleased after midnight to be able to see the NGC 5139 Omega Centauri cluster about a finger's width above the horizon as well as NGC 5128 (Centauras A) another finger or so higher! At the beginning of the evening a cloud and the zodiacal light made it pretty difficult to start my M marathon with M-74. And by 5:00 a.m. the coming dawn obscured the rise of Capricornus and Aquarius so I couldn't bag the last five objects on my list. But in between M-objects I enjoyed a host of other items such as the NGC 3242 planetary in Hydra and the open cluster NGC 2477 in Puppis! Mike Bailey

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