- Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: Comet
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

Debbie, on my screen the coma displays what look like density contours around the nucleus instead of a gradually dimming fuzz. Is this an image artifact or is it just my screen? Keep up the good work, I'm totally jealous! > From: <astrodeb(a)charter.net> > To: Utah Astronomy > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 11:26:56 -0700 > Subject: Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > Hi, > > I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on > Dec 11th, 2004. It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures > taken with the Canon Digital Rebel. > > Debbie __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

1 0

Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

I used Images Plus by Mike Unsold. It came highly recommended on the digital-astro group. Next time I will shoot it without the field flattener/reducer. I spent most of yesterday viewing the tutorials and experimenting. I also forgot to mention that I couldn't have done those shots without the help of Jim Colwell. He helped me get focused and actually found the comet. I had trouble finding the comet because every time I looked at the LCD screen, my dark adaptation was blown. It is a challenge to find things with a camera attached. Debbie > > From: David L Bennett <dlbennett(a)mac.com> > Date: 2005/01/09 Sun AM 11:34:20 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > Deb, Very nice shot. What program are you using to stack with? Dave > > PS to others, the direct link to Deb's photo is: > http://www.utahastronomy.com/astrodeb/Machholtzreduced > > > On Sunday, January 9, 2005, at 11:26 AM, astrodeb(a)charter.net wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on Dec 11th, 2004. > > It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures taken with the Canon Digital > > Rebel. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

1 0

First Light M38 image
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

Good Morning and Happy New Year I just posted my first DSLR image taken with my new Canon Digital Rebel on Dec 11th. I did a stack of 24 30sec images and did a little processing in Images Plus. I'm new to image processing and I am in the process of learning the tutorials on the DVD disk. It's amazing what image processing can do to an image. I also took 9 dark frames and averaged them into a master dark frame. I then subtracted the dark frames from each image, aligned and stacked the images, then did a stretch on the combined image. I'll add a couple more images when I finish processing them. Debbie

1 0

Comet
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

I got a good view in the 20x70mm binos just after 10:00 pm tonight as a huge sucker-hole drifted over the valley. The comet is still just in the same field as the Pleiades in these binos, a great view. I find it about twice the size, visually, that it was last week when I last saw it. Wind is too much to set-up the photography outfit, and the storm is on our doorstep anyway. Let's hope Rob has some good karma tonight, for all of us. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

2 1

Re: Bills post
by Chuck Hards 08 Jan '05

08 Jan '05

Thanks, Bill, we needed the levity! At the star-parites, dark shapes with green lasers now kept in pockets (or closets...) "Football...how about those Bears?...(Tim the Toolman grunts....)" You'll never be able to look at your fellow astronomer quite the same way if they ever accidentaly sweep the beam over you.... Will people be denied medical insurance if they are known green-laser users? ROTFL! > From: William Biesele <bill(a)biesele.net> > To: Utah Astronomy > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 19:07:55 -0700 > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: When lasers are > outlawed, etc... > > BIting my tongue, no comment from me > > Sorry > > Bill B. > > > http://swiftreport.blogs.com/news/2005/01/aircraft_laser_.html __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

1 0

Re: When lasers are outlawed, etc.
by Chuck Hards 08 Jan '05

08 Jan '05

Hi Guy: Get your Kevlar vest on. I know the laser pointer is here to stay on the observing field (until the Homeland Security Czar takes them away...). -However- If more people come to star parties with GoTo telescopes and laser pointers, than without them, then they are there more for the techie stuff than the view through the eyepiece. Setting circles, digital or traditional, work just as well as a GoTo mount, but not nearly as "cool" to the gadget-happy consumer. If your desire is simply to "pack 'em in", hold a raffle, get a bikini-clad airhead to recline on your telescope, bring a keg, roast a pig! But don't get high and mighty about Technology the Liberator of Mankind. I'm not anti-technology, never said I was, but this is a specific case of inventing a need. From my perspective, the GoTo and laser technology does not make the visual astronomy experience better; this is strictly subjective and not empirical at all. I honestly can't relate to that claim and (sic) refuse to acknowledge it's validity. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion (humble though it may be...). Where you actually a scientist gathering data, or an imager with a target list, time would be at a premium and this argument would be valid, but as a "nature lover" and socialite it just isn't. >From your own statement it is clear that the star party itself and social interaction is the primary motivation here, not increasing one's working knowledge of the sky. May as well be in a philatetic society or book club. Sure, if the laser works to lure in recruits, OK, but it would be nice to actually teach people something useful. Yes, you point out the object quickly and easily, look really authoritative wielding it as you stab the sky with your light-sabre, but the next night most of those looking up that beam won't be able to remember where you pointed at all. Pity no-one pulled out a star chart and actually showed them how to delineate a constellation and use the stars themselves as a landmark, then helped them find it in the sky themselves. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish...well you know the rest. But it's quantity over quality, I forgot. There are exceptions of course, as Gary said, but these are rare individuals with a real desire to learn, and not typical. Don't worry, you probably won't have to give up your laser until someone pries it from your cold, dead hand. I come from a time when the astro-clubs were a gathering place for people genuinely interested in astronomy and related sciences, not just as an excuse to sit around in a lawn chair and shoot the breeze, holding court before the novices. I suppose that makes me an anachronism. And damn proud of it in this case. I'll post no more on this subject. > purchase telescopes or > otherwise become involved in astronomy doesn't > matter. What matters is that > they keep coming back night after night to engage > those of us who show up. > > I know, I know, with a manual scope or binoculars, > and a thorough knowledge > of the sky, who needs technology? It is 2005, and > while it's great to live > in a simpler less complicated time, technology is > here and it's here for a > reason. It is used to make things better. To help > make better use of time. > And whether that technology comes in the form of a > green laser, or a fully > computerized telescope, that will level and align > it'self, that will track > an object clear across the sky while you sit back > and drink coffee, or, > shoot the breeze with your friends, I believe that > regardless of it's form, > technology has a place at star parties...JMHO > > Guy __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo

4 4

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Green Pointers .
by astrodeb＠charter.net 08 Jan '05

08 Jan '05

I try to avoid green lasers when I'm looking for the really faint stuff. They tend to hinder my dark adaptation. When I'm looking for Kohoutek 1-22 this spring I want my eyes dark adapted as much as possible. In fact, I have some green laser light recorded on my film that I took this summer. It didn't exactly ruin the film but it didn't help either. With a digital SLR you just reshoot the frame and throw away the old one. Debbie > From: "Nathaniel Goodman" <ngoodman(a)lgcy.com> > Date: 2005/01/07 Fri PM 11:20:27 MST > To: "utah - astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Green Pointers . > > We really don't need Green Laser Pointers, for years I used a large Maglite Flashlight with a cardboard tube over the front to direct the beam. Interestingly enough I also found a Rayovac two C Cell flashlight with a supurb reflector type front lens, after buing one to keep in my car I purchased another and used it like I had the Maglite as a pointer. Also the cost was low and white flashlights are not or will probably never be on the Homeland SecurityTerror Patrol list, but Hey! I do admit that Green Lasers are very Hi-Tec and impress the younger wanabe astronomers at Public Star Viewing events. "Gentelmen ,we don't gotta show you no Green Lasers!" Nato. > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

1 0

Re: Green Pointers .
by Nathaniel Goodman 07 Jan '05

07 Jan '05

We really don't need Green Laser Pointers, for years I used a large Maglite Flashlight with a cardboard tube over the front to direct the beam. Interestingly enough I also found a Rayovac two C Cell flashlight with a supurb reflector type front lens, after buing one to keep in my car I purchased another and used it like I had the Maglite as a pointer. Also the cost was low and white flashlights are not or will probably never be on the Homeland SecurityTerror Patrol list, but Hey! I do admit that Green Lasers are very Hi-Tec and impress the younger wanabe astronomers at Public Star Viewing events. "Gentelmen ,we don't gotta show you no Green Lasers!" Nato.

1 0

Astronomy swap meet, Tuesday the 18th
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Jan '05

07 Jan '05

Jo Grahn has secured the spacious, downstairs meeting room of the Zion Lutheran Church, 1070 Foothill Dr. in SLC, for an astronomy swap meet the evening of Tuesday the 18th from 7 to 9 pm. Tables, chairs and warmth supplied by the venue. The meet is open to all and is not affiliated with any club. Clear skies (please), Patrick

2 1

Re: When lasers are outlawed, etc...
by Chuck Hards 07 Jan '05

07 Jan '05

Brent, I was told some years ago that landing light bulbs tended to be on the pricey side and that also figured into why pilots try and minimize their use, at least for privately-owned aircraft. Any truth in that? __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

5 4