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Re: [Utah-astronomy] f/4.5 or f/5
by Michael Carnes 24 Aug '04

24 Aug '04

Hi Debbie - I have an 10" F/4.5. For that size scope, there's obviously not much of a length/weight difference, but it would certainly increase with aperture. I don't have any particular trouble collimating mine, using a cheshire eyepiece. Perhaps the biggest issue you'll run into is the limiting FL of your eyepieces. I have a 35mm Ultima that is very hard to use at F/4.5 (works fine in my F/10 SCT). Somewhere around 32mm is probably a practical upper limit. At F/5, you might notice the secondary a bit less with the wide-field eyepieces. Michael I was wondering if people would rather have an f/4.5 or an f/5 dobsonian reflector. I've looked through both and can't see any major difference. The f/5 scope would be easier to collimate but the f/4.5 would be easier on my knees. What do you guys/gals think? Debbie _______________________________________________ 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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5 (6?) more for Neptune
by Patrick Wiggins 18 Aug '04

18 Aug '04

Details in tomorrow's News, but BBC has just announced the discovery of 5 new satellites of Neptune. They said there may also be a sixth, but that one has not been confirmed. Patrick

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Friday night at Wolf Creek
by Debbie 18 Aug '04

18 Aug '04

The North American nebula-Pelican nebula was the best I've ever seen it. We split several doubles including Antares, Epsilon Lyra, Iota and Eta Cassiopea, Gamma Andromeda, Gamma Delphinis, Gamma Aries, Izar, Rho Hercules, Alpha Hercules, Delta Hercules, and 70 Ophuichus. Several galaxies were also observed including NGC 55 low in the horizon, NGC 253, M77, M74, and NGC 772. Thanks all for a great time. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Robert Taylor <robtaylor3661(a)comcast.net> > To: <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 8/14/2004 10:19:41 AM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Friday night at Wolf Creek > > I was surprised at how few people made it up to Wolf Creek last night > (Friday); I don't think there were more than 8 scopes. Maybe the early > clouds scared some people off, or folks were exhausted from watching the > Perseids all week, not sure. > > We had some high thin clouds right around dusk, they didn't stay very long > and were nearly all gone by 10 pm. The rest of the night was terrific, > clear, good seeing and a spectacular Milky Way. The conditions improved as > the night went on. We even had a nice showing from the Perseids: about two > an hour, some were very bright and left long streaks behind them which > remained visible for a couple of seconds. It got cool but not as cool as I > thought it would get. If you were held back by the early clouds, you missed > a really good night at Wolf Creek. We'll be back tonight; hopefully tonight > (Saturday) will be just as great. > > Bob Taylor > _______________________________________________ > 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] 2 more for Saturn
by Michael Carnes 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

There would then be a company who would sell you the chance to name your very own Saturn Rock. ..................................................... Well, around Saturn, of course, many many millions of them collectively are called "Saturn's rings". But, just imagine if someone actually wanted to count and name those rocks. <g>

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Good work, Joe
by Chuck Hards 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

Our own Joe Bauman has a piece in today's DesNews on the Perseids: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view2/1,4382,595084400,00.html?textfield=meteor+s… Thanks again, Joe, keep up the good work. I am rather surprised that no local photographers took you up on your generous offer to run their meteor shots, however...What'd you have to pay Wally to use his shot? ;) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] 2 more for Saturn
by Dale Hooper 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

Well, around Saturn, of course, many many millions of them collectively are called "Saturn's rings". But, just imagine if someone actually wanted to count and name those rocks. <g> > -----Original Message----- > From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 3:25 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] 2 more for Saturn > > > > --- Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> wrote: > > > I also wonder just how small an orbiting chunk of > > stuff has to be before they > > stop calling it a natural satellite (or moon). I > > mean, what would one call an > > orbiting 5 or 10 meter wide piece of ice or rock? > > A chunk of ice or a boulder. >

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2 more for Saturn
by Patrick Wiggins 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

More details in tomorrow's issue of News but I thought y'all might be interested to know that two more Saturnian satellites have been spotted. One measures about 3 kilometers and the other about 4. Both were found by Cassini. That brings Saturn's count up to 33. I wonder how long it will take Cassini to bring that number past Jupiter's 63. I also wonder just how small an orbiting chunk of stuff has to be before they stop calling it a natural satellite (or moon). I mean, what would one call an orbiting 5 or 10 meter wide piece of ice or rock? Patrick BTW, these data are now incorporated in my Solar System Fact Sheet located via the "Solar System Fact Sheet" link at http://www.trilobyte.net/paw . Cheers! Patrick

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late Perseides report
by Jim Gibson 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

A late report on the Perseides. I was with a group of scouts for four days on the Green River near the Wyoming Colorado borders. After white water rafting, cliff jumping, fishing, swimming, and bouldering / rock-climbing, we laid out on the bank of the Green River to watch the meteor show. My experience resembled the Wolf Creek reports. At times there were several meteors per minute and other times there was a pause. Some meteors were bright and had green heads and looong trails and others were short and dim. The boys (16 18 years old) were thrilled. With my green laser pointer, which really got a response from the boys, I was able to point out some of the more familiar constellations. We could see the Andromeda Galaxy and the Double Cluster with the unaided eye (no surprise there). The views were even better through my 15X20 Galileos that was purched on a Chuck Hards Special parallelogram. M13, Albereo, M31, the Coat Hanger and other objects were veiws enjoyed by the boys. I don't know how late they stayed up, but I turned in about 11:30 to the sound of the boys ooohs and aaaahs. Jim --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!

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(Utah-astronomy) Wolf Creek
by diveboss＠xmission.com 16 Aug '04

16 Aug '04

I don't get many chances to get out and away from the major light polluted areas, but last evening (Friday), I went to Wolf Creek for the SLAS Star Party. Just as Mark Bloomenthal showed up, the clouds parted (how did he do that?) and there before me was one of the most beautiful sky's I had seen in a long time. I can't remember when I had such a clean view of the Milky Way. The viewing was excellent as was the company. The drive motors on my LX200 kept everyone awake as it should. When I left, I stopped at the camp ground entrance by the highway to stetch my legs for the drive home. To my astonishment, there on the road, in the light of the Milky Way, was my shadow. How cool is that? Because of this, there will probably be 6 more weeks of rain. ;) Thanks to all who showed up for the company!

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Perseid photos
by Joe Bauman 15 Aug '04

15 Aug '04

Did anyone get a striking Perseid photo? If so, can you email it to me within an hour for possible inclusion in my Perseids story, which was delayed (because I didn't get a good pic afterall) but which I believe will run in Monday's paper? Many thanks, Joe

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