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Crescent Venus
by Chuck Hards 24 May '04

24 May '04

Venus is getting large enough now to show it's phase without magnification, for those with excellent vision. To cut the glare, try using a fairly dark neutral-density ("moon") filter, or a pair of polarizing filters adjusted to block most of the transmitted light. A dark sunglass will work in a pinch. Another trick is to use a pinhole aperture. Punch a tiny hole in an index card and sight through the hole an inch from your eye. With my glasses on, I can just tell that the planet is apparently wider than it is tall as of this evening. It will get much larger in the next couple of weeks leading up to the transit, but don't wait too long or you'll be trying to detect the crescent in the morning instead of evening. Please post if you clearly discern the crescent without magnification, thanks! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Domains Claim yours for only $14.70/year http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Chuck Hards Flashers
by DunnDave＠aol.com 22 May '04

22 May '04

My wife saw Jim's flashing lights last Thursday and thought it looked like a spaceship preparing for takeoff. It did make it real easy to see where the legs of the tripod were, even when you weren't light adapted. Dave

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Comet NEAT
by Chuck Hards 21 May '04

21 May '04

The power failed just past 9 last night, sparing me from my domestic duties. About 500 houses in the area were affected, leaving me in a dark "pocket". Miraculously, the sky was crystal-clear as well, so I accepted the whole thing as a good omen and took the 6-inch out for a peek at the comet, along with 20x80mm binos. It's hanging-in there remarkably well, although now it's off the S&T finder chart, but still easily seen. Did anyone notice the satellite pass very near it at about 9:30? Luckily I was looking through the finder at that moment, otherwise I would have missed it. This has been truly a "neat" little comet. Garden-variety but still a welcome sight. Filled the field of my homemade 24mm eyepiece. Star-like nucleus. Jupiter continues to be an obvious target. Notice how diminished Regulus seems, with Jupiter right next door? The crescent moon hanging just below Venus was a beautiful sight, should be even more so tonight if we get another break in the clouds. Jim says 'not likely'. The power came back on just before 11, and my mini-vacation was over. Back to loading the dishwasher. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Domains Claim yours for only $14.70/year http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer

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Weekend weather
by Jim Gibson 20 May '04

20 May '04

It doesnt look real good for viewing in Northern Utah this weekend. Southern Utah will have the best skies Thursday night and not quite as good Saturday night. There is a weather system moving in on Friday night pretty much state wide. JG --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70/year

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Grand View Pt. @ Island
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 20 May '04

20 May '04

I'm going to Bryce in June but how about in the fall? I want to explore the White Rim Trail below Grand View Pt. Debbie

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[Utah-astronomy] Weekend observing report from Gravel Pit & Rush Valley
by Richard Tenney 19 May '04

19 May '04

Friday night proved to be pretty good from the Gravel Pit. Three scopes showed up; my 16, Daniel "Galaxy Hunter" Turner's 17.5" and Lou Griffin's 20-inch, joined later by a group of enthusiastic young adults. The seeing was poor/fair until the clouds fully departed about 10:30, and seeing was decent as we lingered until about 1:30. I managed to log about 25 H-400 objects there, mostly open clusters and galaxies in Orion, Auriga, Cam. and Gemini, and one nice PNe, NGC 1501. The weather was downright balmy. Over 40 degrees at least until midnight, and I never even donned the gloves. The most difficult object of the night was NGC 2185, a diffuse nebula in Orion. Very challenging object. Anyone on the list have any luck with this one? I barely saw the nebulosity, but the seeing was poor and it was low in the sky. Any personal observing notes on this as to what to expect with good seeing would be appreciated. Saturday at the "pit 'n pole" in Rush Valley the sky was much clearer. Unfortunately I arrived late and a bit frustrated from getting lost (sorry to bark at you Jim!), joining a large group (including my 2 compainions from the night before) that was quickly dissipating about 10-ish. While it has a better South-Western horizon than the gravel pit (in spite of some light pollution from the chem depot), overall isn't a better site, and was actually much colder than the gravel pit ironically. Again I managed to bag approx another 25 objects, spending most of the night hunting galaxies in Leo and UMa; some nice galaxy cluster surprises, e.g., NGC 3681,3684, 3686, and 3691 in the same eyepiece field (@115x in the 22 Nagler), and 3185, 3190, and 3193 in another view, etc. Lots of fun multiple galaxy pairs, trios, and quads, including groups near NGC 3395 and NGC 3607. Saw the beautiful dual transit on Jupiter (with superb color banding in the 17.5") about 11:20, and was treated to an easy find of Omega Centauri (my first view ever) skimming along just above the horizon approx. 2 a.m. (just two of us left by then). I'd sure love to see that baby overhead before I die in a big dob under clear dark skies... Tired (yet happy) after two nights of getting to bed after 3am and not being able to sleep in past 8. Yawn. (Sorry, I suspect this post is a yawner too), -Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html

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UMNH Science Fiction Movie Night
by Patrick Wiggins 19 May '04

19 May '04

I'm working with the Utah Museum of Natural History to pick and then host a free screening of a science fiction movie in the fall of this year. I've got a few ideas but, as with the last couple of times I did a movie night, I'd like to get your input on what movie should be screened. Ideas? Patrick

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Worst astro/sci-fi movie
by Chuck Hards 19 May '04

19 May '04

We've all posted our favorites, how about suggestions for the WORST astro/sci-fi movie ever made? Don't nominate it if it was purposely campy, just genuinely bad. (example: Spaceballs, though it was genuinely bad anyway) Here are a few that come to mind: The Black Hole (a good place for this film) Message From Space (good-night forever, John-Boy) Robinson Crusoe on Mars (holy Shergotite, Batman!) But you know, I really miss Mystery Science Theater. Sniff. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! - Internet access at a great low price. http://promo.yahoo.com/sbc/

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Chuck Hards Flashers
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 19 May '04

19 May '04

Yes, in my album I posted a shot of me and Delicate Arch when I hiked the 1.6 mile hike. My aching muscles are now feeling better. Next time I want to do Double O arch. Debbie

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet NEAT imaged with an Orion ED Refractor
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 19 May '04

19 May '04

Try http://www.hostultra.com/~ghonis/051604neatq4.html AOL is a little funny when trying to send websites in e-mails. Debbie

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