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More Martian gullies
by Patrick Wiggins 26 Dec '03

26 Dec '03

New picture (released yesterday) showing another crop of Martian gullies. http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/12/25/index.html Patrick

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Gullies on Mars / Beagle
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Dec '03

25 Dec '03

A while back there was a discussion here about the small gullies on Mars and what might have formed them. The current issue of National Geographic magazine has an excellent article on Mars, part of which discusses the controversy over the formation of the gullies. ----- Nothing new about Beagle. It's presumably on the surface but has not been heard from. BTW, has anyone else noticed that media coverage of the mission has concentrated on the failure to hear from Beagle without a single word about the orbiter part of the mission being a complete success? Not exactly balanced coverage. Patrick

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Mars update
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Dec '03

25 Dec '03

Mars Express enters orbit around the Red Planet Contact awaited with Beagle 2 on the surface This morning, after a journey lasting 205 days and covering 400 million kilometres, the European Mars Express space probe fired its main engine at 03:47 CET for a 37-minute burn in order to enter an orbit around the Mars. This orbit insertion manoeuvre was a complete success. The Beagle 2 lander is expected to have reached the surface at about 03:52 CET. However, the first attempt to communicate with Beagle 2, three hours after landing did not establish radio contact. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMAD8374OD_0.html

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Mars update
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Dec '03

25 Dec '03

Live streaming video of the ESA Mars mission currently at: http://esa.capcave.com/esa/marsexpress Mars Express is confirmed to be in orbit about Mars. First chance to hear from Beagle 2 on the surface has passed with no signal received. Patrick

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Merry Christmas
by Richard Tenney 24 Dec '03

24 Dec '03

Just wanted to take a second and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year, full of clear skies from 3rd quarter to new moon. :o) Thanks to all of you for keeping a part of my life interesting and fun... stellar even! Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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C-14 "exploded" view
by Patrick Wiggins 24 Dec '03

24 Dec '03

As some here know I've been working on getting my ancient C-14 (circa 1984) to produce nice round star images in long, unguided CCD exposures. Much of this has been chronicled at http://planet.state.ut.us/slas/patrickw/PATRICKW03.HTML . I've just added a few more pictures (#s 142 to 146). 142 shows a C-5 OTA mounted on the Paramount. It was only on there for one night while I double checked to see that the problem was with the C-14 OTA and not the mount. Happily the mount checked out fine but I had to get the picture as it struck me as funny to have such a tiny, inexpensive scope on a Paramount which is neither tiny nor inexpensive. The other pictures show the C-14 in many pieces (first time I've ever had it apart) with close ups of a few key pieces. Note in image 144 there are 4 set screws sticking out the side of the center tube. I drilled and tapped the holes for those screws tonight and am hopeful that once I get everything back together I'll be able to tighten those screws down to stop the infamous "mirror flop" common to SCTs. Disassembly turned out to be much easier than I thought with the only tools required being a couple of screwdrivers, socket wrench, sledge hammer, regular hammer and a few hex wrenches. I need to pick up some special vacuum grease for the baffle tube (happily Josephine Grahn has a tube I can borrow later today) and I got some flocking paper for the inside of the tube that I still need to apply. With luck I'll have everything back together tonight. Then all I'll need will be some clear skies so I can check and see if my modifications work. Patrick

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Laser Pointer
by Jim Gibson 24 Dec '03

24 Dec '03

Chuck Thanks for the laser pointer. I have been using it with my star projection system to learn the constellations. I go into my computer room and turn out the lights and turn on my Edmund's Scientific star projector ($25). I was thinking of giving it to my grandson for Christmas but after trying it out I decided he's too young for it ( he's 5). It's just my speed (60). I really need something like this. With my memory and with the cloud cover we have had for the last month or more, I just about forgot everything I learned las summer. The quality it about $25 worth, nothing supper, but I use it everyday. My grandson will probably end up with it anyway. I plan on taking it to his house and laying on the floor with him and using your laser pointer to teach him everything I know. That will take about 10 minutes if I go slow. That's my insurance, because when I forget the names and shapes of the constellations, I can ask him. Thanks Jim --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Get your photo on the big screen in Times Square

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: 15x70mm binos
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 23 Dec '03

23 Dec '03

Chuck, Do you know where the Celestron 15 X 70 binos are made? Also, what is the difference between the Celestron 15 X 70 and the Oberwerk 15 X 70 binos? There is about a $50 price difference between the two. Debbie

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Enjoying the weather?
by Patrick Wiggins 23 Dec '03

23 Dec '03

I do hope everyone is enjoying tonight's crystal clear skies. I'm sure the change from last night's storms to tonight's clear skies is due to my telescope's current state of being in several pieces as I wait for the freshly applied sealant to cure. Interestingly, that curing will take another 36 hours followed by a few hours reassembly and collimation which just happens to coincide with the predicted arrival of the next storm... Happy solstice to all and to all a clear night! Patrick

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RTMC 2004
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 23 Dec '03

23 Dec '03

Is anybody going to RTMC this year? Sounds like a good way to spend Memorial weekend. Thanks, Debbie

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