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Is it cold enough for you guys up there?
by Dave Gary 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

It’s nice and clear in St. George. It’s also about 18°F (that’s -7.78°C for Joe and Patrick) outside at the moment. I was going to image last night, but was too much of a wimp to attempt it. It seems unusually cold for this time of year. This is more like January-conditions for St. George. I may have to think about wearing a coat to observe. Bummer. It even snowed and inch or two here the other day. However, this go-around St. George must have been prepared because they didn’t shut the schools down. The last time it snowed a couple of inches the schools were shut down for the day. I guess people were reeling from the shock of it all. Dave

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Bruce Hugo 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Back on Nov 22nd, I purchased dinner and it came to $6.03. I gave the cashier $10.05 and she says "oh shit!" and walks off, rummages around, rummages around and finally finds a calculator. She entered $10.00 in the register before I handed her the change so the register didn't tell her what change to give me. I started to say something but decided to let it ride... it took her 3 tries on the calculator to come up with the correct change to give me. Sad. Bruce Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science. - Edwin Powell Hubble

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ISON Obituary
by Wiggins Patrick 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

This was on NPR. patrick In Memoriam Submitted by Karl Battams, NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) Born 4.5 Billion BC, Fragmented Nov 28, 2013 (age 4.5-billion yrs old) Born in a dusty and turbulent environment, comet ISON spent its early years being jostled and struck by siblings both large and small. Surviving a particularly violent first few million years, ISON retreated to the Oort Cloud, where it maintained a largely reclusive existence for nearly four billion years. But around 3-million B.C., a chance encounter with a passing star coerced ISON into undertaking a pioneering career as a Sungrazer. On September 21, 2012, ISON made itself known to us, and allowed us to catalog the most extraordinary part of its spectacular vocational calling. Never one to follow convention, ISON lived a dynamic and unpredictable life, alternating between periods of quiet reflection and violent outburst. However, its toughened exterior belied a complex and delicate inner working that only now we are just beginning to understand. In late 2013, Comet ISON demonstrated not only its true beauty but a surprising turn of speed as it reached its career defining moment in the inner solar system. Tragically, on November 28, 2013, ISON's tenacious ambition outweighed its ability, and our shining green candle in the solar wind began to burn out. Survived by approximately several trillion siblings, Comet ISON leaves behind an unprecedented legacy for astronomers, and the eternal gratitude of an enthralled global audience. In ISON's memory, donations are encouraged to your local astronomy club, observatory or charity that supports STEM and science outreach programs for children.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Joe Bauman 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

A friend and I had the same experience at a restaurant in Emigration Canyon. The waitress/cashier just could not make change and didn't have a calculator. It was a hideous, long, embarrassing wait while she struggled. Eventually she just had to let us take the proper change. Luckily for her, we were honest. ------------------------------ On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 8:50 AM MST Chuck Hards wrote: >It's not just people in service industry jobs and simple math. I know many >educated folks who can't spell common words. One, a teacher with >an English degree is particularly bad at spelling and grammar. I know >teachers who can't deal with the simplest algebraic expressions. >There are excellent teachers out there, to be sure, but many who make me >wonder about how rigorous their degree program was. > >On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 8:37 AM, Bruce Hugo <bruce.hugo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> Back on Nov 22nd, I purchased dinner and it came to $6.03. I gave the >> cashier $10.05 and she says "oh shit!" and walks off, rummages around, >> rummages around and finally finds a calculator. She entered $10.00 in the >> register before I handed her the change so the register didn't tell her >> what change to give me. I started to say something but decided to let it >> ride... it took her 3 tries on the calculator to come up with the correct >> change to give me. Sad. >> >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Joe Bauman 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

You're absolutely right, Erik. ------------------------------ On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 9:47 AM MST Erik Hansen wrote: >> Infant mortality is directly related to prenatal care, the problem is >lack of access for pregnant women to health care. A large majority of >problems can be prevented before birth. > > >A couple of decades ago I went to a health-care symposium and learned the >> shocking truth that United States was not doing well in infant survival. >> The reason is that we actually are two countries, partly first world, high >> tech; partly third world, with people living in a endless, despairing >> poverty. Any national score we get in such rankings can't help but reflect >> the fact that millions of Americans are in terrible shape in lifestyle and >> education. It's criminal that we don't do more and that so many better-off >> folks are absolutely cavalier about the way many of our fellows live. -- >> Joe >> >> >> >> On Wednesday, December 4, 2013 6:54 PM, Wiggins Patrick >> <paw(a)getbeehive.net> wrote: >> >> http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/57215739-68/average-students-education-s… >> >> Discouraging. But I have to wonder where we're going wrong. I do 35 to >> 40 physics and astronomy related outreach visits to elementary schools for >> the U every year and the kids certainly seem interested in STEM subjects. >> >> 'Course, then I go to local eateries and interact with the wait staff only >> to find just the opposite. >> >> Frustrating. Sometimes I feel like the next voice we hear coming from the >> Moon or the first voice coming from Mars will be speaking Mandarin... >> >> But then considering we're also 20somethingth in infant mortality and >> healthy life expectancy I guess we have lots to worry about. >> >> patrick >> >> Sent from my iPad >> _______________________________________________ >> Utah-Astronomy mailing list >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >> Send messages to the list to >> Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >> The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >> To unsubscribe go to: >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >> "Unsubscribe or edit options". >> _______________________________________________ >> Utah-Astronomy mailing list >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >> Send messages to the list to >> Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >> The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >> To unsubscribe go to: >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >> "Unsubscribe or edit options". >> > > > >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Wiggins Patrick 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/57215739-68/average-students-education-s… Discouraging. But I have to wonder where we're going wrong. I do 35 to 40 physics and astronomy related outreach visits to elementary schools for the U every year and the kids certainly seem interested in STEM subjects. 'Course, then I go to local eateries and interact with the wait staff only to find just the opposite. Frustrating. Sometimes I feel like the next voice we hear coming from the Moon or the first voice coming from Mars will be speaking Mandarin... But then considering we're also 20somethingth in infant mortality and healthy life expectancy I guess we have lots to worry about. patrick Sent from my iPad

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Opinions please
by Dale Wilson 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

You asked for opinions..here is mine. All this talk of "training" before giving the scopes away is simply turning a hobby into a job. As a mechanic, my boss tells me to K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) any challenge that I may face, Yes, they may be cheap scopes. Yes, most will end up as dust collectors, or be sold at garage sales. I know that most of the kids who win these look at them as little more than a prize to be won. Even if they are, some will end up in the hands of someone with real interest and will discover the cosmos on thier own. It was a scope like this that I bought at a garage sale and put in my basement for two years. When I finally pulled it out, I found Jupiter by accident and was floored. It hooked me into astronomy forever. Keep it a hobby. Keep it simple. Look into better scopes to give away. Dont fret about what happens after. Once its out of our sight, its out of our control. Have faith that one of these scopes my change someones life. Even if we dont get to see it. Dale W. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] U.S. students fail to crack top 20
by Kelly Ricks 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

I just noticed that Radio West is going to be tackling this subject today. I Always find this show really insightful. http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/smartest-kids-world ~Kelly

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Opinions please
by Dale Wilson 04 Dec '13

04 Dec '13

Wayne, You misunderstand what I mean. It isnt teaching a kid that makes it a job. Its the "making them earn" the scope via instruction is what does it. Honestly, when we give scopes away, there should be slas volunteers who would offer help in setting it up the first time. I am really commenting on how we as people take something so simple and wonderful and make a complicated mess out of it. Im on your side Wayne. I love helping newbies get going. Like you, it gives me a great sense of contribution to teach what astronomy can offer. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

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Night sky survey - St. George area
by Mike Scott 04 Dec '13

04 Dec '13

The St. George Astronomy Group ( https://sites.google.com/site/stgeorgeastronomygroup/home) is planning to conduct night sky surveys in 2014 to seek International Dark-Sky Association certification in a couple of communities in SW Utah. We need two pieces of equipment: A Unihedron Sky Quality Meter and a fish-eye 180 degree lens that will fit a Nikon D80 DSLR camera (or could we use your camera). Please contact me if you have either of these items and are willing to share them in early 2014, or better yet, participate in the survey. Thank you. Mike Scott (mike37n113w(a)gmail.com)

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