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Telescope mounts on Mars
by Chuck Hards 17 Oct '18

17 Oct '18

It occurred to me recently that the Equatorial telescope mount will work not only on Earth, but on Mars as well. Mars' inclination is only a couple of degrees more than earth, and it's day only a tad longer than ours. Any earthly EQ mount could be polar-aligned on Mars, and the correct tracking rate easily adjusted by either a drive corrector for synchronous motors, or with software for stepper motors. No gearing or motor changes needed at all. In case you are interested, here is a link to a chart showing the north circumpolar sky for Mars: http://www.eknent.com/etc/mars_np.png Mars has no significant pole star in the northern sky. I suspect that even if we could determine rotation rate and axial tilt for exo-planets, we would probably have to search through millions before finding another one that would allow a stock Earth equatorial mount to function, right from the box (temperature and atmospheric details aside). What an incredible coincidence that we have two such planets right here in the solar system. And they have adjacent orbits!

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Mars Society Meeting For Tonight, October 15th Postponed!
by Edward Heisler 15 Oct '18

15 Oct '18

Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook> [Inline image OWAPstImg647856] URGENT NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release October 15, 2018 UPDATE Mars Society Meeting For Tonight, October 15th Postponed! The Utah Mars Society chapter is sorry to announce that the visit of Dr. Shannon Rupert, a senior Mars Society representative and program director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), has been unfortunately postponed due to scheduling and preparation issues related to next week’s beginning of the crew field season at MDRS near Hanksville, Utah which require Dr. Rupert’s attention and involvement. The visit of Dr. Rupert to Salt Lake City will be rescheduled at a date in the near future. We apologize for the late notification of this scheduling change. Contact: Edward Heisler Utah Mars Society Tel: 385-321-7301 EdwardHeisler(a)msn.com Sent from Outlook<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faka.ms%2Fw…>

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L&O
by Joe Bauman 15 Oct '18

15 Oct '18

It was so good to see all the nice Astro-folks at L&O today! Thank you for organizing it, Chuck. — Joe Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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Reminder: L&O this Sunday, 10/14
by Chuck Hards 12 Oct '18

12 Oct '18

I never got much consensus on a start time, so let's go with 1:00 PM, to give people time to get home from church if needed. RSVP if you haven't already. Hope to see you all there! Left Fork Grill 68 West 3900 South SLC UT

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Dr. Shannon Rupert, the Director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Hanksville, Utah will be speaking on the subject "Is There Life on Mars?" in Salt Lake City October 15th.
by Edward Heisler 06 Oct '18

06 Oct '18

Dear Friend: I’ve attached a flyer advertising a very special public meeting organized by the Mars Society Utah Chapter and the Great Salt Lake Institute. Dr. Shannon Rupert, the Director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Hanksville, Utah will be speaking on the subject “Is There Life on Mars?” We hope that you, your friends and associates will participate in the meeting and discussion on this subject. Please feel free to copy and circulate this meeting notice on bulletin boards, social media and internet discussion boards. Let’s go to Mars! Sincerely yours, Bonnie K. Baxter, Ph.D Director, Great Salt Lake Institute Professor and Chair of Biology Westminster College James Allen President Mars Society Utah Chapter Edward Heisler Speakers Bureau Mars Society Utah Chapter DIRECTIONS TO GORE AUDITORIUM >From the north: I-15 South to I-80 East I-80 East to 1300 East Exit >From the south: I-15 North to I-80 East I-80 East to 1300 East Exit. >From SLC Make your way up to 1300 East heading south. Driving on 1300 East turn onto 1700 South (heading west) Pass the first drive into the campus and then turn left into the parking deck. Park anywhere in the deck, Turn right when you leave the parking deck and walk north. Continue walking until you pass Malouf Hall on your right. Make a left turn just pass the building and walk east until you reach the Gore School of Business. That’s where the Gore auditorium is located! Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>

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L&O Oct. 14
by Chuck Hards 03 Oct '18

03 Oct '18

A reminder that we are going to have a Sunday L&O this month, on the 14th. We haven't set a time yet, do we want to go at 1:00 PM to give folks time to get home from church services, or is noon preferred? No Saturday lunch rush to contend with, they aren't as crowded on Sundays. Opinions?

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Show of hands... L&O on a Sunday?
by Chuck Hards 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

Please let me know if you would be interested in a L&O session on a Sunday. I know that some of you just can't make a Sunday luncheon due to church obligations and that's OK. I'm trying to gague attendance for a possible Oct. 14th. get-together. Thanks gang!

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Mike Clements in an articl on Cloudy Nights
by Chuck Hards 17 Sep '18

17 Sep '18

Our own 1.8 Meter Mike is featured in a new article on Cloudy Nights: https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/a-visit-to-see-a-giant-i… Most of you don't know that I am an Administrator on Cloudy Nights. One of the perks is that I get to see all of the articles before they are published online. This one details a visit by two guests to SPOC, and their utter amazement at Mike's accomplishment. Enjoy!

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Astronomy Humor
by Grammy Terry 30 Aug '18

30 Aug '18

I ask Google to open the pod door please, Hal. She answered, “I can’t do that but there’s a spare key under the flower pot outside the pod bay airlock. You can let yourself in.” Posted sci-fi humor on FB. If Alexa were Hal. https://m.facebook.com/ScreenJunkies/videos/10155953204437403/ Kathy

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Time for Astronomical humor
by Jamie Bradley 30 Aug '18

30 Aug '18

Orion's belt is a big waist of space. Treible joke, only three stars... Jamie B

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