- Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Jupiter
by Don J. Colton 27 Jun '18

27 Jun '18

Hi Joe, I enjoyed your article on Jupiter in the Deseret News. One tip I learned from Roland Christen is to hold binoculars as close to the objectives as possible instead of near the eyepieces like most people do. Using this trick I can hand hold 16x70 binoculars. Clear Skies, Don Colton

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Dust storm on Mars
by Chuck Hards 13 Jun '18

13 Jun '18

Of course, with Mars Season effectively here, a dust storm is building. It could effectively wipe-out observing plans this summer. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it subsides quickly. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/martian-dust-s…

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(no subject)
by Chris Watson 30 May '18

30 May '18

http://smile.woollybabs.mobi Chris Watson

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great basin astronomy festival
by Gilliland, Annie 11 May '18

11 May '18

Hello again all, It's that time again! Great Basin National Park in Nevada is starting to work on our annual Astronomy Festival. The festival will be from September 6 - September 8 and we have star parties all three nights. We rely on volunteers to help us out with these events. We have a large observing field (a picnic area) and will generally have interested people for several hours each night. During the days, we feature solar observing, a night photography workshop, children's activities, and more. We'll have a keynote speaker (John Barentine from the International Dark Sky Association) and other popular evening events. There is also a volunteer appreciation dinner! If you are interested in helping out, please see our website: *https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/astronomy-festival.htm <https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/astronomy-festival.htm>* and especially the volunteer info page: https://www.nps.gov/grba /planyourvisit/astrovip.htm Please let me know if I can answer any questions. Last year the Festival fell on fairly cloudy nights, but my fingers are crossed for clear skies this year. When it's clear here, the observing opportunities are incredible. Thank you, Annie Gilliland -- Annie Gilliland 775-234-7523 or 775-234-7514 Astronomy Ranger VIP Coordinator Great Basin National Park Baker, NV 89311

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M-41?
by Joe Bauman 30 Apr '18

30 Apr '18

Hi fellow Utah Astronomy folks, I thought you might like to see short gif, which shows a view of Comet 67P taken by the Rosetta spacecraft. The foreground streaks are bits of dust and/or ice blowing off the comet while the background shows the stars, which appear to moving downward (caused by the rotation of the spacecraft around the comet). An ESA expert identified the stars as part of Canis Major. What I find particularly intriguing is the cluster that appears at the top and quickly disappears behind a wall. I think it must be M-41. Or is it something else? Best wishes, Joe https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/rosetta-comet-67p-surface-comes-alive-in-new-g…

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LX200
by Mark Shelton 29 Apr '18

29 Apr '18

Hi fellow Astronomers, I’m in need of some advice. I have a 10” Meade LX200 that I have used so much for outreach that I have worn the threads in the bottom of the telescope out. It’s just catching a few threads of the tripod now and will be not usable soon. I figure I have set up my scope over 300 time in the last few years. My question.............. what would be the best fix for my telescope ???? Got any ideas. Worn out in Souther Utah Sent from my iPhone

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Oceanside Photo and Telescope
by astrodeb＠beyondbb.com 25 Apr '18

25 Apr '18

Hi! I just found out OPT is having a sale on their merchandise. Here is one example. I missed the Christmas sale so I may take advantage of this. Skies are clear again in Southern Utah. https://optcorp.com/collections/zwo-asi-224/products/zwo-asi-224-uncooled-c… Debbie

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Cosmology round-up
by Joe Bauman 21 Apr '18

21 Apr '18

Dear fellow astro-folks, In my previous blog I began a discussion about cosmology. The latest rounds out the discussion with examples of other theories, ending our cosmology talks for now. Please take a look at http://the-nightly-news.com/blog/blog-47-more-ideas-about-cosmology and let me know what you think. Thanks very much, Joe Bauman

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Kelly-Chuck
by Joe Bauman 18 Apr '18

18 Apr '18

Chuck, All of us who know you and Kelly are very sympathetic and concerned. I wish her a fast, complete recovery and I hope both of you can find the strength to get through this without too much mental anguish. We are looking forward to happier times at the Left Fork! Best wishes, old friends -- Joe

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Various
by Chuck Hards 18 Apr '18

18 Apr '18

For those who don't know, Kelly was rear-ended coming home from work on March 28th. She suffered head injuries. She is home and doing better slowly, is getting medical treatment and we have secured an attorney to make sure her future needs are met. But the upshot is that it as put all of my spring time astronomy desires on-hold. I had intended to get re-certified on the SPOC scopes this year and spend more time on club issues, but the accident and legal issue have taken all of my time. I've only managed to re-cert on the Ealing so-far. I want to schedule a L&O session soon and still hope to salvage some of this year, astronomy-wise, but everything depends on Kelly's recovery. Another thing that kicked me in the butt is that my helper at work quit last week, after I spent a year and a half training him. His issues weren't with me, thankfully, but his rate of pay, which I have very little say in. He gave me a glowing report in his exit interview. But now I'm short-handed again, keeping me at work more than I was counting on this year. He may be replaced but any new person will start at the bottom of the training program and be of very limited help for months and months. So thanks for understanding if I don't come-through on any issues immediately.

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