This is an open invitation to all SLAS members, Utah Astronomy list members, etc. or anyone else who might otherwise be interested: I plan to observe the Perseids from the old dark site/private star party site near the Skyline Drive east of Fairview next Tuesday morning, weather permitting. Any and all are welcome to join me. It's not a long drive from Salt Lake, about two hours, comparable to most other favored dark sites from SLC. The light pollution is also comparable to Wolf Creek Pass, with dark skies to the east, south and west - moderate light pollution to the northwest towards Utah Valley. Directions: Take I-15 to the "Price/Manti" exit (I believe that is Exit 238); take US 6 to Thistle Junction, thence south on US 89 to Fairview, about 28 miles distant from the junction. From Fairview take Utah 31 up Fairview Canyon towards Huntington. Near the summit, at MP 14, take Skyline Drive south, about 1 mile to a small dirt road that turns to the east. This is the observing site. I used to call it Sheep Dung Flat, but I don't think there are as many flocks (herds?) grazing there these days. I plan to arrive around 2:00 AM, maybe as late as 3:00. Hope to see some of you there. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Canopus56 Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:18 PM To: Utah Astronomy List Serv Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Perseid shower peak - Tues. 8-12 5:22am MDT I. Tues. August 12, 2008 5:22am MDT - Max Perseid shower peak NASA Meteor Fluximator http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/estimator.html Predicted fluxes at 5:22am; Astronomical twilight begins 4:40am MDT; Civil twilight 6:06am MDT Mountaintop: 110 zhr ~ 1 per 30 seconds Countryside: 74 zhr ~ 1 per 45 seconds Suburban: 35 zhr or ~ 1 per 1 3/4 minutes Downtown: 7.6 zhr or ~ 1 per 8 minutes Predicted fluxes earlier in the evening at midnight Aug. 12, 2008 Mountaintop: 27.8 zhr Countryside: 19.9 zhr Suburban: 10.1 zhr Downtown: 2 zhr Radiant in constellation Perseus first rises around 10pm on 8-11 and is at about 35 degs alt at 1am on 8-12. II. NASA Science Perseid Meteor Shower Article http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/22jul_perseiddawn.htm III. USNO SUnrise Sunset Data for 8/12/2008 ======== Sun and Moon Data for One Day The following information is provided for Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah (longitude W111.9, latitude N40.8): Tuesday 12 August 2008 Mountain Daylight Time SUN Begin civil twilight 6:06 a.m. Sunrise 6:35 a.m. Sun transit 1:32 p.m. Sunset 8:29 p.m. End civil twilight 8:58 p.m. MOON Moonrise 5:25 p.m. on preceding day Moonset 2:08 a.m. Moonrise 6:12 p.m. Moon transit 10:37 p.m. Moonset 3:05 a.m. on following day Phase of the Moon on 12 August: waxing gibbous with 84% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated. ========= IV. Lunar impact observing oppportunity Informally, the Geologic Lunar Research Group is organizing to video or web image the Moon to detect lunar flash impacts near the south pole of the Moon. With 84% of the disk illuminated and the Moon at 20 degs alt at 11pm on 8-11, this may prove difficult, but is a good opportunity to try your hand at lunar impact imaging and testing web cam imaging setups. The dark side of the terminator will be at Kepler and cover Oceanus Procellarum. Conversely, the ALPO Lunar Impact Project does not list the shower as a favorable window for imaging lunar flash impacts. - Kurt _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.12/1597 - Release Date: 8/7/2008 5:54 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.12/1597 - Release Date: 8/7/2008 5:54 AM