I am heading out again tonight. Last night was just wonderful. M104 showed itself probably the best I have ever seen it in the 14. I was able to capture 18 objects from my list and sketch about 8-10 of them (I need to check). Tonight promises to be even better. We had Jeff, Mat, Josh, Joe and Chris, a visitor from Raliegh NC with us. Joe had a mechanical issue so didn't get any imaging in and he can talk to that. Temperatures were mild out on Forest Road 006, LM was around 7.0 to 7.2 out there and it was nice and dark. Lots of RVers around but no campfires and no disturbances, just nice and quiet. I also got a great view of NGC 4038/39 the antenna galaxies and one tidal tail was seen coming off NGC 4038 (need to check my notes). Chris saw that with me. After Joe's equipment broke down he wanted to see the eyes so I star hopped to the pair of galaxies known as the Eyes and they stood right out next to their elliptical monster pair. Just a tremendous night. I'll post more details sometime in the week on my blog. Tonight I want to go back to Vernal as we had no humidity and the temps were just wonderful. Let me know if you want to join me out there. Everyone got there fine using my directions from my blog. Oh, the sites had grass on them and that was nice (wild grass) and a surprise for Joe that Joe can mention. Then there was this thing about playing musical cars and disappearing keys . . . -- Jay Eads
This begs the question: Is the Grim fixed and operational? no word from SLAS BOD's on the subject.
I am heading out again tonight. Last night was just wonderful. M104
showed itself probably the best I have ever seen it in the 14. I was able to capture 18 objects from my list and sketch about 8-10 of them (I need to check). Tonight promises to be even better. We had Jeff, Mat, Josh, Joe and Chris, a visitor from Raliegh NC with us. Joe had a mechanical issue so didn't get any imaging in and he can talk to that. Temperatures were mild out on Forest Road 006, LM was around 7.0 to 7.2 out there and it was nice and dark. Lots of RVers around but no campfires and no disturbances, just nice and quiet.
I also got a great view of NGC 4038/39 the antenna galaxies and one tidal tail was seen coming off NGC 4038 (need to check my notes). Chris saw that with me. After Joe's equipment broke down he wanted to see the eyes so I star hopped to the pair of galaxies known as the Eyes and they stood right out next to their elliptical monster pair. Just a tremendous night. I'll post more details sometime in the week on my blog.
Tonight I want to go back to Vernal as we had no humidity and the temps were just wonderful. Let me know if you want to join me out there. Everyone got there fine using my directions from my blog. Oh, the sites had grass on them and that was nice (wild grass) and a surprise for Joe that Joe can mention. Then there was this thing about playing musical cars and disappearing keys . . .
-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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".
Erik, Jay was just reporting on our little observing trip Friday-Saturday night to western Utah, not anything about SPOC. Sorry about the confusion. As Jay said, I had mechanical issues. Actually, more than only mechanical. I like to set up and have my cables straightened out before the light leaves the sky. However, I didn't manage that this time. As a result, my work table looked like a spaghetti bowl with cables. My flashlight was running out of batteries, which made the table even dimmer. Jorge provided light from his flashlight, but it didn't quite work because he wasn't always pointing where I was looking. This went on for hours, as I kept trying to get my focuser to work. At long last I realized that certain components for the focuser and the guider were transposed. I got them straightened out but then I was unable to slew because the worm that drives the right ascension gear had become loose. This was most evident when I had loaded the 'scope with a fair amount of weight -- guide scope, guide scope camera, main camera, etc. Desperately, I tried unloading the scope, so that I could get it aligned and then load it carefully. But it wouldn't even slew correctly in a stripped-down condition. At that point I just gave up; I know what's wrong and I know how to tighten the worm, but the telescope has to be taken off the tripod and wedge, and that wouldn't work at night. I'll take it apart and fix it today or tomorrow. HOWEVER: The night was beautiful and the company superlative. (Chris didn't even get mad when I threw my bag of warm clothes in the back of his vehicle, then climbed into the driver's seat -- thinking it was my Jeep. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, I thought I saw my keys on the seat and stucl them in my pocket. Shortly after that I realized I was in the wrong vehicle, got my clothes out, and apologized. A little later folks started searching for Chris' keys and I realized I had pocketed them. So I had to say what happened, and I felt like an extreme fool. But nobody ridiculed me.) The highlights of the night were being with really good amateur astronomers, talking, and looking through Jay's 14" at the Eyes (which I had planned to photograph) and through Mat's 20" (I think) at the Owl. I also saw a wonderful galaxy field through Jay's, M104, a section of Markarian's Chain. Cold and discouraged, I slunk back into my Jeep (which is also back and which I had parked a little earlier near the spot where Chris eventually parked, though I had moved it before he arrived). I read the new Stephen King novel 11/22/63 on my Kindle until after 3. When I finally fell asleep my cell phone dragged me to consciousness; I answered it as someone hung up. I called the number back and it was a recording for something like Intermountain Auction, apparently ready to take my bid. So of course getting back to sleep was an awful, uncomfortable chore. -- That's my little report on observing on the night of Friday-Saturday. From: "erikhansen@thebluezone.net" <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:00 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Saturday
This begs the question: Is the Grim fixed and operational? no word from SLAS BOD's on the subject.
I am heading out again tonight. Last night was just wonderful. M104
showed itself probably the best I have ever seen it in the 14. I was able to capture 18 objects from my list and sketch about 8-10 of them (I need to check). Tonight promises to be even better. We had Jeff, Mat, Josh, Joe and Chris, a visitor from Raliegh NC with us. Joe had a mechanical issue so didn't get any imaging in and he can talk to that. Temperatures were mild out on Forest Road 006, LM was around 7.0 to 7.2 out there and it was nice and dark. Lots of RVers around but no campfires and no disturbances, just nice and quiet.
I also got a great view of NGC 4038/39 the antenna galaxies and one tidal tail was seen coming off NGC 4038 (need to check my notes). Chris saw that with me. After Joe's equipment broke down he wanted to see the eyes so I star hopped to the pair of galaxies known as the Eyes and they stood right out next to their elliptical monster pair. Just a tremendous night. I'll post more details sometime in the week on my blog.
Tonight I want to go back to Vernal as we had no humidity and the temps were just wonderful. Let me know if you want to join me out there. Everyone got there fine using my directions from my blog. Oh, the sites had grass on them and that was nice (wild grass) and a surprise for Joe that Joe can mention. Then there was this thing about playing musical cars and disappearing keys . . .
-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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@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".
No confusion, just a question.
Erik, Jay was just reporting on our little observing trip Friday-Saturday
night to western Utah, not anything about SPOC. Sorry about the confusion.
As Jay said, I had mechanical issues. Actually, more than only mechanical. I like to set up and have my cables straightened out before the light leaves the sky. However, I didn't manage that this time. As a result, my work table looked like a spaghetti bowl with cables. My flashlight was running out of batteries, which made the table even dimmer. Jorge provided light from his flashlight, but it didn't quite work because he wasn't always pointing where I was looking. This went on for hours, as I kept trying to get my focuser to work. At long last I realized that certain components for the focuser and the guider were transposed. I got them straightened out but then I was unable to slew because the worm that drives the right ascension gear had become loose. This was most evident when I had loaded the 'scope with a fair amount of weight -- guide scope, guide scope camera, main camera, etc. Desperately, I tried unloading the scope, so that I could get it aligned and then load it carefully. But it wouldn't even slew correctly in a stripped-down condition. At that point I just gave up; I know what's wrong and I know how to tighten the worm, but the telescope has to be taken off the tripod and wedge, and that wouldn't work at night. I'll take it apart and fix it today or tomorrow.
HOWEVER: The night was beautiful and the company superlative. (Chris didn't even get mad when I threw my bag of warm clothes in the back of his vehicle, then climbed into the driver's seat -- thinking it was my Jeep. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, I thought I saw my keys on the seat and stucl them in my pocket. Shortly after that I realized I was in the wrong vehicle, got my clothes out, and apologized. A little later folks started searching for Chris' keys and I realized I had pocketed them. So I had to say what happened, and I felt like an extreme fool. But nobody ridiculed me.)
The highlights of the night were being with really good amateur astronomers, talking, and looking through Jay's 14" at the Eyes (which I had planned to photograph) and through Mat's 20" (I think) at the Owl. I also saw a wonderful galaxy field through Jay's, M104, a section of Markarian's Chain.
Cold and discouraged, I slunk back into my Jeep (which is also back and which I had parked a little earlier near the spot where Chris eventually parked, though I had moved it before he arrived). I read the new Stephen King novel 11/22/63 on my Kindle until after 3. When I finally fell asleep my cell phone dragged me to consciousness; I answered it as someone hung up. I called the number back and it was a recording for something like Intermountain Auction, apparently ready to take my bid. So of course getting back to sleep was an awful, uncomfortable chore.
-- That's my little report on observing on the night of Friday-Saturday.
From: "erikhansen@thebluezone.net" <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:00 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Saturday
This begs the question: Is the Grim fixed and operational? no word from SLAS BOD's on the subject.
I am heading out again tonight. Last night was just wonderful. M104
showed itself probably the best I have ever seen it in the 14. I was able to capture 18 objects from my list and sketch about 8-10 of them (I need to check). Tonight promises to be even better. We had Jeff, Mat, Josh, Joe and Chris, a visitor from Raliegh NC with us. Joe had a mechanical issue so didn't get any imaging in and he can talk to that. Temperatures were mild out on Forest Road 006, LM was around 7.0 to 7.2 out there and it was nice and dark. Lots of RVers around but no campfires and no disturbances, just nice and quiet.
I also got a great view of NGC 4038/39 the antenna galaxies and one tidal tail was seen coming off NGC 4038 (need to check my notes). Chris saw that with me. After Joe's equipment broke down he wanted to see the eyes so I star hopped to the pair of galaxies known as the Eyes and they stood right out next to their elliptical monster pair. Just a tremendous night. I'll post more details sometime in the week on my blog.
Tonight I want to go back to Vernal as we had no humidity and the temps were just wonderful. Let me know if you want to join me out there. Everyone got there fine using my directions from my blog. Oh, the sites had grass on them and that was nice (wild grass) and a surprise for Joe that Joe can mention. Then there was this thing about playing musical cars and disappearing keys . . .
-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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@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@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".
I didn't mis-construe Erik's post at all. I was half-considering going to SPOC tonight since my wife doesn't have to be at work until 10:00 AM, but with no firm knowledge of the Grim scope status, I'm staying in the back yard. Lyrids tonight! Well, early tomorrow, most likely... Many ancient photons to all tonight! ;-) On Sat, Apr 21, 2012 at 3:15 PM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
No confusion, just a question.
Erik, Jay was just reporting on our little observing trip Friday-Saturday
night to western Utah, not anything about SPOC. Sorry about the confusion.
Great reports Joe and Jay. A couple of things I can add were that there were many bright and long lasting meteors seen by all on Friday night. Also I found a tick crawling on my shirt before it got dark. With spring in full swing, it is a good reminder for all to remember the bug spray when going out in the sticks. Thanks to Jay for sharing the spray after everyone enjoyed seeing the tick on me and wanting to keep the little buggers off them. Also a minor correction to Joe's post, my scope is a 16", wish it was a 20". I did some galaxy hunting (go figure since it is spring), in UMa. Hit many new, to me objects, and got some incredible views of M51 and M101. Was very impressed at the view of M104 through Jay's 14" and the view of the Owl Nebula in Jeff's 10" was outstanding. Unfortunately, when I hit the Medusa nebula (Abell 21), the view was not as good as last month, but it was a bit lower so that was probably why. Had a great night and enjoyed the super company and conversation. As sometimes happens, the later it got, the humor got more and more Jr. Highish... I'm sure I contributed to it. :) Keep looking up! Mat This message and any attachments are solely for the use of intended recipients. The information contained herein may include trade secrets, protected health or personal information, privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you received this email in error, and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your system. Thank you for your cooperation
Well, the views through Mat's 14" were like those from a 20". It's a magnificent instrument. I especially liked seeing M51 in it -- bright enough to make out details in the dark lanes. Thanks, Joe ________________________________ From: "Hutchings, Mat (H USA)" <mat.hutchings@siemens.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:45 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Saturday Great reports Joe and Jay. A couple of things I can add were that there were many bright and long lasting meteors seen by all on Friday night. Also I found a tick crawling on my shirt before it got dark. With spring in full swing, it is a good reminder for all to remember the bug spray when going out in the sticks. Thanks to Jay for sharing the spray after everyone enjoyed seeing the tick on me and wanting to keep the little buggers off them. Also a minor correction to Joe's post, my scope is a 16", wish it was a 20". I did some galaxy hunting (go figure since it is spring), in UMa. Hit many new, to me objects, and got some incredible views of M51 and M101. Was very impressed at the view of M104 through Jay's 14" and the view of the Owl Nebula in Jeff's 10" was outstanding. Unfortunately, when I hit the Medusa nebula (Abell 21), the view was not as good as last month, but it was a bit lower so that was probably why. Had a great night and enjoyed the super company and conversation. As sometimes happens, the later it got, the humor got more and more Jr. Highish... I'm sure I contributed to it. :) Keep looking up! Mat This message and any attachments are solely for the use of intended recipients. The information contained herein may include trade secrets, protected health or personal information, privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you received this email in error, and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your system. Thank you for your cooperation _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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".
Joe, As I have said before, you need to write a book about your observing adventures. Clear Skies, Don -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:43 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Saturday Erik, Jay was just reporting on our little observing trip Friday-Saturday night to western Utah, not anything about SPOC. Sorry about the confusion. As Jay said, I had mechanical issues. Actually, more than only mechanical. I like to set up and have my cables straightened out before the light leaves the sky. However, I didn't manage that this time. As a result, my work table looked like a spaghetti bowl with cables. My flashlight was running out of batteries, which made the table even dimmer. Jorge provided light from his flashlight, but it didn't quite work because he wasn't always pointing where I was looking. This went on for hours, as I kept trying to get my focuser to work. At long last I realized that certain components for the focuser and the guider were transposed. I got them straightened out but then I was unable to slew because the worm that drives the right ascension gear had become loose. This was most evident when I had loaded the 'scope with a fair amount of weight -- guide scope, guide scope camera, main camera, etc. Desperately, I tried unloading the scope, so that I could get it aligned and then load it carefully. But it wouldn't even slew correctly in a stripped-down condition. At that point I just gave up; I know what's wrong and I know how to tighten the worm, but the telescope has to be taken off the tripod and wedge, and that wouldn't work at night. I'll take it apart and fix it today or tomorrow. HOWEVER: The night was beautiful and the company superlative. (Chris didn't even get mad when I threw my bag of warm clothes in the back of his vehicle, then climbed into the driver's seat -- thinking it was my Jeep. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, I thought I saw my keys on the seat and stucl them in my pocket. Shortly after that I realized I was in the wrong vehicle, got my clothes out, and apologized. A little later folks started searching for Chris' keys and I realized I had pocketed them. So I had to say what happened, and I felt like an extreme fool. But nobody ridiculed me.) The highlights of the night were being with really good amateur astronomers, talking, and looking through Jay's 14" at the Eyes (which I had planned to photograph) and through Mat's 20" (I think) at the Owl. I also saw a wonderful galaxy field through Jay's, M104, a section of Markarian's Chain. Cold and discouraged, I slunk back into my Jeep (which is also back and which I had parked a little earlier near the spot where Chris eventually parked, though I had moved it before he arrived). I read the new Stephen King novel 11/22/63 on my Kindle until after 3. When I finally fell asleep my cell phone dragged me to consciousness; I answered it as someone hung up. I called the number back and it was a recording for something like Intermountain Auction, apparently ready to take my bid. So of course getting back to sleep was an awful, uncomfortable chore. -- That's my little report on observing on the night of Friday-Saturday. From: "erikhansen@thebluezone.net" <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:00 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Observing Saturday
This begs the question: Is the Grim fixed and operational? no word from SLAS BOD's on the subject.
I am heading out again tonight. Last night was just wonderful. M104
showed itself probably the best I have ever seen it in the 14. I was able to capture 18 objects from my list and sketch about 8-10 of them (I need to check). Tonight promises to be even better. We had Jeff, Mat, Josh, Joe and Chris, a visitor from Raliegh NC with us. Joe had a mechanical issue so didn't get any imaging in and he can talk to that. Temperatures were mild out on Forest Road 006, LM was around 7.0 to 7.2 out there and it was nice and dark. Lots of RVers around but no campfires and no disturbances, just nice and quiet.
I also got a great view of NGC 4038/39 the antenna galaxies and one tidal tail was seen coming off NGC 4038 (need to check my notes). Chris saw that with me. After Joe's equipment broke down he wanted to see the eyes so I star hopped to the pair of galaxies known as the Eyes and they stood right out next to their elliptical monster pair. Just a tremendous night. I'll post more details sometime in the week on my blog.
Tonight I want to go back to Vernal as we had no humidity and the temps were just wonderful. Let me know if you want to join me out there. Everyone got there fine using my directions from my blog. Oh, the sites had grass on them and that was nice (wild grass) and a surprise for Joe that Joe can mention. Then there was this thing about playing musical cars and disappearing keys . . .
-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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@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@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".
On Apr 21, 2012, at 13:00, erikhansen@thebluezone.net wrote:
This begs the question: Is the Grim fixed and operational? no word from SLAS BOD's on the subject.
I'm on the board and as far as I can tell I've not seen any emails to the board about the Grim. Regardless, that decision is Rodger's and Bruce's, not the board's. The Grim is not available for general use until the glitch in the contrsofty stem is fixed but Bruce did allow its use last night for the star party (best view I've ever had of M51, BTW, with the larger half showing so much detail it almost looked like M101). I just spoke with Bruce and he's ok with it being used tonight. See y'all there, patrick Sent from my iPad
I flew over the Wolf Creek area this morning. There is zero chance that you can get in there. I am not even sure the main road is open. It looked snow covered to me, but I was probably ten miles from there. I thought the road was open all year, but on second thought I remember snowmobiling on it in the past.
participants (8)
-
Brent Watson -
Chuck Hards -
Don J. Colton -
erikhansen＠thebluezone.net -
Hutchings, Mat (H USA) -
Jay Eads -
Joe Bauman -
Patrick Wiggins