That was the proposed plan until a few minutes ago (can you tell things are in flux?). I just spoke with Sky Guru Bruce Grim who suggests still heading west but getting off I-80 at the Stansbury Island exit and heading north a bit. Still dark skies north of there but not as far a drive. Maybe that can be decided when (if) we meet at Flying J. patrick On 03 Aug 2010, at 16:32, Robert Taylor wrote:

I think the loose plan at the momment is to meet at the Flying J right off the I-80 Tooele exit at 10PM, car pool or caravan from there. Patrick can you confirm for everyone?

Bob

All righty then. I have permission from the two teen age girls and the Chief Financial Officer to leave in time to be at Flying J at 10:00. We will see all of you then and head out from there. Steve

From: Rob.Taylor@digis.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:46:37 -0600 Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Lakeside

I'm not sure where that site is but I trust Bruce. So 10pm and carpool caravan to the site? I hope some one knows where it is, I don't.

Bob

-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 4:39 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Lakeside

That was the proposed plan until a few minutes ago (can you tell things are in flux?).

I just spoke with Sky Guru Bruce Grim who suggests still heading west but getting off I-80 at the Stansbury Island exit and heading north a bit. Still dark skies north of there but not as far a drive.

Maybe that can be decided when (if) we meet at Flying J.

patrick

On 03 Aug 2010, at 16:32, Robert Taylor wrote:

...

I think the loose plan at the momment is to meet at the Flying J right off the I-80 Tooele exit at 10PM, car pool or caravan from there. Patrick can you confirm for everyone?

Bob

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Unlike star party sites, there is no specific, pre-planned location for tonight's get together. We're just going to get off at exit 84 and head north "a bit" until we find a suitable site. That's why we're meeting at Flying J so we can all convoy out together. I supposed if we'd had more notice we could have scouted a site a few days ahead of time but the Sun just didn't want to cooperate that way. :) patrick On 03 Aug 2010, at 16:56, Robert Taylor wrote:

I will see you there as well.

Now is some one going to be there that knows where this place is?

Bob

No problem we'll find a nice flat spot near the side of the road, in case some one shows up late, we'll be visible. See everyone later. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 5:32 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] I-80 exit 84 (was: Lakeside) Unlike star party sites, there is no specific, pre-planned location for tonight's get together. We're just going to get off at exit 84 and head north "a bit" until we find a suitable site. That's why we're meeting at Flying J so we can all convoy out together. I supposed if we'd had more notice we could have scouted a site a few days ahead of time but the Sun just didn't want to cooperate that way. :) patrick On 03 Aug 2010, at 16:56, Robert Taylor wrote:

I will see you there as well.

Now is some one going to be there that knows where this place is?

Bob

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I just got back from outfitting my 16 year old for a backpacking trip. It took longer than I thought so I don't think I can make it. Sad. On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 7:28 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:

I just received a notice saying auroras are now being seen in Europe.

Let's hope they keep going (and get better) by the time it gets dark here.

patrick

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-- Jay Eads

I'm wondering if anyone has seen auroras (aurorae?) from Utah yet. It's mostly cloudy over Sanpete, but if there are positive sightings I'm willing to drive to find clear skies. Kim

When I took a walk half an hour ago, I didn't see any evidence of the aurora, but that was from SLC. Still, it was a nice, mostly clear night. The Google Earth map that David pointed to seems to show it isn't visible from Utah except maybe the northernmost part. -- Best wishes, Joe --- On Tue, 8/3/10, Jim Stitley <sitf2000@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Jim Stitley <sitf2000@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 10:21 PM check out goggle earth for real time pics --- On Tue, 8/3/10, Kim <kimharch@cut.net> wrote: From: Kim <kimharch@cut.net> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 10:15 PM I'm wondering if anyone has seen auroras (aurorae?) from Utah yet. It's mostly cloudy over Sanpete, but if there are positive sightings I'm willing to drive to find clear skies. Kim _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

Checking the web when I got home for images of the auroral oval (http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap) I found why we saw no aurora: It's waaaaay to the north of us. But like Steve said it was still a fun outing. Weather was mild, skies had lots of stuff to look at, the ladies from Park City were a hoot and that rising Moon and it's reflection in the water were beautiful. I just hope some of the pictures get posted to the web soon (hint, hint!). In other sky news, I returned home to find a friend had posted a video of one of my other "sky adventures" to the web: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_y48HObrTM Anyone care to join me next time? :) Cheers! patrick On 04 Aug 2010, at 02:33, Steve FISHER wrote:

Kim:

Looks like I'm one of the first to make it back from Exit 84. We did not see any trace of aroura. We ended up with about fifteen or twenty people just off the freeway far enough not to be bothered by freeway lights. Many of the people were on their first outing with SLAS or any one from Utah Astronomy. Some got Patrick's number from a schedule and asked him what was up tonight. They drove down from Park City and went to the desert with us. Great night, Southern skies cleared and we did a lot of binocular observing. When the moon showed up it was a beautiful and surprising sight. It looked like a shark fin as it rose above the mountain. Still no aurora though. Steve

Chuck, what an amazing instrument! -- Joe --- On Wed, 8/4/10, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote: From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 9:52 AM I checked the auroral oval too, before I went out last night, and wasn't expecting anything based on how far north it was. In my basement, I have a tiny first-surface mirror glued to a small rare-earth magnet, suspended from my ceiling on a long piece of fine fishing line.  I shine a small, cheap red laser pointer on it, from a clamp about ten feet away, and note the reflected beam on a graduated target on the wall about 20 feet away from the magnet. When the earth's magnetic field begins to shift, from solar CME's, the magnet responds and gently twists on the line.  By observing the amplitude of the laser dot's movements, I can deduce how strong the solar flux hitting us is at that moment.  Last night, I detected no movement, further indicating that there would probably not be a show. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

Hi Chuck, You might be referring to a Gleanings for ATM's that appeared in the October 1989 S&T entitled "A jam-jar magnetometer as 'Aurora Detector'", pages 426-427. I checked the S&T web site but could not find a way to navigate to it from there (I'm looking at the hard copy I have in my library). If anyone interested in seeing the hard copy I could bring it to next week's SLAS board meeting. I did find this that might help: http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/detectors FWIW, I just checked the NOAA website and saw they are showing that the very southern edge of the oval is currently sitting over northern Utah (though only barely). I don't plan any travels tonight but may spend some time on my roof "just in case". Provided it stops raining... patrick On 04 Aug 2010, at 14:32, Chuck Hards wrote:

Thanks, Joe, it's easy to make one, and I can't take credit for the idea. I think it came from Scientific American though I can't remember with certainty.

All you need is a good magnet, a small first-surface mirror, some fishing line, and a small, cheap laser pointer. I use a two-dollar red one from Walmart.

You also need to install it in a place with NO air currents at all. Mine was suspended at first in a glass milk bottle. Then I stuck it in the basement where it worked OK until I installed central air in the house this spring. Now I have to have the air conditioner off for an hour or two for it to settle down.

I'm going to make a plexiglass isolation chamber for it (read: "box"), so I can use it with the AC running.

Also if you can't find monofilament fine enough, use the thinnest, finest cotton or silk thread you can find.

Patrick, Oustanding. Tell you what, I've lost 35 lbs now with about 90 more to go. When I get to my goal in 12 to 15 months I'll jump as a reward to myself. Always wanted to do it and I'll have it filmed. Now, how did you get younger, taller, more hair and going to James Madison Univ. in VA? On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 10:41 AM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:

Just watched the video. OK, it's official, Patrick's crazy!

--- On Wed, 8/4/10, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:

From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 2:44 AM

Checking the web when I got home for images of the auroral oval ( http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap) I found why we saw no aurora: It's waaaaay to the north of us.

But like Steve said it was still a fun outing. Weather was mild, skies had lots of stuff to look at, the ladies from Park City were a hoot and that rising Moon and it's reflection in the water were beautiful. I just hope some of the pictures get posted to the web soon (hint, hint!).

In other sky news, I returned home to find a friend had posted a video of one of my other "sky adventures" to the web:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_y48HObrTM

Anyone care to join me next time? :)

Cheers!

patrick

On 04 Aug 2010, at 02:33, Steve FISHER wrote:

...

Kim:

Looks like I'm one of the first to make it back from Exit 84. We did not see any trace of aroura. We ended up with about fifteen or twenty people just off the freeway far enough not to be bothered by freeway lights. Many of the people were on their first outing with SLAS or any one from Utah Astronomy. Some got Patrick's number from a schedule and asked him what was up tonight. They drove down from Park City and went to the desert with us. Great night, Southern skies cleared and we did a lot of binocular observing. When the moon showed up it was a beautiful and surprising sight. It looked like a shark fin as it rose above the mountain. Still no aurora though. Steve

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-- Jay Eads

I couldn't figure out which one was Patrick. --- On Wed, 8/4/10, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 10:41 AM Just watched the video. OK, it's official, Patrick's crazy! --- On Wed, 8/4/10, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 2:44 AM Checking the web when I got home for images of the auroral oval (http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap) I found why we saw no aurora:  It's waaaaay to the north of us. But like Steve said it was still a fun outing.  Weather was mild, skies had lots of stuff to look at, the ladies from Park City were a hoot and that rising Moon and it's reflection in the water were beautiful.  I just hope some of the pictures get posted to the web soon (hint, hint!). In other sky news, I returned home to find a friend had posted a video of one of my other "sky adventures" to the web: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_y48HObrTM Anyone care to join me next time?  :) Cheers! patrick On 04 Aug 2010, at 02:33, Steve FISHER wrote:

Kim:

Looks like I'm one of the first to make it back from Exit 84. We did not see any trace of aroura. We ended up with about fifteen or twenty people just off the freeway far enough not to be bothered by freeway lights. Many of the people were on their first outing with SLAS or any one from Utah Astronomy. Some got Patrick's number from a schedule and asked him what was up tonight. They drove down from Park City and went to the desert with us. Great night, Southern skies cleared and we did a lot of binocular observing. When the moon showed up it was a beautiful and surprising sight. It looked like a shark fin as it rose above the mountain. Still no aurora though. Steve

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Thanks, Steve, but I was blissfully asleep by the time you wrote. I did check our sky one last time around 12:30. I could only see some stars through the clouds, so I treated myself to retirement at a relatively early hour for me. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Steve FISHER Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 2:33 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora Kim: Looks like I'm one of the first to make it back from Exit 84. We did not see any trace of aroura. We ended up with about fifteen or twenty people just off the freeway far enough not to be bothered by freeway lights. Many of the people were on their first outing with SLAS or any one from Utah Astronomy. Some got Patrick's number from a schedule and asked him what was up tonight. They drove down from Park City and went to the desert with us. Great night, Southern skies cleared and we did a lot of binocular observing. When the moon showed up it was a beautiful and surprising sight. It looked like a shark fin as it rose above the mountain. Still no aurora though. Steve

From: kimharch@cut.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:15:42 -0600 Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Aurora

I'm wondering if anyone has seen auroras (aurorae?) from Utah yet. It's mostly cloudy over Sanpete, but if there are positive sightings I'm willing to drive to find clear skies.

Kim

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I thought it best to change the subject of this thread since it looks like we will not be going to Lakeside. Also, if you get lost feel free to ring me on 435.882.1209 (hopefully there's cell service out there). patrick On 03 Aug 2010, at 17:00, Patrick Wiggins wrote:

It's starting to look like plans are firming up.

We will meet at the Flying J just off of I-80 exit #99 at 10:00 tonight and then proceed west on I-80 to the Grantsville exit #84 and then north a short piece to get away from the freeway lights and the light of the nearby salt plant.

And there we'll park ourselves and await the greatest auroral display of our lives. (Well, we can hope).

Don't for get cameras and tripods.

And it might not hurt to charge the batteries in the cameras before leaving home.

patrick

On 03 Aug 2010, at 16:52, Steve FISHER wrote:

...

All righty then. I have permission from the two teen age girls and the Chief Financial Officer to leave in time to be at Flying J at 10:00. We will see all of you then and head out from there. Steve

IF someone can't meet at Flying J here are two links: http://slas.us/images/MAPS/lakeside.jpg That is to a printable map to Lakeside. Here's pictures from my SLAS gallery that show visually how to get there: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3020 Hope that helps. On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 4:32 PM, Robert Taylor <Rob.Taylor@digis.net> wrote:

I think the loose plan at the momment is to meet at the Flying J right off the I-80 Tooele exit at 10PM, car pool or caravan from there. Patrick can you confirm for everyone?

Bob

-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Ray Druian Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 4:26 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Lakeside

The digest I just read had a whole bunch of references to "Lakeside," with one writer asking where it is. I have the same question. Any chance someone can answer before this evening starts?

Thanx,

B.Ray

Kiss a malamute today!

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-- Jay Eads