March 2004 - UVAA - mailman.xmission.com

Weekend observing report from Gravel Pit & Rush Valley
by Richard Tenney 19 May '04

19 May '04

Friday night proved to be pretty good from the Gravel Pit. Three scopes showed up; my 16, Daniel "Galaxy Hunter" Turner's 17.5" and Lou Griffin's 20-inch, joined later by a group of enthusiastic young adults. The seeing was poor/fair until the clouds fully departed about 10:30, and seeing was decent as we lingered until about 1:30. I managed to log about 25 H-400 objects there, mostly open clusters and galaxies in Orion, Auriga, Cam. and Gemini, and one nice PNe, NGC 1501. The weather was downright balmy. Over 40 degrees at least until midnight, and I never even donned the gloves. The most difficult object of the night was NGC 2185, a diffuse nebula in Orion. Very challenging object. Anyone on the list have any luck with this one? I barely saw the nebulosity, but the seeing was poor and it was low in the sky. Any personal observing notes on this as to what to expect with good seeing would be appreciated. Saturday at the "pit 'n pole" in Rush Valley the sky was much clearer. Unfortunately I arrived late and a bit frustrated from getting lost (sorry to bark at you Jim!), joining a large group (including my 2 compainions from the night before) that was quickly dissipating about 10-ish. While it has a better South-Western horizon than the gravel pit (in spite of some light pollution from the chem depot), overall isn't a better site, and was actually much colder than the gravel pit ironically. Again I managed to bag approx another 25 objects, spending most of the night hunting galaxies in Leo and UMa; some nice galaxy cluster surprises, e.g., NGC 3681,3684, 3686, and 3691 in the same eyepiece field (@115x in the 22 Nagler), and 3185, 3190, and 3193 in another view, etc. Lots of fun multiple galaxy pairs, trios, and quads, including groups near NGC 3395 and NGC 3607. Saw the beautiful dual transit on Jupiter (with superb color banding in the 17.5") about 11:20, and was treated to an easy find of Omega Centauri (my first view ever) skimming along just above the horizon approx. 2 a.m. (just two of us left by then). I'd sure love to see that baby overhead before I die in a big dob under clear dark skies... Tired (yet happy) after two nights of getting to bed after 3am and not being able to sleep in past 8. Yawn. (Sorry, I suspect this post is a yawner too), -Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html

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astronomy magazine and books
by J Waterreus 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

I'm thinking about subscribing to an astronomy magazine. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good one for a beginner. It would be used by the whole family, including our teenagers. I want to start to become more familiar with the basics of astronomy and using telescopes. Also, suggestions for books to read would be great too. When I read your posts, I sometimes don't understand what you're talking about! Thanks! Dottie

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Re: [UVAA] The Moon Part II
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

Jim, What's the name of that big crater near the terminator with all the little craterlets? I only know the names of a few craters. Debbie

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Re: [UVAA] The Moon Part II
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

Rich, I need to buy your moon map. I believe the one you bought is for a refractor. The one that shows a mirrored image of the moon. Debbie

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RE: [UVAA] The Moon Part II
by Lambert, Aaron 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

I also bought the Orion variable polarizer. It is wonderful. I highly recommend it! The regular moon filters (I have one of those too) only cut out a set amount of light so sometimes it is too much and sometimes not enough. The variable polarizer allows you to set exactly how much light to cut out (between 1% and 40%). Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Gibson [mailto:jimgibson00@yahoo.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 11:30 AM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association > Subject: RE: [UVAA] The Moon Part II > > > > Lou > > I may not be the best one to answer that question, but this > is what I noticed with the Variable Polarizer, you can adjust > the light level. I put the filter on an eyepiece not knowing > how it worked I pointed the eyepiece at my neighbors outdoor > light and began turning the filter ring. I noticed that my > neighbors light went from bright to dark. I adjusted it about > 1/2 way and then put the eyepiece back in the scope and > looked at the moon. It was more comfortable for me looking at > the moon that way. > > The set of filters I got from Orion are here: > > > > http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemI > D=4764&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=6&iSubCat=22&iProductID=4764 > > > > I got them when they were on sale for like $60.00. > > > > Jim > > > Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA <Louis.Griffin(a)HILL.af.mil> wrote: > "I think the filters did for me is that it kept my eye from being > overwhelmed by the bright light of the moon." > > > > Jim, after your post yesterday I got both of my scopes out > and had a look, I > am intrigued, but I definately need some filtration > especially with the dob, > but even the Mak Newt was painfully bright but the contrast > at the edge of > the darkness was phenomenal. What filter would work the best > at just keeping > the light down - any idea how dark it needs to be?

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RE: [UVAA] The Moon Part II
by Lambert, Aaron 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

I finished the Lunar Club list a few months ago. For a few of the objects, I had to search the web to find out where they were because none of the maps I had listed them. Later on, I bought one of the Sky & Tel Moon maps (picked it up at the Planetarium). I think it has everything. Aaron Lambert > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 1:56 PM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association > Subject: RE: [UVAA] The Moon Part II > > > Jim, > > I dub thee the "local lunar observing guru". I'd like > to get with you some moonlit night (yikes, better be > careful how I word this!) and have you show me the > ropes and point out the good stuff! I've attempted to > do some of the AL Lunar certificate objects but I > don't think the maps I have are the best... > > Rich

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RE: [UVAA] The Moon Part II
by Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

"I think the filters did for me is that it kept my eye from being overwhelmed by the bright light of the moon." Jim, after your post yesterday I got both of my scopes out and had a look, I am intrigued, but I definately need some filtration especially with the dob, but even the Mak Newt was painfully bright but the contrast at the edge of the darkness was phenomenal. What filter would work the best at just keeping the light down - any idea how dark it needs to be?

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Saturn image through an RV-6
by Richard Tenney 31 Mar '04

31 Mar '04

Got the following from a fellow on the Criterion Dynascope list today. Amazing webcam image obtained from this humble classic 6-inch newtonian (I'm still the original owner of a vintage 1972 RV-6, still my preferred grab-n-go scope)... --------------------------------------------------- This was captured with a Philips ToUcam Pro webcam through a Tele Vue 2x barlow with an extension tube: http://www.unm.edu/~abqtom/images/Planets/Saturn/2004-03-22-TEW-Sat.jpg __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html

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The Moon Part II
by Jim Gibson 30 Mar '04

30 Mar '04

I loved what I saw on the moon last night so I couldnt wait to try it again tonight. At the top or North Northwest the terminator cuts across the Southern point of sinus Iridium and immediately there are a pair of small craters; Helicon and Verrier. The terminator then passes across Mare Imbrium into Oceanus Procellarum near Mare Insularum where Copernicus, Reinhold, and Lansberg stand out quite noticeably. Above Copernicus is Eratosthenes at the Southern end of the Apennine Mountains. As the terminator passes down into Mare Nubium close by is Bullialdus, Bullialdus A, Bullialdus B, and Konig forming a nice little coma shape that I had not noticed before. The central peaks in the floors of Eratosthenes, Copernicus, Bullialdus, and Tycho are easy to see now where as during a full moon sometimes they are washed out. About a year ago I bought some filters form Orion when they were on sale. I started with the SkyGlow filter and went around the tray; SkyGlow, 80A med Blue, Variable Polarizer, Number 25 Red, Number 15 Deep Yellow, and Number 58 Green. With each one I looked at the above mention objects plus I also looked way out near the limb at Picard in Mare Crisium, the rays ejected from Messier A in Fecunditatis and the rays about Proclus. I wish I could say something intelligent about what I saw and how the filters work, but first of all it is hard for me to say anything really intelligent and second, the only thing I think the filters did for me is that it kept my eye from being overwhelmed by the bright light of the moon. Each one enhanced the contrast somewhat, but mostly it was just fun seeing the moon in different colored light. SkyGlow was neat; it was kind of a eerie green color. It is still there. Go take a look. JG --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.

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Re: [UVAA] Re: question
by Wade Starks 30 Mar '04

30 Mar '04

Dottie, click on the "DS.url" attachment to go to a mead product manual which documents your scope and a variety of others. Look only at the sections dealing with the DS 60 telescope. The Meade DS series scopes are marketed under a variety of names, including "Saturn". They are sold through variety and warehouse stores, such as Walmart, Sams, Costco, KMart, Target, etc.. In order to see this manual, you need to have installed on your machine, "Adobe Acrobat Reader", which can be downloaded for free on the internet. If you don't have it, click on the "Adobe Reader Download url" attachment, download it and then install it. Once you bring up the document in Adobe, you can print it out for your reference. Wade C Starks >>> jwaterr(a)comcast.net 3/29/2004 20:47:34 >>> Thanks for everyone's help trying to identify what we say last night! Several of you responded with offers to help me learn how to use our telescope. Thanks so much! I definitely plan to take you up on the offer. We've been frustrated by this telescope for 5 years now! Here's what we've got: Saturn by Meade Model 60EQ-D D=60 mm F=900 mm Coated optics These are the extra lenses we have: 3X Barlow H12.5 mm H25 mm F = 4 mm SR 4 mm Hope all that means something to somebody! I don't know what the different lenses are used for. The instructions that came with the telescope were lost in our last move. Dottie > > _______________________________________________ UVAA mailing list UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa

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