October 2004 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Weekend Weather
by Jim Gibson 07 Oct '04

07 Oct '04

The person that I usually get weather information from is out sick today, but roughly speaking, Friday night looks better than Saturday night. I could see a circular low weather system off of British Columbia that is flinging off clouds impulses ahead of it. I am told that we should begin to see some of these clouds sometime Saturday night. Southern Utah could be OK. I Dont know for sure without my expert. JG --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone.

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Debbie 04 Oct '04

04 Oct '04

I think there is a greater probability of a dobsonian telescope catching fire than starting a forest fire, which would really hurt the wallet. My telescope manuel says that the UTA can catch fire if pointed at the sun. I always use caution when collimating the scope in the daytime. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Wayne Reese <waynereese(a)qwest.net> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 9/30/2004 2:20:55 PM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > I bought an F-4 canopy from Smith and Edwards last year to build a > flight simulator for my Grandkids. They (Smith and Edwards) said that > they would have had a larger selection, but the Sun shinning though one > canopy started a fire in their yard. > I know this isn't telescope related, it does demonstrate a sun caused > accidental fire. > > Wayne > > Ps as long as I'm using band space, Dale Hooper, it looks like I moving > to 359 N 1000 E, Hyde Park, anywhere near you? > > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net@mailman.xmission.com > ] On Behalf Of Brent Watson > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 10:36 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: > Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > Starting a fire is just as unlikely off axis as well. > The light cone doesn't change much off axis, and most > folks don't park their scopes within a focal length of > tinder. If they did they wouldn't have much of the > sky visible. You must also have a fast enog=ugh scope > to start the fire. The focal ratio required to do > this is much smaller than most scopes. You really > have to try to do any damage. The reticle in a Telrad > doesn't catch fire, it just melts - a much lower > temperature is required to melt mylar than to burn > something up. > > There is a tale that one of the ancients started the > sails of his oponents ships on fire by stationing his > troups around the bay with individual mirrors, and > then having them focus their mirrors on the sails. It > has been shown that this too is very improbable. > > Brent > --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Lisa, read my last post. Yes, you CAN start a fire > > with a telescope mirror, it's just unlikely on-axis > > unless tinder is very near the focal plane. > > > > Eyepieces left on a chart table can do the trick, > > too, > > and tell all those folks with melted Telrad reticles > > that the sun isn't a problem. > > > > I would like to see John's calculations, > > assumptions. > > > > I have several large mirrors and am happy to > > demonstrate the off-axis danger on a sunny day. > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Ya, John did the physics of it for me last night > > and > > > figured out exactly > > > what diameter mirror at what focal length you > > would > > > need to start a > > > fire. Let me tell you, it aint going to happen! > > > Sometimes its difficult > > > living with an over analyzer. I just meant it > > > figuratively. > > > > > > Lisa Zeigler > > > www.johnstelescopes.com > > > www.mirrorkits.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Brent Watson [mailto:brentjwatson@yahoo.com] > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 7:52 AM > > > To: Utah Astronomy > > > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star > > > partyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > The forest is no more at risk from a alrge scope > > > than > > > from a small scope. It is pretty hard to get > > enough > > > energy out of a scope and across a distance large > > > enough to do any damage. The image, and the > > energy > > > in > > > the image, spread out very quickly and become a > > > non-problem. > > > > > > Brent > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler > > <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > We have a 1/4" plywood shield over our mirror on > > > the > > > > truss tube Dob. It > > > > sits about an inch over the mirror on three > > screws > > > > from the mirror cell. > > > > This protects it from wind, rain, dust, and the > > > > forest from harm. > > > > > > > > Lisa Zeigler > > > > www.johnstelescopes.com > > > > www.mirrorkits.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Debbie [mailto:astrodeb@earthlink.net] > > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 1:17 PM > > > > To: Utah Astronomy; Utah Astronomy > > > > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party > > > > etiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > > > > That is another reason I don't like to leave my > > > > scope up during the > > > > daytime, besides > > > > animals getting to it. A big dobsonian could > > cause > > > a > > > > forest fire or > > > > blind someone. > > > > > > > > Debbie > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Original Message] > > > > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > > > > > To: Utah Astronomy > > > > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > > > > Date: 9/28/2004 11:10:18 AM > > > > > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party > > > etiquette > > > > forcrumbcrunchersandparents > > > > > > > > > > I seem to remember many years back a star > > party > > > up > > > > by Kamas where > > > > > Brent's monster scope ended up catching a > > > frisbee > > > > or two. But then I > > > > > seem to also remember that later in the day > > the > > > > scope became a chimney > > > > > > > > > when sunlight > > > > found > > > > > its way to the primary mirror and smoke was > > seen > > > > emanating from the > > > > tube... > > > > > > > > > > Patrick > > > > > > > > > > Chuck Hards wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Don't be so sure; I've seen many telescopes > > > > (present company > > > > > > excepted, of course) that may as well have > > > been > > > > trash-cans... > > > > > > > > > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler > > > > <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > > > > > > Solid tube Newtonian telescopes, no matter > > > how > > > > > > > much they look like > > > > > > > > trash cans or basket ball hoops are not > > > for > > > > > > > throwing things into.. > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > > > Visit the Photo Gallery: > > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > > > > > > > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > > Visit the Photo Gallery: > > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > > > > > > > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > > Visit the Photo Gallery: > > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! > > > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > > > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > Visit the Photo Gallery: > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > > === message truncated === > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

4 4

FW: Genesis Mission Status Report
by Dale Hooper 04 Oct '04

04 Oct '04

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ DC Agle (818) 393-9011 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Gretchen Cook-Anderson (202) 358-0836 NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Bill Jeffs (281) 483-5035 Johnson Space Center, Houston News Release: 2004-245 September 30, 2004 Genesis Mission Status Report The Genesis team is preparing to ship its samples of the Sun from the mission's temporary cleanroom at the U.S. Army Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah, to NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. "We have essentially completed the recovery and documentation process and now are in the business of preparing everything for transport," said Eileen Stansbery, Johnson Space Center assistant director of astromaterials research and exploration science. "We still have a way to go before we can quantify our recovery of the solar sample. I can tell you we have come a long way from September 8, and things are looking very, very good." A major milestone in the process was the recovery of the Genesis mission's four separate segments of the concentrator target. Designed to measure the isotopic ratios of oxygen and nitrogen, the segments contain within their structure the samples that are the mission's most important science goal. "Retrieving the concentrator target was our number one priority," Stansbery said. "When I first saw three of the four target segments were intact, and the fourth was mostly intact, my heart leapt. Inside those segments are three years of the solar samples, which to the scientific community, means eons worth of history of the birth of our solar system. I saw those, and I knew we had just overcome a major hurdle." Other milestones in the recovery process included the discovery that the gold foil collector was undamaged and in excellent condition. The gold foil, which is expected to contain almost a million billion atoms of solar wind, was considered the number two priority for science recovery. The polished aluminum collector was misshapen by the impact. However, it is intact and expected to also yield secrets about the Sun. Another occurred when the cleanroom team disassembled the collector arrays. They revealed, among large amounts of useable array material, some almost whole sapphire and coated sapphire collectors and a metallic glass collector. Packing solar samples for transport is a little different than packing a house-worth of belongings for a cross-country move. After the meticulous process of inspection and documentation, each segment of collector gets its own ID number, photograph and carrying case. The samples and shipping containers fill the space of about two full size refrigerators. The Genesis material will probably move to the Johnson Space Center within the next week. "If you had told me September 8 that we would be ready to move Genesis samples to Houston within the month I would have replied, 'no way,'" said Genesis Project Manager Don Sweetnam of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "But here we are, with an opportunity to fulfill our major science objectives. It is a great day for Genesis, and I expect many more to come." For more information about the Genesis mission on the Internet, visit http://www.nasa.gov/genesis . For background information about Genesis on the Internet, visit http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/ .

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Debbie 01 Oct '04

01 Oct '04

Jo, Run for Salt Lake County Mayor. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: <diveboss(a)xmission.com> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 9/30/2004 10:43:03 PM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Starpartyetiquetteforcrumbcrunchersandparents > > If you would like, I will run your campaign... ;) > > > > Quoting Josephine Grahn <bsi(a)xmission.com>: > > > Wow, I guess I have "Incredible Deniability" now! :) Must be time to go > > into politics.... > > > > At 07:20 PM 9/30/2004 -0700, Chuck wrote: > > Clipped > > >The folks who have posted "smoldering telescope" > > >stories today must be mistaken. It's so unlikely that > > >statistically, it didn't happen. And if it did, they > > >should deny it. ;) > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party etiquette forcrumbcrunchersandparents
by Debbie 30 Sep '04

30 Sep '04

That is another reason I don't like to leave my scope up during the daytime, besides animals getting to it. A big dobsonian could cause a forest fire or blind someone. Debbie > [Original Message] > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: 9/28/2004 11:10:18 AM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Star party etiquette forcrumbcrunchersandparents > > I seem to remember many years back a star party up by Kamas where Brent's > monster scope ended up catching a frisbee or two. But then I seem to also > remember that later in the day the scope became a chimney when sunlight found > its way to the primary mirror and smoke was seen emanating from the tube... > > Patrick > > Chuck Hards wrote: > > > > Don't be so sure; I've seen many telescopes (present > > company excepted, of course) that may as well have > > been trash-cans... > > > > --- John and Lisa Zeigler <john(a)johnstelescopes.com> > > > > Solid tube Newtonian telescopes, no matter how > > > much they look like > > > > trash cans or basket ball hoops are not for > > > throwing things into.. > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

7 18

Curious Saturn image
by Chuck Hards 30 Sep '04

30 Sep '04

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/casJPGFullS04/N00019699.jpg This image was obtained Monday, Sept. 27th. Note the trailed stars behind the tenuous "F" ring, as the camera tracked the rings during the exposure. Does that mean that all the untrailed points are discreet ring particles? They vastly outnumber the trailed stars, and obviously cannot be stars themselves...or do I have it reversed? Are the brighter, trailed images the ring particles, and the dimmer ones stars? I don't think so; I think we are looking at individual ring particles, the first time in history other than "shepherd moons". Can a lister more familiar with the details of the probe help solve the mystery? _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now. http://messenger.yahoo.com

10 15