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

BB Drop: N Y Times and Escher painting
by Patrick Wiggins 19 Feb '04

19 Feb '04

New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bowling-Ball-Meteorites.html Escher painting (the project did not inspire this but it's a fun coincidence) http://kitanul57.tripod.com/slides/escher.htm As Kim Hyatt once said, this story has legs... Patrick :-)

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Small Dob
by Michael Carnes 19 Feb '04

19 Feb '04

Hi folks- As the Utah observing season approaches, I find myself considering a small Dob. I haven't observed with any of you yet, so you don't know my current gear. I have a NexStar 8" SCT with a few mods. I've also got a couple of smaller scopes and a couple of pairs of big binos. My eyepieces are pretty much in the midrange--Ultimas and Axioms mainly. But I've never had a Dob. The time is approaching when I'm through paying for my kid's college, but for the next couple of years I'm on a budget. When that's all done, I'm going to buy myself a nice 'scope. But I'm not sure what I'm going to want at the time. I certainly like owning a tracking SCT, especially for high-power views. But I also like the bright, widefield views I've had with other people's Dobs. So it seems to me that a cheap Dob would be a good thing to have for a couple of years, just to help me make up my mind. Believe me, I'm aware of all the arguments against and in favor of various types of scopes, so we can stay out of the philosophical area. I'm pretty much a visual guy. I spend too much time in front of the computer as it is, so I'm unlikely to take up astrophotography in any serious way. I'm just wondering what experience people in the club have had with some of the bargain 10" Dobs. I've been considering both the Orion 10" (made by Synta in China) and the 10" from Hardin Optical (Guan Sheng from Taiwan). I've also thought about the inexpensive Dobs from Discovery, although they're a bit pricier. I'm just not going to build one myself. Don't mind sticking in a piece of Teflon here and there, but I"m strictly a tweaker. So if anyone can comment on these or similar little cheapies, I'd be much obliged. Sure enjoyed our one day of Spring yesterday. Michael Michael Carnes 8673 Scottish Drive Sandy, UT 84093 http://home.earthlink.net/~moogiebird/

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Drop meeting
by Patrick Wiggins 19 Feb '04

19 Feb '04

This will also be in News but for those who do not receive News: Drop Organizing Meeting I've heard from a number of people with suggestions for upcoming ball drops. Bruce Grim, for example has purchased several solid metal spheres of various diameters. Perhaps its time for an organizational meeting? If you are interested in participating in a meeting to plan the next drop please email me at paw(a)trilobyte.net. Patrick p.s. I just heard from a guy back east who says the drop made the news on WLS radio in Chicago.

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Caption Contest
by Michael Carnes 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

"I'd rather star hop, so I took off the training wheels. " "I had the binocular version, but I fell off" Michael Carnes

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] St. George Star Party Whether
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

I did a Virgo Marathon last June. It was fun and I did it at my own pace. I may do an Arp Marathon next month. This hobby is about having fun and being creative. I like to do something a little different every spring. It keeps the hobby fresh and less boring. Debbie

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Contest Photo
by Michael Carnes 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

"And the best thing of all is, I can ride home on it!"

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Contest Photo URL
by Chuck Hards 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

Here is the contest photo address for those who have not bookmarked the Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com/Chuck/Old_Scope __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools

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Caption Contest
by Chuck Hards 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

That photo is begging for a funny, astronomically-oriented caption, so I propose a contest: Submit your captions to the list from now until the end of the month (Feb.). At that time, a winner and runner-ups will be chosen by me. The contest may be ended sooner at the discretion of the Webmaster. There will be prizes, as yet undetermined, worth up to "dollars". Maybe we can get Tom to reprint the photo and winning captions in the NOVA. Use the subject line "Caption Contest" Be careful, try to not insult anyone except me, I'm fair game and can take it in the spirit it's intended. Thanks, everyone, this could be fun. Maybe we can do it periodically. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools

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Early ATMing
by Chuck Hards 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

I just posted a photo on page 2 of my Utah-Astro Gallery, showing the fruits of an enterprising ATM in WW1. Just don't let go of that sucker! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools

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messier marathons
by Josephine Grahn 18 Feb '04

18 Feb '04

Sorry, I honestly meant curmudgeon as an affectionate kidding comment. Both Brent and Kim have repeatedly demonstrated their good humor and helpfulness to everyone in this group many times. If I thought that anyone would have taken me seriously, I would not have said it. I do apologize, and, for the record, I really don't think that either of them qualify for the dictionary term of the meaning. Quite the contrary, they both could probably stand as examples of the antithesis of the word. I just wanted to share a different view of the event. Now, about that go-to scope.... Can it go-to faster than Dave Bernsen :)? It would be fun to have a go-to scope at a marathon, just to help some of us, who occasionally get lost in space, double check our positions. Especially in Leo, where I can find things in the binos, but regularly have to backtrack three or four times in the big scope. Jo At 12:04 PM 2/18/2004 -0800, you wrote: >I suppose that by voicing my opinion I'm a >curmudgeon;) - actually a pretty nasty name, but >whatever. Even getting older allows for preference, >and expression of same. Don't you agree? > >Please realize that I mean no offense to anyone. >Chuck - there are many who enjoy MM. Just not what >floats my boat. > >--- Josephine Grahn <bsi(a)xmission.com> wrote: >> Chuck, >> Ignore the curmudgeons :)!

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