January 2005 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Washington county flooding
by astrodeb＠charter.net 10 Jan '05

10 Jan '05

We are okay. We are near the Santa Clara but higher up in the condos near Dixie drive. We had to take Dixie Drive north to Sunset to get into town to go to lunch. Most of the bridges were washed out. It took us 1 hour because of the traffic. We drove back home and I've been processing my Orion image to forget about the weather. I still need to learn how to manipulate the color functions. I was going to wash my mirror in LaVerkin today but will hold off until we dry out. I'm glad I can keep busy till the weather clears up. If we get much more rain, it won't be a desert down here. Debbie > > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2005/01/10 Mon PM 06:00:27 MST > To: Utah-Astro <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Washington county flooding > > Debbie, are you close to the flood zone? Are you OK? > Any other list members close to the flooded area? > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. > 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 >

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Iapetus
by Chuck Hards 10 Jan '05

10 Jan '05

Has anyone read any theories on the origin of the equatorial ridge on Iapetus? This is one of the most interesting planetary features I've ever seen. On first look, it appears to be a compression feature, although I wouldn't exclude volcanism. The linearity and length (1/3 the satellite's circumference) is remarkable, as well as the altitude of the ridge peaks. The grade appears to be much steeper than Olympus Mons, which has really a quite gentle slope; this moon has some scenery indeed! Chesley Bonestell would be dancing with glee if he saw these photos, and I'd love to hear what Sir Arthur has to say. I can't wait for the next close approach (almost 2 years away darnit). I also wonder if it's related to the albedo difference between leading and following hemispheres. Current theories for that seem to be trending toward deposition, from sources either exterior to the moon or from within. Could it be that this body is actually composed of two formerly separate bodies of different compostion? Viva Cassini, a hearty "well-done" to the mission team! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! - Try it today! http://my.yahoo.com

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Some excellent comet pics from various amateurs
by Richard Tenney 10 Jan '05

10 Jan '05

Got these links today from another mailing list I subscribe to. Some impressive "amateur" shots... http://www.astromeeting.de/comets/050107a.htm Nice animation: http://www.astromeeting.de/comets/050104a1024.htm >From a guy in Atlanta: http://www.bobholzer.com/images/macholtzm45.jpg Check out some of his other images while you're at it: http://www.bobholzer.com/contents.htm __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

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Babcock Mount castings
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

I have the last set of castings ever sold for the old Babcock single-arm fork equatorial mount, as advertized in Sky & Telescope in the '70's. I am considering selling and may bring them to the swap meet if I can possibly make it, and someone is interested in purchasing them. This is one of the most cool-looking, massive, commercial mounts ever designed. Old-timers will remember this mount. It will handle up to an 18" f/4 and was designed for 12" gears. These are the raw castings only, a hundred pounds of aluminum, and will take several thousand dollars to machine into a finished mount. I purchased them directly from Greg Babcock years ago. Even if the mount is never finished, these castings have historical value. Dig out your old S&T issues for a photo (mine are all in long-term storage unfortunately). I would like at least $700 (not negotiable) for the complete set of three castings: The fork arm itself, saddle, and base. I'll throw-in a solid steel shaft that can be used for the polar shaft. If you are seriously interested in this mount, let me know and I'll sure try to get it to the swap meet, or we can make other arrangements. No lookie-loos please, it's just too darn heavy to dig out only for drooling purposes. Thanks! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

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Comet & M-45
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

The comet and M-45 are in the same field of view of my 11x80s. Looking good. I hope someone's getting a picture. Tom is looking for a good shot of the comet for Nova and all he's got so far is the yucky one I shot the other night. Patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Comet
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

I think it is an image artifact due to processing. Maybe Rob saw the same thing. Rob what do you think? I did a stretch to make the comet brighter as illustrated in the tutorial. I'm quite new at this image processing and I'm not even finished viewing the tutorials. There is a alot to learn yet. Debbie > > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2005/01/09 Sun PM 12:20:18 MST > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Comet > > Debbie, on my screen the coma displays what look like > density contours around the nucleus instead of a > gradually dimming fuzz. Is this an image artifact or > is it just my screen? > > Keep up the good work, I'm totally jealous! > > > From: <astrodeb(a)charter.net> > > To: Utah Astronomy > > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > > Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 11:26:56 -0700 > > Subject: Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > > > Hi, > > > > I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on > > Dec 11th, 2004. It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures > > taken with the Canon Digital Rebel. > > > > Debbie > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. > 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 >

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

Hi, I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on Dec 11th, 2004. It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures taken with the Canon Digital Rebel. Debbie > > From: Rob Ratkowski <ratkwski(a)hawaii.rr.com> > Date: 2005/01/09 Sun AM 01:38:01 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > Chuck > > > Maui was good tonite, I didn't image, just looked and enjoyed > ........................ > > "Lucky I live Hawaii" > Rob > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

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Re: Comet
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

Debbie, on my screen the coma displays what look like density contours around the nucleus instead of a gradually dimming fuzz. Is this an image artifact or is it just my screen? Keep up the good work, I'm totally jealous! > From: <astrodeb(a)charter.net> > To: Utah Astronomy > <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 11:26:56 -0700 > Subject: Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > Hi, > > I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on > Dec 11th, 2004. It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures > taken with the Canon Digital Rebel. > > Debbie __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

I used Images Plus by Mike Unsold. It came highly recommended on the digital-astro group. Next time I will shoot it without the field flattener/reducer. I spent most of yesterday viewing the tutorials and experimenting. I also forgot to mention that I couldn't have done those shots without the help of Jim Colwell. He helped me get focused and actually found the comet. I had trouble finding the comet because every time I looked at the LCD screen, my dark adaptation was blown. It is a challenge to find things with a camera attached. Debbie > > From: David L Bennett <dlbennett(a)mac.com> > Date: 2005/01/09 Sun AM 11:34:20 MST > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet > > Deb, Very nice shot. What program are you using to stack with? Dave > > PS to others, the direct link to Deb's photo is: > http://www.utahastronomy.com/astrodeb/Machholtzreduced > > > On Sunday, January 9, 2005, at 11:26 AM, astrodeb(a)charter.net wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > I just uploaded my image of Comet Machholtz taken on Dec 11th, 2004. > > It is a stack of 24 30 sec exposures taken with the Canon Digital > > Rebel. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

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First Light M38 image
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Jan '05

09 Jan '05

Good Morning and Happy New Year I just posted my first DSLR image taken with my new Canon Digital Rebel on Dec 11th. I did a stack of 24 30sec images and did a little processing in Images Plus. I'm new to image processing and I am in the process of learning the tutorials on the DVD disk. It's amazing what image processing can do to an image. I also took 9 dark frames and averaged them into a master dark frame. I then subtracted the dark frames from each image, aligned and stacked the images, then did a stretch on the combined image. I'll add a couple more images when I finish processing them. Debbie

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