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

Shuttle this morning, SLAS tonight
by Patrick Wiggins 26 Jul '05

26 Jul '05

SLAS meeting tonight. Sorry but I don't know the topic. Better still, NASA TV reports that all is still a "go" for today's launch. 8:39 is awfully early for me to be getting up but I really want to see that sucker go! Chuck, Guy, Kurt, how many match heads to launch the shuttle? :-) Patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Shuttle this morning, SLAS tonight
by astrodeb＠charter.net 26 Jul '05

26 Jul '05

I just heard Go For Launch. I'm watching it on CNN and enjoying a cup of Starbucks. 9 minutes to go. Debbie > > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> > Date: 2005/07/26 Tue AM 02:15:28 MDT > To: utah astronomy listserve <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Shuttle this morning, SLAS tonight > > SLAS meeting tonight. Sorry but I don't know the topic. > > Better still, NASA TV reports that all is still a "go" for today's > launch. 8:39 is awfully early for me to be getting up but I really want > to see that sucker go! > > Chuck, Guy, Kurt, how many match heads to launch the shuttle? :-) > > Patrick > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Governmentium (Humor)
by Patrick Wiggins 24 Jul '05

24 Jul '05

Governmentium: A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium". Governmentium has one neutron 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 11 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as "Critical Mor-ass". When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium - an element which radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

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Garage-sale
by Chuck Hards 23 Jul '05

23 Jul '05

While cleaning out the garage today I came across some components that might be of use to ATMs for either drives or grinding machines, or whatever your imagination can dream-up: * Right-angle drive. Case measures 3-1/16" X 2-13/16", with 3/8" shafts 9/16" long with a flat area for a setscrew. Geared such that rotation direction is preserved (not reversed) as you look at each shaft end-on. Fairly robust. Many mounting holes, at least 4 mounting configurations possible. I have about a dozen, I'll give one each away free to educators, otherwise I'd like 2 bucks each. Unused. * Torque-limiting clutch. Not sure what the limiting force is, but a guess would be about 15-20 ft.-lbs. Non-adjustable, for 3/8" shaft on both input and output end, straight configuration. 2-1/2" long overall, 1-1/2" diameter. Set-screws for shafts. BN. Again, I'll give away one each to educators, otherwise you can slip me 2 bucks each. I'll try and get photos soon, but this is a working Pioneer Day weekend for me. Contact me off-list if interested. Thanks! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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OT: "Revelations" Star WarsFilm
by Michael Carnes 23 Jul '05

23 Jul '05

If you don't have a high-speed link, read no farther. I just learned about this film and downloaded it. If you're a Star Wars fan (I'm not), I suppose it's essential. If you have an appreciation of the technical side of film-making (I do), then you'll get a real kick out of it. It's not a parody (Star Wars films are so ridiculous they're hard to parody), but instead should be considered as another 40-minute episode. It was supposedly made for $20K, but took a LOT of free time from dozens and dozens of people. If the director had actually had to pay for things, it would have easily cost a few million. The sound and graphics are surprisingly good, with a full 5.1 Dolby surround mix. The writing and acting--well, they aren't any worse than the real Star Wars movies. It's available in three forms: There's a Quicktime movie and a Windoze Media movie, each about 250 Meg. Then there's a DVD image of over 4 GB, which is the form I downloaded. You'll obviously need a DVD burner for that one, but it comes with more goodies. This is not about astronomy (there ARE star fields in the movie, though), but heck: half the stuff we talk about here isn't astronomy. Here's the link: http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/ Michael Carnes MichaelCarnes(a)earthlink.net

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Old space kits
by Chuck Hards 23 Jul '05

23 Jul '05

Kim, your Gemini capsule kit reminded me that I had some space kits in storage, besides the WWI. I dug-out my copy of the John Glenn "Everything Is Go" kit- the Mercury capsule & Atlas booster plus complete launch pad! It even has little maintenence trucks. I never built it because of the HUGE number of parts associated with the launch pad. Also found my 1/48 kit of the Apollo spacecraft, the one that comprises the entire top section of the S-IVb, with the LEM shroud and escape tower for the command module. I actually built one of these in the '60's but for some reason have a duplicate copy. One of these days I'd love to have a set of NASA manned spacecraft models decorating my home office. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Virus alert
by Chuck Hards 23 Jul '05

23 Jul '05

Rich Tenney and I have each received emails with viruses attached, with list members addresses in the "From" line (2 different addresses). Obviously these addresses have been pirated since we know the true owners and neither are the type of person who would do this. Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and functioning, and be careful. Looks like a list member got infected and the virus got ahold of their address book. C. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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1969
by Kim Hyatt 22 Jul '05

22 Jul '05

You guys really got me reliving the good ol' days today. I had to hit the road after this morning's exchange and just got back, but a few thoughts/memories about 1969 linger. The summer of '69 included the end of JR high school and the beginning of that exciting and equally difficult time of my life, high school. My first romance (and first broken heart), my first kiss (and second broken heart), were more diverting than Apollo 11, but not by much. About that time I figured it might be more fun to build working rockets than plastic models, so my friend and I retired to the garage for some clandestine rocket design and construction. We did have a few from-scratch solid fuel rocket successes. (Ground match heads and sparklers for fuel, cardboard tube body, and dime with a hole drilled in it for a nozzle.) Our rocketry career only got about 20 feet off the ground, though - kind of hovered for a few seconds before descending into the Ellingson's yard and starting the dry grass in the backyard on fire. Funny, I remember it all in slow motion... So on my way to business meetings "up north" today I listened to a little Deep Purple. Although this tune dates from 1972, the lyrics are somehow appropriate for today: http://www.thehighwaystar.com/rosas/lyrics/machine/machine07.htm. Oh, Chuck, Rob: I still have my unfinished plastic model of a Gemini capsule. (Well, actually, I never started it.) I think I got it for Christmas in 1965. I thought it might be fun to finally build the Gemini model with my 7-year-old son. Kim

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Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Shunning the shuttle
by astrodeb＠charter.net 21 Jul '05

21 Jul '05

We had a couple of pretty sunsets up at Duck Creek Village Monday and Tuesday. It looks like the Milford fire is heading toward the Dammeron Valley fire. Maybe they will merge and burn out. Is the whole state on fire or what? I'll be looking for smoke free skies in about a week. Debbie > > From: diveboss(a)xmission.com > Date: 2005/07/21 Thu PM 02:22:12 MDT > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Subject: Re: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Shunning the shuttle > > Quoting Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com>: > > > Hey Hot & Smoky! You have a good point. The shuttle can't be > > considered a safe vehicle. Space flight is very risky. NASA experts > > think in terms of acceptable risk, meaning they minimize risk as much > > as they reasonably can. But the machine is so complex that things go > > wrong; also, some parts are around 20 years old. One of the NASA > > administrators was saying the clipper ship was the top of the line > > for its day but you don't see any now except for ceremonial > > occasions. The shuttle is due to be replaced by something better. But > > back to your thought: astronauts have to make their own assessments > > about whether they want to take the chance, weighing their family > > situations themselves. Many of our servicemen and women are parents, > > and so many have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's an > > all-volunteer military -- they each should have considered the > > possibilities when they enlisted. It's a situation where there are no > > easy answers. -- Joe > > Right on! > > > Thank's Debbie for the pretty sunsets...;) > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Meade RCX400
by astrodeb＠charter.net 21 Jul '05

21 Jul '05

I finally got a chance to read a review on this scope. I wouldn't mind owning the 10" version in a few years. This is an interesting read. http://www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=279 Debbie

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