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

Voyager & HST to be canceled?
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Jul '05

15 Jul '05

Quoting from The Planetary Society: "Two of humankind's greatest space achievements -- two of the greatest scientific endeavors of all time, the twin Voyager deep space probes and the Hubble Space Telescope -- are under attack. In an incredibly misguided decision, Voyager is facing imminent shutdown, while Hubble is being prematurely threatened with destruction." http://www.planetary.org/voyager_hubble/ The above link goes to an on line petition. Adding your name to the list wont hurt but I hope you'll all do like me and snail mail a hard copy letter. Patrick

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Re: RE: [Utah-astronomy] M27 Image Posted
by astrodeb＠charter.net 15 Jul '05

15 Jul '05

Nice image Tyler. Joe, I have to agree with Richard. I'd take a few days off and go visit those places. Debbie > > From: Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2005/07/15 Fri PM 12:54:38 MDT > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] M27 Image Posted > > Boredom? 20 minutes from the space center, cocoa > beach, Sea World, Disney World, Epcot Center, the > BEACH, etc. etc. Shame on you for being bored! :o) > -Rich > > --- Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> wrote: > > > No, no flyrod, and I'm nearly going out of my mind > > with boredrum. The trip > > to the space center takes about an hour each way, > > and other than that, > > there's nothing to do. If the shuttle had launched > > it would have been a > > petty annoyance to put up with the drive, heavy > > humidity, heat, being away > > from home. But as this drags on it seems more and > > more pointless. Thanks, > > Joe > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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!? > 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 >

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Please check these URLs
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Jul '05

15 Jul '05

Hi, One of the list's subscribers reports he is not able to get to either of these URLs. I'd appreciate it if a few others could try them and let me know how they fare: http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/ http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/LOCAL.HTML Many thanks, Patrick

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A q for those NASA guys
by Canopus56 15 Jul '05

15 Jul '05

Too bad Bush cancelled the X-33 in 2001. I really had high-hopes for watching it land at Dugway. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/releases/1999/Feb99/99-008.html http://www.aerospaceguide.net/space_planes/x-33.html http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/x33_x34end.htm Whatever happened to the X-37? http://www11.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/releases/2002/02-027.html http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/background/facts/x37.html We still have the X-43A - http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.html Are all of the space transportation marbles being put into the Crew Exploration Vehicle? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crew_Exploration_Vehicle http://www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-05zzza.html http://www.exploration.nasa.gov/acquisition/cev_procurement.html http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/spacetransportation/index.html What will the CEV look like? An Apollo capsule strapped to an erector set box? http://www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-05zzza.html A space plane? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crew_Exploration_Vehicle What's the story on any improved replacement for the heat shield tiles? Trying to epoxy 23,000 tiles on metal seems like the weak point. http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/shuttle_tps_030307.html http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/armor_tps_020130-1.html >From just looking at their website, I have a hard time following the game plan. Joe, you're on vacation, but since you are out there -:), what do the NASA guys on the ground say (if you can talk with them)? - Canopus56(Kurt) ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Moon editorial
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Jul '05

15 Jul '05

It's been rather quiet here lately, so here's an editorial that might make for lively discussion: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunar-05zg.html Patrick

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Introduction
by TJ Hunter 14 Jul '05

14 Jul '05

Hello All, I'm a new astronomer in Utah county. I've been interested in the sky since I was very young and just recently have jumped into the subject more deeply. Taking a class at school helped that process. My lovely wife purchased a new telescope for me for my birthday. It's my first one and I'm very happy with it. It's a meade DS-2114 reflecting telescope. I'm still learning how to use it and I'm just beginning to learn the sky. Hopefully by being on this list, I can pick up some of the jargon and learn some new things. I'm really new to all of this, so please be patient with me if I ask a lot of questions. Most of the posts within the last few days have been way over my head. If anyone has any tips for me, I'd love to hear them. Thanks, TJ

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Nova 2005 Sgr #2 obs rep, charts
by Canopus56 13 Jul '05

13 Jul '05

Object: AAVSO1811-30N Sgr 05 #2 Date: 2005.07 6:58 UTC JD 2453563.7903 Az-Alt: Meridian approx. 18Â° Position: J181750.77-302631.2 w/i 1.5Â° southwest of del Sgr Magnitude measured: 9.9 true mag.(extinct. adj. mag); apparent 10.4 AAVSO reported ranges for JD 2453562-63 are: 9.1-9.5 See << http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=n%20sgr%2005%232 >> (Difference attributed to light pollution at observing site) Magnitude trend: Nova continues to dim from v8.0 on JD2453559 (approx. 4 days), but is easily visible with small aperatures (70mm) in low light polluted skies. Based on the AAVSO light curve trend, that is a linear rate of roughly 0.3 mags per day ( (9.5-8.0)/5) ). The later setting moon will make observations increasingly more difficult until the sky is washed-out around July 15. Observing point: Little Mountain Pass, 10 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, Latitude N 40.8, Longitude W 111.9, Altitude approx. 7700 ft. (2347 meters) Scope: 20x70 binoculars, parallelogram mount, 1.5Â° x 1Â° TFOV. Charts: Tirion Cambridge Atlas #18; Sky Atlas 2000 #22; AAVSO Variable Star Atlas (2nd 1990) #144. The Cartes de Ciel data listing provided visual magnitudes. For most Tycho stars, Cartes du Ciel reports magnitudes converted from the Tycho system to visual system. Supplemental finding charts - notes: - Area orienting 4 deg area finder http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… >From del Sgr, first establish the asterism triangle between del Sgr, HD169586 and 18 Sgr. The del Sgr to HD169586 line is broken by optical doubles HD169377 and HD169337. The del Sgr to 18 Sgr line is broken by globular NGC 6624 (v8.3, dia. 6'). http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… This first asterism triangle distinguishes 18 Sgr from nearby HD168493 (7.0). Establish a second asterism triangle between del Sgr, 18 del and HD168493 (7.0). The asterism line bewteen del Sgr and HD168493 is broken by a small arc asterism including HD319330 (9.6). This second asterism line is used to distinguish between two stars 1/4Â° south of del Sgr: HD168576 (8.2) and HD168399 (8.9). Other large and useful asterisms within 2.5Â° of del Sgr are: 1) a triangle including HD167382 (7.3), and, 2) a 1/2Â° arc including HD166470 (7.7). - 2 deg area finder http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… First, establish the small 1/4Â° triangle asterism defined by del Sgr, HD168576 (8.2) and HD168399 (8.9). http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… Second, along the asterism line between HD168493 (7.0) to HD167441 (7.8), find the two sets of optical doubles. The first is defined by HD319238 and HD167845; the second by HD167706 and TYC7392-01064-1. This second set of optical doubles is within a 1/4Â° of AAVSO1811-30N Sgr 05 #2. The nova will appear to be at or next to the position of TYC7392-00980-1 (10.95), but is clearly much brighter than magnitude 10.9. Estimating magnitudes using detail charts: - AAVSO detail chart - http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkwrap.pl?path=/charts/SGR/NSGR05_2/NSGR05… - Supplemental chart provided here - http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… Using the supplemental chart, establish the "outer" arc asterism defined by TCY392-00404-1 (10.17), GSC7392.722, and TYC39300384-1 (10.2). Then establish the "inner" arc asterism defined by TCY392-00404-1 (10.17), star labelled at magnitude 101 in the AAVSO detail chart, and TYC39300831-1 (10.53). The corresponding stars of the "inner" arc are labelled on the AAVSO detail chart with magnitudes 78, 101 and 103. Magnitude 10.9 star TYC392-00980-1 plots about 6 arcminutes below the nova. Currently (7/12), the nova is distinctly brighter and easily distinguished from the TYC392-00980-1. Magnitude estimation notes: v10.95 TYC7392-00980-1 was not visible in the FOV. Nova 1811-30 Sgr 05 #2 was brighter than "inner arc" stars TYC7392-00404-1 (10.17), TYC7393-00831-1 (10.53) but dimmer than HD167524 (9.39), HD319238 (9.64), HD167616 (9.6), and TYC7392-01964-1 (9.87). Extrafocal extinction was used on the immediate TFOV to locate the best match. Star HD167753 (9.9) appeared to be the closest matching star. See - http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/NSgr05_2/NSgr05_2… ZLM: Not measured using IMO Cygnus LM area. Bortle 4 sky - suburban sky where details of Milky Way are evident, but deteriorates to urban skyglow at horizon. NELM: Unable to measure. Approx. 4.2 based on 4.7 star on AAVSO Atlas Chart 144. No IMO limiting magnitude areas in Sgr. Only stars in figure of Sgr visible with averted vision v4.7 star on AAVSO Altas chart. Nova was not visible from an urban 2.0 light polluted sky. TELM: 11.0 based on TYC7393-00831-1 w/ 0.5 extinction. v10.95 TYC7392-00980-1 within 6 arcmins of nova was not visible. Extinction coefficient applied: 0.55 (AAVSO Average Summer for 2 kilometer above sea level). While you are there - other enjoyable objects in the immediate vicinity: 1) HD169377 (8.4) and HD169337 (7.6), the optical double between del Sgr and HD169586 are both listed by Cartes du Ciel and Simbad as each being a double of about 6" separation. (Using 20x70 binos, I did not split either of these doubles.) 2) Globular clusters near this area include NGC6624 (8.3, dia. 6'). Not observed - NGC 6522 (8.6, dia. 5.6') and NGC 6528 (9.6, dia. 3.7'). 3) For large aperature DSO observers, nearby faint planetary nebula on the Sky 2000.0 chart include (not observed) PK003-6.1 (HD 317397, 11.8, 9x5", J181741.46-290819.2) and PK001-6.2 (HD 167362, 11.9, dia. stellar, J181612.27-305208.1). - Enjoy Canopus56 (Kurt) __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail for Mobile Take Yahoo! 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Shuttle launch
by Chuck Hards 13 Jul '05

13 Jul '05

Patrick, (or anyone in the know) is launch scheduled for 1:51 pm MDT? I installed a new antenna on my office TV today so I could watch it live. Thanks __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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OT War of the Worlds
by Kim Hyatt 12 Jul '05

12 Jul '05

OK, time for Kim's two cents. And, warning! A lengthy message follows... I believe H.G. Wells' novel to be much better than either the Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast or the 1953 movie classic. While I enjoyed Spielberg's interpretation (yes, I saw it on opening day - not much more to do here in Sanpete), this latest version is the least interesting of these three "modern" interpretations of the novel. The first part of the movie is compelling, but the rest of the film doesn't live up to the promise of the first half hour or so. Spielberg did give a nod to the 1938 radio broadcast - the film begins in New Jersey - and both Gene Barry and Ann Robinson have brief cameo appearances. However, much of the film is a yawner. It is worth seeing on the big screen for the special effects, but otherwise one wouldn't miss much by waiting for its release on video/DVD. When I was a social psychology student, oh so long ago, we studied the events surrounding the 1938 broadcast. The nationwide "panic" is difficult to understand from our sophisticated modern perspective, but in 1938 events in Europe and Asia, the relative newness of the broadcast medium (radio) and the novel dramatic devices employed by Welles and his co-creator (or co-conspirator?), Howard Koch, all lead to the ensuing panic. (For anyone not familiar with the story, a brief summary worth reading can be found at http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/radio.htm.) I was even more interested to learn that after 1938, others tried similar broadcasts in other markets, usually with similar results. (The vernacular expression, "DUH!" comes to mind...) The most interesting of these copycat broadcasts occurred in a small community somewhere in Central America, as I recall, many years later. The local population indeed panicked, and when they learned that the broadcast was a hoax, a riot ensued and the local radio station was burned to the ground in retaliation! (If anyone knows where to find the details of this particular event, please let me know. I would like to read about it again.) Kim

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Sunspots
by Chuck Hards 12 Jul '05

12 Jul '05

There is a large sunspot group just about to rotate out of view on the Sun's westward (leading) limb. Two smaller spots nearer center, one is about earth-sized. Using a home-made 50mm f/9 refractor & Baader filter at 16x from my office in North Salt Lake. C. ____________________________________________________ Sell on Yahoo! Auctions Â no fees. Bid on great items. http://auctions.yahoo.com/

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