December 2006 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Karen Pierce
by David Dunn 21 Dec '06

21 Dec '06

I know that some of you may be friends of the Pierce's. I haven't seen posts yet so I thought I would make sure that you noticed. Karen Pierce passed away on Monday. Deloy told me that she had cancer. The obituary is in the Deseret News today. I'm sure that Deloy can use all the support that he can get. http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId =20363380 Thanks, David Dunn

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Happy Solstice
by Michael Carnes 21 Dec '06

21 Dec '06

Wouldn't it be nice if these long nights were the warm ones? >Happy Winter Solstice to everyone on the astro list! >Spring is only 91 days away! >

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See shuttle and ISS from Utah tonight
by Patrick Wiggins 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

Good passes tonight: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/region.cgi? country=United_States&region=Utah pw

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String theory and ten dimensions
by Chuck Hards 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

Thanks to my friend Dr. W. Troy Tucker for calling my attention to this promotional Website for a book: http://www.tenthdimension.com/medialinks.php Be sure to watch the video. If this is an accurate analogy, the model is easy to grasp. It can seem a bit counterintuitive to Dr. Greene's presentation; that the higher dimensions exist in the quantum world on a subatomic scale, folded upon themselves. This model is much easier to grasp. Then again, I may be personally limited by a failure to grasp a fundamental point. Interesting in any event. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Stocking stuffer
by Chuck Hards 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

Just looking at the ad for General Army Navy Outdoor Store (4974 So. Redwood Rd. 801-966-5556) I think this is the store with the surplus missle out front. 10x50 Camo Binocular Reg. 19.99 Sale $9.99 This would be the one to keep under the car seat at all times, or to get Junior started down the astronomical path. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Digital camera
by Chuck Hards 19 Dec '06

19 Dec '06

Thanks to Paul Ricketts of the UofU Astronomy club for calling this to my attention: http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/astro/index-e.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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modified DSLR cameras
by daniel turner 19 Dec '06

19 Dec '06

DSLR cameras contain a filter that cuts off the infrared and almost all of the hydrogen alpha line that astrophotographers want. The main modification that Cannon did to the 20D to make the 20Da was to remove this filter. I think Cannon stopped doing this because the astromarket is so small and Huetec does this modification to many DSLR models or will sell you a new but modified unit of your choice. DT http://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/canon/index.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 46, Issue 28
by Boyd McNeil 19 Dec '06

19 Dec '06

Can someone send me the ordering address for the the Green laser special please. Thanks Boyd McNeil utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com wrote: > Send Utah-Astronomy mailing list submissions to > utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > utah-astronomy-request(a)mailman.xmission.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > utah-astronomy-owner(a)mailman.xmission.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Utah-Astronomy digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Green laser special - $35 (Michael Carnes) > 2. Re: was Digital camera now cheap epson prints (Michael Carnes) > 3. Re: Digital camera (Patrick Wiggins) > 4. Re: Digital camera (Rob Ratkowski Photography) > 5. RE: Green laser special - $35 (Chuck Hards) > 6. Re: Digital camera (Chuck Hards) > 7. RE: Re: Digital camera (Don J. Colton) > 8. RE: Re: Digital camera (Chuck Hards) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:39:56 -0700 > From: Michael Carnes <MichaelCarnes(a)earthlink.net> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Green laser special - $35 > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <90A3A117-D3D6-4D24-8CC6-5B361690E228(a)earthlink.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > Just took the pointer outside and shot through a few sucker holes. I > think Rich is correct about the beam spread. If you illuminate a > nearby surface, I think every rod and cone on that quadrant of the > retina gets lit up. Outside, the beam appears evenly narrow all the > way up. Again, I can't do a side-by-side with another pointer, but > this one doesn't feel any different from any of the others I've > seen. I believe I'll be perfectly happy with it. Of course tonight, > there are quite a few ice crystals in the air, so the beam will be > more quickly absorbed. But that gives a chance to see that there's > no visible divergence. And all of those ice crystals are really > pretty when they go through the beam. > > > > On Dec 18, 2006, at 4:51 PM, Richard Tenney wrote: > > >> That sounds a bit much for spread, but then again, >> it's so dang bright that your eye may just think it's >> an inch across. >> > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:45:00 -0700 > From: Michael Carnes <MichaelCarnes(a)earthlink.net> > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] was Digital camera now cheap epson > prints > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <41E78B36-1FCD-41F6-8E0F-A4AD5D687A49(a)earthlink.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > That's quite interesting Jo. Hadn't heard of that approach before. > A few printers back, I would refill cartridges by hand (it eventually > washes out of your skin). I did try some 3rd-party cartridges for my > 785EPX, but was never satisfied with the color. This system looks a > bit more flexible. > > MC > > On Dec 18, 2006, at 5:54 PM, bsi(a)xmission.com wrote: > > >> I can't comment on the photography, but I was surprised that no one >> here suggested the continuous flow system for an Epson inkjet, in >> order to reduce printing costs. I went to this system for the >> ALCON 2002 printing, and have continued to use it. They have >> improved the models, and you can use archival inks or a range of >> inks specialized for other purposes. This s the link. http:// >> www.inksupply.com/cobra.cfm >> When I bought it, they had an awkward software based method of >> resetting the chips on the ink cartridges, but they have come up >> with a much slicker method now, that I would buy if I were not so >> cheap. I bought the empty system and then chose the ink I wanted >> to use. The biggest problem I had was when I did not use the >> printer for extended periods of time, and then I had to waste a lot >> of ink clearing the heads. I see they have a program now that will >> automatically print a test pattern once a day, to prevent that >> problem. For those of you who do still print your own, this device >> will pay for itself quickly, and then save you huge amounts over time. >> >> Jo >> >> > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:01:00 -0700 > From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <5AE5A960-EE84-467D-A35B-4FD413F90FF0(a)wirelessbeehive.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > You're going digital and I'm still trying to figure out how to shoot > and process Daguerreotypes... > > I really like my D-70. As much as I hate to admit it (with one foot > still in the 20th century) I really like digital. Have only used it > for ground shots so far and those take little (and usually no) > processing. > > And putting them on the hard drive is just a matter of plugging a > cable from the back of the computer into the camera and a file > containing all of the images magically appears on the desktop. Then > click, drag, drop and that's it. > > pw > > p.s. Everyone think warm thoughts. I'm about to open my observatory > and chase a few asteroids. > > > On 17 Dec 2006, at 21:47, Chuck Hards wrote: > > >> After 35 years of avid emulsion-based photography, I'm >> about to take a serious digital plunge, something >> better than Webcam & camera-phone resolution. >> Trolling for suggestions, looking for a commercial >> camera that fills a similar niche to the classic 35mm >> SLR that I am used to. I want to use it for some >> astro-photography as well as terrestrial, family >> snapshots, etc. I suspect there will be some good >> deals after Christmas. I don't want to break the >> bank, can we keep it under say, $700? >> > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:07:05 -1000 > From: Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski(a)hawaii.rr.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <a0624080cc1ad077afd1b(a)[192.168.1.101]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ; format="flowed" > > One thing I highly suggest is a USB 2.0 card > reader for memory cards. The readers download > way faster and easier than from a camera. Just > my 2Â¢ again > > > > aloha > Rob > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:12:05 -0800 (PST) > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Green laser special - $35 > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <20061219061205.79572.qmail(a)web30407.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Couple of points on green lasers. > > There are not that many diode manufacturers. Many > different pointer brands actually use the same model > diode. That said, each diode manufacturer has several > models of differing output power and beam divergence. > The pricier the diode, usually, the better the beam > quality and brightness. > > My Beta pointer has a tight, round beam. My > non-optimised laser has a pretty tight beam as well > but is less than half as bright, to the eye. > > If your dot displays funky artifacts, try blowing out > the lens with canned air (or compressed air from a > non-oil-lubricated compressor). Often it's just lint > or dust on the exit window that cause diffraction > aritfacts. You can remove stubborn dirt with a Q-tip > dampened with lens cleaner (not sopping wet, just > damp). Follow-up with a clean, dry Q-tip. > > Changing brightness is usually an indicator of a poor > power connection. Clean the battery terminals, or > clean the switch contacts. The switch contacts > themselves may be just contacting each other poorly. > If fixing connectivity problems doesn't cure the > variable brightness, the diode may be damaged. > > One of my early laser experiments was an off-shoot of > the visibility test Ann House and I performed. I > mounted the laser on the telescope and aligned it with > the center of the field of a high-powered reticle > eyepiece. By just aiming the crosshairs on the > target, the laser was aimed as well. But a benefit is > that you can attach a linear scale on a distant post > and then see the dot size through the eyepiece without > having to leave the laser on and walk down to the > target. Leaving a green laser diode on for an > extended period can damage it permanently- it may stop > functioning or become permanently dim. Especially the > 5mw optimised units, use them intermittently only. > > If the beam is too bright to accurately judge the > diameter, a ND filter attenuates the beam > sufficiently. > > Anybody want to compare dot size along with beam > visibility? > > --- Seth Jarvis <SJarvis(a)slco.org> wrote: > > >> I own two other green lasers, and this has the >> tightest beam of the lot. No >> funny blotches around the perimeter of the (killer >> bright) green dot and the >> beam seems rock steady. One of my other two green >> lasers' beam jumps around >> quite noticeably in brightness, and its sibling has >> a steady beam but is not >> especially bright. >> > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:17:01 -0800 (PST) > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > To: Utah-Astro <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <20061219231701.10373.qmail(a)web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Thanks to Paul Ricketts of the UofU Astronomy club for > calling this to my attention: > > http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/astro/index-e.html > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:24:48 -0700 > From: "Don J. Colton" <djcolton(a)piol.com> > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <000a01c723c4$e0a96af0$d41e5742@DON3> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > The EOS 20Da is a great camera but it is no longer available. It was > designed for astrophotography and only 4000 were made. You can still > get the 20D but it is lacking many of the best features. > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com] > On Behalf Of Chuck Hards > Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 4:17 PM > To: Utah-Astro > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > > > Thanks to Paul Ricketts of the UofU Astronomy club for > calling this to my attention: > > http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/astro/index-e.html > > > __________________________________________________ > 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 > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:16:32 -0800 (PST) > From: Chuck Hards <chuckhards(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Digital camera > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Message-ID: <951660.72649.qm(a)web30414.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > The content of the site is pretty generic. The camera > in the photo isn't specifically referenced on any of > the associated pages I've read so-far, but I haven't > read all of them yet. > > It appears to be mostly just good, basic information > on digital astro-imaging for the beginner. > > > --- "Don J. Colton" <djcolton(a)piol.com> wrote: > > >> The EOS 20Da is a great camera but it is no longer >> available. >> > > __________________________________________________ > 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 > > End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 46, Issue 28 > ********************************************** > > > >

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Green laser special - $35
by Seth Jarvis 18 Dec '06

18 Dec '06

My LuckyDuck laser just arrived. Very nice! It came in a nifty padded travel case with a couple of AAA batteries so I was able to fire it up right away. I own two other green lasers, and this has the tightest beam of the lot. No funny blotches around the perimeter of the (killer bright) green dot and the beam seems rock steady. One of my other two green lasers' beam jumps around quite noticeably in brightness, and its sibling has a steady beam but is not especially bright. I'll try it out with the other lasers I own tonight for some informal brightness comparisons, but so far this one looks to be very bright. Thanks, Richard, for giving us the heads-up on this! Seth Jarvis -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+sjarvis=slco.org@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Richard Tenney Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 1:59 PM To: Utah-Astronomy; UVAA Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Green laser special - $35 Got this promo email today, in case any of you want a 5mw green laser, this is the cheapest I've ever seen one offered: ======================================= LuckyDuck.Com's Super Holiday Special! Happy holidays from LuckyDuck.com! As an existing customer, we'd like to offer you a gift of special pricing, available only for you! To get a LuckyDuck APC for just $35, enter the promo code wowthatscheap To get a Jasper Curve for only $80, enter the promo code sweetdeal If you want to take advantage of this incredible sale, simply visit www.LuckyDuck.com place your order for a Curve or APC and proceed to checkout as normal. On the final page of checkout, enter the appropriate discount code and click apply to claim your special price. This offer only lasts one week and while supplies last. After one week, the code will be de-activated and will no longer work. Sincerely, The LuckyDuck.com Team ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.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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Digital camera
by Chuck Hards 18 Dec '06

18 Dec '06

After 35 years of avid emulsion-based photography, I'm about to take a serious digital plunge, something better than Webcam & camera-phone resolution. Trolling for suggestions, looking for a commercial camera that fills a similar niche to the classic 35mm SLR that I am used to. I want to use it for some astro-photography as well as terrestrial, family snapshots, etc. I suspect there will be some good deals after Christmas. I don't want to break the bank, can we keep it under say, $700? Suggestions? Thanks in advance. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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