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

2 new Gallery images
by Chuck Hards 04 Feb '06

04 Feb '06

I've just added a pair of new hardware-related images to my Gallery pages. One is a shot of the Guide Gear reflex sight and the Mars-Eye, side-by-side; the other is a neat shot looking through the viewing window of the Guide Gear sight at one of the 4 selectable reticles. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Suitsat
by Chuck Hards 03 Feb '06

03 Feb '06

Fox 13 news reported tonight that the spacesuit is now in "permanent orbit" around the earth, contrary to published estimates of an orbit that will decay about the time the suit's batteries are exhausted. The footage of the suit drifting away was creepy. I'm going after him, Hal... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: Mosquito Repellants
by Chuck Hards 03 Feb '06

03 Feb '06

Today I noticed that Big 5 Sporting Goods stores carry another brand of DC powered "bug zapper". It uses D cells or plugs into a 12v car socket. I'm having trouble recalling the price right now, but I think it was in the $20 range. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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SuitSat's spooky launch
by Patrick Wiggins 03 Feb '06

03 Feb '06

SuitSat was cast adrift from ISS about an hour ago. Kind of spooky to watch. The cosmonaut launching it was twisting slightly before "launch" as was SuitSat. So with a little imagination it was not hard to picture two cosmo/astronauts fighting and one having their tether cut and cast adrift into space. If only they could have made the arms and legs thrash about... :-) They kept a camera on SuitSat for several minutes as it slowly tumbled and receded into the distance. First chance for Utahns to listen in (145.990 MHz) will be tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 3:25 to 3:37. Patrick

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Finding a definition for Stars, Brown Dwarfs and Planets
by Wade Starks 03 Feb '06

03 Feb '06

You can blame Patrick for this posting. I had originally compiled these definitions from the internet for my own use. Yesterday, I decided to send my compilation to Patrick to see what he thought. He suggested I post it here. With some trepidation, I do so. I continue to be perplexed by all the confusion amongst astronomers about the definition of a planet. In this age where scientists are seeking the holy grail of a unified theory of everything, it seems there should be some very simple and discrete criteria which can define the difference between stars, brown dwarfs and planets. If certain definitions become complex, or inject ambiguity, should they be modified or discarded? Like everyone else, I have grown up thinking that our solar system is comprised of 9 large rocky or gaseous objects called planets and other debris which orbit our Sun together with which orbit many of these planets we call moons. Is that view too antiquated? As simple as it sounds, is it really overly complex? Anyway, see what you think. Wade Starks Stars, Brown Dwarfs and Planets A Proposed Definition In an era when scientists are trying to find a simple unified theory of everything, it should be surprising that they cannot seem to come up with a simple definition of planet. It is with this in mind that I have put together this document a compilation of opinions expressed by various astronomers and astronomical organizations as made available on the Internet. It is based on two more or less subjective criteria. If a rule seemed to simplify or clarify a definition, I included it. If a rule seemed to complicate or make the definition ambiguous, I excluded it. As it turns out, the remaining definitions are based solely on certain limits imposed by gravity and heat on the internal mechanics of the astronomical body. They come to define very discrete and unambiguous boundaries between stars, brown dwarfs, planets and those remaining objects which, by these definitions, are less than planets. Definition of a star Rule 1: A star must contain enough mass to support and sustain hydrogen fusion. Rule 2: Or it must contain degenerate matter, such as solid neutronium (the remains of a star). Types of stars determined by size, age and activity include: Yellow Dwarfs, Red Dwarfs, Super Giants, Variable, Pulsars, Wolf-Rayet, Red Giants, Novas, Super Novas, Hyper Novas, White Dwarfs, Black Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, Magnetron Stars, Quasars, Black Holes. Definition of a Brown Dwarf, AKA failed star Rule 1: The object does not have sufficient mass to sustain hydrogen fusion. Rule 2: The object has sufficient mass to sustain deuterium fusion. Note: Like planets Brown Dwarfs do not maintain equilibrium as do stars and they cool over their lifetime. The minimum mass of a Brown Dwarf is considered to be about 13 Jupiter masses; a mass considered sufficient to sustain deuterium fusion. Larger Brown Dwarfs may have supported hydrogen fusion for a brief time, but could not sustain it and consumed little of their hydrogen fuel. The upper limit of the mass of a Brown Dwarf is considered to be less than about 75 Jupiter masses. It is generally accepted that Brown Dwarfs usually form from the contraction of rotating gas as do stars. It seems quite possible for a Brown Dwarf to have formed from the merger of two large gaseous planets whose combined mass would exceed the minimum Brown Dwarf mass limit. Such a Brown Dwarf might then have ultimately formed from an accretion disk. Definition of a planet Rule 1: A planet must not be so massive that it can support any fusion reactions, even briefly. Rule 2: A planet must not contain degenerate matter, such as a core of solid neutronium that might be left over from the death of a star. Rule 3: A planet must have sufficient mass to have a shape determined by gravity and not by the strength of its materials. This means it is spheroid, i.e., nearly spherical. Note: These rules allow certain objects in our Solar System such as moons, Ceres and some Kuiper Belt objects to be classified as planets. How the object formed, or whether or not it is in orbit around a star is not part of this definition of a planet. However, it is generally accepted that most planets do form by accretion in the disc of gas, dust and rocks left behind by a proto star and therefore do orbit stars or Brown Dwarfs. Is seems quite reasonable that some planets might be ejected from their birth stellar systems and become wandering planets in interstellar space. Such objects would not by such action somehow metamorphose and cease to be planets. So also it is reasonable that some larger gas giant planets might have formed by the contraction of rotating gas as do stars and brown dwarfs. Roles of planets (special meanings applied to certain terms) 1. Major Planet a planet that is in orbit around a star. 2. Minor Planet i.e., a natural satellite, or moon a planet which is in orbit around another planet. This definition allows moons in turn to have moons themselves. 3. Wandering Planet This is a planet which is not in orbit around any other object, except perhaps, though not necessarily, around a Galaxy. Definition of a sub-planet, i.e., a planetoid (again exapting a word for this definition) Planetoids would be any objects in space too small to fit the definition of a planet, e.g., asteroids, comets and other space debris larger than gas and dust. These may exist in orbits around a star, a brown dwarf, or a planet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Talk with reporter?
by Patrick Wiggins 02 Feb '06

02 Feb '06

Hi, SuitSat ( http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/376922/unusual_satellite_transmits_voice… ) is still set to be "launched" tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. I'm working with a local reporter on the story and would prefer I not be the only one in the story. Anyone out there care to be included? Thanks, Patrick p.s. Here's the latest predictions for when it will be above our horizon before its batteries die: Time MST Az El Range DOW MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS Deg Deg km Sat 02/04/2006 03:32:13 132.6 24.3 771.02 Sat 02/04/2006 05:07:25 338.3 31.2 642.11 Sat 02/04/2006 06:43:14 351.8 11.3 1247.48 Sat 02/04/2006 08:19:21 9.9 11.7 1223.78 Sat 02/04/2006 09:55:10 25.4 35.0 583.48 Sat 02/04/2006 11:30:22 224.0 20.6 856.00 Sun 02/05/2006 02:21:36 127.6 7.6 1469.52 Sun 02/05/2006 03:56:11 217.5 83.8 356.36 Sun 02/05/2006 05:31:42 337.7 16.3 1014.08 Sun 02/05/2006 07:07:49 358.0 9.9 1322.99 Sun 02/05/2006 08:43:56 16.8 17.7 960.06 Sun 02/05/2006 10:19:27 240.5 70.2 371.29 Sun 02/05/2006 11:54:03 235.3 5.6 1598.50 Mon 02/06/2006 02:45:35 131.3 25.1 751.62 Mon 02/06/2006 04:20:29 326.0 30.5 653.66 Mon 02/06/2006 05:56:36 352.6 11.2 1252.80 Mon 02/06/2006 07:32:43 10.8 11.8 1217.90 Mon 02/06/2006 09:08:32 27.7 36.2 570.26 Mon 02/06/2006 10:43:44 222.6 19.8 878.41 Tue 02/07/2006 01:34:58 126.2 7.9 1446.43

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Re: Mosquito Repellants
by Chuck Hards 02 Feb '06

02 Feb '06

Here's another attempt at a non-chemical techie approach. Hang it on the opposite end of the car that you set-up on or somehow block your direct line-of-sight, otherwise there goes the night vision. Does double-duty as a regular lantern when packing-up. Remember that scene in "A Bug's Life"? "Harry, don't go into the light!..." From: www.thingsyouneverknew.com A subsidiary of Johnson Smith, the plastic vomit and whoopie cushion people, so you know its GOT to be good! :) Copied directly from their on-line catalog (For some reason I couldn't make a link work directly to the item, but if you type in the Item # in their search engine, you'll get it): Bug Lantern Item No: 81464 Price: $49.98 This Bug Lantern is a cordless UV zapper and a LED light. Rechargeable lantern attracts bugs with ultraviolet light, then zaps them when they touch metal grid. When bugs arenÂt a concern switch over to the nine bright LED lights that may never burn out. This cordless unit goes anywhere -- picnics, outings, camping, by the pool, and much more. Lantern includes compartment for Octenol mosquito lure and LCD display showing time, date, and temperature. Built-in rechargeable batteries charged with provided AC adapter. 14.25" tall; 9.25" diameter. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Fwd: Frontiers of Science Feb. 15
by Richard Tenney 02 Feb '06

02 Feb '06

Frontiers of Science Lecture The RNA World: Forerunner of Our DNA World? Raymond F. Gesteland / Wed, February 15, 2006 In our modern biological world, all the functions of life are carried out by cells. The core machinery is made of proteins that direct the cell's complex chemistry and behavior by acting as highly specific and precise catalysts. Proteins are synthesized by particular components of the cellular machinery (made mostly of proteins themselves) that take their instructions from DNA, while DNA, in turn, is copied by other components that are also made of proteins. Thus, each kind of primary biological macromolecule (protein and DNA) depends directly on the other for its existence, and cells need both, working together, to grow, divide and function normally. Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Aline Wilmot Skaggs Biology Auditorium, University of Utah campus. 275 South 1430 East (map) Admission: Free and open to the public! Contact Info: (801) 581-6958 jdegooyer(a)science.utah.edu www.science.utah.edu Frontiers of Science lecture: The RNA World: Forerunner of Our DNA World? This absolute codependence of proteins and DNA in modern life gives rise to a profound chicken-and-egg problem: How could the DNA-and-protein world have evolved, if neither side can exist without the other? In modern cells, RNA plays many key roles. RNA is similar to DNA, and like DNA it can carry genetic information. But it can also fold into complex shapes and act as a catalyst, like proteins. This makes it a candidate for solving the chicken-and-egg problem. Many lines of reasoning and evidence suggest that an RNA world could have supported the gradual evolution of both DNA and proteins. Although this theory may help solve the chicken and egg problem, it does not explain how the RNA world itself might have arisen. Frontiers of Science lecture: The RNA World: Forerunner of Our DNA World? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Stainless steel hardware
by Chuck Hards 02 Feb '06

02 Feb '06

Someone was asking about stainless steel hardware a few months ago, I forgot who it was, but I found this Website. They are geared toward the hotrod business, but should be able to fill most bolt orders: http://www.southcoaststainless.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Stainless steel hardware
by Chuck Hards 02 Feb '06

02 Feb '06

Someone was asking about stainless steel hardware a few months ago, I forgot who it was, but I found this Website: http://www.southcoaststainless.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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