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

Obs opp - Jovian Spot Transit Midnight tonight
by Canopus56 25 Jul '06

25 Jul '06

Per S&T article at 7/26 5:56 UTC = 12:00am 7/26 MDT - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Young age moon observing op tonight 9:00 PM
by Canopus56 25 Jul '06

25 Jul '06

For North American observers from the Midwest to the Pacific, there is a young age moon observing opportunity at sunset tonight. This one only has a 15 minute working time between sunset and moon set, but it may be worth a try. Sunset Moonset Sun_dist Phase Age 7/25/2006 02:51 03:05 10d24m 168d 12deg = 23.6h As usual, be sure the Sun is set and is not behind a cloud. If the Sun has not fully set it can peak out from behind a cloud and cause permanent eye injury. - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Observing Saturday Night
by Robert Taylor 25 Jul '06

25 Jul '06

We had a good night last night up at Wolf Creek for those that took the trip. We had a few early clouds that dissipated by Mid-Night. The Sky Clock proved to fairly accurate last night and it is predicting some clouds and so-so transparency tonight for the Wolf Creek area. The Park City area looks better for tonight so I think I'm going to head up to the Gravel Quarry tonight for some cluster and double star work if anyone is interested. Hope to see you there. Bob Taylor

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Design considerations
by David Dunn 25 Jul '06

25 Jul '06

Chuck, I used silicon adhesive to hold my 16" mirror in the cell. Since it is a thin mirror 7/8" plate glass, I used a regular 18 point support for the back of the mirror. I used stick-on felt pads for points. On the sides I have steel brackets that stick up with about a 1/2" gap around the mirror. They have a hole drilled in them. After I placed the mirror in the mount and centered it properly, I put silicon through the holes until it was just touching the side of the mirror, maybe 1/4" touching the mirror. This appears to hold the mirror properly without pinching or uneven pressure. It also keeps the mirror from falling out when pointed down or being bounced across the meadow at Monte Cristo. My mirror is barely f/5. I will never make a short mirror again. It has to be too precise and the collimation has to be too accurate. I use a laser and a Cheshire to collimate when I want to view all night. The laser is good enough for most of the public events. I think my next mirror will be a 20" f/10 or so, Yolo. This will give me the advantage of no ladder while still giving me a long F.L.. Dave

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News, 25 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Jul '06

25 Jul '06

News, Tuesday, 25 July 2006 SLAS Meeting Tonight SLAS will be holding it's monthly public meeting this evening in the north building of the Salt Lake County Complex beginning at 7:30 p.m. Ken Harris will announce plans for the upcoming official opening of the Refractor House and dedication of the refractor (the latter to be named in hour of late SLAS member Andy Bogdan). Joan Carman will speak on the mythology and lore of the night sky. http://slas.us/displayevent.asp?EventID=811 +++++ SPOC Update The memorial plaque for former SLAS member Andrew "Andy" Bogdan was installed on the refractor at SPOC yesterday in preparation for the upcoming dedication. See images 38 through 40 at: http://www.trilobyte.net/paw/slas/REFRACTORHOUSE04.HTML +++++ SLAS Website Update SLAS webmaster Ken Warner reports that he's added three new pages to the club's web site. 1) Recent star party at Snowbird: http://slas.us/gallery/events/Snowbird2006.htm 2) John Gregory's visit to SPOC: http://slas.us/gallery/events/JohnGregory.htm 3) Sean O'Leary's picture gallery: http://slas.us/gallery/member_profiles.htm +++++ Lakes on Titan The Cassini spacecraft, using its radar system, has discovered very strong evidence for hydrocarbon lakes on Titan. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2214 +++++ Gemini Captures Close Encounter of Jupiter's Red Spots A high-resolution image released today by the Gemini Observatory shows Jupiter's two giant red spots brushing past one another in the planet's southern hemisphere. http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=196 +++++ Iranian Woman Blazes Trail Into Space Anousheh Ansari, who grew up in Tehran and watched reruns of Star Trek, is set to become the world's first female space tourist. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Iranian_Woman_Blazes_Trail_Into_Space_999… +++++ Mars's Next Explorers: Jumping, Baseball-Size Robots? Swarms of small, bouncing robots could hop across the surface of Mars to search for signs of life, researchers say. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060724-mars-robots.html +++++ CALIPSO's First Images Offer New Dimension to Air Quality and Climate Research The CALIPSO spacecraft collected its first data recently, a major milestone for one of NASA's newest satellite missions. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/calipso/news/First_Light.html +++++ Planet-Forming Disks Might Put the Brakes on Stars Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have found evidence that dusty disks of planet-forming material tug on and slow down the young, whirling stars they surround. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2006-094 http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=0007E984-47D2-14C1-… +++++ Latest Images from Inside Genesis I http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_there/index.php +++++ Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512 +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/latest/index.cfm http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-releases.cfm +++++ Information On The Mars Rovers At: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html +++++ SLAS 2006 Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/LOCAL.HTML +++++ SSA / UMNH 2006 Southern Utah Public Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/STARPARTIES.HTML +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society or because you are subscribed to the Utah Astronomy Listserve. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw at wirelessbeehive dot com. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky and mirrored at http://utahastro.info/ For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/UTAHCLUBS.HTML For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah & NE Nevada paw at wirelessbeehive dot com http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky http://utahastro.info/ 435.882.1209 801.918.9092

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Intelligent Falling
by Patrick Wiggins 23 Jul '06

23 Jul '06

Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512 :)

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Utah Astronomy Photogallery webmaster???
by Canopus56 23 Jul '06

23 Jul '06

How do I direct a request to regarding having an account added to the Utah Astronomy Gallery? - Kurt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Obs note: 5:30 am 7/23 - strong earthshine on rising moon
by Canopus56 22 Jul '06

22 Jul '06

At 5:00 am this morning, the Moon rose with a very strong Earthshine. The shadow-side mares were visible with the naked-eye. Tomorrow around 5:30 should be also a very good day for seeing or photographing Earthshine at 1 1/2 days before new Moon. The Moon will rise with a bright Venus about 7 1/2 degs to the south. - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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News, 22 JUL 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 22 Jul '06

22 Jul '06

News, Saturday, 22 July 2006 Welcome New SLAS Members Ann & Craig Blanchard +++++ SLAS Meeting Tuesday SLAS will be holding it's monthly public meeting Tuesday evening (the 25th) in the north building of the S L County Complex beginning at 7:30 pm. Former SLAS president Joan Carman will speak on the mythology and lore of the night sky. http://slas.us/displayevent.asp?EventID=811 +++++ SLAS History An Excel spreadsheet showing the names of just about everyone who has served on the SLAS board and/or as SLAS newsletter editor since the club's founding in 1971 is now available. Details from early years are probably not complete. If anyone has SLAS meeting minutes or newsletters from the early 1970's please email paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com. http://utahastro.info/temp/SLASBOD.XLS +++++ Grim Scope Sunday Dale Wilson has reserved the Grim scope for tomorrow (Sunday) night and notes "Just enjoyin the night. Anyone welcome." +++++ Dimmed by Light Despite growing light pollution Stansbury Observatory still offers stunning Celestial views. (Note: The article refers to lights at the new Miller race track. There are no lights at the track and there are no plans to install any since they do not race there at night). http://www.transcriptbulletin.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=148… +++++ Black Hole Paradox Solved By NASA's Chandra Black holes are lighting up the Universe, and now astronomers may finally know how. http://chandra.harvard.edu/press/06_releases/press_062106.html +++++ Black Hole Spills Kaleidoscope of Color Shoes may not come in every color, but space objects do. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=1135 +++++ Peering at Pesky 'Jammerbugt' As winter has descended over Meridiani Planum, the availability of solar power for the rovers has diminished greatly. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20060720a.html +++++ Bounding Toward 'Beagle Crater' Opportunity is healthy and is driving toward "Beagle Crater," which is about 50 meters away as of sol 884 (July 20). http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_opportunityAll.html#sol879 +++++ Rock Abrasion Tool Exhibits the Deep Red Pigment of Mars During recent soil-brushing experiments, the rock abrasion tool on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit became covered with dust, as shown here. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20060721a.html +++++ Spirit Clears Away Dust, Gets New Software Upgrade Beginning July 22, 2006 Spirit is scheduled to begin knitting together and testing all 200 pieces of a new flight software package transmitted to the rover in recent weeks. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol904 +++++ ER-2 Aloft Again One of NASA's two high-flying ER-2 Earth resources aircraft, took to the skies recently from NASA's Dryden on its first science mission in over two years. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/NewsReleases/2006/06-25P.html +++++ Looking Deep with Infrared Eyes Today, British astronomers are releasing the first data from the largest and most sensitive survey of the heavens in infrared light to the ESO user community. http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-26-06.html +++++ Apollo Anniversary Site Thanks to SLAS member Kurt Fisher for passing on this site commemorating the upcoming 30th anniversary of the first landing of humans on the Moon. http://www.fullscreenqtvr.com/moon +++++ SOFIA Saved! The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, slated for cancellation in NASA's 2007 budget, has been spared and should begin flying soon. http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1758_1.asp +++++ International Space Station Tee Off Approved By NASA Element 21 Golf Company has reported that NASA has approved E21's "Eagle One Mission" in celebration of the 35th anniversary of Alan B. Shepard Jr.'s historic Apollo 14 Mission. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/International_Space_Station_Tee_Off_Appro… +++++ ESA To Help Europe Prepare for Space Tourism With summer here, many people are thinking about their holiday destination. At the European Space Agency, this means thinking about a holiday in space! http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMNYIBUQPE_index_0.html +++++ JSR Latest Issue Now Available http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html +++++ ISS Update http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/issreports/2006/iss06-34.html +++++ Venus Express Update http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=39710 +++++ Cassini Update http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/sig-event-details.cfm?newsID=676 +++++ STS Update http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/status-20060721.html +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/latest/index.cfm http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-releases.cfm +++++ Information On The Mars Rovers At: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html +++++ SLAS 2006 Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/LOCAL.HTML +++++ SSA / UMNH 2006 Southern Utah Public Star Party Schedule http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/STARPARTIES.HTML +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society or because you are subscribed to the Utah Astronomy Listserve. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw at wirelessbeehive dot com. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky and mirrored at http://utahastro.info/ For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/UTAHCLUBS.HTML For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah & NE Nevada paw at wirelessbeehive dot com http://www.umnh.utah.edu/utahsky http://utahastro.info/ 435.882.1209 801.918.9092

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Obs event note for Sunday 7/24: GSR transit
by Canopus56 22 Jul '06

22 Jul '06

The GSR is scheduled for a transit on July 24 around 10pm per - http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_107_2.asp 7/24 4:01 UTC - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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