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

News, 05 AUG 2006
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Aug '06

05 Aug '06

News, Saturday, 05 AUG 2006 Private Dedication / Public Star Party This Evening Tonight's public star party at SPOC will be preceded by the official opening of the Refractor House and the dedication and naming of the refractor. Opening and dedication are open to SLAS members and invited guests and will begin at 7:45 pm. Pre-star party talk to start at 8:30 pm and the star party itself about 45 minutes after that. Opening and dedication will be held regardless of the weather. Star party will be held weather permitting. http://slas.us/CALENDAR.ASP +++++ Need A Telescope? SLAS has several scopes available for free, long term loan to current SLAS members who have belonged to SLAS for at least 30 days. Details at: http://slas.us/membership_benefits.htm +++++ Does Capitol Hill Know Enough About Science? Congress may not have the scientific expertise it needs to evaluate current issues such as energy policy, climate change, public health and more. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5617838&ft=1&f=1007 +++++ Big Bang Pushed Back Two Billion Years Our universe may be 15% larger and older than we thought, according to new measurements of the distance to a nearby galaxy. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn9676-big-bang-pushed-back-two-bi… +++++ How Pure is the Comet? When NASA slammed a probe into a comet last year, researchers were searching for the oldest stuff in the solar system. But what they found Â— no one had expected. http://skytonight.com/news/3491846.html +++++ Opportunity Examines Crater Ejecta, Grinds into Rock After traversing the sandy plains of Meridiani to "Beagle Crater," Opportunity investigated a patch of outcrop pavement thought to be representative of the Martian surface... http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_opportunityAll.html#sol893 +++++ Spirit Completes Camera Check-Up, Puts Finishing Touches on Panorama Spirit has finished acquiring images for the "McMurdo panorama" and began adding some finishing touches around the edges. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol915 +++++ Lunar X Games The X Games are underway in Los Angeles. One day--who knows?--they might be held on the Moon. This story takes a whimsical look at the physics and gear of Lunar X Games. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/04aug_xmoon.htm?list864576 +++++ SMART-1 Towards Final Impact SMART-1, the successful first European spacecraft to the Moon, is now about to end its exploration adventure, after almost sixteen months of lunar science investigations. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMKTCBUQPE_0.html +++++ Baby 'Planemos' Can Be Born As Twins A team led by a U of T astronomy professor is challenging an existing theoretical model and thrilling the astronomy community with its discovery of a seven-Jupiter-mass companion next to a planemo... http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/060803-2481.asp +++++ Happy Anniversary, MESSENGER! Thursday marked the second anniversary of MESSENGERÂ’s launch. http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/status_report_08_03_06.html +++++ Dawnthusiasts Dawn continues to keep its human handlers very busy as preparations continue on schedule to meet the planned opening of the launch period on June 20, 2007. http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/journal_07_29_06.asp +++++ Eroded Moon This extreme false-color view of Hyperion shows color variation across the impact-blasted surface of the tumbling moon. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2223 +++++ STS Update http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/status-20060804.html +++++ ISS Update http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/issreports/2006/iss06-36.html +++++ Cassini Update http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/sig-event-details.cfm?newsID=682 +++++ ELV Update http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2006/elvstatus-… +++++ ************************************************** ************************************************** Images and Data From Cassini-Huygens At:s 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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ISS to cross Moon
by Patrick Wiggins 04 Aug '06

04 Aug '06

I just received word that ISS is predicted to pass in front of the Moon for some Utahns the morning of Tuesday the 15th. Moon will about 62 degrees above the horizon. Even better, the station will be illuminated as it moves across the sky so, as was the case on the 10th of May (http://utahastro.info/occultations/ISSMOON10MAY2006.MOV) we'll be able to see it approach the Moon. The down side is that the forecast is being made nearly 2 weeks out so I'm guessing there's a fair chance ISS's orbit will have shifted enough be then that we may not see it after all. The data, calculated for SPOC, follows. Patrick A - travel distance (kilometers) and direction B - date C - time (hhmmss) D - elevation angle of the ISS E - azimuth angle of the ISS ( + is East from North; - is W from N) F - range (kilometers) G - latitude for observing the transit H - longitude I - elevation above Mean Sea Level (meters) A------- B----- C----- D--- E----- F--- G------- H-------- I--- 34.9 NW 15 Aug 051316 61.8 132.0 385 40.8871 -112.5508 1281 27.7 NW 15 Aug 051317 61.8 132.1 385 40.8457 -112.4786 1426 20.8 NW 15 Aug 051318 61.9 132.1 385 40.8053 -112.4078 1280 14.5 N 15 Aug 051319 62.0 132.2 385 40.7644 -112.3366 1265 10.0 N 15 Aug 051320 62.0 132.3 385 40.7234 -112.2654 1265 9.3 NE 20.43 40.7044 -112.2330 10.5 NE 15 Aug 051321 62.1 132.3 383 40.6788 -112.1892 2357 15.1 E 15 Aug 051322 62.2 132.4 383 40.6396 -112.1210 1759 21.6 E 15 Aug 051323 62.3 132.4 383 40.5993 -112.0512 1519 28.5 E 15 Aug 051324 62.3 132.5 383 40.5583 -111.9809 1424 35.6 E 15 Aug 051325 62.4 132.6 383 40.5174 -111.9105 1345

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Science film screening
by Michael Carnes 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

I guess my main issue was that they kept running into the same old bad guys week after week. When you're making a beeline for home, I'd think you might run into NEW bad guys. If Janeway wasn't so pigheaded, she'd have pulled over and asked for directions... >Seriously, while I thought it an uninteresting series, >my (at the time) very young daughter found a sort-of >role-model in Capt. Janeway. If for no other reason >than that, it was worth the electricity.

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Star Trek - final remark
by Michael Carnes 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

OK fans, here's your chance... http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/08/02/startrek.auction.ap/index.html

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Transit page
by Patrick Wiggins 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

For those interested in satellite transits of the Sun and Moon (and who have a fairly high speed connection to the web): http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/index.html Patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Obs ops: Fri Aug 4 - ISS - GRS Transit - Minor Meteor Shower peak
by astrodeb＠charter.net 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

I saw a lot of bright meteors Monday night. A couple meteors left trails behind. The moon was out also but didn't seem to hamper the shower. Debbie ---- Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > 8/4/2006 Friday > > 1) ISS overpass > > Accurate time: 4h14m48s > > Appears 4h14m48s 0.2m az:349.8d N h:27.2d > Disappears 4h19m06s 5.0m az: 48.0d NE > > Details: > http://www.calsky.com/csrender.cgi?object=Satellite&number=3&obs=2327532259… > > 2) Jovain GRS transit > 5, 4:15UTC or 8/4/2006 at 10:15pm > > 3) Minor meteor shower peak tonight > > http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer > > Southern iot-Aquarids (SIA) > Active: July 25 August 15; Maximum: August 4 > (ecliptic long = 132°); ZHR = 2; > Radiant: RA = 334°, dec = -15°; Radiant drift: see > Table 6 (page 23); > v8 = 34 km/s; r = 2.9; > TFC: RA = 255° to 000°, Dec = 00° to +15°, > choose pairs separated by about 30° in RA (beta < > 30° N). > > 4) Pluto note > > Pluto is 1/2 deg east of eta Oph and is about as good > a position it could be in for observering with the > Grim scope. The Moon's close position probably will > white the sky out, but it is worth noting for the next > dark sky window. > > > > __________________________________________________ > 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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Trek (was Science film screening)
by Michael Carnes 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

> anyone remember T. J. Hooker? :-o I've been waiting for T.J. Hooker--The Next Generation. So far, nothing.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] New pic
by astrodeb＠charter.net 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

Nice job Joe! Is your tracking error due to polar alignment or periodic error? I found out that my tracking problems were due to periodic error so I ordered the new worm gear for the RA drive. I haven't installed it yet so I'll have to see how much or an improvement there is in tracking. You may try shorter exposures to get around the tracking error. I think if you have good tracking and good focus, you can stack multiple images to get a good S/N ratio. Debbie ---- Gary Thompson <agaryt(a)mstar.net> wrote: > Great shot! Looks like a Christmas ornament. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joe Bauman" <bau(a)desnews.com> > To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 3:54 PM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New pic > > > > Hi friends, I wanted to let you know about a photo I just uploaded. I > > wanted put another on my gallery but now I can't log in again. But > > here's the first: > > > > http://www.utahastronomy.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Joeb&id=M27 > > > > It's a view of M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, that I took the early > > morning of July 28. I was near Vernon, Tooele County, it wasn't too > > cold, and the sky was clear until close to morning. > > > > What a wonderful way to spend a night. At dusk a large owl cruised > > past several times, usually with wings outspread, tilted, searching > > the ground for some of the abundant jackrabbits and voles in the > > area. A little after 1 a.m. the coyotes began their nightly > > yip-howl-barking. Later when one started again, I joined in, hoping > > to sing a duet, but it knew an imposter when it heard one, and shut > > up. > > > > -- Best wishes, 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 > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Obs ops: Fri Aug 4 - ISS - GRS Transit - Minor Meteor Shower peak
by Canopus56 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

8/4/2006 Friday 1) ISS overpass Accurate time: 4h14m48s Appears 4h14m48s 0.2m az:349.8d N h:27.2d Disappears 4h19m06s 5.0m az: 48.0d NE Details: http://www.calsky.com/csrender.cgi?object=Satellite&number=3&obs=2327532259… 2) Jovain GRS transit 5, 4:15UTC or 8/4/2006 at 10:15pm 3) Minor meteor shower peak tonight http://www.imo.net/calendar/2006/summer Southern iot-Aquarids (SIA) Active: July 25 ÂAugust 15; Maximum: August 4 (ecliptic long = 132Â°); ZHR = 2; Radiant: RA = 334Â°, dec = -15Â°; Radiant drift: see Table 6 (page 23); v8 = 34 km/s; r = 2.9; TFC: RA = 255Â° to 000Â°, Dec = 00Â° to +15Â°, choose pairs separated by about 30Â° in RA (beta < 30Â° N). 4) Pluto note Pluto is 1/2 deg east of eta Oph and is about as good a position it could be in for observering with the Grim scope. The Moon's close position probably will white the sky out, but it is worth noting for the next dark sky window. __________________________________________________ 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] Science film screening
by Michael Carnes 03 Aug '06

03 Aug '06

This is fun! >Michael posted it, I didn't!!! > >I was just ducking for cover... > > >--- Cynthia Blue <leviblue(a)utahdogs.com> wrote: > >> Bahaahahaaa... >> >> She didn't need no stinkin' directions. ;) >> >> >> >> Chuck Hards wrote: >> > NOW you've done it... >> > >> > --- Michael Carnes <michaelcarnes(a)earthlink.net> >> > wrote: >> > >> > >> >> If Janeway wasn't so >> >> pigheaded, she'd have pulled over and asked for >> >> directions... > > >__________________________________________________ >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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