January 2007 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

iPhone possibilities
by Chuck Hards 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

Has anyone purchased one of those planetarium programs for their cell-phone? If so, can you post a review? The announcement of the iPhone today made me think that it is now possible to load the entire Millenium Star Atlas on it or a similar teeny device. Perhaps even a telescope controller via the headphone jack. Camera interface, image file acquisition and storage, even manipulation. The laptop is probably obsolete as far as amateur astronomy is concerned (assuming you can actually see the postage-stamp sized screen!). __________________________________________________ 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] The comet
by Michael Carnes 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

>Welllllllllllllllll when I can see the Crux from my front walk, I >figure I am fairly well placed south (ish). You just wait. The islands are continually drifting to the northwest. In just a few million years you'll be stuck with Cepheus just like the rest of us ;-)

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] The comet tonight. 2006p1
by Michael Carnes 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

That's a really nice shot. I looked at your EXIF data, which says ISO 400 and F/7.5. All in all, that means the thing must be pretty bright for relatively slow camera settings. What was your exposure time? > this has to be my best >comet yet. If only it were a few degrees higher! :(

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] The comet tonight. 2006p1
by Michael Carnes 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

>Thanks Michale. This was a 1 second prime-focus exposure on an Orion ED80 >(hence the f/7.5). It definitely was bright, but unfortunately so was the >twilight haze. Hmm. Didn't know it was prime focus. I've got a 350D as well. How'd you match the camera up to the scope? I've seen an EOS T-adapter for sale on Orion, but don't really know what it implies. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Michael

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Comet McNaught
by David Dunn 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

I went out last night and parked on Antelope Dr., a couple of blocks from my home. Like Kim, once I located it in binoculars, it was easy to pick out in the orange haze to the west, with the naked eye. Without binoculars, as the air turned steady, I could see 3 or 4 degrees of tail. The nucleus appeared to be a little dimmer than Venus. There was a dome shaped mountain directly below it in the desert, this made it easy for my family to find. I think that the policeman, that parked about 5 car lengths behind me, must have figured out what the weird family was doing. He should have come up and looked with us. When we first picked it out, it was right on the edge of the yellow-orange haze and the light blue sky. It was fun to see another comet that we didn't need a telescope to enjoy. Dave

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Comet McNaught
by Kim 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

Had to take a phone call at about 5:30, so didnt get to try to pick up the comet until 5:40. It was easy to spot in my 11x70 binos, about 10 degrees above the horizon. As soon as I found it, I put down the binos and easily picked it up unaided-eye. My 17-year-old son, 9-year-old son and his friend, and my wife all spotted it just as easily. It disappeared below my local horizon, about 2½ degrees, at around 6:02. Arent we about due for another great comet? Kim

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] iPhone possibilities
by Michael Carnes 09 Jan '07

09 Jan '07

>The announcement of the iPhone today made me think >that it is now possible to load the entire Millenium >Star Atlas on it or a similar teeny device. Perhaps >even a telescope controller via the headphone jack. >Camera interface, image file acquisition and storage, >even manipulation. > As far as the iPhone goes, nothing has yet been announced on whether 3rd-party software will be supported. The display is 1/2 VGA (320x480), so you might be able to see a few things on it. But Apple calling it widescreen is a stretch. This actually points to a few things that haven't been addressed in the early press coverage. This is the first product using OSX that doesn't require a hard disk. As a technologist myself, I see that as representing a rather significant accomplishment. This MAY mean that future laptop or tablet devices can be created that don't require an energy-sapping hard drive. And while the iPhone does (or it's better to say 'will') have wireless support, the physical interfaces are restricted to what's on the Apple dock connection. I don't have a pinout of the connection, but I'd be surprised if there was anything on it that could be used to control a scope. So Joe, don't throw out the laptop just yet. I think you'll continue to appreciate the fact that it can show you a lot more information than an iPhone. And perhaps a not-too-far-away Apple laptop will ditch the hard drive and let you stay up late. --MC

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Your Telescope Could Become Famous :)
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Jan '07

09 Jan '07

SLC's Around the Globe Theater would like to borrow a telescope to be used as a prop for an upcoming local production. They are leaning towards a refractor and would need to have it for about a month. The scope need not be functional. If you can help please contact Beth Bruner at bethb(a)xmission.com. pw

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S&T typo?
by Patrick Wiggins 08 Jan '07

08 Jan '07

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed the "oops" on the cover of the Feb 2007 issue of Sky & Telescope? I'll remember it next time someone finds a typo in Nova. pw :)

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Weird green lights?
by Richard Tenney 08 Jan '07

08 Jan '07

I had a reporter from the Tribune call me last night, telling me that he had received several phone calls from people reporting seeing "green lights" in the sky (I assume it was Saturday night), like meteors. I told him I hadn't heard a single word from the local astro-community. I assume nobody has...? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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