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

Hargreaves Sturt part - Ball and Socket U-Joint
by Kurt Fisher 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Tho, you are a genius. That's perfect, I could almost buy all the parts and screw them together without modification. Thanks - Kurt P.S. - On another topic, I have a Moonlight Crayford focuser. They are the best price point choice except for the GSO crayford focuser for refractors. http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_frc2.htm _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Hargreaves Sturt part - Ball and Socket U-Joint
by Kurt Fisher 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

I am interested in fabricating a Hargreaves strut similar to that seen at the attached webpage - http://www.apstas.com/astrotas/mathers/southerncrossobservatory3.html and discussed in the Sept. 2001 issue of Sky & Telescope at pp. 114-115. The business guts of the strut are two plastic universal ball and socket u-joints. Using the S&T article, I have located the ball and socket joints at http://www.mcmaster.com/ at $33 for one joint. McMaster 60625K96 Plastic Ball and Socket U-Joints $32.85 a piece I was wondered if anyone knew of a suitable lightweight substitute part that might be available locally at a lower price? Essentially, any ball and socket joint that can be fastened to a 1" or 3/4" aluminum pipe would work. I don't think the ball and socket needs to move in 3-D; a hinged connector with 2-D movement like McMaster 98010A290 would also work. I have checked local awning retailers without success. - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Persids
by Kurt Fisher 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Today's Spaceweather.com (8-10-2007) notes that the Persid frequency currently are being reported at 10+ per hour (one per 6 minutes) in the early hours before dawn. www.spaceweather.com There is also an interesting 2-D image chart of radio meteor reflections generated by the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar of the Western Ontario University. http://spaceweather.com/swpod2007/10aug07/mpd-20070808-17.gif http://aquarid.physics.uwo.ca/cmor.htm - Kurt _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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Nova N Vul 07 - reference repostings
by Kurt Fisher 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

======================================== AAVSO Special Notice #56 N Vul 07 August 9, 2007 N Vul 07 (CBET 1027, AAVSO Special Notice #55) is most likely a nova; high-resolution spectra are being analyzed to confirm the object's nature. An AAVSO Alert Notice will be issued later, but the purpose of this special notice is to inform observers that: - N Vul 07 (19:54:24.64 +20:52:51.9 (2000.0)) has been added to the AAVSO files as 1950+20 N VUL 07. - An AAVSO chart with photometry by Richard Miles may be obtained from the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP) by going to http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/ and entering 1950+20 or N VUL 07. - Observations reported to the AAVSO indicate that N Vul 07 is continuing to brighten: AUG 08.9604 UT, 9.30 CCD (based on USNO A2.0), D. Rodriguez, Madrid, Spain; 09.0056, 9.3 (based on Tycho magnitude), S. Swierczynski, Dobczyce, Poland; 09.0486, 9.0, Swierczynski; 09.0590, 9.4 (AAVSO RS Sge comparison sequence), G. Chaple, Townsend, MA; 09.0931, 8.7, M. Komorous, London, Ontario, Canada; 09.1111, 8.7 (GSC 1625-855 (8.6), GSC 1629-594 (9.0)), L. Shotter, Uniontown,PA; 09.1875, 8.4 (based on Tycho magnitudes), R. King, Duluth, MN; 09.2083, 8.7 (GSC1628-1232 (8.4), GSC1628-214 (9.1), J. Bortle, Stormville, NY; Tim Crawford, Arch Cape, OR, reports V photometry (using Richard Miles' value of 9.802V for comparison star TYC 1628 0666): Aug 09. 19576 UT, 8.368; .21751, 8.349; .24450, 8.361; .27008, 8.344; .38532, 8.223; .40890, 8.178; .43109, 8.143. Please submit your observations of N VUL 07 to the AAVSO via WebObs as soon as possible after you make them. Please be sure to include the comparison stars used. Many thanks and good observing! This special notice was compiled by: Elizabeth O. Waagen =========================================== From: BAA mailing list <baalist(a)nickdjames.com> Save Address | Headers To : baalist1(a)saturn.astronet CC : Date : Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:36:09 +0100 Subject : [BAA 00303] Alert! - Nova Vulpeculae 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== BAA electronic bulletin No. 00303 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== In CBET Electronic Telegram No. 1027, received at 22:02UT on August 08, S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reported the discovery of a possible nova by Hiroshi Abe (Yatsuka-cho, Matsue, Shimane-ken, Japan) on survey frames taken around Aug. 8.54UT using a Canon EOS Kiss Digital Camera (+ 35-mm f/2.8 Pentax lens). Early measurements showed the object to be about magnitude 9.4-9.5. By Aug. 9.00, the V magnitude had brightened to about 8.9 (R. Miles) and at Aug. 9.27 the nova had reached 8.3 (N. James, T. Crawford). Robin Leadbeater from spectra he recorded last night has confirmed the nova, which is located at RA 19 54 24.63 Dec. +20 52 52.1 as measured by Nick James. At 21:30UT this evening, the nova had already embarked on its apparent decline at a rate in excess of 1 mag/day whilst at the same time reddening in colour. I have established a comparison star sequence based on measurements of the following Tycho stars: 1628-1075 V=8.83, V-I=+1.40 1628-0666 V=9.80, V-I=+1.18 1628-0130 V=9.50, V-I=+0.48 1628-0527 V=10.24, V-I=+0.24 1628-1171 V=10.15, V-I=+0.14 Observers are encouraged to monitor this object using one or more of the above stars. The latest data I have show that at 22:30UT the nova had reached V=8.34 and was fading at a rate of 0.8 mag/day. Richard Miles _______________________________________________ Sent via CSolutions - http://www.csolutions.net

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observing sites in Utah
by Taylor 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts, I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a couple of questions. Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available. I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring. Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing? Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern Utah that you would recommend? What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky generally clear then? I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have company if some of you would like to meet up in October! Thanks, Taylor Christiansen Western North Carolina

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Re: Bolide? (WAYNE S CLARKE)
by Jim Cobb 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Here is Merriam-Webster's unabridged on bolide. Jim _________________________________ Main Entry: bo·lide Pronunciation: bld, -_ld Function: noun Inflected Form(s): -s Etymology: French, from Latin bolid-, bolis arrow-shaped meteor, from Greek, literally, missile, javelin, from ballein to throw -- more at DEVIL : an exploding or exploded meteor or meteorite © 2005 by Merriam-Webster, Inc. _________________________________ On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:51:38 +0000, "WAYNE S CLARKE" <waynesclarke(a)msn.com> wrote: > Message: 6 > Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:51:38 +0000 > From: "WAYNE S CLARKE" <waynesclarke(a)msn.com> > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Bolide? > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Message-ID: <BAY109-F15357E65406D360B2EB266C0E00(a)phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed > > Patrick: I was doing a star party last night at a Dude Ranch about > ten > miles south of Bryce Canyon NP. We saw a lot of the Perseids > during the > course of the evening and then the meteor you described lit up the > whole > area and the faces of all the Explorer Scouts who were looking up. > I told > them that a meteor which explodes and leaves a contrail is called a > bolide, > is that correct? > Wayne > _______________________________________________ > 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 54, Issue 26 > **********************************************

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Bolide?
by WAYNE S CLARKE 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Patrick: I was doing a star party last night at a Dude Ranch about ten miles south of Bryce Canyon NP. We saw a lot of the Perseids during the course of the evening and then the meteor you described lit up the whole area and the faces of all the Explorer Scouts who were looking up. I told them that a meteor which explodes and leaves a contrail is called a bolide, is that correct? Wayne

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Help needed for article
by Ann House 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Salt Lake Magazine has contacted me. They would like to do a SLAS feature in their Nov-Dec issue. I don't want to begin with "we don't have organized public viewing in the winter." But there really isn't anything going on, is there? Our observatory is closed. There is no astronomical event... Is our only option a story for their spring issue on the observatory's season's opening? -A

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Llink between a supernova and mass extinction?
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

>My appoligies it was John Cannizzo from NASA, that talked about the Gamma Rays. Dr Kieda talked about the U's Observatory Project, and some site surveys they are doing to decide on site. Wish Chad Moore had been there, wish he also subscribed to our chat group. Erik Super Novas' close enough to earth can sterlize it, but I think the life is extincted along with the ozone. Dr. Kieda touhed on that a little at our last meeting. Just of the top of my head, I'm just finishing dinner. As I recall the extinctions come about 67 million years apart and most are believed to be caused by an Asteroid or Big Comet. A lot of these craters have been found, the Gulf of Mexico is approximately one of them. Geologist also point to the moon as evidence of many impacts in the last 4 billion years. The bad news is that it has been about 67 million years since our last extinction. I heard a biologist refer to Humans as a giant rock heading towards the earth. Which will get us first, ourselves or an Asteroid? Erik I read this article today on and thought it was interesting. > > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3900550/ > > Julie > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Apophis 99942
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Julie and All, Here is a website I found for what Patrick was talking about, when I find the Sky&Telescope article I will also relay that. This is probably the one they talked about but could not find a reference for it on the Sky&Tele website. Erik http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/Apophis.html

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