February 2008 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Satelites
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hi All, Below is a link to a video with sats passing in front of the Pleadies. Erik http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/science/space/05spotters.html?ex=12028788…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Antoniadi seeing scale in larger apetures above 250mm
by Canopus56 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

To clarify my earlier question, by example, take a small 60mm refractor that has a theorectical diffraction disk of 1.9 arcsec radius (by 116/D_mm). In poor Antoniadi seeing V, I typically seeing a large disk smearing out to 3 or 4 arcsecs. For the Grim 812 mm apeture, the theoretical disk is 0.14 arcsecs. With a single star under high magnification, what do you see? 1) a small 0.14-1.0 disk jumping around within a 3 or 4 arcsecs radius. 2) a small 0.14-1.0 disk that smears to 0.75 or 1.5 arcsecs? Thanks - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Antoniadi seeing scale in larger apetures above 250mm
by Canopus56 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hi, I'm trying to get a feel for Antoniadi seeing scale and the Pickering scale for apetures above 250mm. I understand that larger apetures scopes show less variation in the seeing disk than let's say a 5 1/4 inch refractor or a 6 inch DOB. Specifically, I'm interested in the poor end of the Antoniadi scale. Since the seeing disk is much smaller in a larger apeture scope, the variation in the seeing disk is supposedly much lower in poor seeing, than the 3 or 4 arcsecs that I might see in a small refractor or binoculars. Having almost no experience at those apetures except for the occasional peak through the Grimm scope, I would looking for some experience based statements from those who do. - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Solar obs note 2-2-2008
by Canopus56 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

To correct that sketch url should be: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com/main.php?g2_itemId=10906 - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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Solar obs note 2-2-2008
by Canopus56 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Since it was a sunny day, I pulled out the PST for a quick look at the Sun. No proms on any limb. There are two dramatic long-dark filaments (proms seen from directly above) and a large active region. The dark filaments are extraordinarily long - 10 or 15 degs. These have been mentioned in internet traffic and on Spaceweather.com. Schematically, this is what I saw: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com/main.php?g2_itemId=10906&g2_navId=xfe1eb2e6 But much better international internet images are available at: http://solardatabase.free.fr/tableau.php and specifically a PST image taken about five hours before my sketch: http://solardatabase.free.fr/upload/2008-02-02_134802.jpg - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Apophis flyby simulation
by Patrick Wiggins 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Fun video showing the view from minor planet Apophis during it's 2029 encounter with Earth: http://www.bisque.com/Products/Seeker/Apophis2036.mov The video was made by a software called Seeker. Anyone here using Seeker? patrick

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New journals on the net
by Canopus56 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

AAVSO Jan 08 Solar Bulletin http://www.aavso.org/observing/programs/solar/dec07.shtml Selenology Today Issue No. 9 http://digilander.libero.it/glrgroup/journal.htm including - A Workflow for Sharpening Lunar Images by B. Pilz Non or marginal astronomy item - New York Times 1-31-2008 Stretching the Truth Just Became Easier (and Cheaper) Digital pictures can be stretched without distorting a subject's face. Above, an altered photo. By PETER WAYNER http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/technology/personaltech/31basics.html Includes links to various online free and commercial products that apply astronomical imaging techniquess (e.g. stacking and deconvolution) to your ordinary everyday personal images of landscapes and friends. - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Lunar transit, then flare / TU24 another view
by Patrick Wiggins 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

I just came across this You Tube video showing an Iridium satellite first transiting the Moon and then flaring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9SFzwlzQvE Also, if you have not had enough of 2007 TU24 here's a video I assembled for Software Bisque showing TU24 stationary and the background stars moving: http://www.bisque.com/tom/2007TU24/2007TU24.asp patrick

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