October 2009 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] New Giant Ring Around Saturn
by Canopus56 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

It never ceases to amaze me how much our view of the solar system and universe have changed over the short period of my own lifetime. Another new development to ponder. - Kurt

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Soviet space shuttle could bail out NASA
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

The story's a year old and I rather doubt it'll happen but I did enjoy the part about using it to steal Skylab. :) patrick http://www.russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2008-11-15/Soviet_space_shuttle_coul…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] OT Star Party at the Whitehouse tonight
by Canopus56 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

Rich, It's about the kids, not what you think about OBama. - Kurt

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LCROSS More star party and media resources
by Canopus56 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

Opps - omitted link - K Science at NASA (Dr. Tony Phillips) Observing Guide http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/05oct_lcrossvg.htm ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Canopus56 <canopus56(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy List Serv <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Mon, October 5, 2009 4:54:47 PM Subject: LCROSS More star party and media resources LCROSS More star party resources Science at NASA (Dr. Tony Phillips) Observing Guide LCROSS Team - LCROSS Impact Party Toolkit http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/impactkit/index.htm - includes Fact Sheet, Centaur model and other goodies The Impact Party Toolkit notes: "Planetarium version of Flight to the Moon: LRO and LCROSS This video news brief has both a fulldome version and a flat-screen version. For information on ordering a planetarium version of Flight to the Moon: Mike Murrey, Programs Manager Clark Planetarium 110 South 400 West Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 456-4949 http://clarkplanetarium.org/distribution/ " The "Flight to the Moon" video is at direct url link: http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/impactkit/downloads/2-Impact/LRO_LCROSS.mov (_193_ Mb) - Clear Skies - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] LCROSS Media update notes
by Canopus56 06 Oct '09

06 Oct '09

1. LCROSS Pre-impact press conference Thursday, Oct. 8 11:30 am PDT Post-impact news conference 7 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9 2. LRO follow-up imaging 63 seconds after impact 3. LCROSS Flight Director's Blog 9-4 to 10-5 events 4. LCROSS Flight Director's Blog Detail on August near-loss event ------------- I. LCROSS Thursday pre-impact Thursday, Oct. 8 11:30 a.m. PDT (18:30 UT 10-8) Streamed audio broadcast: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2009/M09-127.html Oct. 6, 2009 Jonas Dino Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650.604.5612 Jonas.Dino(a)nasa.gov Rachel Prucey Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650.604.0643 Rachel.L.Prucey(a)nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-127 NASA INVITES REPORTERS TO EVENTS FOR LCROSS LUNAR IMPACT MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. â€“ NASA is inviting journalists to events this week in Washington and California to observe the twin impacts of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and its rocket's upper stage as they impact the moon. The goal of the mission is to search for water ice on the moon. The satellite and upper stage both are scheduled to hit a permanently shadowed crater of the moon, four minutes apart, at approximately 4:30 a.m. and 4:34 a.m. PDT on Friday, Oct. 9. NASA Television coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. PDT NASA will hold a pre-impact media teleconference on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 11:30 a.m. PDT from NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. NASA will provide a mission update and discuss what to expect as the Centaur upper stage rocket and the LCROSS spacecraft impact Cabeus crater, near the lunar south pole. Briefing participants on Oct. 8 are: Daniel Andrews, LCROSS project manager, Ames Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist and principal investigator, Ames Jennifer Heldmann, coordinator for the LCROSS observation campaign, Ames Live audio of the teleconference will be streamed online at: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio Ames also will hold a post-impact news conference at 7 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9 in the Ames main auditorium in Building N201. The news conference will be broadcast on NASA TV and the agency's Web site. Briefing participants on Oct. 9 are: Daniel Dumbacher, deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington Pete Worden, Ames center director Daniel Andrews, LC ROSS project manager, Ames Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist and principal investigator, Ames Jennifer Heldmann, coordinator for the LCROSS observation campaign, Ames Paul Tompkins, LCROSS flight director, Ames To participate in the Oct. 8 teleconference and the Oct. 9 post-impact news conference, contact Jonas Dino at 650-604-5612 or jonas.dino(a)nasa.gov or Rachel Prucey at 650-604-0643 or rachel.l.prucey(a)nasa.gov. Also on Oct. 9, reporters are invited to the Newseum in Washington to view the LCROSS impacts. The Newseum is located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Journalists should arrive by 7 a.m. EDT. There will not be an opportunity for questions at the Newseum event, but reporters may participate by telephone in the 7 a.m. PDT news conference that will take place at Ames. Reporters interested in attending the Newseum event in Washington should RSVP to Grey Hautaluoma at grey.hautaluoma-1(a)nasa.gov or Ashley Edwards at ashley.edwards-1(a)nasa.gov. The NASA Exploration Center at Ames will serve as the press site for the LCROSS impacts. The press site opens to journalists at 5:30 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Oct. 8, and will remain open until 9 a.m. PDT on Friday, Oct. 9. All accredited journalists must sign in at the Exploration Center to receive badges and vehicle passes needed to gain access to the Ames main auditorium for the post-impact news conference. For more latest information about LCROSS, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/lcross For information and a map of additional LCROSS Impact Viewing Events, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/impact/event_index.html For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv -end- ------------- II. From the LCROSS Facebook page 10-5-2009 [Posted by the] LCROSS Lunar Impactor Mission: Update to the LRO participation in this experiment: The current plan is for them to fly by with closest approach (about 63 km) at 90 seconds after impact. They will be looking at the limb with LAMP and Diviner will be looking down into the crater (it can point independently). In addition, LROC may be looking to see if it could image the Centaur as it came in. On subsequent orbits LRO will again look with LAMP and Diviner, and then later with LROC, mini-RF and LOLA. LRO has a unique vantage point, being the only orbiting lunar spacecraft at present. A lot will be learnt about the lunar exosphere as well with these ancillary measurements. Yesterday at 8:01pm http://www.facebook.com/pages/LCROSS-Lunar-Impactor-Mission/154478180006?re… ------------- III. LCROSS Flight Director's Blog update 9-4 to 10-5 events (Posted 10-5) http://wiki.nasa.gov/cm/blog/lcrossfdblog/posts/post_1254770098554.html -------------- IV. LCROSS Flight Director's Blog Detail on Near-Loss Event in August (Posted 10-4) http://wiki.nasa.gov/cm/blog/lcrossfdblog/posts/post_1254701386237.html

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LCROSS More star party and media resources
by Canopus56 05 Oct '09

05 Oct '09

LCROSS More star party resources Science at NASA (Dr. Tony Phillips) Observing Guide LCROSS Team - LCROSS Impact Party Toolkit http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/impactkit/index.htm - includes Fact Sheet, Centaur model and other goodies The Impact Party Toolkit notes: "Planetarium version of Flight to the Moon: LRO and LCROSS This video news brief has both a fulldome version and a flat-screen version. For information on ordering a planetarium version of Flight to the Moon: Mike Murrey, Programs Manager Clark Planetarium 110 South 400 West Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 456-4949 http://clarkplanetarium.org/distribution/ " The "Flight to the Moon" video is at direct url link: http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/impactkit/downloads/2-Impact/LRO_LCROSS.mov (_193_ Mb) - Clear Skies - Kurt

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LCROSS Media update notes
by Canopus56 05 Oct '09

05 Oct '09

NASA Press Release M09-126 LCROSS Broadcasts on impact day NASA LCROSS Media Footage Preview Video (10-2009) ====================== http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2009/M09-126.html Oct. 5, 2009 Jonas Dino Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650.604.5612 Jonas.Dino(a)nasa.gov Rachel Prucey Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650.604.0643 Rachel.L.Prucey(a)nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-126 NASA AMES TO SHOWCASE SPECTACULAR LCROSS LUNAR IMPACTS MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. â€“ NASAâ€™s Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission will come to a dramatic conclusion at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT (7:30 a.m. EDT) on Friday, Oct 9, 2009, with the impact of the LCROSS Centaur upper stage rocket and four minutes later, the impact of the LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft into Cabeus crater near the moonâ€™s south pole. To mark the event, NASA Ames Research Center is hosting â€˜LCROSS Impact Night.â€™ News media are invited to cover the three-part event that is open to the public and free of charge. WHAT: LCROSS Impact Night Public Event WHEN: 7 p.m. PDT, Oct. 8 to 7 a.m. PDT, Oct. 9, 2009 Presentations 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, Oct. 8 S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Center Director Victoria P. Friedensen, LCROSS program executive Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 astronaut Moon-Themed Movie Night 8:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, Oct. 8 to 3:15 a.m. PDT, Friday, Oct. 9. Live NASA TV Broadcast of the LCROSS impacts with expert commentary 3:15 a.m. to 7 a.m. PDT, Friday, Oct. 9 WHERE: NASA Ames Research Center. To reach Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field/NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Field Boulevard toward the main gate. The NASA Exploration Center, at NASA Ames, will serve as the press site for the LCROSS impacts. The press site opens to the news media at 5:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday Oct. 8 and will remain open until 9 a.m. PDT, Friday, Oct 9. All accredited news media must sign in at the Exploration Center to receive visitor badges and vehicle passes needed to gain access to the NASA Ames main auditorium for the post impact news conference. For more Ames press site information, U.S. media accreditation and interview requests, contact Jonas Dino at 650-604-5612, jonas.dino(a)nasa.gov or Rachel Prucey at 650-604-0643, Rachel.L.Prucey(a)nasa.gov. In the continental United States, NASA Television's Public, Education and Media channels are carried by MPEG-2 digital C-band signal on AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, Transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. They're available in Alaska and Hawaii on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-7, transponder 18C, 137 degrees west longitude, 4060 MHz, vertical polarization. A Digital Video Broadcast compliant Integrated Receiver Decoder is required for reception. Analog NASA TV is no longer available. For more information about the LCROSS Impact Night event, visit http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/impactnight/index.htm For more information about additional impact events on Oct. 9, 2009 visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/impact/index.html For the latest information about the live LCROSS Impact Broadcast on NASA TV, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/news/index.html For more information about the LCROSS mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/lcross -end- ======================================== LCROSS Media Preview Footage Video 10-2009 http://www.nasa.gov/mov/391565main_LCROSS-MediaPreview.mov

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LCROSS one page star party handout
by Canopus56 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

Using materials on the LCROSS Citizen Science site, I have put together a one-page handout for use at star parties in the LCROSS ground observing zone west of the Missippi - http://tinyurl.com/yezuu7c Clear Skies and Happy Impact - Kurt

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LCROSS impact imaging - banked cooled CCD imaging strategy
by Canopus56 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

I have suggested that the best imaging strategy for the LCROSS impact is lucky imaging using fast subsec captures with mid- to high- range planetary cameras (e.g. ImageSource and Luminera). This strategy seeks to capture at 15 fps and get maybe 8 to 10 crisp images across the 40 second key duration of the impact event. Lucky imaging involves taking many images at sub-second intervals to capture about 8 to 10 crisp images during still air moments in atmospheric turbulence. But cooled DSO CCD cameras also are widely dispersed in the amateur community. In a discussion with a New Mexico amateur, Dave Dockery, he suggests that traditional cooled CCDs have a performance advantage that favors their use - a deeper dynamic range. This note summarizes my thinking from that discussion and concludes that clubs with many cooled CCD imagers and few planetary cameras may want to try a banked cooled CCD imaging strategy. An SBIG10 has a minimum readout time of about 4 seconds. Over 40 seconds, it would collect about 8 to 10 images. This is inconsistent with a lucky imaging strategy that relies on subsecond exposure capture rates to increase the probability of capturing crisp images in still air. While CCDs with long-read out times can be used, the probability of have a seeing distorted image increases. In contrast, a low-end and lower resolution, uncooled Meade DSI can read out at essentially video capture frame speeds. An planetary camera can capture AVI frames quickly, e.g. - 30 to 15 frames per second - but at a lower dynamic range. The dynamic range of an astronomy camera refers to the signal strength of its lowest detectable signal as compared to the signal strength of its highest detectable signal. Dynamic range can be expressed using the decibal scale. The decibal scale is familar to most people with respect to terresterial noises. The dynamic range of a low-end 99 USD LPI camera might be 16db. The dynamic range of a high-end CCD, with a low-readout speed, might have a dynamic range of 80db (Apogee Instruments (CCD) Alta U32 CCD Camera). Specialty low light video cameras will take AVI frames quickly, but also have a higher db range. Modern uncooled lunar imaging cameras (e.g. Image Source) will capture fast frames (15 fps) and have a db maximum of 36db. What this means for practical LCROSS plume imaging is that if you calibrate your exposure time so the lunar mountain M1 is not overexposed but you use enough gain so that the shadowed region of west Cabeus is not pegged below 0 pixel values, an LPI might not have enough dynamic range to pick up an unexpectedly fainter plume, although it will capture many crisp frames. Conversely, a cooled CCD may see an unexpectedly fainter plume due to its higher dynamic range, but since it captures frames at only 1 for every four seconds, the brightest part of the impact plume may begin and end between the camera's capture frames and not be seen at all. One cooperative imaging strategy for local clubs that have several interested cooled CCD owners is banked imaging. In this strategy, CCD owners could self-organize themselves and set up in observing banks of three or four CCD imagers. The CCD imagers would need to determine the read-out and auto-repeat time of their cameras. On a voice "go" signal, each imager would start their CCD cameras with a time offset of let's say half-second intervals. With a CCD banked strategy, three or four CCD imagers would increase their chances that would of their cameras would capture a "deep dynamic" range image of the shadowed portion of west Cabeus at the critical moment. Everyone may not capture an image showing a plume, but at least one of you might. The final selection of a plume imaging strategy is a camera user judgment call that should be made considering the inherent camera response characteristic tradeoffs discussed above. There is not necessarily a right or best answer because there is uncertainty as to exactly how bright the plume will get. Clear Skies - Kurt

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LCROSS Weather updates
by Canopus56 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

I have created a page with weather resource links for use with the LCROSS impact. http://groups.google.com/group/lcross_observation/web/weather-updates Based on NOAA forecasts issued 10-3-2009, a front passes through the pacific northwest on Oct. 8, leaving clear skies over California on the morning of Oct. 9. Washington, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona are shown on the NOAA sky cover prediction map with some sky cover, but clearing. Two high zones dominate the western United States. Southern California is predicted to have morning fog or haze. - Clear Skies - Kurt

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