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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Weather
by stormcrow60＠xmission.com 05 May '09

05 May '09

Daniel wrote: "This weather bites!" I have just come back from a trip in Southern California and on the way back I camped out in Death Valley. Although I was peering through a lot of atmosphere, the air was clear from the winds earlier in the day. After midnight the sky was spectacular. As I neared Utah, I saw the weather taking a turn for the worse. Oh well... at least we will get more water. Jon

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Potential for lunar policy shift at NASA
by Canopus56 03 May '09

03 May '09

Tracking this down futher, it appears that the administration was requesting a $900M increase in funding for FY2010 at the House appropriations hearing that was the subject of the article, raising NASA funding to $18.7 billion. But the administration is overdue on its detailed FY2010 budget request. The acting administrator's statement was upbeat. The chairman of the appropriations subcommitee was more somber - noting that the administration is suggesting a flat budget for the next 5 years, that they cannot come up with a replacement for the head of agency, and it appears NASA is trying to do much within its current budget. So, it looks like a developing story that S&T and New Scientist was hyping a bit. - Clear Skies - Kurt The acting administrator's statement: http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony/CJS/Christopher_Scolese_0… Subcommittee Chair statement: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/CJS-FY10-04-29-09.pdf

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Potential for lunar policy shift at NASA
by Joe Bauman 02 May '09

02 May '09

I agree with Chuck 100 percent, and hope that the administration doesn't derail the moon base idea. It will be useful for many decades, compared with the likely one or two expensive flights to Mars. And after the Mars landings, what? I have trouble imagining the value or even the possibility of a permanent Mars colony. But with the moon as a destination, scientists can regularly commute to the base and carry out such important work as radio and light astronomy in a way possible nowhere else. The moon could even be a suitable place for tourism in the not-too-distant future. -- Joe --- On Sat, 5/2/09, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Potential for lunar policy shift at NASA To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 5:03 PM That's too bad. As alluring as Mars is, it's obvious that a permanent lunar presence will benefit further solar-system exploration in the long-run. I think the Planetary Society got this one wrong. _______________________________________________ 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.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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April 28th Birthdays
by Jay Eads 02 May '09

02 May '09

Not sure if anyone else listens to 365 days of Astronomy Podcasts, but in today's episode it mentions that the three following astronomers who though no longer with us, have left an impact with us and share today, as their common birthday. Jan Hendrik Oort developed the theory that a cloud of ice and other material existed on the edge of solar system. I believe it is called the Oort Cloud. Bart Jan Bok who spent his time on the shape of our galaxy and found Bok globules where gravity is forcing the gas to condense and form new stars. Eugene Merle Shoemaker who did something with comets and impacts on planetary bodies. As a note, though Mr. Shoemaker passed away in 1997 and as the podcast states: "On July 31, 1999, some of his ashes were carried to the Moon by the Lunar Prospector space probe. To date, he is the only person to have been buried on the Moon. The brass foil wrapping of Dr. Shoemaker's memorial capsule is inscribed with images of Comet Hale-Bopp, the Barringer Meteor Crater, and a quotation from Romeo and Juliet reading: "And, when he shall die Take him and cut him out in little stars And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun." So to those 3 great men of science and to anyone else sharing this day as a b-day, Happy Birthday! Just thought it was interesting to share. Jay

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Potential for lunar policy shift at NASA
by Canopus56 02 May '09

02 May '09

This happens with every change in US administrations. Here's an S&T article speculating on an Obama admin move away from the lunar exploration. - Clear Skies, Kurt NASA to Abandon Plan for Moon Base? April 30, 2009 by David Shiga, New Scientist.com http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/44081552.html

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] weather this spring
by Jay Eads 02 May '09

02 May '09

I agree that I am sick of this weather of late. I was off for the month of April and only got 2 sessions in. However, on the other side I did get these light shields put together http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1839 They give me a 12 x 16 foot dark room and I call it my poor man's observatory. I did use them late last night and they really did work. Certain parts are glued, while others are not so if I want to transport them I can. That is the positive from having crapy weather of late. I also found this site http://www.deep-sky.co.uk/asterisms.htm on asterisms, and some of them I had not found before. So now I wait until the clouds do finally go away and that summer time western high pressure moves in to dominate our weather pattern. Jay

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Ignore that e-mail.
by dustynebula＠juno.com 02 May '09

02 May '09

Hello Patrick.Please ignore my recent e-mail. Wrong address. Dave. ____________________________________________________________ Click to learn how to become a world famous writer or poet. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIZkUFiSHdDZBh26tqqhiRvya…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Astronomy Day at clark Planetarium
by dustynebula＠juno.com 02 May '09

02 May '09

Hi Jay! We'd be delighted if you can give your Night Sky Outreach program once or a few times this afternoon, or if you just join us for "meet and greet" with potential sky gazers. There are lots of free and low cost events today so bring family and friends. We'll have a continuously staffed table from noon to about six. Even if you can't make it today, thanks for your good work. Happy (rainy) Astronomy Day. Dave Bernson and the SLAS board. ____________________________________________________________ Click now for prescreened plumbing contractors. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTRHI90LHtGIjMV1u3w1aOxDRc…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] weather this spring
by Joe Bauman 01 May '09

01 May '09

Grrr. I'm so mad about the weather that I'M about to bite someone! -- Joe --- On Fri, 5/1/09, Troy Davidson <clandaith(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Troy Davidson <clandaith(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] weather this spring To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Friday, May 1, 2009, 2:42 PM I fully agree. I was going to go camping/star gazing tonight. On Fri, May 1, 2009 at 2:34 PM, daniel turner <outwest112(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > This weather bites! > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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.slas.us/gallery2/main.php > Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com > -- ++++++++++++++++++ Troy Davidson _______________________________________________ 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.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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weather this spring
by daniel turner 01 May '09

01 May '09

This weather bites!

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