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

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 78, Issue 9 "Human vs Machine"
by John R. Peterson 11 Aug '09

11 Aug '09

Personally, I believe that not until a radically new form of propulsion is discovered will human travel, even to the Moon, be feasible, what with all of the pressing demands here on Earth. On the other side, Steve Squires, head of science for the Mars Exploration Rovers, has stated that a human geologist in a day or two could have done all of the science that the MERs have taken five years to accomplish. We need speed, efficiency, and a minimum amount of fuel weight for whatever rocket we invent. Whose got the dilithium crystals, now that we need 'em?

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone?
by Jay Eads 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Thanks everyone. It won't be that weekend anyway. I checked the moon and its full right then. October 2nd and 3rd are the last Full Moon lift rides for $10 per person at Sundance so I'll just take the wife up there for the evening and then we can stop afterwards for something for her to refreshing and warm on the way back down. The 17th of October is the new moon and I'll be off but just not sure if that late in October I want to go that far and up to 10,000 feet (though cold really doesn't bother me). That might be the last time for Wolf Creek or better yet, Pit n Pole would probably be better. Thoughts? Great Basin will probably have to wait until late spring or summer next year. I will look forward to going there though. Hope to see some people tomorrow. Jay On 2009-08-11 03:36, stormcrow60 wrote: > Hi Jay, > Usually the lower campground fills fairly quickly and RV's tend to > be the camping of choice. At that time of year, tent campers need to > prepare for pretty cold weather at the upper campground. The upper > camground is better than the lower campground... the road tends to > keep the larger vehicles away, but in the early spring or fall it can > be quite chilly at night. Be sure to not miss Lehman Caves. I'll keep > those dates on my calendar. All in all Great Basin Nat'l Park is an > awesome place to visit. And the night time skies are excellent. > > Jon > >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Jupiter Impact Scar
by Canopus56 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

The Aug 10-2009 edition of Spaceweather.com - http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=10&month=08&year=2009 - features a great animation of Jupiter photos showing the evolution of the impact spot over three weeks. http://spaceweather.com/swpod2009/09aug09/polar_334.gif?PHPSESSID=dku0f8jnr… - Clear Skies, Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone?
by stormcrow60＠xmission.com 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Hi Jay, Usually the lower campground fills fairly quickly and RV's tend to be the camping of choice. At that time of year, tent campers need to prepare for pretty cold weather at the upper campground. The upper camground is better than the lower campground... the road tends to keep the larger vehicles away, but in the early spring or fall it can be quite chilly at night. Be sure to not miss Lehman Caves. I'll keep those dates on my calendar. All in all Great Basin Nat'l Park is an awesome place to visit. And the night time skies are excellent. Jon

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone?
by erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

> I camped there a few years back, there are several parking area "pullouts" that would be good for one or two cars and telescopes. It did not strike me as a good place for a large star party. Erik > > Jay: > > > > I did some observing at Great Basin aÂ few years ago.Â The skies are very > dark and generally good.Â However unlike Bryce or Capital Reef, Great > Basin is primarily a mountain outcrop and the air can be turbulent and can > provide some challenges.Â The visitor centers are at the base and the > better observing is up in the hills, so scout out a good area during the > day. Â You can observe from the base near the visitor center but you will > give a little seeing up to a little more light pollution from the town and > a lower altitude. Â Try to find a nice high parking lot higher up along > one of the main roads that go into the park. Â That said there is some > good observing there.Â The town or Baker is very small with few > amenities, bring as much as you can with you and donât count on being > able to buy much especially if you have specific dietary needs. > > > > Robert Taylor > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jay Eads" <jayleads(a)gmail.com> > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:35:50 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd > Anyone? > > I've been updating my Google Maps/Earth today for my observing Â > locations and added Big Basin National Park with several sites there. Â > While there I decided to do some research on Big Basin and > that Â got to thinking. My wife is not a camper and I do have special Â > dietary needs (no gluten) but the lodging there seems reasonable even Â > those with kitchens and they have camp sites also. Â Entrance to the Â > park is free and the Park according to its web site "The Night Sky Â > Team visited Great Basin National Park in October 2004 and 2005 and Â > tested the light levels to determine the darkness of the night skies. Â > The results? Â Great Basin's night skies are among the darkest in the Â > country, providing visitors a rare opportunity for stargazing! " > > I almost have the wife convinced to go and to book a room for that Â > weekend because that is UEA weekend (the 1st and 2nd the two teens are Â > off and so am I) and we can get a room with a kitchen for under $70 > http://www.silverjackinn.com/reserv.html > , http://www.greatbasinpark.com/whisperingelms.htm (no kitchen but Â > good rates), http://www.greatbasinpark.com/getawaycabin.htm , and > http://www.silverjackinn.com/ > Â Â (click on his savings packages for the Economy and he lists a range Â > of activities that can be done here). Finally, if enough go something Â > like this might work: http://www.greatbasinpark.com/hiddencanyon.htm. Â > Baker looks to have some decent eats unless your having to be gluten Â > free like me. The ultimate option of course is just to reserve Â > campsites and camp. > > I think this would be a fun get away for those who may just want to Â > observe for a day or two and just camp, or those that want to observe Â > at night while the family sleeps and then do something with the family Â > during the day before venturing off for a late afternoon nap and then Â > out for a another round of Star Gazing. From the sound of things I Â > think there would be enough observing Â sites for all. Â Colors would be > Â > beautiful and it could make for a nice getaway for that weekend. Â > Anyone interested (I'm Â going even it it just means camping for a two Â > nights if nothing else just to take in the dark sky from there and Â > getting in two good nights of observing)? Â It would be cool, but Â > that's fine by me. > > If you've gone there what did you think of the area and Baker? Is it Â > worth taking my non-camping wife who likes to be in a room at night Â > and then do stuff in the wilderness by day and then return to Â > civilization by night? I'm not worried about the teens as I call my Â > kids cause there is enough for them to do and they are more like me Â > and love the outdoors (minus the biting bugs). > > Jay > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] LCROSS: South Pole LCROSS target zone imaging 2009-08-09 11_23UT
by Canopus56 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Stefan Lammel graciously provided a rough Photoshop merge of my two south pole images using Photoshop. http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/observed/LCROSS/20090809_1… http://tinyurl.com/m8cehk This is a proof-of-concept demonstration of one possible technique for capturing the faint LCROSS impact ejecta curtain as it rises from a crater in shadow and then producing an asethetic image. In the merged imaged, one can make out a small part of Shoemaker's rim and clearly see what I believe is Shackleton in the background of the shadow area. Clear skies, Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Meteor shower open house at Telescope Array, Delt a, Ut!!!
by dustynebula＠juno.com 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Ladies and Gentlemen! All interested persons/entities/manifestations/etc./etc. are INVITED TO AN OPEN HOUSE at the University of Utahs COSMIC RAY CENTER in Delta,Ut. Aug. 11, (Tue.) 7:00p.m: Guided Auto Tour to Cosmic Ray Telescope facilities in nearby desert. 10:00p.m.(app.): Return to Delta and LISTEN TO METEORS! See facility in action. Late arrivals may wait at the Cosmic Ray Center. Moon Rise~2:00 a.m. Late night opions at your discretion re; meteor watching, sleeping, driving, lodging in Delta, or rotating out of normal space. Presentation courtesy U. of U. Physics and Astronomy, Dr. John Belz, and Julie Callahan, Cosmic OutReach Director. SLAS hopes you will attend. Dave Bernson. President, Salt Lake Astronomical Society. ____________________________________________________________ Need cash? Click to get a cash advance. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/fc/BLSrjnsDtcpDIHzTyQ8v8ENBjYeXwmJ…

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone?
by robtaylor3661＠comcast.net 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Jay: I did some observing at Great Basin a few years ago. The skies are very dark and generally good. However unlike Bryce or Capital Reef, Great Basin is primarily a mountain outcrop and the air can be turbulent and can provide some challenges. The visitor centers are at the base and the better observing is up in the hills, so scout out a good area during the day. You can observe from the base near the visitor center but you will give a little seeing up to a little more light pollution from the town and a lower altitude. Try to find a nice high parking lot higher up along one of the main roads that go into the park. That said there is some good observing there. The town or Baker is very small with few amenities, bring as much as you can with you and don’t count on being able to buy much especially if you have specific dietary needs. Robert Taylor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Eads" <jayleads(a)gmail.com> To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:35:50 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone? I've been updating my Google Maps/Earth today for my observing locations and added Big Basin National Park with several sites there. While there I decided to do some research on Big Basin and that got to thinking. My wife is not a camper and I do have special dietary needs (no gluten) but the lodging there seems reasonable even those with kitchens and they have camp sites also. Entrance to the park is free and the Park according to its web site "The Night Sky Team visited Great Basin National Park in October 2004 and 2005 and tested the light levels to determine the darkness of the night skies. The results? Great Basin's night skies are among the darkest in the country, providing visitors a rare opportunity for stargazing! " I almost have the wife convinced to go and to book a room for that weekend because that is UEA weekend (the 1st and 2nd the two teens are off and so am I) and we can get a room with a kitchen for under $70 http://www.silverjackinn.com/reserv.html , http://www.greatbasinpark.com/whisperingelms.htm (no kitchen but good rates), http://www.greatbasinpark.com/getawaycabin.htm , and http://www.silverjackinn.com/ (click on his savings packages for the Economy and he lists a range of activities that can be done here). Finally, if enough go something like this might work: http://www.greatbasinpark.com/hiddencanyon.htm. Baker looks to have some decent eats unless your having to be gluten free like me. The ultimate option of course is just to reserve campsites and camp. I think this would be a fun get away for those who may just want to observe for a day or two and just camp, or those that want to observe at night while the family sleeps and then do something with the family during the day before venturing off for a late afternoon nap and then out for a another round of Star Gazing. From the sound of things I think there would be enough observing sites for all. Colors would be beautiful and it could make for a nice getaway for that weekend. Anyone interested (I'm going even it it just means camping for a two nights if nothing else just to take in the dark sky from there and getting in two good nights of observing)? It would be cool, but that's fine by me. If you've gone there what did you think of the area and Baker? Is it worth taking my non-camping wife who likes to be in a room at night and then do stuff in the wilderness by day and then return to civilization by night? I'm not worried about the teens as I call my kids cause there is enough for them to do and they are more like me and love the outdoors (minus the biting bugs). Jay _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [Utah-astronomy] First light with new setup. Ring Nebula
by Jay Eads 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

David, Very nicely done! I love the wide angle and the close up. I'm envious. Jay On 2009-08-10 18:03, David Rankin wrote: > http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2169

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Seeing @ Monte Cristo
by dustynebula＠juno.com 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

I've been a guest at OAS Monte Cristo campouts and They were Great! Oh, and btw- it's Duchesne ridge at Wolf Creek Pass not Duschene. My Oops. There is another Wolf Creek in Utah west of Powder Mountain Ski resort, and one very high in Colorados Rockies. Dave Bernson. ____________________________________________________________ Save hundreds on an Unsecured Loan - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/fc/BLSrjnsHIrbDlZng997siiG67TNTEKs…

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