December 2010 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Simeis 147 SN Remnant
by Jay Eads 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

I am considering going after Simeis 147, an old SN remnant in Taurus, just down from M37. I have found this image http://www.eanet.com/kodama/astro/2002/0112/3-3.htm which should help, but am wondering if anyone here has a better finderchart for this object? -- Jay Eads

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big bang for Don
by Kim 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Don, did you have a chance to read my post in response to your list of problems with the big bang, made on Friday the 17th? I really wasn't trying to attack your or anyone's position - I truly just want information since I'm obviously not as well-read on the subject. I would like to know what you think about my comments and questions if you feel like responding. And of course I welcome anyone else's thoughts. Kim

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Astronomer Sues the University of Kentucky
by Patrick Wiggins 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/19kentucky.html patrick

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8300 Kodak chips
by Debbie 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

I noticed on OPT's website that there are a couple of different cameras that have the full-frame 8300 Kodak chips. Should a novice imager go with ATIK, SBIG, or Orion's Parsec camera? I would appreciate some opinions from experienced imagers. I'm just gathering information at the moment. Debbie

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Simeis 147 SN Remnant
by Canopus56 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

Jay, You can zero in using Sharpless 2-240, which is part of the larger object SNR Simeis 147. SH2-240 a.k.a. LBN 180.05-01.66 -- HII (ionized) region FK5 coord. (ep=J2000 eq=2000) 05 43.2 +28 17 This Wikisky frame shows the overall object and SH 2-240 in context: http://www.wikisky.org/?ra=5.720000000000001&de=28.283&zoom=8&show_grid=1&s… or put in "SH 2-240" in the search box at http://www.wikisky.org/ . Looks like you have a 17 minute east slew in RA only from Alnath, beta Tau, and then you are on top of SH 2-240, but off-center of SNR Simeis 147. The whole object is big - maybe 3 or 4 degrees in diameter, judging from HD 37089 (mag 5.8 at the bottom of the SNR sphere) and HD 37637 (mag 5.9) at the top of the SNR sphere. Clear Skies - Kurt P.S. - Jim Burnell's Ha image using 43 eight minute exposures, stacked, and a SBIG STX-16803, Tele Vue NP101is http://www.jburnell.com/Simeis147Ha.html

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Privatization (of space)
by Canopus56 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

> I was mainly referring recent cuts and asking the private sector > to develop the heavier launch vehicles. ATK for example was > used to zero risk, now they have been asked to risk their > own capital. Yes, ATK seems to have gotten a raw deal. It is a common problem in administering governmental programs that you create a dependent industry, e.g. - lumber towns like Escalante that are dependent on Forest Service resources or Groton, Connecticut's dependence on naval nuclear submarine building, and then when the country's needs or priorities change and the funds stop, then industry and its surrounding communities die. IMHO, NASA and ATK have known what was coming for some time and more could have been done to keep ATK going in Utah with a feeder development contract. - Kurt

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The European Space Agency is using the orbiting Herschel Infrared Observatory to take a survey of galaxies in the IR
by Jay Eads 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

I found this image at one of the blogs I follow. The ESA is doing using the Herschel Infrared Observatory to take a survey of galaxies in the IR. Several galaxies have been identified that are 11 billion light years away. Each galaxy is sending out about 1 trillion times the suns energy output. Here's a link to the image: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~schapman/Lockman-SWIRE_hi.jpg Click on it and see how big this survey is for a small section of the sky they are doing. Each dot is basically a galaxy with billions of stars. Things like this are just cool to me as they remind me of how vast our universe really is. Truly we live in a wondrous time as we continue to expand our knowledge of the universe of which we are but a small part. Here is an article on the information: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~schapman/ofrg.html I thought it was rather cool.

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Call Art Bell: Snow Angels on Mars
by Patrick Wiggins 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Maybe call Erich von Daniken and Richard Hoagland too. :) http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20101213a Happy almost solstice! patrick

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Friday funnies
by Howard Jackman 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Some funny Astronomy related comics for your enjoyment! http://www.gocomics.com/theargylesweater/2008/12/08/ (my personal Fav) http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=rmcn249 (for Patrick) Have a great weekend everyone. Howard

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Privatization (of space)
by Canopus56 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

> It seems part of the problem, in getting the private sector > to pick up the slack on space cuts, is that space > exploration is not likely to be profitable. Erik, I am not up on this stuff, but my impression is that there is a very profitable market for commercial satellite launches, an area where the U.S. private market was dominant with the Delta IV and Atlas V expendable vehicles. The private U.S. industry has lost market share to relatively new entrants like the EU (Arianespace), Russia (International Launch Services and Starsem), Japan (Launch Services Alliance, a Boeing-Mitsubishi joint-venture) and now China. < http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-10/21/content_11439701.htm >. One wikipage notes that "In 2005 there were 18 total commercial launches and 37 non-commercial launches. [Of the 18 commercial launches,] Russia flew 44% of commercial orbital launches, while Europe had 28% and the United States had 6%." I understand the Russians have a lot of spare ICBM boosters and can undercut their competitors. On the other hand, Sea Launch, the main totally commercial U.S. provider, launched 6 satellites but then filed for bankruptcy in 2009 due to the economic downturn and government-subsidized overseas competition. It looks like the federal government's support for SpaceX and their Falcon platform is based, in part, on creating a cheap, economically competitive ITAR-free (International Trade and Arms Regulation) launcher that can sold throughout the world, but that does not contain security sensitive U.S. military technology found in the private versions of the Delta IV and Atlas boosters. Because the Delta IV and Atlas are based on military technology, they have to be launched from the U.S. and remain under U.S. control (even if privately launched). That makes them more expensive. Another U.S. FAA report estimates the total economic activity of the U.S. commercial space industry as: "In 2009, [Commercial space transportation and enabled industries of the launch vehicle manufacturing and services industry] generated a total of $208.3 billion in economic activity in the United States. Over one million people throughout the country were employed as a result of this activity, with earnings that exceeded $53 billion." No small bit of change. Sorry to see SeaLaunch go; maybe we should give them a few hundred million to keep the heart of an infant U.S. private competitor beating. Clear Skies, Kurt U.S. FAA Office of Commercial Space Flight SemiAnnual Space Launch Market Report http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/2010-2%2… U.S. FAA Office of Commercial Space Flight. The Economic Impact of Commercial Space Transportation on the U.S. Economy in 2009, September 2010 http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/Economic… U.S. FAA Office of Commercial Space Flight with market overview reports http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/ Jeff Frost. 10/19/2009. How competitive is commercial launch? Space Review http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1493/1

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