October 2011 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Observing Tonight Out Past Pit n Pole
by Jay Eads 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Well, I can't give directions tonight but I'll take a camera and take pictures with directions. But if anyone is interested in going dark tonight and going out, and I mean out past Pit n Pole to observe Mat and I are meeting at the Chevron in Lehi on the corner of Redwood and SR 73 at 3:20p.m. today. If you would like to go you can call me at eight zero one, six three four, six zero seven six. -- Jay Eads

1 0

Observing this week
by Jay Eads 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Well, I have the bite for more observing and the weather is cooperating. Not sure where I am going on Thursday, Friday and maybe Saturday (may head out Sunday also if I am not too beat). Anyone interested in joining up for some spots farther out than Pit n Pole or going to Lakeside or the hills to the west of Lakeside? -- Jay Eads

3 2

Still need ride to SPOC
by D P Pierce 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

I still need a ride to SPOC. My apartment building is having a planned power outage today from 10am to 7pm so I won't have internet access most of today. If you can help me call my cell # 801 739 2730. Deloy Pierce

1 0

FYI: Neutrinos Faster Than Light -- "SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE!" -- OCT. 26 -- KEYS ON MAIN
by bray＠aceweb.com 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

"SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE!" -- OCT. 26 -- KEYS ON MAIN ------ The College of Science will present a "Science Night Live!" event on Wed, Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Keys on Main, 242 South Main St. (next to Sam Weller's bookstore). Invite a friend, make a date, and stop by after work! Pearl Sandick, assistant professor of physics & astronomy, will tackle the question "Can Neutrinos Travel Faster than the Speed of Light?" A few weeks ago, scientists at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland announced that they have measured neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light! If true, this extraordinary result challenges one of the cornerstones of Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. Following a brief introduction to relevant aspects of Special Relativity and neutrinos, Sandick will discuss the potentially revolutionary news from CERN and some of the implications for modern physics. You are welcome to mix-and-mingle from 5:30 to 7:00 at Keys on Main. A complete food menu and drink menu will be available. Join us for a stimulating discussion and social event! Free and open to the public. Must be 21. Call (801) 581-3124 for more info. [Ride the UTA TRAX to the Gallivan Plaza stop. Or, there is limited street parking available on 200 South and 300 South that is free after 6:00 pm. Perhaps the easiest parking is in the Wells Fargo building lot, accessible from 300 South. See www.keysonmain.com.] ----- -----James DeGooyerDevelopment, Public RelationsCollege of Science1430 Presidents Cir. Rm. 220Salt Lake City, UT 84112(801) 581-3124-----

3 2

Canyonlands, Arches, Upheaval Dome and Observing down South
by Jay Eads 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Well, I just got back after five days down in the Moab, Canyonlands, Arches area and I was able to get in two nights of observing using the 20" Obsession. The sky conditions were just wonderful, clear, crisp and the summer Milky Way just jumped out! Spent a lot of the time in Hercules early on going for A2151, A2197 of which galaxy NGC 6160 was the brightest, and finally Abell 2199/or NGC 2166. This image, http://www.saratogaskies.com/image.pl?i=29 helped somewhat and the goal with the Abell's list was to see how many of these faint galaxies we could observe, and observe with detail. It's a great example of visual observers using an astrophoto to aid in detection. The second part of the night was spent up in Pegasus with Abell 2593 of which NGC 7649 was the brightest (small, faint, elongated west to east) and in Perseus going after galaxies and Abell 426 centered on NGC 1275 which was oval in shape, had a small bright inner core and sat E-W. NGC 1275 was surrounded by a many smaller magnitude galaxies. We also spent time on some of the eye candy (brighter objects) and all of them stuck out really nice, some as naked eye objects. I am planning next summer to go back for a week and observe during new moon in these skies. I'll get a blog up sometime in the next week with pictures. The other highlight was hiking into Upheaval Dome, an impact crater from less than a 170 mya. It was rather cool to think this is the ancient (ancient for me, young in geologic terms) impact crater, representing several lunar craters. Here is a link for information on this impact site: http://lpod.wikispaces.com/November+29%2C+2008 A great getaway! -- Jay Eads

2 1

ROSAT overflights?
by Canopus56 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Patrick, Are there any visible Utah overflights of the disintegrating ROSAT satellite due to reenter on 10-23. I understand from SpaceWeather.com that some observers (not in Utah) report ROSAT currently is mag 1 and takes 10 seconds to go from the zenith to horizon. Clear Skies - Kurt

2 1

More Death from Above
by Canopus56 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

In 1883, an extinction level 2.5km asteroid may have just missed the Earth. Billion-Ton Comet May Have Missed Earth by a Few Hundred Kilometers in 1883 http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/27264/ Did a massive comet almost wipe out humans in 1883? http://tinyurl.com/3z5le5d Interpretation of the observations made in 1883 in Zacatecas (Mexico): A fragmented Comet that nearly hits the Earth http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.2798 Clear Skies - Kurt

1 0

Still Need a ride to SPOC
by D P Pierce 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Greetings, I need a ride to SPOC Saturday night. I live at 6200 S & Bangerter. My 36 lb. foldup wheelchair fits in most trunks, hatchbacks and some backseats. I'm not taking a scope. I will be at SLAS meeting tonight and Wheeler Farm Friday begging and groveling. My cell # is 801 739 2730. Still no offers. one possible. Ended up stranded at U of U. Deloy Pierce, Large Bored Member

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] ATM session report and next planned date
by erikhansen＠thebluezone.net 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

>Maybe too much trouble for one time use, but if you do a lot of "star" testing it might be worthwhile. Wow, that's an impressive setup for an artificial star! > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of > erikhansen(a)thebluezone.net > Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 3:37 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] ATM session report and next planned date > >>Here is link about using a LED to build an artificial star, it does not > seem to require more than about 100 ft of distance. > > http://observatory.mvastro.org/library/Star_Test/ArtStar.html > > > > > On 10/18/11, Hutchings, Mat (H USA) <mat.hutchings(a)siemens.com> wrote: >>> >>> Aw, come on, you can brave the cold at night in the winter! >> >> Yeah, to a point, but then again, I am designing a heated observatory, >> so that's gotta tell you something... ;) >> >> Re: Ronchi testing >> >> With much experience, you can tell a lot with the Ronchi test. I used >> to hang-out with a local optical manufacturer, and we'd look at >> mirrors through the Ronchi. I would point-out problems that he had to >> stare and stare at, and most of the time he'd say "yeah, maybe..." >> until we star-tested it. Then he'd admit that I detected it with the >> grid. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This message and any included attachments are from Siemens Medical > Solutions > and are intended only for the addressee(s). > The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged > or > otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, > printing, > copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited > and may > be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to > believe > you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message > and > notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to > Central.SecurityOffice(a)siemens.com > > Thank you > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

3 4

OT: Dark sky street lighting on 7th East - 800 South to 1700 South SLC
by Canopus56 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

I notice in driving south on 7th East today along Liberty Park that either the City or UDOT has installed new LED street lighting. The designs appear to be fully shielded. I am not fully familiar with the lighting, but understand that they are designed to project 90% of the lighting to the surface, and this is an improvement over the older sodium bulb designs. They should produce less glare, i.e. - light pollution. Now I wish I had saved an old photo from 11 Ave that looks down 7th East for comparison. Clear Skies - Kurt

2 1