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

Lunar Eclipse live on Google's Youtube channel
by Ian Glenn 15 Jun '11

15 Jun '11

Is anyone else watching this live? Pretty neat I think. http://www.youtube.com/google Ian

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Lunar eclipse live now through 4:00 p.m.
by Patrick Wiggins 15 Jun '11

15 Jun '11

http://www.youtube.com/google patrick

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Astronomy cell phone apps
by Canopus56 15 Jun '11

15 Jun '11

I am preparing a list of commonly used astro cell phone apps and would to poll what you are using for: 1) Planetarium a) Freeware b) Commercial 2) Lunar a) Freeware b) Commercial for 3) Your phone a) Type b) Operating system Thanks, Clear Skies - Kurt

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Astronomy cell phone apps
by Canopus56 15 Jun '11

15 Jun '11

Thanks for the on and off list responses guys. I forgot to ask the following additional question: For the cell apps that you are using, do they report: 1) SAO cross-reference numbers 2) GCVS cross-reference numbers For example, I believe Stellarium has the SAO numbers on the desktop app, but I'm not sure of the cell phone app. I can't seem to get any stellar info out of Google Sky. WikiSky coughs off stellar ids, does not give SAO numbers natively, but includes an autolink to Simbad that gives the SAO and GCVS numbers. SAO numbers are the workhorse ids in Meade and Celestron handcontrollers to due high-precision alignment slews to a bright star. Thanks again, Kurt

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BOLO- Stolen USU Meteorites
by Barrett 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=15818889&nid=148 <-- link to the story and video! Mammoth teeth, meteorites stolen from USU geology building June 3rd, 2011 @ 12:45pm By Mary Richards LOGAN, UTAH -- Police are trying to track down a man suspected of stealing an estimated $3,000 worth of minerals, meteorites and mammoth teeth from the geology department at Utah State University. Department head David Liddell said the thief smashed through a basement window of the Geology Building last Saturday night and stole items from several glass cases -- leaving behind some blood. Among the items lost -- 10 fossils, 25 minerals and an iMac computer and printer. "These are rocks and minerals which are pretty heavy," said Liddell. "They would be hard to carry off. But we did lose somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000 worth of specimens." "If someone sees an individual with a dozen samples of fluorite sitting out, they could be a good suspect. Also if they see a mammoth tooth or Macedon tooth -- these are large elephant teeth -- that would be a pretty suspicious thing." -Dave Liddell Police were able to get a description of the suspect. According to Liddell, a doctorate student saw a thin man about 6 feet 3 inches tall with dark eyes enter the building Saturday night. Police say he was wearing a green and white beanie and had cuts on his face -- possibly from breaking through glass. Liddell says the person responsible likely doesn't have much expertise in the field of geology. Most of the items stolen were common minerals that could be found along the side of the road, while several valuable items -- such as a large mammoth tusk believed to be from the Ice Age -- were left behind. "Maybe it's just these were pretty samples and now this person has them on their dinner table or bookshelf at home," Liddell said. For now, Liddell says department officials are monitoring websites to see if any of the items are posted for sale. He is asking the public to keep an eye out as well. "If someone sees an individual with a dozen samples of fluroite sitting out, they could be a good suspect," he said. "Also if they see a mammoth tooth or Macedon tooth -- these are large elephant teeth -- that would be a pretty suspicious thing." The geology department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Barrett & Roxanne Flowers Our Online Store- http://stores.ebay.com/FallenStarHunters website- www.FallenStarHunters.com METEORITE RECOVERY TEAM SLC, UT BarrettWF(a)comcast.net

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] New to the list
by JayLEads 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

Chrismo, Here are the places that I observe at: 1. Lakeside, Utah Sounds like you've been there but just in case here is where I go with pictures from my blog: http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/saturday-is- lakeside-your-invited-and.html 2. Pit n Pole Rush Valley Utah This location is 40 to 45 minutes from home depending on how I drive. Here are directions from my blog. Pretty good dark skies at zenith and to the south. Dew can come up from around 3:00a.m. until sunrise in the summer. http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/pit-n-pole- directions.html I have two areas not posted on a blog or located any where that when the humidity is high at the valley floor, I go to and I get above any dew and have a wonderful night observing that are relatively near this spot. 3. Tribble Fork Reservoir up American Fork Canyon. I observe in the parking lot here in the winter and am usually alone or there might be a couple of snow mobile people in a camper up in the parking lot. I set up down from them and use the Pathfinder to shield me from any ambient light they throw off. The image at the bottom is near the location and the mountains will cut off about 30 degrees of the southern horizon. It was clear here a couple of times this last winter when the valley wasn't. http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/nothing-new.html 4. Wolf Creek Pass about 9800 feet (a little more if I remember Daniel Turner's reading, but he can clarify that. Wonderful, wonderful site for being a hour and a half from Herriman, or an hour for those in and around Salt Lake City. My favorite site but I believe I heard there is still over eight feet or more of snow up there and that Highway 35 by Woodland had some major damage to it. It can be about now or even after July 4th before people start to use this site. This year, it may be August if at all before we get up there. Here is the map from the SLAS site for getting there: http://slas.us/maps/wolfcreek.htm Here are some images of getting there from my blog: http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/wolf-creek- utah-observing-site.html I actually have a video of getting up there but figured no one would want to view that so I have never posted it. 5. The Wedge Overlook: Joe Bauman, imager extraordinaire, goes here frequently. I intend to hook up with Joe on one of his next outings when my very hectic summer schedule allows. For that matter, since I cannot go to ALCON this year, I just may go there on Saturday July 2nd or Sunday, July 3rd this year, or I may stay local. Here is a map from the SLAS site: http://slas.us/maps/woverlook.htm And a piece I did from my blog: http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/wedge-overlook- observing-site-and.html 6. The Gravel Pit Site A site up in the mountains that for me, is about an hour fifteen or twenty minutes or so, less if your nearer to Salt Lake City. Here is a site that gives you directions on how to get there: http://www.uvaa.org/sitedirections/GravelPit.html 7. South Provo River Equestrian Park. A decent site near Provo to the east. in the mountains. Go south out of Salt Lake County on I-15 South. Take exit 272 for UT-52/800 N toward US-189 about 0.3 miles. Turn left onto UT-52/W 800 N. Take the ramp left onto US-189 N/US-189 Scenic N/E Provo Canyon Rd. Go 5.8 miles. Turn right onto S. Fork Rd and the dirt parking lot is 4.2 miles on the right. There is a cement parking lot just down from this spot that is a little better in a park. I usually post here when I head out, and yes, I do head out to Pit n Pole on Sunday nights from time to time and you'd be welcome to either meet me there or follow me out if you want. Hope that helps. Jay On 2011-06-14 20:05, Robert Taylor wrote: > Chrismo: > > Welcome to the list. Keep watching here, you will see others posting where > they are observing and looking for others to share the night with them. > Sunday, Tues are not the most popular nights but some do go out on those > night. Also post where you are observing and others may join you. > > Bob > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces@??? > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Chrismo > Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 9:25 PM > To: utah-astronomy@??? > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New to the list > > Hello All, > > I am new to the astronomy scene here, after moving from the east coast. I > live in Salt Lake and have been taking my 8" dob out to the Lakeside site > near Dugway for about a year. I am looking for other site suggestions, as > well as other people to go out with. I am only able to go out on Sunday, > Monday and Tuesday nights. Any suggestions for other sites that are not > heavily polluted would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Chrismo > > >

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New to the list
by Chrismo 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

Hello All, I am new to the astronomy scene here, after moving from the east coast. I live in Salt Lake and have been taking my 8" dob out to the Lakeside site near Dugway for about a year. I am looking for other site suggestions, as well as other people to go out with. I am only able to go out on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. Any suggestions for other sites that are not heavily polluted would be appreciated. Thanks, Chrismo

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] ATM sessions
by JayLEads 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

Mat, I'll be there. Not sure if I want to grind a mirror or start on my Denver/Catsperch chair liked we talked about at the Pit a while ago. I need the bigger chair now so I will probably work on that. I may bring the 8 inch mirror to work on though also. On 2011-06-13 22:15, Hutchings, Mat (H USA) wrote: > Amateur Telescope Maker. > > Don't feel stupid. I should have explained it in the original post. I've been doing it for so long that it just rolls off my tongue (or keyboard) without realizing that some people might be thinking I'm going to train them on how to hack into an Automatic Teller Machine... :) > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces@??? [mailto:utah-astronomy- bounces@???] On Behalf Of M Wilson > Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 5:58 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] ATM sessions > > I feel really stupid. What is ATM? > > > From: "Hutchings, Mat (H USA)" <mat.hutchings@???> > To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@???> > Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 2:09 PM > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] ATM sessions > > All; > > I am starting up a monthly ATM session to be held in my garage on > Saturdays near the full moon. The first session will be this Saturday > (6/18/11) from 9:00 to noon. If you are an experienced ATM'er, come by > and help others get started, or work on your projects. If you are not > experienced, but have wondered how to get started in ATM'ing, this would > be a good place to be. > > Please note that this is not a class, so there is no starting/ stopping > to a series, so if you can't come this month, just come next month. > Just come on by to work or test mirrors and enjoy some good times with > like minded people. If you are just starting out in ATM'ing, and don't > have a current project, stop by and see how it all works. Even if you > just have a telescope that you would like to make improvements on, this > would be a great time to start. > > I am not a world expert on making mirrors/telescopes, but I have made a > few. If you have any questions about this message or would like to come > by on Saturday, e-mail me off list at > mat<dot>hutchings<at>siemens<dot>com I'll give you directions to my > house at that time. > > Thanks, > > Mat Hutchings > > > >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Supernova in M51
by JayLEads 13 Jun '11

13 Jun '11

The SN is down to mag 12.9 now according to the latest release: http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html#2011dh Looks to be a IIb in deed with the second brightening. So, IIb or not be is the question, and this star made its choice known, not to be. On 2011-06-13 17:43, Joe Bauman wrote: > Thanks, Rodger! > > > > > Joe, > > Great Blog and fantastic image. Your diligence really paid off. > > Thanks for Sharing > Rodger > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces@??? > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman > Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 1:58 AM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Supernova in M51 > > Hi Friends, Here's my blog about the SN in M51, with my pics. Thanks to > Patrick for his help on a really bad night (even though I didn't get any > views that night!) Best wishes, Joe > http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/47/10011993/Nightly-news-astronomy- Supernova > .html > >

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M51 diameter
by Joe Bauman 13 Jun '11

13 Jun '11

To any who read my M51 supernova blog, I got a wrong figure in it about the galaxy's diameter. I'll fix it as soon as the Deseret News systems computer is back up and running. Thanks, Joe

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