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

ALCON Image #1 - The Lagoon Nebula
by Tyler Allred 05 Jul '11

05 Jul '11

Hi All! I really enjoyed ALCON, and I can't express fully my admiration for those folks who worked so hard to pull it off. BRAVO! I only managed to image on one night, due to equipment issues and sleep deprivation issues (no explanation will be offered here). However, the conditions were really great and I imaged four objects in my single imaging night. This is the first image that I am posting. It is a wide view of M8, "The Lagoon Nebula". My scope has a much shorter focal length than Joe's, so my view is less detailed and much wider. This is a very large extended object and it really has an amazing structure. Take a look if you get a minute. Please click the image a few times to see the full resolution version. Cheers, Tyler A link to the latest images page of my website is here: http://www.allred-astro.com/gpage8.html PS - This was taken with a relatively new Finger Lakes Instrumentation ML8300 camera, which I am really enjoying.

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July ATM session
by Hutchings, Mat (H USA) 05 Jul '11

05 Jul '11

Just a heads up that the next ATM session at the Hutchings' optical shop will be July 9th from 9:00 to noon. If you have any questions about what ATMing is, or would like to discuss telescope making in general, please e-mail me off list at mat<dot>hutchings<at>siemens<dot>com　 Even if you do not have a current project, or have never built a telescope, please feel to free to stop by. You can learn more about amateur telescope making and discuss this fascinating past time with like minded people. If you would like to attend, please e-mail me and I'll give you directions to my house at that time. Mat

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May 20 2012 Eclipse ground track
by Canopus56 05 Jul '11

05 Jul '11

Patrick, Is there some way to generate a ground track in Google Earth for the May 20, 2012 eclipse? I could not get anything to come up in CalSky and Enspeck's NASA eclipse does not have an entry yet. Thanks - Kurt

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Transit of Venus June 5th, 2012
by Jay Eads 04 Jul '11

04 Jul '11

I know I'm early for this, but besides the solar eclipse on May 20th of 2012, there is a transit of Venus on June 5th, 2012 at around sunset I believe. Any plans for next year to set up some solar scopes so this can be viewed? Since it is in the late afternoon and at sunset, and June 5th is on a Tuesday, it might be fun to have some solar scopes and then to do some observing that evening for those able to view that night. After June 5th, 2012, the next transit of Venus will be December 10-11, 2117 so for most of us, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So now its out there so any plans for it? Here's the one site: http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/where-to-be Looks like Sky & Telescope is going to Hawaii to view it: http://www.insightcruises.com/top_g/st03_top.html Hmmm, might be time for a Hawaii trip . . . . -- Jay Eads

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] [Utah Astronomy] May 20 2012 Eclipse ground track
by Canopus56 04 Jul '11

04 Jul '11

Forget it. I found it. It was under ``Sun -> Solar Eclipses'' on the Calsky menu system. - Kurt

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Lakeside tonight?
by Chrismo 04 Jul '11

04 Jul '11

Anyone going to Lakeside tonight? I'm planning to arrive around sunset. As I asked for earlier this week, if anyone has a couple spare eyepieces or a set of some sort, I'd love to borrow or rent them. Heading out of Salt Lake about 8pm so please hit me up if you can help. Thanks! Chrismo (801) 897-9075

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Report from Bryce
by Joe Bauman 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Hi Gang, Here's the latest from the ALCON convention: http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/47/10012047/Nightly-news-astronomy-Dark-Ski… Thanks, Joe

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Alcon 2011
by Mark Shelton 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Hello all, Yes I am still at Bryce Canyon. My wife and I are leaving on Monday afternoon. We have had a great and glorious time here. I have had the opportunity to observe 7 nights in succession. I do not know when that will ever happen again. The conference was outstanding from my point of view. The highlight was the opportunity to meet so many interesting and very nice people from all over the world. Without exception the attendees of the conference were the kind of people you would love to spend time with in the dark. My greatest highlight was the presentation by our own Davie Bernson (hope I get your spelling right). He had a room full of astronomers just spell bound by what he said. There were many other speakers that were great but the one Dave gave is the one I will remember for a long time to come. All 3 nights that I attended at the public star party were good nights, lots of people from ever where in the word and LOTS OF WOW'S. I would really like to thank Lowell Lyon and Roger Fry for all the hard work that they put in to make this conference a great success. This was my first conference that I have attended on astronomy and I was very impressed. I will be recovering some sleep in the next few day's. Staying up so many nights in succession is a lesson all by its self. Talk to you all soon Mark

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Pit n Pole on Saturday
by Jay Eads 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

I'll type up an in depth report on Friday and Saturday but let just say that in terms of conditions, I think this is the best night I've seen since an outing in February. Temp held great all nit and no humidity issues. Just a great night to observe. I got in around 12 Herschel objects with sketches and then about 15 other items. I hope others got out tonight. Jorge got some great shots, I liked the one he took of the Veil Nebula Jay Sent from my iPad

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Where go the Astronauts with no program?
by Jay Eads 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Nice article over on NPR on astronauts without a shuttle program. http://www.npr.org/2011/07/03/137557372/whither-the-astronauts-without-a-sh… Over the last couple of years we've gone from 100 astronauts in the program to 61 currently as many leave for private industry. -- Jay Eads

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