January 2012 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Fwd: iPad durability
by Rob Ratkowski 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

> Subject: iPad durability > > Aloha Patrick > > So here we are one night at the summit w/ my NEW iPad2, I was working on my double star list and because a particular star was blocked by one of the domes, I moved my table closer to our site. While setting up and moving things, I put my iPad on the table which was inclined on one edge enough that if bumped it would cause my iPad to slide off, which is what happened. Just having the iPad w/ a smart cover left the bottom just anodized aluminum and as you know it is smooth AND slippery. > > Well of course I did bump my table and then I heard my new iPad slid down the rough old asphalt surface that was also inclined. My iPad slid about 25ft on the glass surface after it fell edge 1st off a table. I thought I just killed it!! Well it still worked, I did see one edge w/ a few deep impact nicks, my SkySafari went red screen and I had a few small scratches on the 'GatorGlass' screen. As much as I was saddened some, I was pleased as to how tough the iPad is. The iPad, my iPad has changed my astronomy. SkySafari is an amazing app. I no longer carry chart books, Uranometrias, just my'Pad. > > I hope all is well and life is good. Haouli' Makahiki Hou,Aloha > Rob > > Sent from Rob's iPad

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Antelope Island
by Chrismo 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

http://stateparks.utah.gov/node/2554 Anyone know anything about this? I just saw it posted on AI's facebook, but there wasn't much for details -- Chrismo I fix things, all kinds of things... (801) 897-9075

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club growth was club growth
by RON VANDERHULE 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

Group, I want to thank everyone that contributed to my survey concerning astro club growth. There was much to consider and I gleaned enough to do my column in the OAS newsletter. Brent and Deloy had the most obvious "insights", be friendly and have something for all who attend your functions a.k.a all I know about running an astro-club I learned in kindergarten. Deloy, I remember fondly our outings with LVAS at the Gorge. I was back there with them in 2010 and they are still conducting their star party as efficiently as ever. But it is also the same group of people that we knew 14 years ago, which underscores your comments concerning the graying of the hobby. You indicated the same for SLAS, and about half the members of OAS were eyewitness to the Big Bang. I don't know if it is harder to intrigue younger people nowdays, or, if it is not on a screen, i.e. smart phone, ipad, PC, facebook, twitter, angry birds, satellite t.v.,theaters....it is not part of their reality . I will admit that it is a smaller pool of humanity that is interested in astronomy to begin with, so additions to member ship is very incremental. Deloy I was also re-arranging the "stuff" in my garage a couple weeks ago and I came across your Lichtenstein 14x100 binos'. Ya want em back? Ron

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club growth
by jcarman6＠q.com 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

I whole heartedly agree with DT. I enjoy the social aspects of the dub, but my sole reason for becoming involved with this group and this board is my interest in astronomy. I marvel at the different professions and trades of the members of the club who come together because they are interested in a common subject. Each person brings something new and unique to the table . Astronomy is the tie that binds. Without it the club would not exist. Astronomy first, always, social second.

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14x100s
by RON VANDERHULE 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

Deloy, 150.00 seems good for them. I never looked thru them again after we had them out at the Island that one time. As I recall the adhesive issue did not affect the image. I should try to get them back to you. eh? Ron

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Hawkings Biggest Mystery
by D P Pierce 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

http://news.yahoo.com/women-mystery-british-physicist-hawking-135814776.html Mine also Deloy Pierce

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Lichtenstein 14x100 binos'
by D P Pierce 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

Ron, I would like to sell them. I would like to get $150 for them. I paid $450. I never would have got them if I had known the one objective had adhesive cracks between the elements which look like fine scratches or spider webs. I also have 11 X 80 Celestrons, $100 and 25 X 70 Russian made, $75. Deloy Pierce Star Geezer

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Astronomy Apps for Mobile Devices, A First Catalog | Browse - Astronomy Education Review
by Daniel Holmes 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

Here is a nice list of apps for smartphones and such. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to specify what platform... http://aer.aas.org/resource/1/aerscz/v10/i1/p010302_s1?view=fulltext Dan -- Sent from my iPod. Please excuse any mispelings or errors.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] ISS this evening - VIDEO-
by Chuck Hards 05 Jan '12

05 Jan '12

On 1/4/12, Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: > CalSky is calling for a nice ISS pass over norther Utah this evening: Thanks for the heads-up, Patrick. I went out back and got some video with the smartphone set at maximum zoom. Hand-held, so forgive the shakiness. One video is from about the time I first spotted the ISS in the NW until well past culmination. The other is the station as it neared the moon, from my perspective. These are Mp4 files so Quicktime runs them just fine. http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/JethroTull1958/ATM/Astro/

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"Whizzer" - magnified and dissected
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Jan '12

05 Jan '12

This came to me from a meteor group. Very interesting A/V so I thought I'd post it here. Also sending it on to Kurt in hopes it might remind him to sign back on to U-A. :) patrick Begin forwarded message: > From: Thomas Ashcraft <ashcraft(a)heliotown.com> > Subject: (meteorobs) "Whizzer" - magnified and dissected > Date: 02 January 2012 10:15:11 MST > To: Global Meteor Observing Forum > > > As an exercise I magnified the New Years's Eve fireball over New Mexico > and made versions playing both radio audio channels of forward scatter > radio reception in stereo followed by mono versions. > > Although the visual image is somewhat crude it does show the plasma > trail and general shape of the plasma envelope. There is also > definition in the radio reflection. > > It would be nice to have a research-grade optical quality glass dome > that the camera images through instead of the dense acrylic dome which > is somewhat distorting. > > This fireball was a "whizzer." > > 4 MB movie .mp4 > http://www.heliotown.com/FBS20120101_0315utMag_Ashcraft.mp4 > > Thomas in New Mexico

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