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

Another "near" miss
by Wiggins Patrick 12 Dec '12

12 Dec '12

I received word last evening that Earth was about to be visited by a tiny minor planet called 2012 XE54. I followed it for a while but it was moving so fast (max was just over 700"/min) I couldn't do much more than look and alert the Minor Planet Mailing List that it was coming. Shortly after it disappeared from my sky an MPMLer was able to pick it up with a bigger scope and managed to image it as it passed through an open cluster: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66276483@N06/8264503609/ Looks like we dodged another bullet. :) But then maybe this was just a preview of what's to come on the 21st. patrick p.s. Totally off topic but since I have folks' attention I've got a couple of fluorescent light fixtures I removed from my unheated hanger (apparently some fluorescents don't do well in the cold). I've got no use for them so they're free to anyone who has a use for them. Just be sure to use them in a heated area.

5 6

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comics
by Joe Bauman 12 Dec '12

12 Dec '12

No but there's an ointment that might protect against asteroids. (Stole the idea from Animal House Vacation I'm afraid.) ------------------------------ On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 3:30 PM MST D P Pierce wrote: >Kim, > Will the flu shot I got a few weeks ago protect me from the Germinids? >Deloy >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

2 1

end of the world
by Kim 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

Bryce Canyon NP is hosting a "Not the End of the World" star party on the 21st, 7:00 PM. Just so you know. Kim

4 3

New comic
by D P Pierce 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

In today's DN there is a funny comic (Bizarro). Since I can't pull it up on the internet I will describe it. A very weird looking Martian (4 legs, 2 arms and a head with 1 big eye and 2 antennas) is throwing a ball for Curiosity to fetch. Deloy

2 1

Comics
by D P Pierce 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

Kim, Will the flu shot I got a few weeks ago protect me from the Germinids? Deloy

1 0

Brian May remembers Patrick Moore.
by Daniel Holmes 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

Brian May is the guitarist for Queen. He graduated with a BA in astrophysics before Queen started up, and was working on his PhD when Queen hit it big. He never left astrophysics though, he wrote a few papers in the '80s, and worked with Patrick Moore on a couple of books. He finally finished his PhD in 2006. And I say he looks like Isaac Newton. Anyway, here's his eulogy for Patrick Moore: http://m.guardiannews.com/science/2012/dec/10/patrick-moore-astronomer-mast… Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh(a)holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

1 0

Vintage eyepiece case :)
by Richard Tenney 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

I found this charmingly amusing: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dynascope/photos/album/1619624759/pic/1918565…

1 0

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comics
by Michael Wells 10 Dec '12

10 Dec '12

The North Rim is an awesome place for anything, especially night sky viewing. The nearest towns are 3 hours away, I spent the summer of '97 working there and loved it. Incidentally, it's also a good place to watch fireworks on the 4th. Sure, Williams is about 60 miles away, but they're really nice to watch quietly bloom in the sky. -------- Original message -------- From: Kim Hyatt <kimharch(a)cut.net> Date: To: 'Utah Astronomy' <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comics At least they are correct about Bryce Canyon. I'm hoping the weather won't be as forecast for the Geminids Friday. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of D P Pierce Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 2:00 PM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Comics http://www.gocomics.com/theargylesweater Deloy _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

1 0

Comics
by D P Pierce 10 Dec '12

10 Dec '12

http://www.gocomics.com/theargylesweater http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit http://www.gocomics.com/pickles Deloy

2 1

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Voyager 1 new discovery.
by Joe Bauman 10 Dec '12

10 Dec '12

Great, Don! ------------------------------ On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 11:15 AM MST Don J. Colton wrote: >Hi Joe, > >Telling my part in the Voyager Mission (or MJS77 - Mariner Jupiter Saturn >1977 mission as it was first called) wouldn't take more than about five >minutes unless I did some more research. But maybe I could come up with >some others things. I will think about it and if I think I could give >something that would merit a presentation I will contact you and Roger. > >Clear Skies, > >Don Colton > >-----Original Message----- >From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com >[mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman >Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 9:16 AM >To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Voyager 1 new discovery. > > > >Don, these are really valuable insights into the space program and they're >fascinating. I don't want to push you into speaking if you don't want to but >I think you could come io with a great lecture. It would be cool to tie your >work with space exploration to your astrophoyography hobby, especially with >pics of your equipment and your space images. Congratulations on your >impressive accomplishments. -- Joe > > >------------------------------ >On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 9:09 AM MST Don J. Colton wrote: > >>Hi Patrick and Joe, >> >>I doubt anyone's finger prints are on the amplifiers since they were >>assembled in "clean rooms". I do have my name on a microchip on Mars >>since I also worked on the Viking Lander Mission as a negotiator for a >>change order. Watkins-Johnson also built the amplifiers for the Viking >>Lander. I can't remember whether they had a microchip with the >>participants names on the Voyagers. If they did, they probably would >>have asked for signatures after I left the program. >> >>Since I was a Deputy Program Manager for only a few months before being >>promoted to Head, Export - I don't have much to tell. What I do >>remember is we had a large flow chart on the wall and I would every few >>days check on each item and get a status report. We also had to >>subject the amplifiers (not the ones for the mission but duplicates) to >>all kinds of tests including vibration, radiation etc. They also >>required that many of the components were "potted" in a plastic type >compound to hold them immobile. >>JPL, who was the lead for NASA, had a permanent employee on site for >>the duration of the project. He was the "nitpicker of all nitpickers" >>and keep thinking of some new kind of worst case scenario. Our project >>(the amplifiers), which was cost plus, was originally budgeted for >>$3,000,000 but ended up costing $8,000,000 not because of any padding >>but because of all the additional testing JPL demanded. They >>considered the amplifiers as one of the critical components. Also, I >>would go around almost daily and question charges made by those working >>on the project. My boss, the Program Manager, was a very honest man >>and did not want anyone charging for time they did not actually spend on >the mission. >> >>In the early days of NASA the extreme care put into each program >>resulted in many successes. After the retirement of some of these >>"nitpickers", things got a little sloppy for a while due to new people and >budget constraints. >>Hence, the Hubble Problem and one the Mar's projects fiascos where the >>computer programmer had mixed up metric and English units. JPL in the >>1970's would have checked the Hubble mirror's figure 10 different ways >>and not relied on one flawed test. That I can guarantee, having worked >>with those people. >> >>Clear Skies, >> >>Don >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com >>[mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe >>Bauman >>Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 12:20 AM >>To: Utah Astronomy >>Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Voyager 1 new discovery. >> >>Don, I second that idea, especially if you could work in photos of your >>Voyager efforts as well as your stunning astrophotography. -- Joe >> >> >> >> >>________________________________ >> From: Wiggins Patrick <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> >>To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> >>Sent: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 12:15 AM >>Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Voyager 1 new discovery. >> >>On 04 Dec 2012, at 09:34, Don J. Colton wrote: >> >> As Deputy Program Manager for the radio amplifier portion of the >> Voyager spacecrafts, I saw firsthand how exacting NASA was in those >> days. The Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) amplifiers we used were subjected >> to every conceivable test and they are still working today! For more >> on TWT's see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling-wave_tube. >> >>Hi Don, >> >>Very impressive that you actually worked on the mission. >> >>Does this mean your fingerprints are now traveling in space? :) >> >>I would like to hear more about your experiences working on Voyager. >>Would you be interested in talking about them at a SLAS meeting? >> >>If so maybe Rodger could get you scheduled. >> >>patrick >>_______________________________________________ >>Utah-Astronomy mailing list >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >>Send messages to the list to >>Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >>The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >>To unsubscribe go to: >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >>Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >>"Unsubscribe or edit options". >>_______________________________________________ >>Utah-Astronomy mailing list >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >>Send messages to the list to >>Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >>The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >>To unsubscribe go to: >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >>Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >>"Unsubscribe or edit options". >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Utah-Astronomy mailing list >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >> >>Send messages to the list to >>Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >>The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. >> >>To unsubscribe go to: >>http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >>Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >"Unsubscribe or edit options". > > >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on >"Unsubscribe or edit options". > > >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

1 0