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

Binocular Astronomy
by erikhansen＠thebluezone.net 05 Mar '12

05 Mar '12

SkyPublishing offers a binocular observing book. http://www.shopatsky.com/product/Binocular-Highlights/books

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NASA video: We Are the Explorers
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Mar '12

05 Mar '12

We Are the Explorers http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e7DEw70LVWs patrick

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Venus 2012
by Steve Fisher 04 Mar '12

04 Mar '12

I have to wonder if our experience will be anything like this......... http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2004/28may_cook/ Can you feel the sand between your toes?

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New sunspot group
by D P Pierce 04 Mar '12

04 Mar '12

A nice new sunspot group just came around the sun. http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/sunspots/ As soon as I get out of my church clothes I'm headng outsde wih my Sunspotter scope. Deloy Pierce

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UK Fireball
by Steve Fisher 04 Mar '12

04 Mar '12

Use extreme caution when viewing this. I used the original link found in the Drudge Report!!!!! It is safe, I assure you. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/nightsky/9121668/Police-called-as-…

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solar filters
by Kim 04 Mar '12

04 Mar '12

Where is the best source (read: lowest price) for solar filter film such as Baader film?

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Image Stabilizing Binoculars
by D P Pierce 03 Mar '12

03 Mar '12

Several years ago I was in Pictureline, a camera store at *305 W 700 S, SLC. Their phone is 801 364 1200.* They had the Canon 10 X 42 SI's. Another sports place with lots of binoculars is Sportsmens Warehouse on 7200 South just east of State St. Their phone is 801 567 1000. Deloy Pierce

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Image Stabilizing Binoculars
by Fletcher Gross 03 Mar '12

03 Mar '12

I have a pair of Canon 10x30 IS binoculars and am quite happy with them. As to whether 10 power magnification is enough, that depends on what you want to see. To give you some idea, from my backyard (terrible light polution), I can just cleanly split Albireo. The moons of Jupiter and sun spots (with a filter of course) are easy. I haven't had mine long enough to try them on Saturn. The 10x42 should give brighter images and has better optics but mine are lighter and more portable, although if it weren't for the great difference in price I would choose the 10x42. From what I have read, I would prefer the 15x50 to the 18x50 (the bigger ones seem to have some color issues). One tip, replace the batteries that come with the binoculars with Lithium batteries. They last longer and work MUCH BETTER in cold weather. One especially cold night in December, I though my binoculars needed to be aligned (I saw 2 images of everything). But after I put Lithium batteries in, the problem disappeared. One other point, none of the Canon binos come with caps for the objective lenses. There are caps specifically made, by Canon, for the 10x42s but not for the others. I found some 3rd party lens caps that work OK on mine but it isn't as good a fit as the ones on the 10x42. Finally, the 10x42 has the additional feature that only need to press the button down to activate the IS mechanism and then press it again to deactivate it. On mine (and I think on the others although I am not sure), you have to hold the button down. One final thought, prices on these binos vary widely from store to store and time to time. I got mine from Amazon whose price was $200. lower than elsewhere. Two days later, Amazon's price jumped up to where the other prices were. Fletch My husband and I will be spending 25 days in Ecuador and want to buy a good pair of image stabilizing binoculars so that we can enjoy the night sky. I've read lots of reviews, including Gary Seronik's review and Cloudy Nights plus others, and am still debating which ones to buy. I'm considering Canon 10x42L, 15x50 and 18x50. The 10x42 has a wider field of view at 6.5 degrees but I'm concerned that 10x may not be a high enough magnification. My concern about the 15x and 18x is the field of view (4.5 degrees and 3.7 degrees respectively) - will we be able to find what we're looking for which small field of view? I can't find anywhere in the Salt Lake City area to actually get my hands on any of these binoculars to actually try them so it looks like I'll be ordering and then returning ones I don't want. (Cabela's MIGHT have a pair but I can't get the binocular department to answer the phone....) BTW I'm a birder so I'm hoping to put these to use while birding but that's not a main decision point. Does anyone on this list own a pair of IS binoculars and would you recommend what you have? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Nancy Matro _______________________________________________

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Message for SLAS Board member
by Larry Holmes 03 Mar '12

03 Mar '12

No club activities scheduled at this time. I would try to go out in the valley NE?? of the RollsRoyce plant. Cannot give you an address, but locals s/be of help with that. Another site might be the parking area of Jordanelle Reservoir depending on the lighting situation there. If you have access to a snowmobile, I would think the highway to Guardsman Pass would probably be the best, but I certainly would not venture up there without proper equipment, and especially some others to keep you company (and also who know the area). Let me know how you made out. lYou might try to contact the people at the Swanner Nature Preserve, located at Kimball Junction. They used to conduct cross country skiing connected with visual observing. I would give you a call & try to get together tonight, but have a birthday dinner to attend tonight. I w/post this to the Utah Astronomy site to see if others have better suggestions. Have you taken a look at our web site? We have a lot of events scheduled for the warmer months. Our observatories are closed for the winter. I suspect you are here to ski, but come and visit in the summer, or look to Bryce Canyon National Park for our participation in their Annular Eclipse program in May. Good Luck! Larry Holmes On 3/3/2012 9:48 AM, paulumof wrote: > > I am visiting from LA and staying in Park City. I have a good pair of > binos, what would be the closest dark sky area I could go to from Park > City and is there anything going on tonight where I could join in and > see thru a telesope > > Thank you for your time in advance >

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Patrick/Bruce
by Mark Shelton 03 Mar '12

03 Mar '12

Hey, I just noticed a picture of Patrick and Bruce in April....... Sky and Telescope. Page 86 ;) Mark Shelton Indian Hill Middle School Tech Ed. Teacher Salt Lake Astronomical Society Board Member (School and Special Star Parties Coordinator)

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