July 2013 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Outdated Technology (WAS: Re: Cosmos re-booted.)
by Ed 27 Jul '13

27 Jul '13

Ah, Chuck and all the rest, People after my own heart. Built my own mono audio system with Heath Kit components back a few years. Still have a roll of Super 8 movie film in the fridge as well as a color-film developing kit that I'll probably find when the chemicals eat their way out of the bottles. Now, what was the name of that company that invented the digital camera (and shot itself in the foot by ignoring it)? Oh, yes, now I remember - Eastman something, Kodak wasn't it? Anybody remember when floppies were really really floppy? Yeah, those 8 inchers that stored a shade less that a whole megabyte and ran on a computer with a big 64KB of RAM? Wow! What a powerhouse, home built, too. Looks like there are might be more wings for that museum that you thought. Ed ----------------------- On Fri, 26 Jul 2013 07:29:01 -0600 [07:29:01 AM MDT] Chuck Hards <chuck.hards(a)gmail.com> wrote: I didn't want to dig out the old VCR and hook it up. It's been in a box in the basement for about ten or twelve years. And THEN I'd have to locate the VHS tapes. Probably all that stuff is down there next to my Victrola and 8mm movie camera & projector. The Hards wing of the Obsolete Technology museum.

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Cosmos re-booted.
by Ed 26 Jul '13

26 Jul '13

Thank you, Jamie, No problem with the commercials, been ignoring them for years. Ed ---------------------- On Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:45:15 -0600 [05:45:15 PM MDT] Jamie Bradley <astro(a)jamiebradley.com> wrote: Sorry I see that now. Hulu.com has them free to watch (I checked this time) But unfortunately with annoying commercials. ----------------------- On Jul 26, 2013 7:13 AM, "Ed" <utnatsedj1(a)xmission.com> wrote: Jamie, As far as I can tell, the Cosmos shows are blocked on YouTube for copyright reasons. Do you know of a YouTube or other URL where these shows are not blocked? Ed

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Outdated Technology (WAS: Re: Cosmos re-booted.)
by Chuck Hards 26 Jul '13

26 Jul '13

I used to have a Pioneer direct-drive turntable with an Ortofon low-mass cartridge. Pretty snobby stuff in it's day. I about cried when I saw what the kid did to it, and what the cat did to my Optimus tower bass-reflex speakers. Apparently those woofers were an excellent scratching post. Fortunately they didn't get to the Mach One pair (15-inch woofers, 200 watt rated). I immediately dismantled the stereo setup, and moved the remains down to my workshop. I listen to the Mach One pair when working on stuff down there, with an iPod connected to the amp. I still have a Magnavox (I think) "all-in-one" setup with a turntable built-in, but I just can't bring myself to listen to a record on it. The Pioneer spoiled me. To tie this topic in to astronomy, right now I'm working on 2 old GEM mounts. One is an old Jaegers mount with 1" shafts. My friend Bob Grant machined an adapter to my specifications, that allows me to attach a Losmandy dovetail clamp where the old, stock tube cradle used to be. I can then use all my medium-sized scopes that use a Losmandy dovetail plate on it. I won't have to set up the CGEM when I don't need the computerized or GoTo aspects, but just a synchronous-motor driven RA drive. I bought an Atlas dovetail clamp from Orion a few months ago, when it was on-sale for something like 29 bucks, and it's going to work perfectly in this application. I'm also doing the same thing to an old Edmund GEM with 5/8" shafts, only this smaller mount will carry a Scopestuff Vixen-style clamp shoe, for smaller scopes. Again, Bob turned the adapter flange and he's helping me make a RA drive with a gear & motor set purchased from Sheldon Faworski. I'll be making 12VDC DEC drives for both as well, once they are up and running. So sometimes that old tech still has a lot of life in it, as you point out with the LP resurgence, Rich. On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 3:32 PM, Richard Tenney <retenney(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > You can buy a decent turntable (with a USB cable even!) nowadays for under > $100. Vinyl has made somewhat of a comeback for audiophiles -- don't > abandon those LP's yet! There's a fair market for some of them. My > youngest has a turntable and several (new) albums on vinyl actually. > > >

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Ride to SPOC
by D P Pierce 26 Jul '13

26 Jul '13

Hi, I need rides to SPOC tonight and tomorrow. I can go early for the work project. I have a cordless drill someone can use. Deloy

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Weakest Solar Cycle in 100 Years
by Chuck Hards 25 Jul '13

25 Jul '13

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/The-Weakest-Solar-Cycle-in-100-Yea… Man, no kidding. I remember seeing huge, "naked-eye" sunspots during the last two solar max's (with proper filtration) that just dwarf even the biggest ones seen this time around. And look at some historical solar photos from mid-century. Some of those sunspots would make you gasp if you saw them today. I was planning on attending the sun party this coming Saturday, but have to attend a funeral for a neighbor that day so plans have changed; too much to get done now. I'll try for Winchester Park again in August. If you can make it, it's a great gathering of solar telescopes of several types and a chance to compare equipment first-hand if you're in the market for a solar scope. Terrific people and a nice location, as well.

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Need a ride to SPOC
by D P Pierce 25 Jul '13

25 Jul '13

I need a ride to SPOC Friday and Saturday. Deloy

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Got quotes
by Joe Bauman 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

Hi Folks, I have some wonderful quotes from Kurt, so no need to send any more in this week. Thanks, Joe

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Quotes please
by Joe Bauman 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

Dear SLASers, I tried to send this appeal out twice earlier but my SLAS-blasts were never delivered. I have no idea why. Anyway, I want to ask club members if anyone would like to comment for the press release I'll distribute later in the day. It's about the star parties Friday and Saturday at SPOC. Please tell me what you might enjoy in the night sky at this time of year -- even the big Y in the sky if that rings your bell, Chuck. If you could give me a couple, three sentences so that star party goers will know what to look forward to, I would greatly appreciate it. Just email me at josephmbauman(a)Yahoo.com. Thanks! Joe

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Interesting asterism
by D P Pierce 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

Chuck, Are you sure it wasn't a sign from the heavens that should start cheering for BYU or maybe you should move to Yoming. Deloy

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Moon
by D P Pierce 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

There is a good article on ESPOD today about perigee and apogee. http://epod.usra.edu/. Deloy

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