January 2016 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Last night's lecture
by Joe Bauman 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

Brent, speaking of the ISS, I have wondered if it could be put into an orbit that continuously cruised between Earth and Mars. When it swung by Mars it could drop off and retrieved crews. I don't see how the radiation would be any worse than the ISS crews are already exposed to. ------------------------------ On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 8:18 AM MST Brent Watson via Utah-Astronomy wrote: >I attended the lecture last night on trajectories. It was really a good, stimulating talk. Thanks for passing the word along. >There were some interesting side comments made about our launch capabilities and the Mars One effort. Mr. Adamo was not at all enthusiastic about the Mars One effort. His opinion is that the effort is doomed because there is not really a way to assure that folks going there would be safe - primarily from radiation. He has done some work with a former flight surgeon on designing a spacecraft to go to Mars. Their result is that in order to get sufficient shielding (using a water jacket), the spacecraft's mass would be around 380 metric tons. That is for a small crew, probably only about 5 members. For a point of comparison, the ISS mass is 400 metric tons. He made the comment that an astronaut who made this trip could only go to space once in this craft, and then he would be at the limit of radiation exposure for his life. The NASA limit is an increased risk of developing cancer of 5%. >That brings us to our current launch capability. Our latest heavy lift rocket - the one we are currently developing - will have the capability to lift 130 metric tons to a very low earth orbit. So low, in fact, that it would burn up at perigee. The Apollo 17 Saturn 5 rocket lifted 140 metric tons into earth orbit -- higher than the new rocket will go. (I am sorry, but my mind will not allow me to recall the name of our currently being designed rocket.) Recall that it took several dozen shuttle launches to assemble the ISS. The Mars One vehicle would require either a hugely more massive launch rocket or a similar effort to build the craft. >As I mentioned, it was a very intellectually stimulating lecture and did involve several ordinary differential equations. They were nicely explained in English by Mr. Adamo. This was the first time I have seen some real math put to Kepler's laws. There were many charts showing what it takes to leave the earth and go to the moon or Mars. It was a very well done lecture. >The above is my recollection of the lecture, and may not actually represent the opinions of Mr. Adamo. It is only my interpretation of what he said. He knows his stuff, that is apparent. Thanks Patrick and Dr. Sohl for passing the word along. >_______________________________________________ >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".

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Liver & Onions Subcommittee Luncheon
by Chuck Hards 31 Jan '16

31 Jan '16

I know Kay needs a few weeks notice, so how about Saturday January 30th? Kay, if you could make the 23rd, that's an option.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Google AI algorithm masters Go
by chuckhards 28 Jan '16

28 Jan '16

So when will the machines be smart enough to mow my lawn? Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Dave Gary <davegary(a)me.com> Date: 01/27/2016 4:42 PM (GMT-07:00) To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Google AI algorithm masters Go

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Google AI algorithm masters Go
by Dave Gary 27 Jan '16

27 Jan '16

The Overlords are coming. This machine is not specifically designed to play Go. Interesting. Read the “news” article. > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Nature Publishing Group <naturepublishinggrp(a)ealert.nature.com> > Subject: Breaking News: Google AI algorithm masters Go > Date: January 27, 2016 at 11:25:54 MST > To: davegary(a)me.com > Reply-To: naturepublishinggrp(a)ealert.nature.com > > This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view <http://links.ealert.nature.com/servlet/MailView?ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIx…>. > > BREAKING NEWS > Google AI algorithm masters Go > <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=5&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2…> > > A computer program that can defeat a professional human player at the classic strategy game Go is reported in this week’s Nature. Go has been regarded as an outstanding ‘grand challenge’ for artificial intelligence owing to its large search space and the difficulty of evaluating board positions and moves. The findings provide hope that human-level performance could potentially be achieved in other seemingly intractable artificial intelligence domains. > > Access the news article <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=5&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2…> and paper <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=7&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2…> online. > > <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=10&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> > Register <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> for updates from Nature > > <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=6&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2…> > Subscribe <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> to Nature for £60, €60 or $60! > > <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=8&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2…> > Share: <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=24&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> Google+ <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=24&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> Facebook <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> LinkedIn <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> Reddit <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> > <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> StumbleUpon <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> Twitter <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> Digg <http://links.ealert.nature.com/s2s?m=50563476&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS2&rj=ODQzNjM…> > > > As a registered user of Nature Publishing Group's Web sites, our database indicates that you have opted-in to receive product information and special offers. If you no longer wish to receive these e-mails or to discontinue all e-mail services from Nature Publishing Group please update your online account. Modify My Account <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=14&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> (Log in to be recognised as a Nature.com <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=14&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> registrant). > > For further information on technical assistance <mailto:registration@nature.com> | print subscriptions <mailto:subscriptions@nature.com> | other enquiries <mailto:feedback@nature.com>. > > Nature Publishing Group | Principal offices: London | New York and Tokyo, and offices in cities worldwide including Basingstoke | Barcelona | Boston | Buenos Aires | Cairo | Delhi | Heidelberg | Hong Kong | Madrid | Melbourne | Mexico City | Mumbai | Munich | Paris | San Francisco | Sao Paulo | Seoul and Washington DC. Macmillan Publishers Limited is a company incorporated in England & Wales under company number 785998 & whose registered office is located at Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Nature Publishing Group | One New York Plaza, Suite 4500 | New York | NY 10004-1562 | USA <http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=21&ms=NTA1NjM0NzYS1&r=MTc2NjIxNTU3OAS…> > > © 2016 Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. >

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Fw: [meteorite-list] Salt Lake City fireball images?
by Linton Rohr 22 Jan '16

22 Jan '16

Greetings to all, I just saw this inquiry on another mailing list and thought I'd repost it here, with the hope that someone up in the SLC area. Marc has been deeply involved in the locating of numerous meteorites, through the use of doppler radar. Any help locating the dust images would be greatly appreciated. Linton -----Original Message----- From: FRIES, MARC D. (JSC-XI211) via Meteorite-list Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 2:41 PM To: meteorite-list(a)meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Salt Lake City fireball images? Howdy all Back on 18 Nov 2009 there was a huge bolide over Salt Lake City, UT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJFejgd9bSE The following morning, locals reported seeing high-altitude dust lingering over the city. At the time I figured it was a coincidence, but in retrospect I think the dust very well may have been debris from the fireball. Does anyone have any pictures of the dust? I recall that one was passed around a bit, but I canÂ¹t find it now. IÂ¹d like to use the image in a science presentation, and will (of course) give credit for the image to the owner. Cheers, Marc Fries ______________________________________________ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list(a)meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7357 / Virus Database: 4522/11461 - Release Date: 01/22/16

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Orion sale
by Larry Holmes 21 Jan '16

21 Jan '16

Orion has a pretty good number of mostly "2nds" this week. 73

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Liver & Onions Subcommittee Luncheon
by Chuck Hards 20 Jan '16

20 Jan '16

I guess Kay isn't reading his emails, I still haven't heard from him. Should we go for this coming Saturday, the 23rd, then? Seems to be the date most people can make it. Please post if you plan to attend, so I can get a head count and reserve our table. We'll do another one soon, to make up for the long lapse.

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FOR SALE: Byers Stepper Motor Drive Control
by Chuck Hards 18 Jan '16

18 Jan '16

I'm selling a rare Byers Stepper Motor Drive Control. See my ad here: http://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/item/70485-byers-stepper-motor-driv… This is perfect for either an observatory-mounted scope that uses stepper motors, or a large portable scope. Not for AC synchronous motors. Terrific unit for both the practical observer as well as Byers collector. I'd be willing to cut a deal for a local buyer. Will meet you halfway up to 100 miles. Thanks for looking!

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Morning Sky
by Chuck Hards 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

I noticed Antares low in the southeast this morning, for the first time this year! Can spring be far off? ;-)

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Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina
by Dave Gary 02 Jan '16

02 Jan '16

Took a quick photo of Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina. The bright star below the comet is Arcturus. The comet appears to be getting dimmer. It seemed noticeably dimmer visually. However, Moon is still fairly bright and Arcturus is quite bright. > https://www.flickr.com/photos/78046474@N06/23479438043/in/dateposted-public/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/78046474@N06/23479438043/in/dateposted-public/> Dave

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