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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointers
by Lambert, Aaron 28 Dec '04

28 Dec '04

I purchased a green laser pointer last year from Scope Stuff (http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_lasre.htm) and have been very pleased with it. They are $84 with free shipping. They also have the push-on push-off pointers (http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_las4.htm) for the same price. Aaron > -----Original Message----- > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointers > > > Now that Christmas has passed and I did NOT get a green laser > pointer, I > want to buy one. Has anybody got a strong opinion about the > "best" one to buy > for under $150.00? > > Mike >

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Swap meet?
by Patrick Wiggins 27 Dec '04

27 Dec '04

It's been a while since the last Northern Utah Astronomy Swap Meet. Going through my years of accumulated stuff I really need to get rid of some of it. Anyone interested in having another swap meet? Patrick

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Re: Swap meet, dark site
by Chuck Hards 27 Dec '04

27 Dec '04

Swap meet: Bring it on! But unless it's indoors, or in St. George, lets wait for about three or four months. Dark-site: Some of us are discussing a private site, possibly in the form of a corporation, not connected with any currently existing clubs at all. This is the direction I am going while I research properties and the night sky conditions at those properties. I am not personally pursuing the ISP guy's offer, or any other strategy involving SLAS, so please don't confuse my efforts with club efforts towards a permanent dark site. As of now I am only doing some site research and playing some financing "what if" games, what comes of it all will depend on the properties I find, prices, and commitment level of the involved parties. Right now there is nothing to indicate that it will bear fruit in the forseeable future, but the research will answer a lot of questions. Happy New Year! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! http://my.yahoo.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointers
by Olhomorto＠aol.com 27 Dec '04

27 Dec '04

Nah, don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I had a wonderful Christmas! As to the foul weather, it actually seems like we've had more cloudless nights during the last month than we did all last spring and summer. Maybe this coming spring and summer will be better! :)

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Comet tail?
by Patrick Wiggins 26 Dec '04

26 Dec '04

Anyone else see a fairly obvious tail on the comet tonight? Despite the proximity of the nearly full Moon I was able to easily spot the comet with 7x35 binos and was some surprised to see what looked like a faint but visible tail a couple of degrees long. I'd hoped to get some images tonight only to roll the roof off my observatory and see the sky had clouded over. Grumble... Patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] remote versus dark site. the difference is important.
by paw＠trilobyte.net 25 Dec '04

25 Dec '04

Daniel Turner <outwest112(a)yahoo.com> wrote : > A bit of terminology needs to be cleared up here. > Patrick stated that the ÂremoteÂ site will be a site > for a remote controlled telescope that would be run by > users from their homes using internet access. That was true following my initial conversation with the guy. However, after this discussion got started I called him back and found he has no problem with also having a building(s) in which members could store equipment and then travel to the site and use it. Patrick ___________________________________ NOCC, http://nocc.sourceforge.net

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remote versus dark site. the difference is important.
by daniel turner 25 Dec '04

25 Dec '04

A bit of terminology needs to be cleared up here. Patrick stated that the remote site will be a site for a remote controlled telescope that would be run by users from their homes using internet access. He specifically said that members would NOT be welcome to drive up there and set up their own telescopes. The term remote telescope is now becoming common and some people even offer the use of their remote telescope for a fee to Internet users. I believe I have seen $100 a night mentioned. But this could go down as market forces come into play. So a REMOTE site is not the same concept as the SLAS DARK site in terms of what you can and cannot do. That said, I would question an assertion that a site is dark unless someone with a astronomical point of view has been there (at night) and seen it to be sure. Caveat Emptor. The Gravel Quarry is not very dark on the nights that the Oakley Rodeo facility has their lights turned on, but that seems to not happen often. So a site survey would have to be more thorough than just one look on one night. Lastly, if the road is paved and facilities are already installed, how dark will it be after the housing developments have been built within the next five years. I mean those facilities are there because someone is PLANNING on something being built in the vicinity. Jackrabbits do not need highs-peed Internet access yet, I dont think. Clear skies DT __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Re: Dark Site Support at SLAS for Chuck
by paw＠trilobyte.net 25 Dec '04

25 Dec '04

Hi Kim, The offer was as I outlined below. I noted in an earlier email if there was a group of folks serious enough to be willing to help with the project *and* invest a fair chunk 'O change the guy would like to have a meeting. It could be that most missed the post or maybe there's really not that much interest. Whatever the reason there were very few replies. Patrick Kim Hyatt <kimharch(a)msn.com> wrote : > Patrick, I guess I missed the offer from the owner of a local ISP to which you > referred. Could you repeat what the offer was, or can those of us who might be > interested discuss offsite? > > Kim Hyatt Architect > 1849 East 1300 South > Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 > 801.631.5228 > kimharch(a)msn.com > > serius est quam cogitas > The most recent offer for a dark sky site is not the one from Dwight > Ball. The most recent one was posted here last week when I reported > that the owner of a local ISP has several potential remote sites around > the state with very dark skies, power, road access, secure concrete > structures and high speed internet. I noted he's offering the land and > is willing to invest serious money in return for money and expertise > from those willing to buy into the project. ___________________________________ NOCC, http://nocc.sourceforge.net

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Happy birthday Sir Isaac / Sunset later
by Patrick Wiggins 25 Dec '04

25 Dec '04

Happy birthday Isaac Newton, born this day in 1642. Or was it 4 January 1643? When Newton was born England was still clinging desperately to the Julian calendar while much of the rest of the world had long since moved on to the the Gregorian calendar (hmmm, reminds me of this county clinging to the old non-metric measures...). So, take your pick. The Julians can celebrate today while the Gregorians can wait until the 4th of next month. On another topic, I watched the Sun set yesterday at 16:47, a full 5 minutes later than the earliest sunset back on the 3rd. Patrick

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Dark Site Support at SLAS for Chuck.
by Nathaniel Goodman 25 Dec '04

25 Dec '04

Chuck asked about SLAS support for a dark sky site. Here is my brief recap of the history of this, unfortunately I don't recall the dates. It was at one of the Holiday Parties held at Patrick's house that some of us got together and discussed how nice it would be if SLAS had a dark sky site like some of the clubs in California Polaris comes to mind. So later that week if I rember correctly three of us Patrick, myself and Deloy Pierce set off on a night time drive to see of there were Dark Sites within an hours drive from SLC & Stansbury. We drove out to Dell and then down a dirt road going towards the boundry of the Test & Trainning Range, and also on the road thru Skull Valley area. Our conclusion, there wasn't quite anything there, but that a committe should be formed to study this. A SLAS Dark Sky Committeee was formed after the idea was brought up at a montly meeting. Dave Chamberlain was appointed head. This committee met regularly one Saturday a month at the old JB'S Restaurant now a Korean Barbacue on 7th E. in SLC. At the same time this occurred the membership present at a meeting was poled and they approved fundraising, so Sue Chamberlain Dave's wife took over this function. A large collection Jar was put out at all club meetings for members to donate what they could,this jar was also at public star parties. I believe this occurred for about 2 seasons. Meanwhile the committee had reached the point of beginning to search for land that could be leased or purchased for a secure site, Kim Hyatt (on the committee) drew up some prelim drawings of what a facility might look like. At about this time a Donor (who shall remain nameless) in this recounting, gave a large amount of money to be used for Dark Sky . Then ALONG CAME SPOC. first we had to relocate the observatory and then under the able stewardship of Sig the move was transformed into the present SPOC II. In all the excitement and work on this other project Dark Sky languished and the donor claimed he had meant for his money to go to SPOC so when this money was re assigned into SPOC fund several Dark Sky Boosters Deloy in particular became very bent out of shape. If any of what I have posted needs correction others who have been involved can offer their own recollections. Chuck, there was once great support from SLAS Membership for a secure Dark Site. We blew our last offer of a Dark Site from Club Member Dwight Ball who has purchased Dark Sky land near I believe Payson and offered to let us use part of it for a SLAS DK. Sky site,in return for helping him improve his land. We turned him down I don't rember if anyone ever went to look at it . This offer came at the time that the Dark Site Funding was then transferred into the SLAS General Fund and the Dark Sky Site idea was considered Case Closed. A secure Dark Site would be nice but as a SLAS site, I really don't Know. NATO.

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