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Huygens probe
by Chuck Hards 11 Dec '03

11 Dec '03

I've read variously that the Huygens probe was designed to send data from the surface of Titan for only one to three minutes. Can this be true? Patrick, can you shed some light on this? I'd think that at least an hour would be required to make sure good data is recovered. TIA, C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Mars closeup pics
by Kim Hyatt 11 Dec '03

11 Dec '03

Family lore says that when my ancestors lived on Mars, the gullies were caused by giant ant lions who preyed on our pets. Of course, we left 'em behind when we crossed the plains and settled near a salty lake at the foot of Olympus Mons. Get the bug spray, Kim's losing it! (Been here far too long today...) -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 3:41 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Mars closeup pics The problem I see with that theory is one would expect gullies in a steep crater wall to eventually fill in with dust or collapsing sides. But maybe the craters aren't really as steep as they look in these photos. -- Joe >I think the current theory is that it was water but several million years >ago when Mars had more atmosphere. >Clear Skies >Don > >-----Original Message----- >From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com(a)mailman.xmission.com >[mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On >Behalf Of Chuck Hards >Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 11:53 AM >To: Utah Astronomy >Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Mars closeup pics > > >Joe, liquid water would be affected more by the >atmospheric pressure than the temperature, but other >than that you've framed the debate nicely. >Unfortunately, we need more data to speculate further. > >The latest data points to massive quantities of water, >frozen as ice in the top few meters of regolith. > >Too soon to say what caused the channels IMO. > >C. > >--- Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> wrote: >> A new subject for discussion, if anyon'e interested. >> In pictures like this -- >> >> >http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/12/11/index.html >> >> -- we see evidence of channels on Mars that look as >> if water flowed >> fairly recently from the side of a crater. If the >> scale is accurate, >> the longest of these gullies seems to be about 800 >> meters long, or >> about half a mile. Much speculation has centered on >> the idea that >> these features, which seem to be fairly common, are >> evidence of water >> from some underground layer. >> >> The questions I have are: if water were to thaw out, >> wouldn't the >> extremely thin atmosphere cause it to evaporate >> immediately? Or if it >> somehow flowed, wouldn't it quickly freeze again? >> And yet whatever it >> is continues for half a mile. >> >> Maybe it's really water. Maybe parts of Mars are >> just saturated with >> frozen underground water that can thaw out and flow >> in copious >> quantities. >> >> But here's another possibility I've come up with -- >> maybe it's fine >> solid material that happens to be extremely slippery >> and flows like >> water. What if it's a powdery volcanic ash layer? >> Would that flow >> well enough to look like water? Or could there be a >> field of big >> round boulders that periodically come loose and go >> tumbling downhill? >> >> My problem with the water theory is mainly that >> Mars' atmospheric >> pressure is so low that I suspect water would boil >> at a very low >> temperature. Could anyone who knows the facts do >> some calculations? >> >> Any thoughts the group would like to share would >> interest me greatly. >> >> Thanks, friends -- Joe >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Utah-Astronomy mailing list >> Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >> >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. >http://photos.yahoo.com/ > >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Christmas sunset
by Patrick Wiggins 11 Dec '03

11 Dec '03

This just showed up in my in box. It refers to what we'll be seeing Christmas night. Enjoy! Patrick Christmas Sunset The presents are opened, the stockings askew. Two pounds of tofu are inside of you. Your eyelids are drooping. The Sun's going down. Christmas is over. But wait... what's that sound? The neighbors. They're shouting, "Look out to the west!" So outside you dash, along with the rest. The sky is as pink as is Santa's' nose. And right in the middle--two UFOs! Could it be an invasion by creatures from space? By now you're awake. Your heart starts to race. Run back to the house and pick up the phone. "Oh please help us please! They're coming," you moan. The voice on the line says, "Please, just relax." "There's nothing to fear. And here are the facts." "Those spaceships you see aren't spaceships, no, no." "Astronomers say it's a harmless light show." "One is called Venus, as bright as can be." "The other's the moon. So now do you see?" "Please tell your neighbors it's fine and all right." "Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night."

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Re: 15x70mm binos
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 10 Dec '03

10 Dec '03

Chuck, I found this on Ebay.com for $74.95. It includes the tripod and tripod mount. <A HREF="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2970367060&category=29955">eBay item 2970367060 (Ends Dec-14-03 21:01:05 PST) - Binoculars Barska Blawkhawk 15x70mm & TRIPOD</A> Debbie

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Re: 15x70mm binos
by Chuck Hards 10 Dec '03

10 Dec '03

Big 5 still has them, but the sale is over. Now $119.99 + tax. The ship has sailed. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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15x70mm binos
by Chuck Hards 10 Dec '03

10 Dec '03

Heartland America has sold-out of the Barska 15x70mm. Does anyone know if Big 5 is still selling them locally? Thanks C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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Fwd: check this out!!!!!
by Chuck Hards 09 Dec '03

09 Dec '03

Glen Warchol found this: http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-9x63-roof.html The Barskas ARE roof prisms, and the Meade version sells for $130!!! I just ordered another pair of the Barskas at $40, plus I used a $10 coupon. My 10% membership discount effectively offset shipping costs. Hurry, they are going fast. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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Barska 9x63mm price drop
by Chuck Hards 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

Heartland America's latest catalog has the Barska 9x63mm binos now clearance priced at $39.99 + shipping. Members can invoke additional discounts. Item No. YZ-59924 1-800-229-2901 www.heartlandamerica.com It may have different letters in the online stock number but the digits should be the same. It is on the Clearance Page, limited quantities so order fast. At that price, and assuming you don't get a lemon, I would strongly endorse this binocular IF you aren't up to the 15x70mm, and your pupils can open to 7mm. They do again claim porro prisms in the catalog. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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Re: Very inexpensive laser
by Chuck Hards 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

It arrived. Cheap, yes, but well worth the $2.75 price. I got 6 of them to justify the $5 shipping charge. Once my wife and daughter saw the interchangable holographic heads, I had one left. (They project your choice of a Christmas tree, I "heart" U, Happy Birthday, or a heart with an arrow through it.) I doubt that you could find just an unmounted laser module for that price. Some of the holograms were mounted backwards in their heads. The reason they are in surplus, no doubt. This will work well as a collimator light source. I ordered 10 more as stocking stuffers and spares. They come with 3 LR-44 batteries, some were leaking in the units I bought and had to be replaced. Its the same battery that my illuminated-reticle eyepieces use, so I had some spares on-hand. As soon as I regain the use of my right hand, I will make a prototype collimator and post the results. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/

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15X70 Binos
by Jim Gibson 08 Dec '03

08 Dec '03

If anyone missed the great sale at Big 5 (it may still be going on) on the 15X70 Barska (a twin of the 15X70 Galileo only in black) for $59.95, the Buyer's Club has the Barska on sale for $69.97. The part number is NX3K-79507. To order call 1-800-458-3006. Before you call, check with Big 5 first to see if there sale is still going on. Jim --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing

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