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comic
by D P Pierce 21 Dec '12

21 Dec '12

http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit Deloy

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Tonight's Star Party, a few questions
by Michael Wells 21 Dec '12

21 Dec '12

Hey guys, I'm planning on coming to the Star Party tonight, even got an end of the world T-Shirt from TeeFury as a gift today... Anyway, I have a few questions about tonight. I have already mentioned that I will be setting up my telescope really for the first time. As I don't want to take too much of anyone's time helping me, I figured I'd ask about what I can do in advance to expedite the process. As I see it now, I can have my 'scope out of the bag and set up on the tripod in about 5 minutes or so. Anything else I should bring? I don't hve a good night vision friendly flashlight at the moment, but outside of that, i don't kno what else I should bring. Also, where in the Harmon's parking lot will everyone be setting up, and where will everyone in the group be parking? Besides that, I'll just have to ask questions when I get there. Thanks, Mike Wells

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St. George Star Party
by Dunn, David 21 Dec '12

21 Dec '12

OAS is heading for St. George on February 8th and 9th. All astronomers are welcome to come and observe with us. There are a couple of observing sites so make sure and let me know that you are coming. I will be staying at the Knights Inn St. George Airport (just off the freeway on exit 8, near Denny's). I will arrive on the evening of the 7th. Thanks, David Dunn

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Mayan comics.
by Daniel Holmes 20 Dec '12

20 Dec '12

Dork Tower ran these predictions 3 years ago: http://www.dorktower.com/2009/11/30/dork-tower-monday-november-30-2009-moth… http://www.dorktower.com/2009/12/02/dork-tower-wednesday-december-2-2009-ma… http://www.dorktower.com/2009/12/04/dork-tower-friday-december-4-2009-mayad… Dan -- Daniel Holmes, danielh(a)holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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Astronomy Year in Review (Yahoo's version)
by D P Pierce 20 Dec '12

20 Dec '12

http://news.yahoo.com/year-in-review-2012-top-10-astronomical-wonders-blue-… # 2 is a waste Deloy

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Solar activity
by Chuck Hards 19 Dec '12

19 Dec '12

Lots of solar activity today. Sunspots as well as some nice prominences. The seeing is not very good, but it's good enough to see the action.

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comic
by D P Pierce 19 Dec '12

19 Dec '12

http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit Deloy

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Astronomy Comic
by Dunn, David 18 Dec '12

18 Dec '12

If they were real astronomers they would be eliminating lunar light pollution. http://www.gocomics.com/fminus/2012/12/17 Thanks, David Dunn

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S&T Lunar 100 Card
by Chuck Hards 17 Dec '12

17 Dec '12

I just recieved two copies of the S&T Lunar 100 Card, compiled by Charles A. Wood. I haven't been in a position to get to a dark-sky site regularly for some years, and most of my observing has been from my light-polluted backyard. This means that most galaxies are off-limits, and most of my observing is limited to lunar, planetary, double-stars, asteroids and other transient objects, and deep-sky objects that benefit from narrowband filtration. (Planetary and other emmission nebulae.) The Moon is actually a pretty fascinating object. A world unto itself, with geologic (selenographic) morphology that can be studied at very close-range, relatively speaking. In my younger years, I spent a lot of time and money photographing it through the telescope. Lunar photography gave me many of the skills I would later use when attempting deep-sky photography. Of course, that was emulsion-based, and it's a whole new ball-game these days with digital imaging. I'm learning all-over again. But many of the disciplines of imaging remain the same, from the standpoint of character and willingness. Budget and free time is an entirely different subject. YMMV. So when S&T marketed the Lunar 100 card, I ordered two copies immediately. I've owned the S&T Messier and Caldwell cards for many years, and always found them very helpful at the eyepiece, when looking for either old friends or less-observed targets that merit a peek. So I was very excited when the publishers offered a similar card for the moon. After all, the moon can be studied from even the most light-polluted environment with perfect clarity, and can stave-off those withdrawal shakes often expereineced when it's been too long since we last "fired-up" a telescope. It's a good list. Author Wood covers all the classic lunar features, as well as a few that I had never considered looking at. Many will require a certain illumination geometry (lunar phase) in order to see, due to shadows, or a favorable libration if they are near the lunar limb. I can see getting through the entire list taking several months, at least, if one is at the eyepiece on every useable night. It will probably take me a year or more to see them all. And even though I have seen many of them before, sometimes decades ago, I want to revisit them all. My only complaint is that the card is not laminated, unlike the Messier and Caldwell cards previously published by Sky Publishing. Hopefully they will offer a laminated version soon. In the meantime, I may scan it and make disposable copies, or find a laminating service and preserve at least one of the two copies I ordered. My goal is observe all of the "Lunar 100" with as small an aperture as possible, leaning on my years of experience and pushing myself personally. I will only give into a larger aperture if I find it absolutely necessary for a positive ID, or if the feature otherwise impresses me enough to warrant a better look. So, my first impression of the S&T "Lunar 100" card is over-all favorable, though for the asking price, a laminated, water-proof (dew-proof) product would have been much preferred.

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comics
by D P Pierce 17 Dec '12

17 Dec '12

http://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit Deloy

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