August 2003 - UVAA - mailman.xmission.com

How to receive News
by Patrick Wiggins 08 Aug '03

08 Aug '03

Looks like sending News to the UVAA list is causing some administrative problems for long suffering list administrator Rich Tenney. Rich is looking into possible fixes from his end but I could do one thing from my end and that would be to have list subscribers subscribe to News directly. But I guess before I open that flood gate I ought to see how many would like to do that. So, if you would like to receive News directly please send me an email at paw(a)trilobyte.net. Clear skies (and don't forget tomorrow morning's Mars Watch)! Patrick -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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Replies to the UVAA list
by Richard Tenney 07 Aug '03

07 Aug '03

Be aware that from now on if you reply to a UVAA message it will go to the list and NOT the poster. If you want to reply to the poster only, make sure you change the TO: field in your reply, otherwise, about 150 people will read your message (which you may or may want to do). FWIW, Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

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News, 07 AUG 2003
by Patrick Wiggins 07 Aug '03

07 Aug '03

News, 07 AUG 2003 Today Mars Reaches 23.5 Arc Seconds & Transits At 03:22 (at SPOC) +++++ Saturday's CCD Seminar There are 3 spots open in this coming Saturday afternoon's CCD seminar to be hosted by SLAS member Edward Kort in SLC. If you'd like to sign up please reply to this message. +++++ Mars Exploration Rover Mission Status The first in-flight checkouts of the science instruments and engineering cameras on NASA's twin Spirit and Opportunity spacecraft on their way to Mars have provided an assessment of the instruments' condition after the stressful vibrations of launch. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2003/109.cfm +++++ Riding The Sun: Maiden Flight Looms For Solar Sail Satellite Before the year's end, a team of civilians united by a passion for space travel will launch a spacecraft into orbit to test a new space-traveling technology. http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/cosmos_sail_030806.html +++++ Asteroids Dedicated to Space Shuttle Columbia Crew http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2003/108.cfm +++++ Asteroid Juno Has A Bite Out Of It If someone sneaks a bite of your chocolate chip cookie, they leave behind evidence of their pilferage in the form of a crescent of missing cookie. The same is true in our solar system, where an impact can take a bite out of a planet or moon, leaving behind evidence in the form of a crater. http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/press/pr0318.html +++++ Theory Of Time Rattles Halls Of Science A radical new theory of time and motion has some of the worlds physicists doubting the claim while others laud the 27-year-old college dropout who came up with it, an unknown big thinker named Peter Lynds. http://www.msnbc.com/news/949048.asp?cp1=1#BODY +++++ The Latest Mars Global Surveyor Images South Polar Scarps (Released 31 July 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/07/31/index.html Gale Sedimentary Rocks (Released 01 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/01/index.html Warrego Valles (Released 2 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/02/index.html Labou Vallis (Released 03 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/03/index.html Marte Vallis Platy Flows (Released 04 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/04/index.html Aeolis Yardangs (Released 05 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/05/index.html Pedestal Crater and Yardangs (Released 06 August 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/08/06/index.html +++++ More Amateur Pics Veil Nebula http://www.starryscapes.com/nebula/ic1340.html Helix Nebula http://astroshed.com/st10pics/helix.html NGC 281 http://members.aon.at/wpromper/ngc_281.htm +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with an astronomy club in Utah or because you asked to be subscribed. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw(a)trilobyte.net. News Internet access provided by: Trilo BYTE, http://www.trilobyte.net. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://planet.state.ut.us For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://planet.state.ut.us/utahclubs.html For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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A big THANKS for all who helped out last night
by Richard Tenney 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

I just wanted to thank all those that showed up last night for the Lindon Days star party. Despite the iffy weather, light pollution, rough road and all that dust, I think everyone there had a good time. The turnout was very good, and I suspect this will become an annual event (our luck we'll have a full moon next year!). Best regards, Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

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News, 06 AUG 2003
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

News, 06 AUG 2003 Mars Reaches 23.4 Arc Seconds Today +++++ ISS Tonight (Wednesday). Friday In South ISS is due to make an excellent pass over northern Utah tonight. 9:43 rises in NW 9:47 passes overhead 9:48 sets in SE Southern Utah gets a good pass Friday night. 9:23 rises in NW 9:26 close to overhead 9:28 sets in SE +++++ The Perseids In Moonlight The Perseid meteor shower peaks at 11:00 p.m. MDT on August 12th. But light from the Moon, one day past full, will wash out many of the shower's faint meteors. Still, if you're outside that night, pause and watch for a Perseid. http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/meteors/article_937_1.asp +++++ Perseid Fireball (SpaceWeather.Com) Although the peak of the 2003 Perseid meteor shower is still a week away, sky watchers are already spotting some Perseids. This one, for instance, appeared over El Paso, Texas, just last night. Recorded by one of the Sandia Meteor Detection Network's all-sky cameras, the exploding fireball was almost as bright as a full Moon. GIF: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2003/05aug03/gamble2.gif Quicktime: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2003/05aug03/Gamble1.mov +++++ Fighting For A Darker Future The astronomer is helping lead the campaign to implement a law that made this formerly communist country the world's first nation to ban light pollution _ an intrusion of the modern age that Hollan and others say disturbs wildlife, poses a menace to people and spoils the simple pleasure of stargazing. http://www.planetsave.com/ViewStory.asp?ID=4170 +++++ The VLT Measures the Shape of a Type Ia Supernova An international team of astronomers has performed new and very detailed observations of a supernova in a distant galaxy with the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). They show for the first time that a particular type of supernova, caused by the explosion of a "white dwarf", a dense star with a mass around that of the Sun, is asymmetric during the initial phases of expansion. http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2003/pr-23-03.html +++++ Hot Spots On Mars Give Hunt For Life New Target Giant hollow towers of ice formed by steaming volcanic vents on Ross Island, Antarctica are providing clues about where to hunt for life on Mars. http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/articleid_818.html +++++ SMART-1 - The Lunar Adventure Begins This is clearly Europe's time for interplanetary exploration. Having sent the first European mission to Mars, ESA is about to launch its first probe to the Moon. http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMBTIYO4HD_index_0.html +++++ Russians OK Space Wedding Its not exactly a fatherly blessing, but the Russian Space and Aviation Agency has given its assent for Sundays wedding between space station commander Yuri Malenchenko and earthbound fiancee Kat Dmitriev. http://www.msnbc.com/news/750150.asp?0sl=-21 +++++ More Amateur Pics Mars, 06 AUG 2003 http://www.astral-imaging.com/mars1.html Cocoon Nebula http://www-ccar.colorado.edu/research/colors/cocoon_anot.jpg Moon http://www.dnacommunications.com/temp/Moon_08-04-03.jpg NGC7331 http://www.astrophoto.com/7331B&W.jpg NGC 7753 http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n7753.html M-12 http://www.rc-astro.com/star_clusters/globular/m12.htm +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with an astronomy club in Utah or because you asked to be subscribed. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw(a)trilobyte.net. News Internet access provided by: Trilo BYTE, http://www.trilobyte.net. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://planet.state.ut.us For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://planet.state.ut.us/utahclubs.html For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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News, 05 AUG 2003
by Patrick Wiggins 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

News, 05 AUG 2003 Mars Reaches 23.2 Arc Seconds Today (Surpassing the mark set during the 1986 Mars opposition) +++++ Utahns Catch A Glimpse As Mars Spins Nearer To Earth >From Joe Bauman, Deseret Morning News A salmon-colored orb blazes in the heavens, a brilliant white spot at one end and a vast sidewards Y feature stretching across the center. It is the planet Mars, seen through a telescope this reporter had set up near Snowville early Saturday morning. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510044651,00.html? Note: Joe notes that the version of his picture in the above link is much better than the one printed in the hard copy version of the paper. +++++ Observatory Has Small Footprint SLAS member Jerry Foote passes on this link for those who would like to build a backyard observatory but don't have a lot of room. http://www.skyfoto.com/ccd_observatory.htm +++++ Mars Dust Storms Update >From The International Marswatch Newsletter It looks as though the dust activity that had been spilling out of Hellas Basin has begun to subside. TES measurements (http://tes.asu.edu) of dust optical depth in the area indicate that the amounts of airborne dust have decreased and the late July images from all our MarsWatch participants are in agreement. The brightness in red over Hellas looks a bit diminished from the beginning of the month, and the surrounding area also looks less active. +++++ NASA's First Scout Mission Select For 2007 Mars Launch NASA today selected Phoenix, an innovative and relatively low cost mission, to study the red planet, as the first Mars Scout mission. The Phoenix lander mission is scheduled for launch in 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2003/aug/HQ_03256_mars_scout.html +++++ NASA Selects UA 'Phoenix' Mission To Mars In May 2008, the progeny of two promising U.S. missions to Mars will deploy a lander to the water-ice-rich northern polar region, dig with a robotic arm into arctic terrain for clues on the history of water, and search for environments suitable for microbes. http://uanews.opi.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/1/wa/SRStoryDet… +++++ Ulysses Sees Galactic Dust On The Rise Since early 1992 Ulysses has been monitoring the stream of stardust flowing through our Solar System. The stardust is embedded in the local galactic cloud through which the Sun is moving at a speed of 26 kilometres every second. http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=33618 +++++ 'First Light' For Canada's First Space Telescope After a perfect launch and orbit insertion one month ago, Canada's first space telescope -- called MOST (Microvariability & Oscillations of STars) -- opened its eye to the cosmos for the first time last week. Astronomers traditionally call this milestone for a telescope "first light." http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/media/press_room/news_releases/2003/030804.a… +++++ Send A Birthday Greeting To Ray Bradbury On August 22, 2003, Ray (Martian Chronicles) Bradbury turns 83 years old. To honor the man who has contributed so much to the world of science fiction, The Planetary Society wants to present Mr. Bradbury with the world's largest birthday card - with "Happy Birthday" wishes from fans around the world. https://planetary.org/bradbury +++++ More Amateur Pix NGC6618, The Omega Nebula, The Swan Nebula http://astroshed.com/st10pics/m17-500.html M16 - NGC NGC6611, The Eagle Nebula, The Star Queen Nebulahttp://astroshed.com/st10pics/m16-500.html M27 in False Color http://www.rc-astro.com/nebulae/m27_2003-08-03.htm Planetary Nebula NGC 7094 http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n7094.html A Very Old Moon, ~ 13 hours Before New Phase http://www.galaxies.com/CCDS/BIG/moon20030728BIG.jpg M20 http://members.cox.net/m-e-thomas/CCD/M20.html +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with an astronomy club in Utah or because you asked to be subscribed. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw(a)trilobyte.net. News Internet access provided by: Trilo BYTE, http://www.trilobyte.net. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://planet.state.ut.us For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://planet.state.ut.us/utahclubs.html For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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Mars
by Richard Tenney 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

I set my alarm last night for about 2:45 this morning and was rewarded with a great view of Mars through my humble 6-inch f/8 Newtonian. Even at a modest 152x (using an 8mm ploessl) the detail was surprisingly good. Bottom line: you certainly don't have to own a giant light bucket, or wait until the 27th, for spectacular views of the "angry red planet". Tonight's forecast calls for clear skies... Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

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Sorry for the first post
by Richard Tenney 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

I accidently selected the wrong list! Some of you got it twice -- sorry 'bout that! Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

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Tonight's Lindon Days Star Party
by Richard Tenney 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

Just a reminder for those interested in joining me and others for tonight's star party at the mouth of Dry Canyon. A word of caution; the road up to the mouth of the canyon is bad! Rocky and dusty, I nevertheless made it up there in my little Nissan Altima last night, but it's bumpy and somewhat unpleasant. Sorry about that! Here's how to get there: Head east up 2000 North in Orem almost to the end of the road, and turn left at Dry Canyon Drive (or Road?) and proceed towards the canyon; then where the pavement ends (it will turn left) continue straight up the dirt road toward the canyon (I should have signs posted by 8pm) for a good ways. It will eventually turn right into a large flat dirt parking lot where we will set up. I plan to be there sometime between 8 and 9pm. Thanks for your help, Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

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News a new way
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

****************************************************** >From The Editor For some time now you may have been receiving my electronic astronomy newsletter News via a forward from UVAA's Rich Tenney. As you probably know Rich recently set up the UVAA mailing list and has asked that I consider posting News directly to the list rather than through him. Not wanting to be thought of as a "Junk emailer", up to now I've only sent News to members of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society and to those who have requested it. So, since there may be those on the the UVAA list that do not wish to receive News, I'm adding this preface to today's issue. If you are reading this and would not like to receive News via the UVAA list please let me know. Carpe Noctem! Patrick ****************************************************** News, 04 AUG 2003 Mars Reaches 23.0 Arc Seconds Today +++++ Binoviewers Anyone? Following yesterday's Mars Watch where several SLAS members got to use a binocular viewer attached to the Brandt refractor (and very much enjoyed the experience) Siegfried Jachmann, elyrae(a)aol.com, submitted the following: At least 2 of us are interested in purchasing a binoviewer from Denkmeier Optical, Inc. ( http://deepskybinoviewer.com/index.html ) They offer their binoviewer in two levels, with the Denkmeier 2 being the better model. It's list price is $799. It was explained to me that this model has slightly better prisms and coatings. According to one of the owners it's worth the $200 difference in price. I don't know but am leaning that way. Russ, one of the owners, said, if we buy two they would take $100 off each price. If we get more maybe they would go lower. If you are at all interested please visit their site. You can order diopter correction on one or both of the eyepiece units (like what's on binoculars). The cost is an additional $60 per channel. I am going with at least one, maybe two (TBD). +++++ Close Encounters Of The Stellar Kind NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has confirmed that close encounters between stars form X-ray emitting, double-star systems in dense globular star clusters. http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2003/ngc6266 +++++ Mars In Opposition: One For The Record Books On 27th August, Mars will be at its closest to Earth for almost 60,000 years. On that date, the Red Planet will approach to within 55,758,006 km -- 145 times the distance of the Moon. http://www.ras.org.uk/html/press/pn0330ras.html +++++ China's Three Gorges Dam Water churns through diversion holes in the world's largest dam -- China's Three Gorges project on the Yangtze River, imaged here by ESA's Proba satellite this week. http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM4PFYO4HD_FeatureWeek_0.html +++++ More Amateur Shots Mars http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/mars.html Several shots with a prototype SBIG STL Large Format Camera http://willmclaughlin.astrodigitals.com/new.htm Deer Lick Group NGC7331 http://www.geocities.com/rcshouldis/NGC7331.html Narrowband Pelican http://howell-ltd.com/Astronomy/html/IC%205070.html Some images caught on film http://www.koyote.com/users/bobm/astro2.htm Barnard 86 http://members.ozemail.com.au/~pjward/oc/barnard86.jpg Milkyway with 8mm Sigma fisheyelens and Canon 1Ds http://www.procyon.net/fisheye.jpg +++++ My Herb Garden Runneth Over Ok, so this last item has nothing to with astronomy but I guess being editor I get to do this sort of thing now and then... <grin> I have an herb garden next to the house that is doing VERY well (bordering on out of control). So well in fact that there's no way I can use all the herbs growing in there. So my choices are to get out the garden shears and throw away the excess or find someone(s) who would like to come harvest some. So, if you'd like some free herbs, just reply to this email. +++++ ************************************************** News is being sent to you because of your affiliation with an astronomy club in Utah or because you asked to be subscribed. To unsubscribe please send your request to paw(a)trilobyte.net. News Internet access provided by: Trilo BYTE, http://www.trilobyte.net. Check out my NASA Solar System Ambassador web site at: http://planet.state.ut.us For astronomy clubs in Utah see: http://planet.state.ut.us/utahclubs.html For the Utah Astronomy Listserve see: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy ************************************************** -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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