April 2004 - UVAA - mailman.xmission.com

RE: [UVAA] Update On Weekend Weather
by Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA 19 Apr '04

19 Apr '04

Yep, (see post to Jim) -----Original Message----- From: uvaa-bounces+louis.griffin=hill.af.mil(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:uvaa-bounces+louis.griffin=hill.af.mil@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of David L Bennett Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 11:17 AM To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association Subject: Re: [UVAA] Update On Weekend Weather Lou, is that for your 20" ? No wonder it's cloudy ;) Dave On Friday, April 16, 2004, at 09:42 AM, Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA wrote: > I have to confess.... it's cause I bought a EQ platform for my Dob..... > On Behalf Of Jim Gibson > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:15 PM > To: List; UVAA List > Subject: [UVAA] Update On Weekend Weather > Thursday night - The tea leaves say (from Dugway MET) there will be hi > cirrus with the wind dieing down in the evening in Northern Utah > _______________________________________________ UVAA mailing list UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa

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RE: [UVAA] Observing goals
by Lambert, Aaron 16 Apr '04

16 Apr '04

Oops. > The only downside is that the club What I meant to put here is that the club chairs sometimes take a while to verify your observation logs and get the certificates to you. I would give them two or three months before you start worrying about whether anything got lost in the mail, although I always email the chair when I mail my observation log copies so that I know he or she received them. Aaron

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RE: [UVAA] Observing goals
by Lambert, Aaron 16 Apr '04

16 Apr '04

Regarding log format, I found and use the PDF observation logs at the American Assoc of Amateur Astronomers website (http://www.corvus.com/aa01006.htm (scroll to the bottom)). They also have PDF versions of a lot of the AL clubs on that same page. Very handy stuff. Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 1:20 PM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association > Subject: Re: [UVAA] Observing goals > > > David, > > I'm nearly halfway through the Herschel-400 program, > and I'm very much enjoying it (despite the frustration > of having almost all of the summer objects and less > than 1/3 of the winter/spring objects due to our > fickle weather here). If nothing else you sharpen > your observing skills, and it forces you to spend a > bit more time at the eyepiece really seeing what's > there. It's also a nice tour of some of the better > deep sky gems out there on beyond Messier. > > As has already been mentioned, I'd start with the > lunar and/or messier programs and expand from there. > I had already observed all the messier objects (some > of them dozens of times) in previous years of > observing before I found out about the AL programs, so > the logs I have are not in the AL required format > (with the exception of a few that overlap into the > H-400). I'll probably go back and do them again one > of these days for consistency, and I'm fairly sure a > few of the items on my M-list I've only visited once > (what can I say, M-marathons are not my cup of tea). > I've also done about half of the lunar program so far. > > FWIW, > Rich > > --- David Trevino <dotrevino(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > I would like to ask the list if anyone out there has > experience with such clubs? > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th > http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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RE: [UVAA] Update On Weekend Weather
by Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA 16 Apr '04

16 Apr '04

I have to confess.... it's cause I bought a EQ platform for my Dob..... -----Original Message----- From: uvaa-bounces+louis.griffin=hill.af.mil(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:uvaa-bounces+louis.griffin=hill.af.mil@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Jim Gibson Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:15 PM To: List; UVAA List Subject: [UVAA] Update On Weekend Weather Thursday night - The tea leaves say (from Dugway MET) there will be hi cirrus with the wind dieing down in the evening in Northern Utah Friday night - We wetted a sheep's nose (with a Chem. Wipe) and spun it on an Ouija board and it came up - The only clear spot in the state will be Blanding (South East Utah). The models (mostly blonds) are showing St. George cloudy Friday as well; with Blanding only clear until mid-night. There will be strong south westerly winds ahead of the front. Saturday night - The Tarots say the whole state is washed out Saturday night. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th _______________________________________________ UVAA mailing list UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa

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RE: [UVAA] Observing goals
by Lambert, Aaron 16 Apr '04

16 Apr '04

I also started with Turn Left at Orion and used it to become familiar with some of what is out there and then began working on some of the AL's observing clubs. I have really enjoyed them. My first was the Lunar club. I think it is a great one to start with because the moon is easy to find, whereas some of the objects on the other lists require some real star-hopping skill (or setting circles, I suppose). After the Lunar club, I began working on my Bino Messier and Telescope Messier lists. I did them at the same time because they are the same objects. :) I finished the Bino list in November and only have about 20 more objects for my telescope Messier list. I just can't seem to get a clear weekend when I don't have anything planned already. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the certificates. I was expecting them to just be cheesy ones, but they look nice. The only downside is that the club I highly recommend the AL observer clubs because they get you to try to observe things that you might otherwise not bother with, you learn quite a bit about the things you see, and you really improve your skills. For example, I always just considered the moon to be a big ball of light pollution, but after spending a whole month observing it I now welcome it as a familiar friend and usually know where to find it. Next on my to-do list will probably be the Universe Sampler. I know I probably should have done that one before the Messier, but it will take quite a while to finish (just like the Messier has taken me about 6 months) and I had to buy the book for it and I didn't want to fork over cash if the certificates and pins turned out to be lame. Later, I plan on doing the comet, sun, constellation, and planetary clubs. I also bought the Sky Puppy book so my 6 year old can get the Sky Puppy certificate. I wasn't too impressed with the book itself, but unfortunately you have to buy it to do the Sky Puppy program. My 2c, Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: David Trevino [mailto:dotrevino@yahoo.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:13 PM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association > Subject: [UVAA] Observing goals > > > As you may recall, I am fairly new at star gazing. I > am in John and Lisa's telescope making class, and so > far I have no complaints about "pushing glass" for a > few hours. I hope my telescope turns out well. In the > meantime, I am looking for ideas on what to do once my > telescope is complete. > > I came across the Astronomical League's website, and > discovered the "Observing Clubs" > (http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/obsclub.html) > , which provide lists of activities and observation > goals. (Many with an option to obtain a certificate > after meeting the goals). I would like to ask to the > list if anyone out there has experience with such > clubs? Do you recommend some of the lists of objects > (like the urban observer or the Binocular observer) as > good starting points and guides for newbies like > myself? > > I also checked out from the library "turn left at > Orion", which I intend to use this summer with my > trash-scope. > > Any other suggestions are welcome. > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th > http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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Update On Weekend Weather
by Jim Gibson 15 Apr '04

15 Apr '04

Thursday night The tea leaves say (from Dugway MET) there will be hi cirrus with the wind dieing down in the evening in Northern Utah Friday night We wetted a sheeps nose (with a Chem. Wipe) and spun it on an Ouija board and it came up - The only clear spot in the state will be Blanding (South East Utah). The models (mostly blonds) are showing St. George cloudy Friday as well; with Blanding only clear until mid-night. There will be strong south westerly winds ahead of the front. Saturday night The Tarots say the whole state is washed out Saturday night. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th

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Weather Friday and Saturday nights
by Jim Gibson 14 Apr '04

14 Apr '04

The models are showing a weather system moving in Friday night. It looks like Castle Dale will be clear until about midnight, then it starts to deteriorate. St. George looks like it will be better longer. Saturday it will be cloudy state wide and it doesnt look like it will be gone by nightfall. I will get a last minute update tomorrow about this time. JG --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th

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Workshop reminder
by Jim Gibson 14 Apr '04

14 Apr '04

Reminder that there will be a workshop Satruday April 10th at Fort Utah in Proveo. The schedule will be as follows: April 10th l train, collimation - John Zeigler Fort Provo The following is the schedule of events (times are in Daylight-Savings-Time). 6:30 - 7:00 PM Arrive and set up 7:00 7:45 PM John Zeigler will give a workshop on the Optic Train and Collimation. Please dont setup during Johns workshop. For the optical train (which naturally leads to collimation), we have a cute 4.5" truss tube that we take apart and pass the components around. Typically we teach collimation at the end of our classes when everyone had a completed telescope. For the Moon Watch, our 8" F4 scope would also be a good hands on teaching aid. It is short enough that most people can turn the collimation knobs while looking through the focuser. As you are aware, I do not own, or typically even use a laser collimator. I will some times borrow a laser collimator, but honestly I can get the collimation better without one when I spend the time to do it. Some day, I may get a Cheshire, but so far have done a pretty good job by "eyeballing" it. To teach collimation, I will cover the concentric rings concept. Then if time permits, I will show how to collimate the scope by a star test. I can also show how to take a film canister to make a collimation aid. If there is a distant stationary light, like a radio tower, this will work good for this star collimation lesson since the point of light does not move. However, there are about four ways to collimate a scope by star light, and so far, I have only taught one method, and mentioned a second one at a UVAA star party. I will probably only teach the first method at the Moon Watch 7:45 8:00 PM Jim Gibson will give a short presentation on moon features. 8:01 PM the sun sets. 8:02 PM Those who came late can finish setting up. 8:02 9:00 PM people cruse the line of scopes looking at moon features and other fine objects. 9:00 9:30 PM There may be an impromptu class on constellation identification. We must clear the park by 11:00 PM. Jim Gibson --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway - Enter today

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RE: [UVAA] Workshop
by Paul Witte 12 Apr '04

12 Apr '04

I also live close to the park and actually have a pretty good view in my backyard (to the south & west anyway). I live close to the lake so naturally the sky is darkest to the South-West. In the summer I can easily see detail in the milky way. The north & east are pretty bad though, especially because of BYU stadium (I've never understood why they need to leave those bright parking lot lights on all night, year-round). ---------- From: David Trevino Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 5:46 PM To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association Subject: Re: [UVAA] Workshop Sorry I couldn't stay longer last night. Thanks for the colimation instructions and the main moon features. I wanted to do some observing after a few days of cloudiness and rain. For those who stayed, I am curious on how much you were able to see, and what rating would you give the viewing conditions. I live close to the park so I sort of share the same light polution from my backyard. TIA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html _______________________________________________ UVAA mailing list UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa

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Venus Question, Take Three
by Jonathan A. Cavender 08 Apr '04

08 Apr '04

Ok, let's hope the third time trying to send this message is the charm. Here is a question for all the math wizards out there. I know we are going to miss Venus making a transit across the sun this year out here in Utah. Does anyone know if the 2012 transit will be visible in Utah? Thanks, Jonathan

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