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on my way to the geminids
by daniel turner 13 Dec '04

13 Dec '04

Last winter I discovered the virtures of a charcoal fired hibatchi. The fire is RED and won't hurt your night vision. I'm on my way to the Gravel Pit tonight. I've found that the low valleys like Rush Valley and Lakeside are cold, and often fogged in during the winter months. I'm looking to get up into the warmer inversion layer and above the fog. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

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Re: [UVAA] C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) Comet
by astrodeb＠charter.net 09 Dec '04

09 Dec '04

I may drive out to Ivins UT to have a look in my 15 X 70 binoculars tonight. It is still a mag 5.5 comet now. I'll give a report when I get back tonight. Debbie > > From: David Trevino <dotrevino(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2004/12/08 Wed PM 04:24:02 MST > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association <uvaa(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [UVAA] C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) Comet > > I am reading reports that this comet is easy to find > with binoculars (and telescopes of course). > > Looks like its orbit will place it at very high > declinations. Should be a nice treat this holiday > season (maybe try your new scope you are getting for > x-mas?) > > http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1396_1.asp > > for more charts, check > > http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > All your favorites on one personal page ? Try My Yahoo! > http://my.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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RE: [UVAA] binoculars vs. telescopes?
by Lambert, Aaron 09 Dec '04

09 Dec '04

Hello, Here is my 2c on the various topics and stargazing in general. This email has gotten lengthy, but I hope it is worth the read. As others have said, the telescopes you described will probably only be good for the moon. You will probably not be able to see a lot of detail on Jupiter or Saturn. However, even with an enormous telescope you will not be able to see a "lot" of detail in anything. My first recommendation then is to look through some other telescopes before you buy so you know what to expect. You can do this at public star parties, but private parties are better because you can ask questions and get some personal help. John and Lisa throw some good ones. Or just arrange with some people on this group for some scope time. I would be happy to show you my 4.5" Orion dob sometime so you could get a feel for what it is like and what you can see with it. I think it is a great starter scope. Unfortunately the party season is pretty much over. I would suggest sticking with your 60mm and binoculars until spring when you can try out other scopes. Also a lot of the scopes at the parties will be way bigger than you need. It is nice to look through them to see what the difference is, but spend time with the smaller ones since these are more likely to be what you are looking for and will use. Second, do some reading and general stargazing (with your eyes) to become familiar with the sky and constellations if you are not already. I bought my first telescope a year and a half ago and was frustrated at first because I couldn't find anything. Once I bought a book (I got Turn Left at Orion) and a star atlas (Sky Atlas Deluxe 2000) I began to become more familiar with finding my way around the sky. This general star gazing can be supplemented with binoculars. With binos, you will not see any detail on the planets (they will still be small dots), but you can find some star clusters and comets. You can also spot Jupiter's 4 brightest moons. While I am on the topic of binos, let me give you my take on them. Binos are no replacement for a good telescope. On the other hand, they can be a lot of fun. I have a 10x50 pair which I used to do the Astronomical League Binocular Messier list (see my third item next) and a 15x70 pair I picked up later. It is hard to hold binos steady for any length of time (especially larger ones) and bino tripods will cost you more than your binos. I mostly use them for quick looks at things such as star clusters or just to look at the moon. They also come in handy for projecting the sun for scout groups and my kids. You are also welcome to use my binos to see how they are and what you can see. Third, have a plan when you take your telescope out. There is a saying, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else." You will use up a lot of time trying to find things and deciding what to find if you do not have a plan. This is frustrating. Decide on a few objects that you would like to hunt down - perhaps 10. If you find them all and still have time, great! If not, that is OK, too. There is always the next time. For each object, do a little research on what you will be seeing. This will help you to appreciate what you are looking at. Most people are underwhelmed the first time they see things through a telescope because they are not Hubble-quality or 3D images. Also, plan how you are going to find the objects (using your atlas or whatever). This will maximize your time at the eyepiece looking for subtle detail in what you are viewing. Fourth, after you have viewed the objects you can think of or which have been recommended to you to help you learn how to use your scope, I would suggest starting an observing program from the Astronomical League. They help to teach you about what is out there. If you decide that the particular one doesn't interest you, you can always bail on that one and start a new one. My first was the Moon, and I highly recommend it because most can be done with binoculars and a small(er) telescope (probably even your 60mm). It also only took me 1 month to complete. Others are more difficult (the Messier list took me about 8 months). Anyway, I hope this information is useful. If you have any more questions just ask, and I'm sure you'll get more information than you can handle. :) Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: uvaa-bounces+aaron.lambert=williams.com(a)mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:uvaa-bounces+aaron.lambert=williams.com@mailman.xmissi > on.com]On > Behalf Of J Waterreus > Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:38 PM > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association > Subject: [UVAA] binoculars vs. telescopes? > > > Hi Everyone, > > Over the past several years, we've purchased two telescopes for our > daughter that haven't been very good and have caused more frustration > than enjoyment. We are now in the process of trying to sell them and > buy something she can use and enjoy. We had thought we might get > astronomical binoculars, but we're also not sure if this is the best > decision. We're wondering if we should try for our third > telescope, and > hope we get it right this time! So, if any of you have any opinions > about all this, I'd love to hear from you! Does anyone have > binoculars > that are designed for astronomical use? If so, do you like them, or > not, and why? If anyone would like to suggest a telescope, > or features > of a telescope, that we should look for, I'd love to hear about that > also. Our daughter is14 years old. She wants something that will > enable her to see the planets (and have them look like more > than just a > star!), but at the same time, we want it to be simple enough > to use that > she won't get frustrated. Please feel free to share your > opinions and > experience with me! Thanks so much. > > Dottie > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) Comet
by David Trevino 08 Dec '04

08 Dec '04

I am reading reports that this comet is easy to find with binoculars (and telescopes of course). Looks like its orbit will place it at very high declinations. Should be a nice treat this holiday season (maybe try your new scope you are getting for x-mas?) http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1396_1.asp for more charts, check http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? All your favorites on one personal page Try My Yahoo! http://my.yahoo.com

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Jupiter Occultation Reappearance at 2:45 AM tonight.
by daniel turner 06 Dec '04

06 Dec '04

Jupiter Occultation Reappearance at 2:45 AM tonight. We won't see the disappearance but the reappearance will be visable if you can find a low eastern horizon. I'll make the trip up Emigration canyon to the Little Mountain parking lot but I plan to view through the windshield with binoculars........ with the engine running. Brrrrrr. DT __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? http://my.yahoo.com

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Re: Re: [UVAA] Astrophotography
by Dana Henriksen 17 Nov '04

17 Nov '04

Thankyou for the responses to my digital camera question. There is a lot of good information, and I am still doing my research. Hopefully the next time there's an aurora in Utah, I will be able to get a good picture. Thanks again, Dana Henriksen

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Re: Re: [UVAA] Astrophotography
by astrodeb＠charter.net 14 Nov '04

14 Nov '04

Here are some sample images with the 300D. You can also download the qshow "Introduction to DSLR imaging". http://home.comcast.net/~dave.dockery/NewImages.htm Debbie > > From: Jim Gibson <jimgibson00(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 2004/11/14 Sun AM 07:21:12 MST > To: Utah Valley Astronomy Association <uvaa(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: Re: [UVAA] Astrophotography > > Dana > There are 4 cameras that are mentioned a lot by astrophotographers. The Nikon Coolpix 4500 (about $400). There is a Coolpix 5000 but for various reasons astrophotograpers like the 4500. There is a Canon Reble 300D (about $900). There is a Nikon 70D (about $1000) and there is a Canon 10D (about $1500). You can guess which one is the best. > Read about the Coolpix at this web site: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Coolpix4500Digital_Astro/ > Get a lot of good information about astrophotography at this web site: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digital_astro/ > Go back and read the post heading for the last 6 months and you will see that your questions will have been asked several times. > Jim > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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Re: [UVAA] Astrophotography
by astrodeb＠charter.net 14 Nov '04

14 Nov '04

Dana, Are you looking at 6.3 Mega Pixel cameras? If you are, a Canon 300D Digital Rebel is hard to beat. You can find the Rebel with the 18-55 kit lens for about $800 on ebay. The 10D will run about $1250 without a lens on ebay. I've had good luck with ebay. Some people on the digital-astro group like the Nikon D70 because they can use their older Nikon lenses with the camera. The D70 has automatic noise suppression which some people don't like so unless you have Nikon lenses hanging around I'd go with the Digital Rebel or 10D. You are going to need a Hartmann mask or some other means to focus the camera. It doesn't have a live LCD screen like the Coolpix 4500. Debbie > > From: "Dana Henriksen" <DANA(a)novell.com> > Date: 2004/11/13 Sat PM 10:50:34 MST > To: <uvaa(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Subject: [UVAA] Astrophotography > > Does anyone have a recommendation on what digital camera(s) would be > good for astrophotography? What features are important and what > features are just nice to have? There have been a few times this year I > have tried to take pictures with our digital camera, but it just wasn't > designed for night-time photography. I have asked at a few camera > stores, but their sales pitches end when I ask about astrophotography - > they don't know; so I thought I would look for some real > astrophotographers. > > Thanks, > > Dana Henriksen > > _______________________________________________ > UVAA mailing list > UVAA(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uvaa >

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Astrophotography
by Dana Henriksen 14 Nov '04

14 Nov '04

Does anyone have a recommendation on what digital camera(s) would be good for astrophotography? What features are important and what features are just nice to have? There have been a few times this year I have tried to take pictures with our digital camera, but it just wasn't designed for night-time photography. I have asked at a few camera stores, but their sales pitches end when I ask about astrophotography - they don't know; so I thought I would look for some real astrophotographers. Thanks, Dana Henriksen

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(no subject)
by JOE KELLER 13 Nov '04

13 Nov '04

Hi This is Joe in Sandy (old papajoek) We will be going to St. George for turkey day 24--28 I am headed out to Fort Pierce every night I hope! SEE YA! Joe

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