From: owner-utah-astronomy-digest@lists.xmission.com (utah-astronomy-digest) To: utah-astronomy-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: utah-astronomy-digest V1 #10 Reply-To: utah-astronomy-digest Sender: owner-utah-astronomy-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-utah-astronomy-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk utah-astronomy-digest Monday, March 27 2000 Volume 01 : Number 010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 12:29:54 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Optical Windows Hi gang: An acquaintance in Canada is building his first scope, an 8" f/8.5 planetary Newtonian. He is looking into an optical window to both close the tube and eliminate diffraction spikes. His questions are: 1. What is an advisable thickness for this size window? 2. Some authorities say to install the window out-of-square with the optical axis by a few minutes of arc. How much, and why? 3. How much wedge (parallelism of surfaces) is acceptable for diffraction-limited performance? 4. Other than Texereau, what other references are available on this subject? Any help you can provide is appreciated. I will forward your responses to him. Thanks! Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 14:48:51 -0700 (MST) From: Mark Dakins Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Optical Windows I have not personal experience, but can relate a few tales from the experience of a friend who built a 10" planetary Newtonian with a window. > Hi gang: > > An acquaintance in Canada is building his first scope, an 8" f/8.5 planetary > Newtonian. He is looking into an optical window to both close the tube and > eliminate diffraction spikes. His questions are: > > 1. What is an advisable thickness for this size window? Hmm, I have no idea. > 2. Some authorities say to install the window out-of-square with the > optical axis by a few minutes of arc. > How much, and why? Why, is to prevent internal reflections. Since it is a zero power element it is easy (and harmless) to direct any potential internal reflection off to the side. Thus, how much needs to be determined by geometry (ray trace.) > 3. How much wedge (parallelism of surfaces) is acceptable for > diffraction-limited performance? Dunno but I suspect that wedge is not a big deal unless you choose a glass with a really big chromatic dispersion. > 4. Other than Texereau, what other references are available on this > subject? Dunno this either. > Any help you can provide is appreciated. I will forward your responses to > him. One other bit of advise. Be sure to get top grade, precision annealed glass for the window. My friend discovered that he could save a lot of money by buying fine annealed instead of precision annealed, except it didn't work. The fine annealed glass would not take and hold a flat figure; he eventually gave up an put in a conventional spider. Mark Dakins - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 15:40:58 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Optical Windows Mark wrote: >> 1. What is an advisable thickness for this size window? > >Hmm, I have no idea. My guess is that it depends on the size (and therefore mass) of the secondary assembly. Thick enough to prevent sag from it's own wieght. Reminds me of a similar problem; with refractors over 40". >> 2. Some authorities say to install the window out-of-square with the >> optical axis by a few minutes of arc. >> How much, and why? > >Why, is to prevent internal reflections. Since it is a zero power element >it is easy (and harmless) to direct any potential internal reflection >off to the side. Thus, how much needs to be determined by geometry >(ray trace.) This is what I strongly suspected. Maybe not needed in a well-baffled scope? The typical ATM, without a machine shop at his/her disposal, would probably install it out-of-square anyway, even if not trying to. Wedge rings are the answer here, he probably needs to know how much is too much. >> 3. How much wedge (parallelism of surfaces) is acceptable for >> diffraction-limited performance? > >Dunno but I suspect that wedge is not a big deal unless you choose a >glass with a really big chromatic dispersion. You really think so, even in a planetary scope, that will be used at very high powers? Wouldn't even a teensy bit of chromatic aberation be detrimental to low-contrast detail? >> 4. Other than Texereau, what other references are available on this >> subject? > >Dunno this either. > >> Any help you can provide is appreciated. I will forward your responses to >> him. > >One other bit of advise. Be sure to get top grade, precision annealed >glass for the window. My friend discovered that he could save a lot of >money by buying fine annealed instead of precision annealed, except it >didn't work. The fine annealed glass would not take and hold a flat >figure; he eventually gave up an put in a conventional spider. Do you remember the form of the distorion? Could his glass have been "sour", and really not properly annealed? Thanks, Mark! Great insights. Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2000 07:24:21 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Free Mars movie tickets] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Free Mars movie tickets Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 23:01:03 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: s@missiontomars Fellow SLASers! I just spoke with a contact at the Disney Corp. who said she is going to send me "a substantial number" of passes to next Tuesday night's sneak preview of Mission To Mars. Don't know the time or theater yet. If you'd like a ticket (each ticket is good for two people) please email me at p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu. First come, first served. Patrick :-) - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 08:11:57 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Free Mars movie tickets] Very generous offer, Patrick. Disney doing Sci-fi again? I still have a bad taste in my mouth from "The Black Hole" (what a waste of celluloid) I hope they actually listen to their technical advisors this time. I'll wait for the SLAS reviews before I go; what better critics? Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 18:15:15 -0700 (MST) From: Mark Dakins Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Optical Windows > Mark wrote: > > >> 1. What is an advisable thickness for this size window? > > > >Hmm, I have no idea. > > My guess is that it depends on the size (and therefore mass) of the > secondary assembly. Thick enough to prevent sag from it's own wieght. > Reminds me of a similar problem; with refractors over 40". Agreed, I just have no idea how to calc (or even estimate) it. > >> 2. Some authorities say to install the window out-of-square with the > >> optical axis by a few minutes of arc. > >> How much, and why? > > > >Why, is to prevent internal reflections. Since it is a zero power element > >it is easy (and harmless) to direct any potential internal reflection > >off to the side. Thus, how much needs to be determined by geometry > >(ray trace.) > > This is what I strongly suspected. Maybe not needed in a well-baffled > scope? The typical ATM, without a machine shop at his/her disposal, would > probably install it out-of-square anyway, even if not trying to. Wedge > rings are the answer here, he probably needs to know how much is too much. I don't think baffling helps here, it is on-axis internal reflections you are trying to kill. Admittedly you could introduce another problem if you tilt the window without good baffling, but that is another issue. > >> 3. How much wedge (parallelism of surfaces) is acceptable for > >> diffraction-limited performance? > > > >Dunno but I suspect that wedge is not a big deal unless you choose a > >glass with a really big chromatic dispersion. > > You really think so, even in a planetary scope, that will be used at very > high powers? Wouldn't even a teensy bit of chromatic aberation be > detrimental to low-contrast detail? Well, I wondered about that even as I wrote the above, but certainly there is a lower limit below which the transverse chroma is negligible (after all, there is always some wedge) and a slightly wedged window is a REALLY weak prism. Still, I'll admit I don't know how much is too much; I just suspect it is not a real big problem. > >One other bit of advise. Be sure to get top grade, precision annealed > >glass for the window. My friend discovered that he could save a lot of > >money by buying fine annealed instead of precision annealed, except it > >didn't work. The fine annealed glass would not take and hold a flat > >figure; he eventually gave up an put in a conventional spider. > > Do you remember the form of the distorion? Could his glass have been > "sour", and really not properly annealed? No, I never knew exactly what the form of the problem was; I only heard the %$#@*&! as he went through the process of theying to figure out why it wouldn't work right and, finally, heard the conclusion that the problem was that he had bought too low a grade of glass. I can also state that after he gave up and put a spider in the scope was a (pardon the mixed metaphor pun) stellar planetary telescope. Mark - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 07:56:54 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Fwd: Potential major solar flare warning] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Fwd: Potential major solar flare warning Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2000 12:37:05 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: chp@solarflare Andrew Yee wrote: > > ------------------------------------ > | | > Potential Major | A s t r o A l e r t | 02 March 2000 > Solar Flare Warning| | 04:10 UTC > ----------------- Sun-Earth Alert ------------------- > > Supporting imagery: http://www.spacew.com/astroalert.html > > Active sunspot regions 8882 and 8891 are very large naked-eye (don't > be silly enough to try to look at them directly!) sunspot groups occupying > an area near 1,000 millionths of a solar hemisphere. Region 8882 is > currently the most complex magnetically and now sports a delta magnetic > configuration where opposite polarity umbrae exist within a single penumbra. > This configuration is the most magnetically unstable and often results in > more prolific solar flaring. > > There is concern that further growth or development in Region 8882 may > spawn a major M or X class solar proton flare. When major flares occur in > regions as large as these are, they often succeed in accelerating prodigious > quantities of high-energy protons toward the Earth at near-relativistic > speeds. The location of Region 8882 is presently near what is known as the > "footpoint" of the Earth. That is the location where the magnetic field near > the Earth originates at the Sun. The Earth and Region 8882 are therefore > fairly well "connected," magnetically speaking. And since protons are charged > particles that most easily follow along lines of magnetic fields, any > accelerated protons released by a major solar flare would technically reach > the Earth along the shortest path. As a result, energetic protons could reach > the Earth very rapidly (possibly in less than 1 to 2 hours after the peak > phase of the flare) and produce maximal impact with the Earth's space > environment. Fortunately, the Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere shield all > life at the surface from the effects of proton flares. But our technology can > suffer. High densities of energetic protons can produce electrical upsets on > spacecraft and can intensely ionize the lower region of the polar ionosphere, > which in turn can lead to the heavy absorption of ionospherically propagated > radio signals. These are some of the more extreme effects of proton flares. > Most likely, any proton flaring from Region 8882 will be of much less > concern. > > Of additional concern is the emergence of an apparently separate bipolar > sunspot group just to the north of Region 8882. If this region grows very > much, it will almost certainly begin to interact with Region 8882. Such > interaction may result in increased flare production and could possibly help > trigger major levels of activity. > > Region 8891 is also a potential powerhouse of activity. This naked-eye > spot group may also contain a delta magnetic configuration within the central > spot complex, although officially it is not yet described as having one. It > has been fairly quiet over the last several days and has yet to produce any > significant levels of flare activity. Persistence would suggest this region > may continue to be quiet unless additional and more rapid growth occurs. > However, it is large enough to easily spawn a major M or X class solar flare > should its apparently stable magnetic configuration become disturbed. > > Other solar features of interest (somewhat outside the topic of this > warning) is the possible eruption of a dark solar filament located to the > east of Region 8891. This filament has become quite active over the last 24 > hours. Additional activity may destabilize it enough to erupt. > > Amateur observers with hydrogen-alpha filtered telescopes may want to > keep an eye on the northwest and southeast limbs where minor surging was also > observed today. An old active sunspot region is due back to the southeast > limb over the next 3 to 5 days. X-ray imagery of the southeast limb suggests > a fairly small active sunspot region is likely to come into view where the > surging was observed. For a map of where to find this activity, consult the > image at: http://www.spacew.com/astroalert.html. > > This warning will remain in effect until Region 8891 departs the west > limb (in roughly one more week). > > ** End of AstroAlert ** > > -- > Andrew Yee > ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2000 07:15:36 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: ETX for sale] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: ETX for sale Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 16:08:36 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@etx Forward from Johnny Rasta: I have a Meade ETX for sale. I didn't see a place to post anything for your club. Could you please pass this on to anyone who may be interested. I will include the camera adapter, all for $350. It was $775 retail. It was only used once. Thank You, Johnny Rasta rastamon@softcom.net - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 08:51:49 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: FS: ST-4] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: FS: ST-4 Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2000 22:32:23 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@st4 Dr. Holly and I are thinking about moving up from our SBIG ST-4 to one of their fancy new STVs to use at star parties. First step will be to raise some cash by selling the ST-4. Anyone interested? Asking $600. Cheers! Patrick :-) p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu 531-4952 - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 11:35:54 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Free stuff at tomorrow's star party] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Free stuff at tomorrow's star party Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 11:26:33 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@tomorrow By happy coincidence Harmon's will be doing a promotion with a radio station and Coca Cola tomorrow night (Friday the 10th) during the Harmon's star party. The Coke folks will be giving out free soft drinks while the radio station will be giving away a free telescope and free passes to Mission To Mars. I'm told there will also be a drawing for an ATV. As for the weather, well, the above will happen regardless of the weather. However, I just spoke with the chief weather guy out at the national weather service who advised that tomorrow morning's storm should break up by afternoon leaving the skies partly cloudy during the star party. Patrick :-) - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 08:52:22 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Spring Equinox Howdy, I have a friend who would like to know the exact date, time, etc, and all other related info about the first day of spring. Any info? And, is it true, can you stand an egg on end? Thanks, Cyn - -- "What does that mean?" "It means the Matrix cannot tell you who you are." SLC, UT - USA ICQ #10306498 http://www.xmission.com/~lucyblue - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 10:44:45 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Spring Equinox "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" wrote: > > Howdy, > I have a friend who would like to know the exact date, time, etc, 20 March 2000, 12:35 am MST. > And, is it true, can you stand an egg on end? As I always say, yes, if you use enough eggs and try long and hard enough you can get eggs to stand on their end on the equinox. Of course, if you wait a few days (or weeks or months) and if you use enough eggs and try long and hard enough you can get eggs to stand on their end on any day... :-) Patrick :-) - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:12:30 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Telescope-Making club Hi all: If anyone on this list would be interested in helping start a telescope-making club, please e-mail me off-list. This (hypothetical) club would be primarily devoted to telescope making, and all it's nuances and facets, with astronomy taking a back-seat, as opposed to main-stream clubs, which are usually the reverse. Our model would be the ATM's of Boston, a club with a rich history. You needn't be an engineering whiz to participate. If your primary interest is technical, ray-tracing designs on a computer, comparing spot diagrams, that's ok. If your interest is more centered on materials and fabrication techniques, (like me), that's ok, too. But the common interest is in telescopes, their design, construction, and end use. The group would also help members interested in publishing their work before a larger audience. If there is sufficient interest, I'll report back. Thanks! Chuck Hards - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:23:00 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Spring Equinox - --------------F843343A9F1CB4A69040ADBA Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Okay, cool, I will tell my friend to stand that egg on end and see what happens... and really, he's a friend, it's not me! Yeah, like anyone will believe that. Mark, you gonna back me up? :) Cyn - -- "What does that mean?" "It means the Matrix cannot tell you who you are." SLC, UT - USA ICQ #10306498 http://www.xmission.com/~lucyblue - --------------F843343A9F1CB4A69040ADBA Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Okay, cool, I will tell my friend to stand that egg on end and see what happens... and really, he's a friend, it's not me!  Yeah, like anyone will believe that.  Mark, you gonna back me up?  :)
Cyn

--
"What does that mean?"
"It means the Matrix cannot tell you who you are."

SLC, UT - USA
ICQ #10306498
http://www.xmission.com/~lucyblue
  - --------------F843343A9F1CB4A69040ADBA-- - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 15:04:51 -0700 From: "Wayne Sumner" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Telescope-Making club Chuck, Count me in, but I don't know your "off-list" email address. Thanks, Wayne Sumner >>> "Chuck Hards" 03/13/00 02:12PM >>> Hi all: If anyone on this list would be interested in helping start a telescope-making club, please e-mail me off-list. This (hypothetical) club would be primarily devoted to telescope making, = and all it's nuances and facets, with astronomy taking a back-seat, as opposed to main-stream clubs, which are usually the reverse. Our model would be = the ATM's of Boston, a club with a rich history. You needn't be an engineering whiz to participate. If your primary = interest is technical, ray-tracing designs on a computer, comparing spot diagrams, that's ok. If your interest is more centered on materials and fabrication techniques, (like me), that's ok, too. But the common interest is in telescopes, their design, construction, and end use. The group would also help members interested in publishing their work = before a larger audience. If there is sufficient interest, I'll report back. Thanks! Chuck Hards - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.c= om" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 22:52:21 EST From: JimSarge@aol.com Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Telescope-Making club I am interested. Jim Seargeant - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 07:24:39 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Hansen Planetarium: Spring] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Hansen Planetarium: Spring Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 23:12:39 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: bc@equinox FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Art Esenberg March 13, 1998 Phone: (801) 531-4954 SPRING Hansen Planetarium is alerting everyone to the official return of spring to the northern hemisphere on Monday, March 20 at 12:35 a.m. MST (Sunday, March 19 at 11:35 p.m. PST). Known as the vernal or March equinox, the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere marks that moment when the Sun passes northward through the celestial equator. The celestial equator is an imaginary line in space above the Earth's equator. To mark this event the Planetarium will present a free, 30 minute equinox program beginning at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday the 21st. The next such event, known as the autumnal or September equinox, will occur when the Sun passes southward through the celestial equator next September 22, marking the start of fall in the northern hemisphere. Similarly, there are two times a year when the Sun is furthest from the sky's equator. One is at the at the start of our summer, when it's furthest north, and the other is at the start of our winter, when it 's farthest south. These events are known as the June and December solstices. While Utahns and others who reside in the northern hemisphere mark this equinox as the start of the longer, warmer days of spring, those in the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, see this event as the start of the shorter, cooler days of autumn. For further information call 532-STAR, the Hansen Planetarium's free Starline information service or log onto our web site at http://utah.edu/planetarium. # # # - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 20:33:13 -0700 From: Alyxandra MacLeod Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Handy site for observers] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Handy site for observers Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 15:41:08 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@obscondsite Here's a handy site that forecasts observing conditions in the US and southern Canada: http://www.intellicast.com/Star/World/UnitedStates/SkyWatch/d1_00/ And don't forget the SLAS meeting tomorrow night. Cheers! Patrick :-) - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 12:08:34 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Mission to Mars Well, I assume the hard-core among us have seen this movie. What's the local concensus? Roger Ebert gave it "thumbs down", his guest critic didn't like it, either. While I don't let critics choose my movies for me, Ebert's opinions are worth noting, IMHO. I only see three or four movies a year, so I want to make my outings count! Is it worth my time, or has Disney made another "Black Hole"? Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 12:41:40 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Re: Mission to Mars Well, I'm not going to call it a bad movie but it's far from my favorite sci-fi flick. It has it's moments, but don't go expecting any real science. Patrick :-) Chuck Hards wrote: > > Well, I assume the hard-core among us have seen this movie. What's the > local concensus?? - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 19:29:49 PST From: "David Bennett" Subject: Re: (utah-astronomy) Mission to Mars > >Is it worth my time, or has Disney made another "Black Hole"? > > Well, It's no 'Black Hole' and definitely worth seeing but as Patrick stated, don't go looking for realism. There are some great scenes though (one gives a nice impression of drifting high in Martian orbit- though probably not-so-nice for the characters involved as you will see. Talk about a head-cold ;). Also the movie has a few thought provoking ideas however far-fetched and contrived. 6 out of 10 IMHO but Chuck has the right idea about not always listening to critics. Some of the best films I have seen have been detested by the critics. David Bennett ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:12:25 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Re: Mission to Mars A couple of weeks ago, I received a note from Arthur C. Clarke, and he noted that several of his stories and books have had options taken out on them by motion-picture production companies, including (hold on to your socks) Childhood's End. (This may not be news to some of you who do the S.F. convention thing). I'll re-check the note when I get home, for other space titles. (Some were undersea stories) And, no, I don't get letters from Arthur C. Clarke every day! (I wish) -- He did me a small favor at the request of an influential friend... Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 08:17:08 -0700 From: "Chuck Hards" Subject: (utah-astronomy) 100" mirror Hi all: Right now, on e-bay, a 100" mirror blank is being auctioned off. I place the first bid, but have since been out-bid. Anybody want to go in on it, and form a 501-3c corporation to build it? (only half-serious here) Search for item #289337402 For a few hours, at least, I had some pretty outrageous fantasies. The observer would ride in a prime-focus cage, suspended three stories in the air, above a reflection of all of heaven. Oh, well, back to reality! Chuck - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 16:00:20 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: Point the HST / Star party] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Point the HST / Star party Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 15:43:15 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@pointhst Here's your chance to have a say in where the Hubble Space Telescope gets pointed: http://heritage.stsci.edu/public/observations2000/toplevel_mar00.html Weather permitting, Bruce Grim, Boyd & Colleen McNeil and I will be conducting an impromptu star party tomorrow night (Thursday) for the Stansbury Park elementary school astronomy club. We'll be getting started at 7:00 p.m. in the school's parking lot. If you feel like helping out please stop by. Cheers! Patrick :-) - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:09:16 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) Regrets Hi all, Chuck wanted me to send his regrets, as he must unsubcribe from the list. Unfortunate, for he was the one who posted the majority of the info. Anyway, he says: "Could you do me one more favor? Post a message to the list asking that all future correspondence be sent to me at ChuckHards@yahoo.com.? I am always available for our local astro-nut "family"!" Thanks, Cynthia - -- "What does that mean?" "It means the Matrix cannot tell you who you are." SLC, UT - USA ICQ #10306498 http://www.utahdogs.com http://trak.to/LucyBlue - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:40:48 -0700 From: "Alyxandra K. MacLeod" Subject: (utah-astronomy) [Fwd: AstroAlert: Middle Latitude Auroral Watch] - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: AstroAlert: Middle Latitude Auroral Watch Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 12:27:03 -0700 From: "P. Wiggins" Reply-To: p.wiggins@m.cc.utah.edu To: c@sunalert From: Cary Oler Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 22:47:56 -0700 (MST) Subject: AstroAlert: Middle Latitude Auroral Activity Watch - 25-26 March ------------------------------------ | | MIDDLE LATITUDE | A s t r o A l e r t | 24 March 2000 at AURORA WATCH | | 04:40 UTC ----------------- Sun-Earth Alert - ------------------- * G1 Category Event Possible * There is a chance the solar coronal mass ejection associated with the major X-class flare of 22 March may have had an Earthward directed component. The primary instrument that is used to monitor and measure the characteristics and trajectories of coronal mass ejections is the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory's LASCO instrument. Unfortunately, the instrument door was closed in the early stages of the eruption of the coronal mass ejection in order to perform other required spacecraft activities. The LASCO instrument will be unable to make regular observations until 18:00 UTC on 25 March. As a result of this, there is uncertainty whether the mass ejection associated with the X-class flare had an Earthward directed component. Forecasters are playing it safe by assuming there MAY be an Earthward directed component in transit toward the Earth. Most believe the impact, if it occurs at all, will be probably be on the weak side. The time to be watchful spans from 25 to 26 March. These are the dates of most probable impact, with 25 March being the preferred date. Models suggest the strength of the disturbance will probably be fairly minimal if it materializes at all. But just to be safe, forecasters are suggesting the induced geomagnetic activity from the impact of the disturbance may generate periods of active to minor storm level conditions. This may be sporadically strong enough to produce visible levels of auroral activity over some upper-middle latitude regions. The equivalent forecast, given in terms of the new NOAA Space Weather Scale for geomagnetic storms, would be a category G1 event (on a scale of G1 to G5 where G1 is the lowest or least-disturbed disturbance ranked). For an explanation of the Space Weather Scales, see the March 2000 issue of Sky & Telescope or visit the following site for an on-line description: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/index.html Given the current phase of the Moon, the best time to check for auroral activity at your location will be prior to moonrise, which occurs shortly after local midnight on the evenings of 25 and 26 March. Once the moon rises, its luminosity will hamper attempts to view auroral activity. Anyone who successfully observes auroral activity are encouraged to report their findings at: http://www.spacew.com/www/auroras.html. Even if the reports are old, we would appreciate hearing from you (all submissions are archived regardless of when the observation was made). ** End of AstroAlert ** - - To unsubscribe from utah-astronomy, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe utah-astronomy" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of utah-astronomy-digest V1 #10 *********************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.