8/07/2010
Lakeside Postponed
The Clear Sky Clock forecast has changed and conditions today are not looking favorable for Lakeside. As a result we are postponing observing as a group til next weekend. SLAS has some star parties but I am still going to head out to either Wolf Creek or Lakeside next weekend. I'll keep this posted. Sorry, I can't control the weather and if you can, please let me know!
8/06/2010
Saturday is Lakeside, Your Invited, and Lakeside Directions
A small group of us, about 3-4, depending who shows up, and more are welcome, are taking our telescopes out to the West Desert Saturday to the Lakeside Site to do some personal observing. If you have a telescope, binoculars and would like to join us, you are welcome to do so (or if you want to come see what we do when we are not doing public star parties or public events come out).
Edit: I forgot to mention, it gets COLD out here, even in the summer so dress in or bring layers. I wouldn't do shorts. If your layered you can always take items off or put them on. If your in shorts and a tee shirt your going to get cold, maybe even really cold. So layer up, I wear a pair of long-johns and sweats min. at this time of the year and usually I wear another layer of non-cotton pants over that since cotton doesn't hold body heat well. I have a under shirt, followed by a long tee shirt, and then a nice warm long sleeve shirt, a hooded sweatshirt and a jacket. I wear the tee shirt first, then put items on as it cools. I'll do a write up on cold weather clothing in about a month.
Review guidelines. First, once we are there, please make sure if you think you'll leave before those observing that your car is pointed away from us and toward the exit area. Please no headlights until AFTER you leave the parking area, have turned left on the road to go to the main road and are past the 5 foot dirt ramp. That helps those who are observing to stay dark adapted and is truly appreciated. No problem leaving early, and I'll show you how to get out and where to turn your lights on (parking lights would be okay). Last, red lights only in the area please. I use one to sketch so if that bothers you, please don't set up next to me.
I will be at the Flying J off exit 99 off of I-80 Westbound tomorrow at 6:30p.m. If you want to follow me out, that is fine. I drive a blackpathfinder. I'll probably bring the 14 inch scope but I may, just may, bring the 20 inch Obsession that I brought back to do some work on it (mods) but it is in the basement apart and I don't think I'll have time to put it back into working condition before transporting it back to my observatory in southern Utah at our cabin.
If you cannot make it, then here is a link to a map of how to get out there:
SLAS Map to Lakeside
Here is the map:
Here is the link to my SLAS Gallery that has the pictures showing how to get there using this map:
Here are the pictures:
I-80 West Bound to exit 62:
Exit the freeway, go right and then at this sign stay to the left on the paved road, well kinda of paved at that point, it goes back to nice pavement in a second and you'll see that on the next picture:
You wind around and then follow this road out to a sign that has thee posts, on being Big Canyon and says turn left . . .
At this sign turn left on to the dirt road for Big Canyon and Well No. 78 . . . hmmm . . . do I tell you about Well No. 78 yet? Nah, you have to come out to hear that story.
This is the dirt road you turn left on and it will go to those hills/mountains to the west and that is good if it is humid, as it gets you up and out of it. Right after you turn here (and you can see it in the picture) there is a bump and then a place to drive into like a large dirt parking area.
THIS IS WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT to get to where we set up and observe:
There is the dirt embankment to the east and it buffers the one or two cars from the main road that come out there sometimes so their light doesn't kill your eyes too bad:
If you have followed my blog you've seen my images of being out here. Beautiful and dark! So if you want to get some observing time in this weekend, or enjoy the stars and the outdoors, please come out!
Edit: I forgot to mention, it gets COLD out here, even in the summer so dress in or bring layers. I wouldn't do shorts. If your layered you can always take items off or put them on. If your in shorts and a tee shirt your going to get cold, maybe even really cold. So layer up, I wear a pair of long-johns and sweats min. at this time of the year and usually I wear another layer of non-cotton pants over that since cotton doesn't hold body heat well. I have a under shirt, followed by a long tee shirt, and then a nice warm long sleeve shirt, a hooded sweatshirt and a jacket. I wear the tee shirt first, then put items on as it cools. I'll do a write up on cold weather clothing in about a month.
Review guidelines. First, once we are there, please make sure if you think you'll leave before those observing that your car is pointed away from us and toward the exit area. Please no headlights until AFTER you leave the parking area, have turned left on the road to go to the main road and are past the 5 foot dirt ramp. That helps those who are observing to stay dark adapted and is truly appreciated. No problem leaving early, and I'll show you how to get out and where to turn your lights on (parking lights would be okay). Last, red lights only in the area please. I use one to sketch so if that bothers you, please don't set up next to me.
I will be at the Flying J off exit 99 off of I-80 Westbound tomorrow at 6:30p.m. If you want to follow me out, that is fine. I drive a blackpathfinder. I'll probably bring the 14 inch scope but I may, just may, bring the 20 inch Obsession that I brought back to do some work on it (mods) but it is in the basement apart and I don't think I'll have time to put it back into working condition before transporting it back to my observatory in southern Utah at our cabin.
If you cannot make it, then here is a link to a map of how to get out there:
SLAS Map to Lakeside
Here is the map:
Here is the link to my SLAS Gallery that has the pictures showing how to get there using this map:
Here are the pictures:
I-80 West Bound to exit 62:
Exit the freeway, go right and then at this sign stay to the left on the paved road, well kinda of paved at that point, it goes back to nice pavement in a second and you'll see that on the next picture:
You wind around and then follow this road out to a sign that has thee posts, on being Big Canyon and says turn left . . .
At this sign turn left on to the dirt road for Big Canyon and Well No. 78 . . . hmmm . . . do I tell you about Well No. 78 yet? Nah, you have to come out to hear that story.
This is the dirt road you turn left on and it will go to those hills/mountains to the west and that is good if it is humid, as it gets you up and out of it. Right after you turn here (and you can see it in the picture) there is a bump and then a place to drive into like a large dirt parking area.
THIS IS WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT to get to where we set up and observe:
There is the dirt embankment to the east and it buffers the one or two cars from the main road that come out there sometimes so their light doesn't kill your eyes too bad:
If you have followed my blog you've seen my images of being out here. Beautiful and dark! So if you want to get some observing time in this weekend, or enjoy the stars and the outdoors, please come out!
8/03/2010
Aurora Borealis Outing in Salt Lake Area
On Sunday the Sun let out a major burst of energy that should cause some Aurora's tonight. See this site. I know some are not members of the Utah Astronomy Mailing group or of SLAS but watch my blog. This is for local observers sorry. at 10:00p.m. at the Flying J off exit 99 (the exit you take to go to Tooele exit and Stansbury Park) and depart at 10:00p.m. from the Flying J to go out to the West Desert to try and see the Aurora. I may have to have a lease signed and IF I do I'll be doing that but if not I'm joining in and heading out with some binoculars with me. So if your local and looking for something to do tonight, this may be it. I'd join Utah-Astronomy and read the email postings on this so you can stay on top of it or in case it is canceled. I won't be able to post more on this until tomorrow.
Here's the latest plan:
We will meet at the Flying J just off of I-80 exit #99 at 10:00 tonight and then proceed west on I-80 to the Grantsville exit #84 and then north a short piece to get away from the freeway lights and the light of the nearby salt plant."
Well, I ended up not being able to go as I went to Cabelo's with my son to get him stuff for a backpacking trip he is taking this weekend. He should have a blast. By the time we got back it was 9:40p.m. or so and too late for the drive. It looks like no Aurora was seen as it was too far north.
Looks like Wolf Creek Pass for me this weekend. If your in the Salt Lake Area and would like to spend time observing come on up. I'm camping so it should be fun. Observe if the weather is good and then sleep in during the day and check out the equipment and sleep some more or more likely visit and get to know people, or read that summer book.
Here's the latest plan:
We will meet at the Flying J just off of I-80 exit #99 at 10:00 tonight and then proceed west on I-80 to the Grantsville exit #84 and then north a short piece to get away from the freeway lights and the light of the nearby salt plant."
Well, I ended up not being able to go as I went to Cabelo's with my son to get him stuff for a backpacking trip he is taking this weekend. He should have a blast. By the time we got back it was 9:40p.m. or so and too late for the drive. It looks like no Aurora was seen as it was too far north.
Looks like Wolf Creek Pass for me this weekend. If your in the Salt Lake Area and would like to spend time observing come on up. I'm camping so it should be fun. Observe if the weather is good and then sleep in during the day and check out the equipment and sleep some more or more likely visit and get to know people, or read that summer book.
8/02/2010
Limiting Magnitude Sky Features
First of a couple of posts today. I came upon this some time ago from another web site and I did not write or keep a link so I cannot give proper credit to the site outside of acknowledging this.
So I post it here hoping it will give some of you some guidelines for Limiting Magnitude.
LM Sky Features
4.5 - 5.0 Milky Way and Zodiacal light are invisible. Typical conditions found in suburbs of
major cities. Passing clouds are easily seen due to being lighted up from surrounding
lights.
5.1 - 5.5 The indistinct Milky Way is faintly visible only near zenith. Zodiacal light is still
invisible. M31, the Andromeda Galaxy is barely discernible.
5.6 - 6.0 The Milky Way is now more easily seen, but lacks detail. M13, the Great Hercules
globular star cluster can now be just glimpsed when near zenith. The Zodiacal light
is still invisible. The winter Milky Way from Auriga through Orion is still invisible.
6.1 - 6.5 The Milky Way is now obvious and some detail can be glimpsed. The Zodiacal light is
now barely visible, but not obvious. The winter Milky Way from Auriga through
Orion is faintly visible. There is still noticeable skyglow along the horizon due to
distant towns and cities.
6.6 - 7.0 Much sructure is visible in the Milky Way above. The Zodiacal light is an obvious
cone of light. The major constellations are less obvious due to "noise" caused by the
large number of faint stars now visible. Passing clouds appear as dark moving
masses as they block the natural skyglow from the Milky Way. A few sources of
skyglow are still visible along the horizon.
7.1 + INCREDIBLE! The Milky Way contains enormous amount of structure all the way to
the horizon and you can easily see your way around by its light. The Zodiacal light
now encircles the entire ecliptic. There are no sources of skyglow along any part of
the horizon. Meteors are easily visible.
It's rough, I'm not sure I agree with it all but it is a guideline and I guess if taken that way, it can help to evaluate sky conditions. I prefer actual weather conditions and the SQM or Sky Quality Meter (google it if your not sure what a SQM is).
So I post it here hoping it will give some of you some guidelines for Limiting Magnitude.
LM Sky Features
4.5 - 5.0 Milky Way and Zodiacal light are invisible. Typical conditions found in suburbs of
major cities. Passing clouds are easily seen due to being lighted up from surrounding
lights.
5.1 - 5.5 The indistinct Milky Way is faintly visible only near zenith. Zodiacal light is still
invisible. M31, the Andromeda Galaxy is barely discernible.
5.6 - 6.0 The Milky Way is now more easily seen, but lacks detail. M13, the Great Hercules
globular star cluster can now be just glimpsed when near zenith. The Zodiacal light
is still invisible. The winter Milky Way from Auriga through Orion is still invisible.
6.1 - 6.5 The Milky Way is now obvious and some detail can be glimpsed. The Zodiacal light is
now barely visible, but not obvious. The winter Milky Way from Auriga through
Orion is faintly visible. There is still noticeable skyglow along the horizon due to
distant towns and cities.
6.6 - 7.0 Much sructure is visible in the Milky Way above. The Zodiacal light is an obvious
cone of light. The major constellations are less obvious due to "noise" caused by the
large number of faint stars now visible. Passing clouds appear as dark moving
masses as they block the natural skyglow from the Milky Way. A few sources of
skyglow are still visible along the horizon.
7.1 + INCREDIBLE! The Milky Way contains enormous amount of structure all the way to
the horizon and you can easily see your way around by its light. The Zodiacal light
now encircles the entire ecliptic. There are no sources of skyglow along any part of
the horizon. Meteors are easily visible.
It's rough, I'm not sure I agree with it all but it is a guideline and I guess if taken that way, it can help to evaluate sky conditions. I prefer actual weather conditions and the SQM or Sky Quality Meter (google it if your not sure what a SQM is).
7/29/2010
Funnies
Just a note to let anyone who is searching for new stuff I just wanted to say it might be several days til I have some new posts. I have put together a very formal review of the XX14i that I'll be posting either this weekend or early next week. I also have the original sketches to finish putting up and I'll do that. I'm just working through some very personal issues right now that will require my time. I'll be back in full force for the wanning crescent phase and new moon phase as more than anything I need to spend time out in the wilderness observing and hiking, giving me time to reflect.
On the good side I had a "surprise" arrive about a month early so that was nice. I'll be transporting that to its new home (that got done last week! good timing) over the next several days and that will be a good, very good trip. I'll try to remember to post some pictures of that. The monsoon season has hit and hit hard with lots of large thunderstorms here and lots and lots of clouds. It's killed my double and lunar observing I had planned! Weird weather pattern for the last year. I am thinking of keeping a weather log from the NesoNet Weather stations here to record the conditions and to track them over time. Figure I might find a patter? Probably not. Clear skies and good viewing where you are.
Based on a funny thread at Cloudy Nights I thought I might provide some laughs on astronomical observing (warning, some might one offensive so remember my favorite quote: "Those who are offended when offense is not intended are fools, and those who are offended when offense is intended are great fools." So, don't get offended, just don't scroll down!
From CloudyNights.com, Big Dobs come in handy:
Wouldn't you love a poster like this when you do public outreach?
Another Public Outreach:
Why Astronauts have job satisfaction:
Finally, the destiny of all old astronomers . . . looks like fun.
An ending thought I saw from another blog:
"Behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living. Since the dawn of time, roughly a hundred billion human beings have walked the planet Earth.
--Now this is an interesting number, for by a curious coincidence there are approximately a hundred billion stars in our local universe, the Milky Way. So for every man who has ever lived, in this universe, there shines a star." (from Clarke's foreword in 2001, A Space Odyssey, 1968)
On the good side I had a "surprise" arrive about a month early so that was nice. I'll be transporting that to its new home (that got done last week! good timing) over the next several days and that will be a good, very good trip. I'll try to remember to post some pictures of that. The monsoon season has hit and hit hard with lots of large thunderstorms here and lots and lots of clouds. It's killed my double and lunar observing I had planned! Weird weather pattern for the last year. I am thinking of keeping a weather log from the NesoNet Weather stations here to record the conditions and to track them over time. Figure I might find a patter? Probably not. Clear skies and good viewing where you are.
Based on a funny thread at Cloudy Nights I thought I might provide some laughs on astronomical observing (warning, some might one offensive so remember my favorite quote: "Those who are offended when offense is not intended are fools, and those who are offended when offense is intended are great fools." So, don't get offended, just don't scroll down!
From CloudyNights.com, Big Dobs come in handy:
Wouldn't you love a poster like this when you do public outreach?
Another Public Outreach:
Why Astronauts have job satisfaction:
Finally, the destiny of all old astronomers . . . looks like fun.
An ending thought I saw from another blog:
"Behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living. Since the dawn of time, roughly a hundred billion human beings have walked the planet Earth.
--Now this is an interesting number, for by a curious coincidence there are approximately a hundred billion stars in our local universe, the Milky Way. So for every man who has ever lived, in this universe, there shines a star." (from Clarke's foreword in 2001, A Space Odyssey, 1968)
7/27/2010
Full Moon Lift Rides near Salt Lake City
This is for the local people who watch my blog. I just wanted to share with you a rather fun and enjoyable thing to do that involves visual observing of the moon using the naked eye, AND can allow you to go on a date, or take the significant other/spouse or just you and some friends. I know that Sundance Ski Resort has Full Moon Lift rides available for $10.00 per adult (younger and older are cheaper, see the link), or two rides for $15.00. The lift ride up and back takes about 40 minutes so if your ambitious you should be able to get two rides in IF the person(s) your with wants to spend that much time for you. Enjoy the full moon as you head up and down the lift, and the wonderful lit up sites in the valley around you. I love seeing some of the falls in the distance in the moonlight. I don't get anything for sharing this, it is something I do once during the summer and then in September I always hit one since fall is my favorite season. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate or whatever warm drink appeals to you and enjoy the evening observing, watching and relaxing. Clear skies (not lately, thunderstorms from the summer monsoon are here).
Image of the lift during the daytime:
Some of the other ski resorts use to offer this but I cannot find it on their sites. Several do have great day time activities like the Alpine Coaster, the Alpine Slide, Zip Riders, a game like magnetic frizbee golf (much more enjoyable for everyone), orienteering (designed so kids beat the adults) and other activities so check them out for a way to get out of the heat! Oh, again, I am just posting up some things that can be done since we have the full moon right now.
I'll be posting up more sketches today also for the original vs digital comparison.
Image of the lift during the daytime:
Some of the other ski resorts use to offer this but I cannot find it on their sites. Several do have great day time activities like the Alpine Coaster, the Alpine Slide, Zip Riders, a game like magnetic frizbee golf (much more enjoyable for everyone), orienteering (designed so kids beat the adults) and other activities so check them out for a way to get out of the heat! Oh, again, I am just posting up some things that can be done since we have the full moon right now.
I'll be posting up more sketches today also for the original vs digital comparison.
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