Space Forum / Amateur Astronomy / July 2006

SAA observing list for the week of July 30th -- August 6th:
(Feel free to add to this list)
1) Moon: Sacrobosco, a 98 Kilometer crater, 23.7 S., 16.7 E.
2) CR 399 The Coat Hanger, aka Brocchi's Cluster.  You'll most likely

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060729.html
A murder of black holes?
Shawn

The latest mugshot is from John Carruthers.
To view his mugshot, go to:  http://theastropost.com/S.A.A.%20MUGSHOTS.html
To submit your mugshot (and an up to 5 second audio message should you
choose), use this email addy:  submissions@theastropost.com

Jimmy, Smitty the Navigator, Professor Nordheim, the Polaris rocket etc..
From the 1958 classic www.thespaceexplorers.com

LOWERED to $800! - EVERYTHING you need to start (over $1100 worth of items).
Like new Orion StarMax 127 telescope (w/ diag mirror it shipped with).
Pics here:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/mistershipwreck/scope1.jpg

I have been working on the Astronomical League's Globular Cluster program
off and on for about a year. There is a "challenge list" of objects of which
one (1) is required. "Any" Palomar cluster qualifies. I have decided to
atleast attempt to observe every object on the list ...

Anybody have any reports/tips on observing Barnard's Galaxy?  Last night a
friend and I looked at the planetary nebula ngc6818, and thought it would be
easy to include this galaxy.  Surprisingly, neither of us could find it in a
10" f/6 dob and 20x80 binos.  I now read that this ...

Additionally, is space a total vacuum? What about dark energy and dark
matter that occupy more than 96% of the universe?

Am I correct in assuming that for a given location and conditions
(i.e. ignoring clouds, dust, solar flares, magnetic field
disturbances,  etc.), the intensity of the sun's rays are entirely
dependent on its altitude in the sky?

The latest mugshot is from good old Uncle Rod.  
To view his mugshot, go to:  http://theastropost.com/S.A.A.%20MUGSHOTS.html
To submit your mugshot (and an up to 5 second audio message should you
choose), use this email addy:  submissions@theastropost.com

After checking out yesterday's APOD, and seeing a beautiful picture of a
bright galaxy in Pegasus, I got to wondering if I'd ever seen it...  I
checked out Lugenbuhl and Skiff's "Observing Handbook and Catalogue of
Deep-Sky Objects" where I usually put a check mark beside things ...

Who or what are these mad people?

After taking a real look at the book, I realized it's really only written
mostly for people with dobs or newtonians
or maybe SCT's and certainly beginning types.  NOT refractors.  It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the

Unfortunately, Robofocus (Observadome) do not provide any pictures for
mounting their focuser to the NGF-C (R&P focuser). I'm temporarily stuck at
step 4.
Step 4: Use 1/16 hex key wrench to loosen the two set screws holding the

I find this scope PowerSeeker 127 EQ (
http://www.telescopes.com/products/celestron-powerseeker-127-eq-33267.html )
, and it cost only 147,95 US$. It vill be my first scope, and I like to know
your expirience with this skop, and your opinion. Have one more question: