HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: yaron@astro.as.utexas.edu (Yaron Sheffer)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Date: 8 Apr 92 18:05:40 GMT

And let's not forget:

sci.astro.dust
sci.astro.gas
sci.astro.meteoroids
sci.astro.cosmic_rays
sci.astro.asteroids
sci.astro.comets
sci.astro.moons
sci.astro.planets
sci.astro.planets.pluto
sci.astro.brown_dwarfs
sci.astro.ISM
sci.astro.nebulae.planetary
sci.astro.nebulae.diffuse
sci.astro.nebulae.dark
sci.astro.nebulae.dark.horse_head
sci.astro.stars.white_dwarfs
sci.astro.stars.main_sequence
sci.astro.stars.supergiants
sci.astro.stars.neutron
sci.astro.stars.black_holes.small
sci.astro.stars.constellations
sci.astro.stars.novae
sci.astro.stars.novae.super
sci.astro.stars.names
sci.astro.pulsars.single
sci.astro.pulsars.binary
sci.astro.pulsars.planets
sci.astro.clusters.open
sci.astro.clusters.globular
sci.astro.associations
sci.astro.spiral_arms
sci.astro.milkyway
sci.astro.milkyway.center
sci.astro.galaxies.spiral
sci.astro.galaxies.elliptical
sci.astro.galaxies.local_group
sci.astro.galaxies.seyfert
sci.astro.galaxies.super_clusters
sci.astro.galaxies.virgo
sci.astro.galaxies.primordial
sci.astro.galaxies.radio
sci.astro.galaxies.black_holes.big
sci.astro.quasars
sci.astro.microwave_background
sci.astro.redshift.cosmological
sci.astro.redshift.other
sci.astro.cosmology.big_bang
sci.astro.cosmology.steady
sci.astro.cosmology.plasma
sci.astro.cosmology.bible
sci.astro.cosmology.other_universes
sci.astro.photometry
sci.astro.photography
sci.astro.spectroscopy
sci.astro.infrared
sci.astro.ultraviolet
sci.astro.gamma
sci.astro.xrays
sci.astro.seti
sci.astro.exo_biology
sci.astro.new_telescopes
sci.astro.light_pollution
sci.astro.grav_waves
sci.astro.neutrino.solar
sci.astro.neutrino.not_solar
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: dirk@spacsun.rice.edu (Dirk Valk)
Subject: Re: Query about "black hole" observations
Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 21:13:25 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.174236.13559@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca> anderson@fermi.phys.ualberta.ca (Warren G. Anderson) writes:
>
>Wouldn't gravitational lensing give an isolated b.h. away (if you happened
>to be looking in that direction, and there was a visible source behind it).
>At least in principle, even if it's practically impossible.

The trick there is figuring out that objects in a given region are lensed
images of the same object.  Most identified lensed objects are high-z --
that way it's pretty easy to say 'Hey here's three quasars with the same
redshift within two arcmin of each other -- must be a gravitational lens 
effect'.  But for a galactic black hole you'd probably be lensing stars 
(since you'd probably be looking in the plane of the disk).  The problem 
then is that stars look an awful lot alike -- how do you tell that those 5
O-stars are a cluster or a lensed image?  Finally, a 5Mo black hole will do 
just as much lensing as a 5Mo star -- you just don't have to compete with the
starlight to detect the lensed image.  To resolve a multiple lensed image of
a field star, lensed by a 5Mo black hole, at the nominal resolution of WF/PC
the black hole would have to be within about 4 pc or so.  

Of course, with lucky alignment you could get a lensed ring, which would be
a lot easier to pick out.

Nice thought exercise, though...
-- 
: Dirk Valk             |"And if it doesn't work out,                      :
: Rice Univeristy       | There'll never be any doubt,                     :
: dirk@spacsun.rice.edu | That the pleasure was worth all the pain."       :
: Space Physics & Astro.|                         - Jimmy Buffett          :
From: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de (Jost Jahn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Sunspots at 16.04.1992.
Date: 17 Apr 92 16:26:58 GMT
Reply-To: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de
Distribution: sci
Organization: ABBS AstroMail, D-W 2121 Dahlenburg / Germany
X-Version: ZerUU V6.45c

Sunspots at 16.04.1992., 0 h UT.

No.    Pos.  Cl.  Ar.  Mag. SF  F  M  X
---------------------------------------
7125 15S 51W Hax  140   a    1
7128 15S 09W Cho  260   b    3
7130 18S 15E Cao   30   b
7131 07N 05E Eso  110   b
7132 27S 53E Eao  180   b    6
7134 02N 59E Bxo   10   b    5


No optical or x-ray flares yesterday observed.


 
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From: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de (Jost Jahn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Sunspots at 15.04.1992.
Date: 16 Apr 92 17:23:54 GMT
Reply-To: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de
Distribution: sci
Organization: ABBS AstroMail, D-W 2121 Dahlenburg / Germany
X-Version: ZerUU V6.45c

Sunspots at 15.04.1992., 0 h UT.

No.    Pos.  Cl.  Ar.  Mag. SF  F  M  X
---------------------------------------
7123 07S 90W Hax   60   a    1
7125 15S 38W Cso  170   b    1
7127 02S 31W Axx    0   a
7128 15S 04E Dho  260   b    3
7131 07N 18E Dao  140   b
7132 26S 64E Eao  140   b    1
7133 08N 25W Bxo   10   b


No optical or x-ray flares yesterday observed.


 
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------------------------- for amateur astronomers ----------------------------
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From: clj@ksr.com (Chris Jones)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Weight of Earth?
Summary: 5.98e27 gm
Date: 16 Apr 92 11:37:52 GMT
Reply-To: clj@ksr.com (Chris Jones)
Organization: Kendall Square Research Corp
In-reply-to: rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin)

In article <1992Apr16.030725.4325@news2.cis.umn.edu>, rjg@umnstat (Robert J. Granvin) writes:
>I know it's a strange question, and I know I can probably find it in
>a library (if I had the time to go there :-), but I'm in need of the
>approximate weight of the Earth (in tonnage?).

You're right, you should check a library.  Also, you probably should be asking
for the mass, not the weight, since you didn't specify where you were going to
put the Earth to weigh it.  Anyway, one reference I found said its mass is
equivalent to 6 sextillion 588 quintillion short tons, which is 5.98e27 grams
(if my interpretation of sextillion as 1e18 is correct).
--
Chris Jones    clj@ksr.com    {uunet,harvard,world}!ksr!clj
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: asnd@msr.triumf.ca (Donald Arseneau)
Subject: Re: when is the dark side of the moon visible to the naked eye?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 00:58:00 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.183730.17195@sfu.ca>, palmer@sfu.ca (Leigh Palmer) writes...
> There are probably more people alive
>today who believe the Earth to be flat than at any previous epoch!

There are more people alive today, period. Hardly any of them give much 
thought to astronomy, or "global" geography.

Donald
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: William R Thompson <wthomps@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: Re: Weight of Earth?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 15:08:02 GMT

In article <12990037@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM> you write:
>
>Anyone got any other ideas on how to determine the WEIGHT of the earth?

Actually the weight of the earth cannot be calculated because our
definition of "weight" is based on the gravitational attraction of
a body on the surface of the earth.  Similarly, weight on other
planets is calculated by mass*grav. acceleration.  This value of             
gravitational acceleration is relative ; that is, g is defined
by the grav. acceleration of a body on the surface of the earth.
So, when defining a weight, you are actually defining a value 
relative to the earth's gravitational force, so the "weight" of
the earth really has no physical meaning.

--William R. Thompson 
  <wthomps@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
  Astrophysicist-Wannabe

" 'Usually I only entertain friends in the TARDIS.' "
        --The Doctor, _Planet of Evil_
From: mehr@oskar.uchicago.edu (David Mehringer)
Newsgroups: sci.astro.fits
Subject: Re: FITS to GIF
Date: 13 Apr 92 01:59:39 GMT
Organization: Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In article <1992Apr10.143153.3978@cfa.harvard.edu> gei@cfa.harvard.edu (Guenther Eichhorn) writes:
>
>I am looking for a program that makes a GIF file from a FITS image for a Sun workstation.
>Has anybody heard of such a program?  Please post or send mail to gei@cfa.harvard.edu
>
>Thanks

One way to do this is to use the snapshot utility to make a raster file
of your image (assuming you have an AIPS version that can run on
Xwindows).  After snapping and saving the image, run xv and load the
raster file.  Save the xv-loaded image as a GIF file (or whatever format
you want).



--
Dave Mehringer            | "... But the most amazing thing to me is,
dmehring@zia.aoc.nrao.edu |   I/get paid
National Radio Astronomy  |   for doin'
Observatory, Socorro, NM  |   this." -- Steve Martin
From: gei@cfa.harvard.edu (Guenther Eichhorn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro.fits
Subject: FITS to GIF
Date: 10 Apr 92 14:31:53 GMT
Organization: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA,  USA


I am looking for a program that makes a GIF file from a FITS image for a Sun workstation.
Has anybody heard of such a program?  Please post or send mail to gei@cfa.harvard.edu

Thanks
From: gliba@scivax.stsci.edu
Subject: Reflections on Nova Cygni 1992
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 03:37:37 GMT


   Nova Cygni seems to have resumed fading again. I have been watching
it almost every clear morning this month. For most of the month it has
held at around 7.4 magnitude based on the comparison stars around the
nova on the AAVSO (b) chart. But sunday morning (@6:30 UT) I caught it
at 7.7 magnitude. Perhaps it will continue to fade steadily, but based
on past observations, it seems to fade; then hold steady for several days
before going down again. 
   I was lucky to catch Nova Cygni 1992 before, and at the maximum, before
watching it fade. This is the brightest northern sky nova since Nova Cygni
1975, but I missed that one at maximum due to three days of clouds. I was
able to see Nova Deplhini 1967 (a slow nova) at maximum in March 1968 at
3.5 magnitude. So, as I missed the maximum of Nova Cygni, but did see the
maximum of both Nova Delphini 1967 this nova, this is the brightest nova
I've seen in 24 years.
   It should be fun watching it drop back to its original brightness, as
the progenitor star was about 17th magnitude. So, it still has a long way
to drop yet. It seems to be a medium fast nova, based on its range, and
rate of fading, according to the book "Variable Star Observers Hanbook"
by John Glasby.
   Although I have seen the nova in a 6 inch f8 newtonian, all of my magn.
estimates have been made with a pair of 8x50 aus Jena binoculars on a camera
tripod.
   If you need a deeper chart than the AAVSO (b) chart to watch it fade,
AAVSO also has a (d) chart that goes down to 13th magnitude. Please send
them a buck or so to cover cost. Their address is in Sky and Telescope.

							   Good Observing,

							    George Gliba

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: dlm@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Spacee)
Subject: ...all the mirrors are in!! 
Organization: Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 03:46:21 GMT

I carefully read all the sci.astro messages to see if anyone posted this
message yet.  Nope!  So I guess I get to say it:


******		KECK is finished!!      ******

Hmm.  Might this have been appropriate for sci.astro.urgent.hurrah?

Debbie
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: ronnie@cisco.com (Ronnie B. Kon)
Subject: Re: Purchacing Amateur Telescopes FAQ (part 2 of 2)
Organization: cisco Systems, Incorporated
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 02:01:21 GMT

In article <2100012@hparc0.aus.hp.com>, linas@hparc0.aus.hp.com (Linas Petras) writes:
|> >Well, Meade has a 16" Schmidt-Cassegrain which is  beautiful.   It  is
|> >portable  (ie.,  you  and  a couple of friends can lug it), reasonably
|> >compact, and readily  available.   You  can  pick  one  up  for  about
|> >$10,000.   If  you  are in a position to spend this kind of money on a
|> 
|> 	I was under the impression that Meade only floated the idea and
|> 	never actually shipped any of these. Is my information wrong ??

The literature they sent me should sounded like a bona fide offer to sell.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronnie B. Kon           |  "If you vote Republican, does that make you
ronnie@cisco.com        |   an accomplice to their crimes?"
(415) 688-4592          |                  -- Bongo, Life in Hell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: harwood@cs.tulane.edu (Doug Harwood)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: sci.astro.amateur
Summary: I enjoy sci.astro as it is.
Date: 8 Apr 92 23:53:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Apr8.235312.19456
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-19423]: thor


    I just started reading sci.astro a couple weeks ago, and I've enjoyed
almost every article here, from the solar flare reports to general discussion
and questions about astronomy, etc.  I don't think making a separate group
for amateurs would be beneficial.  There's nothing that says that sci.astro
isn't for amateurs, anyway.  Why not make a sci.astro.pro instead?  :)

    Just a little comment....

-Doug

-- 
  _________________________________________________________________________
				Doug Harwood
			   harwood@rex.cs.tulane.edu
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: meier@Software.Mitel.COM (Rolf Meier)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Keywords: Yes, people DO read this field on occasion.  ;-)
Date: 14 Apr 92 12:53:34 GMT
Organization: Mitel. Kanata (Ontario). Canada.

In article <1992Apr8.212550.18494@rice.edu> dirk@spacsun.rice.edu (Dirk Valk) writes:

>I think the idea has a lot of merit.  I have no real interest in small 
>telescopes or mirror-grinding at the present time.  Also, while I find

>be interested in.  By the same token I douby many here would be interested
>in queries about the status of the COBE processing, or a discussion of the
>latest spiral density wave model, or a flame war on popular cosmogony -- all 

Everyone has their interests, and there are bound to be articles that
don't interest you in particular.  This is no reason to split the group.

Look what happened to sci.astro.hubble.  The volume of traffic is
extremely low, is often repeated on sci.astro, and I would be willing
to wager that most readers subscribe to both.

Why do people want a separate group, anyway?  Isn't it sufficient to
read the subject line to determine if the article is of interest? 

_________________________________________________________________________
Rolf Meier						Mitel Corporation
From: jfbn@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (james.f.burnell)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Stategic Defense System, Accidental Launch System, and related.
Summary: Fine, but take it somewhere else!
Date: 8 Apr 92 11:41:11 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories

In article <2833@ub.d.umn.edu>, jremer@ub.d.umn.edu (Jeremy C. Remer) writes:
> 
> I would like to start a discussion about the Stategic
> Defense Inititive (SDI) and the Accidental Launch Protection System (ALPS).
> 

	Fine, but how about not doing it in sci.astro. This subject matter is
	really not related to astronomy.

	Jim Burnell
	AT&T Bell Labs
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: palmer@sfu.ca (Leigh Palmer)
Subject: Re: when is the dark side of the moon visible to the naked eye?
Organization: Simon Fraser University
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 18:37:30 GMT

In article <CONVERSE.92Apr5210339@ubik.uchicago.edu> converse@cs.uchicago.edu
(Tim Converse) writes:

>        And a spacier historical question:  at what point in
>astronomical history was it figured out that the moon was a globe
>that was lit from different directions at different times?  Is that 
>just a post-Copernican idea?  I ask partly because it seems like it might
>be an easier conclusion to arrive at if you had the sort of experience
>that I just had.

You've had two correct responses to this already, but I thought I'd add
another. The idea is evidently prehistoric. Your perception is correct.

There is a related idea the origin of which is also too ancient to 
attribute: the Earth, itself, is spherical. The evidence (cited but not
originated by Aristotle) is that the shadow of Earth on the moon during
a lunar eclipse is circular. The Earth is not a flat disc, either, since
the eclipse shadow is circular for an eclipse viewed at any lunar altitude.
My elementary school teacher believed that fifteenth century Europeans
thought the Earth to be flat. We really ought to learn to have more respect
for the knowledge of our ancestors. There are probably more people alive
today who believe the Earth to be flat than at any previous epoch!

Leigh Palmer
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: tony@nexus.yorku.ca (Tony Wallis)
Subject: Re: Weight of Earth?
Organization: York University
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 10:45:15 GMT

> .. I'm in need of the approximate weight of the Earth (in tonnage?).

Same as Elvis would weigh in the same orbit.   Zero.   :-)

Mass, however, = 5.977 x 10^24 kilograms.
1 ton (British 2240 lbs) = 1.016 x 10^3 kilograms.
1 tonne ("metric")       = 1     x 10^3 kilograms.

--
tony@nexus.yorku.ca = Tony Wallis, York University, Toronto, Canada

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: chaloux@mandolin.mitre.org (Dave Chaloux)
Subject: Obsession Telescopes
Reply-To: chaloux@mandolin.mitre.org (Dave Chaloux)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean, Va
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 13:06:42 GMT

I have the chance to pick up a "used" obsession 20" scope that is still in
the boxes. A couple of questions:

1) Does anyone know what the list price is for sure? I have heard 4995$.
2) Does anyone discount it?
3) What do people think is a reasonable price to offer?

Also, I have heard nothing but glowing comments regarding Obsession telescopes.
Anyone have downside stories on it?

Thanks:
From: mario@cs.man.ac.uk (Mario Wolczko)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Save Palomar Observatory!
Date: 8 Apr 92 13:45:25 GMT
Reply-To: mario@cs.man.ac.uk (Mario Wolczko)
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester

I know the US is already a very litiginous society, and I know this
isn't an ideal solution, but..  Could you threaten to sue the San
Diego authority for the costs of relocating equipment that was
rendered ineffective by the extra light pollution?  For example, if
some expensive detector is useless, but could be used somewhere
else, then sue them for relocation costs (plus associated overheads
of course).  If the detector is tailor-made for the 5m, sue them
for the cost of building a new one for a different instrument.  And
if the whole observatory is effectively rendered, useless, sue for the
price of building a new one.

Of course, you only threaten to sue -- that way they're unsure abou
the outcome, and the potential damages.  It may frighten them off.

It's amazing how the potential loss of large sums of money can
sharpen the mind...

Mario
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: rbunge@access.digex.com (Robert Bunge)
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Organization: Express Access Online Communications Service, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 02:40:33 GMT

In article <1992Apr12.033238.16536@news.Hawaii.Edu> joe@montebello.soest.hawaii.edu writes:
>
>	Although they are already being distributed on "Fidonet" I'm told.
>IAU told them to stop and the people doing it replied "_make_ us".
>

Actually, this isn't true.  Some years back, when the Fidonet astronomy 
forum was being formed, IAU agreed to allow the Fidonet people to post the
circs, but two or so weeks late--or so the story goes.  Besides, as this
 poster mentioned, much
of the stuff isn't that useful to most amateurs anyway.   The idea is that
if something bright DOES come along, it sure is nice to know about it.  
As far as the circulars go, I can't afford to subscribe to them anyway. 
Besides, there are other sources for much of the information, including
things like the Comet Rapid Annoucement service, etc..

Bob Bunge


Xref: sparky sci.astro:5057 sci.space:7573 news.answers:1076
Newsgroups: sci.astro

I received several e-mails re. this note and have had a terrific
discussion with one of these respondents.  Perhaps when we're done,
I'll post some excerpts (with permission of course).

For now, it seems the key thing we've hit upon is that it is the
psychological factor for lay people which is the most important.
The issue of not wanting to be confused when dealing with foreign
subject matter.

gt
From: csmith@nmt.edu (Clay Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Amateur Radio Telescopes
Date: 14 Apr 92 02:44:47 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology


   A friend and I are considering constructing our own radio telescope
interferometer as a project for the summer. I am planning on using the
design given in the book "Amateur Radio Telescope" by G. W. Swenson Jr.
at first and then possibly modifying it later to better suit my needs.
I think that this would be a good way to learn the principles of
interferometry and to become familiar with some of the equipment used
in radio astronomy.
   I have looked over the plans and I don't foresee any significant
difficulties with building or using the interferometer which consists
of two ordinary TV antennas, given my state of knowledge of electronics
and the underlying principle.
   What I want to know is, has anyone tried such a project before? If so,
what kind of problems were encountered in the construction and/or use of
such a device? I am sure that some sort of problems must arise, as nothing
ever works perfectly the first time. I know that a lot of work will be 
involved, but as I said it is meant to be a learning experience.
   Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated!

   Clay Smith
   csmith@titan.nmt.edu
From: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de (Jost Jahn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Sunspots at 14.04.1992.
Date: 15 Apr 92 22:25:10 GMT
Reply-To: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de
Distribution: sci
Organization: ABBS AstroMail, D-W 2121 Dahlenburg / Germany
X-Version: ZerUU V6.45c

Sunspots at 14.04.1992., 0 h UT.

No.    Pos.  Cl.  Ar.  Mag. SF  F  M  X
---------------------------------------
7123 07S 82W Hax   90   a    1
7125 15S 25W Dho  210   b
7127 05S 16W Bxo    0   b    1
7128 15S 18E Dko  270   b
7130 23S 47E Axx   10   a
7131 07N 32E Dso  100   b
7132 28S 74E Cro   40   b


No optical or x-ray flares yesterday observed.


 
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------------------------- for amateur astronomers ----------------------------
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From: mls@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (mike.siemon)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Issac Asimov -- Dead : (
Summary: unfortunate idiom
Date: 8 Apr 92 20:51:37 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <101500007@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com>, malcolm@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com (Malcolm Porter) writes:

>  NB: The late Mr. Asimov's christian name is spelt ISAAC - as in 'Newton'.

Umm... your correction would go down better if you avoided the English
idiom for a given name.  American usage ("first name") would be much
preferable in this case, given both the Asimov family background (Jewish)
and the man's own personal preferences (strongly "secular humanist.")

-- 
Michael L. Siemon		   "Oh, stand, stand at the window,
					As the tears scald and start;
mls@usl.com			   You shall love your crooked neighbor
standard disclaimer			With your crooked heart."
Newsgroups: sci.astro