HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Rod.Brown@f560.n635.z3.fidonet.org (Rod Brown)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Zodiacal Stars Catalogue
Date: 25 Jan 93 02:21:00 GMT

Paul,
Thanks for your message.
The second reference you mentioned ( ZC 2000 Lunar Occ. Obsv. Group, Japan) is
the one I heard about prior to my request over ethernet and I was interested in
finding out if there were other catalogues. I was also referred to the SAO
catalogue which is available on CD from the US but this would exceed my modest
requirements. Looks like I'll have to try for the Japanese catalogue.

Rod Brown

brownr@kingfish.cis.dsto.gov.au

 * Origin: Anti-Matter, The sky's the limit! (03) 752-1171 (3:635/560)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: randolph@est.enet.dec.com (Tom Randolph)
Subject: Re: Availability of "Explanatory Supplement"
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 25 JAN 93 12:56:36    


In article <727701137snz@chrism.demon.co.uk>, chris@chrism.demon.co.uk (Chris Marriott) writes...
>Does anyone know if the long-awaited new edition of the "Explanatory
>Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac" has been published yet?

Yes, but strangely, it's not a Naval Obs. publication. You can get it from:
University Science Books
20 Edgehill Road
Mill Valley CA 94941
FAX: (415) 383 3167
for $65 + $2.50 postage. BIG book, about 750 pages, hardbound. 
-Tom R.   randolph@est.enet.dec.com
From: bs@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM (Robert L Swarts)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Vacuum Question
Date: 27 Jan 93 15:36:23 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

Arthur Clarke wrote a short science fiction story dealing with the effects of vacuum on the human body that appeared to be quite informed. It is in one of his anthologies from the 1950s dealing with early orbital and lunar colonization.
Unfortunately, I don't remember the title.

bs
From: j.jahn@abbs.zer.sub.org
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Sunspots at 22.01.1993.
Date: 22 Jan 93 21:03:00 +0100
X-Gateway: ZCONNECT AB abbs.hanse.de [UUCPfZ V4.0d U004]

Sunspots at 22.01.1993., 0 h UT.

No.    Pos.  Cl.  Ar.  Mag. SF  F  M  X
---------------------------------------
7401 12S 32W Cro   30   b    1
7402 25S 36W Axx    0   a
7403 14N 11W Hsx  200   a
7406 13S 39E Dso   90   b
7407 07S 70E Hsx   30   a

Explanations of spot columns:
No.  Running number of sunspot group.
Pos. Position in Latitude and Longitude.
     N - North, S- South, E - East, W- West.
Cl.  MacIntosh classification.
Ar.  Area in 10-6 of visible hemisphere.
Mag. Magnetic Classification.
     a - alpha, b - beta, bg - beta/gamma,
     g - gamma, bd - beta/delta, bg - gamma/delta
     bgd - beta/gamma/delta.
SF   Number of subflares.
F    Number of optical flares. (importance > 1).
M    Number of medium x-ray eruptions.
X    Number of strong x-ray eruptions.


No optical or x-ray flares yesterday observed.
Subject: Long-term precession
Distribution: world
Organization: None
Reply-To: chris@chrism.demon.co.uk
X-Mailer: Simple NEWS 1.90 (ka9q DIS 1.19)
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 21:02:54 +0000

I know how to compute the effects of precession over a few centuries -
the standard equations are in all the books.

Could anyone give me any advice, though, on how to correct a star's position
for precession over a longer period a time - a significant fraction of the
26,000 year cycle?  I assume it's just a simple rotation in ecliptic
longitude - is this correct?  I'm afraid my spherical trig is not too
brilliant!

All advice would be appreciated!

Best wishes,

Chris
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Chris Marriott                           | chris@chrism.demon.co.uk    |
| Warrington, UK                           | BIX: cmarriott              |
|                                          | CIX: cmarriott              |
| Save the whales.  Collect the whole set. | CompuServe: 100113,1140     |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: njzy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (T. Joseph Lazio, Cornell University)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: <None>
Date: 21 Jan 93 09:40:17 EST
Distribution: sci
Organization: Cornell University

In article <C10q0p.Jst@well.sf.ca.us>,
metares@well.sf.ca.us (Tom Van Flandern) writes:
> 
> If adding to the local matter density can keep space from expanding, then 
> if we increase the matter density by 20 orders of magnitude (as in the 
> solar system, for example), why doesn't space then contract?
 
 Umm, not being a GR type, the answer to my question might be obvious...

 Since essentially all of the matter in the solar system is concentrated
 in the innermost 7E10 cm, i.e. the Sun, hasn't it contracted?

-- 
 T. Joseph Lazio                | Why relativity? and Why  
 514 Space Sciences             | turbulence?  I really believe   
 Ithaca, NY  14853-6801         | [God] will have an answer for the
 (607) 255-6420                 | first [question].
 lazio@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu  |   -- W. Heisenberg, on his death bed
ICBM:                           |
 42 deg. 20' 08" N              |              STOP RAPE
 76 deg. 28' 48" W              |
From: steven.williams@p8.f416.n711.z3.fido.zeta.org.au (Steven Williams)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Celestron International
Organization: Fidonet. Gate admin is fido@socs.uts.edu.au
Date: 20 Jan 93 19:27:40 GMT

Original to: jpcanning@kean.ucs.mun.ca

I read your message concerning your problems with your refractor and
Celestron with interest. I have had only good dealings with the company,
except in one respect:

We use a Celestron C-14 built in 1969, which in fact was the third one
every built. The drive system was very, very poor. There was a lash error
of 25 arc minutes in Right Assention, meaning that's how far it moved if
you just "touched" the fork when locked. We had a periodical error of
1 arc minute. The motor's speed was very irregular. The "guide" rates on
the DC "slew" motors were too fast for taking photos. There was terrible
motor backlash and dead-time.

I contacted Celestron about this, and they were unable to help, so I fixed
it myself. Not that I'm complaining about THIS, as the 'scope is old and
has been used at a public observatory, so it's had a hard life, but what
tottally shocked me was this:

1- They have not upgraded the C-14's drive system since 1970.
2- They did not carry spare parts for the RA AC clock motor.

What company still makes equatorial mounts of that price with synchronus
motors??? Haven't they heard about stepping motors? Meade has!

We now have a periodical error of 12 arc seconds, and no lash error. I have
re-designed the gear system inside to have just one stepping motor
controlling track / guide / slew speed in right assention, and a new DC
motor on the declination that can go from 10RPM TO 70RPM. The old one was
too fast at 50 RPM, so now I can guide using an ST-4 CCD tracker or a
computer joystick. I sent the whole design to Celestron, and just wrote one
big word on the top - HINT. They said "they would pass it on, but it would
not be implemented"

In my view, if your going to buy a C-14, just get the tube assembly, and get
a decent mount from Losmandy!


On a positive note with Celestron, they have always replied to my faxes
from Australia promptly, their dealer, Astro Optical Supplies in Australia
have always been very helpfull, the optics of our old C-14 is superb and
the resolution and limiting visual magnitudes have exeeded specifications
many times.

Maybe Celestron are more helpful to us, because their telescope is on
public display at the observatory where I work? Who knows?

Thank god they are now using Losmandy products and have woken up to
themselves in relizing that their mounts, from my experiance, are of
poor quality.


DISCLAIMER: My views expressed in this message are my own personal
views only, and may not be those of the Grove Creek Observatory.


Steven Williams - Astronomer.

--- Chameleon 0.10 / FastPoint 1.39
 * Origin: Grove Creek Observatory, Australia. (3:711/416.8)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,rec.radio.shortwave
From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
Subject: Daily Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for 21 January
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: 22 Jan 93 22:18:44 GMT

!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 021, 01/21/93
10.7 FLUX=106.6  90-AVG=141        SSN=069      BKI=1213 1101  BAI=004
BGND-XRAY=B1.3     FLU1=7.0E+04  FLU10=9.6E+03  PKI=2313 2111  PAI=006
  BOU-DEV=007,019,006,025,008,005,002,008   DEV-AVG=010 NT     SWF=00:000
 XRAY-MAX= B2.1   @ 0001UT    XRAY-MIN= B1.2   @ 2203UT   XRAY-AVG= B1.4
NEUTN-MAX= +002%  @ 1835UT   NEUTN-MIN= -004%  @ 0735UT  NEUTN-AVG= -0.2%
  PCA-MAX= +2.2DB @ 2255UT     PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 0625UT    PCA-AVG= +0.8DB
BOUTF-MAX=55415NT @ 0630UT   BOUTF-MIN=55391NT @ 1937UT  BOUTF-AVG=55407NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+097NT@ 1904UT   GOES7-MIN=N:+002NT@ 1127UT  G7-AVG=+074,+031,+009
GOES6-MAX=P:+116NT@ 1859UT   GOES6-MIN=E:-007NT@ 2208UT  G6-AVG=+092,+002,+040
 FLUXFCST=STD:105,105,105;SESC:105,105,105 BAI/PAI-FCST=005,005,005/007,007,010
    KFCST=1112 2111 1112 3111  27DAY-AP=006,002   27DAY-KP=0223 2231 0011 1210
 WARNINGS=
   ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!
From: sharon@comlab.ox.ac.uk (Sharon Curtis)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: UK- Sky at Night music
Date: 22 Jan 93 15:11:29 GMT
Organization: Oxford University Computing Laboratory, UK
Originator: sharon@flint.comlab

In article whatever apryan@vax1.tcd.ie writes:
>It's "At the Castle Gates" by Sebalius.
Actually it's by Sibelius.

Sharon
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: edgar@sal.wisc.edu (Dick Edgar)
Subject: Re: Na D in the ISM
Organization: Space Astronomy Lab, Madison WI
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 14:21:20 GMT

In article <C1JLxC.5H9@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> Frederick.A.Ringwald@dartmouth.edu (Frederick A. Ringwald) writes:
>If one detects interstellar Na D lines in a hot star's spectrum, how
>exactly does one find the column density of Na D? No, it's not in
>Osterbrock's book - at least, I couldn't find it, and it's only very
>briefly mentioned in Spitzer's book. Please e-mail me literature
>references, and I'll post a summary in a week or so,
>
>Fred Ringwald
>Department of Physics & Astronomy
>Dartmouth College
>Hanover, NH 03755-3528

The description in Spitzer is complete, if terse.  Also remember that
everything in that book is in cgs units unless otherwise stated.  Briefly,
you measure the equivalent widths of the lines (you *do* have both D lines,
don't you?), and fit a curve of growth to them.  The standard curve of
growth gives W(lambda)/lambda as a function of N*f*lambda, where W(lambda)
is the equivalent width, lambda is the wavelength, N is the column
density, and f is the oscillator strength of the line (all the atomic
physics rolled into one number).

If you can partially resolve the line, there are newer methods that show
some promise.  See, for example, recent papers in the Ap. J. by Sembach
and Savage.

If you have more questions, e-mail me (edgar@wisp4.physics.wisc.edu).  I
have some software for fitting curves of growth to doublet lines.  It's
partly described in Edgar, Diplas & Savage, in the Ap J about 1988 or 1989.


---------
Richard J. Edgar  (edgar@wisp4.physics.wisc.edu)
University of Wisconsin--Madison, Department of Physics
"It all depends, of course, upon whether or not it
depends or not, of course, if you take my meaning"
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: cflatter@nrao.edu (Chris Flatters)
Subject: Re: Planetary Ephemeris Routines?
Reply-To: cflatter@nrao.edu
Organization: NRAO
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 18:26:48 GMT

In article 1729@ryn.mro4.dec.com, randolph@est.enet.dec.com (Tom Randolph) writes:
>
>In article <3190@tymix.Tymnet.COM>, kopfj@bert.Tymnet.COM (John Kopf, X6305) writes...
>>I suspect that a FAQ describing common algorithms in ALGEBRA (rather than in a
>>particular computer language) would be welcome by many...I really hate the common
>>practice of displaying programs in BASIC, as it is most difficult to transcribe to
>>some other language.
>> 
>>A discussion of "precision" would also be useful for those of us who are not
>>numerical analysts.
>> 
>>JK
>
>This would quickly expand to occupy megabytes, which I imagine is why no one
>ever posts it here. There's really no way to give it proper treatment without a
>whole book's worth of formulae... hence the book references. "Astronomical
>Algorithms" by Meeus is excellent.

Unfortunately his discussion of numerical precision is very outdated.  Almost
anything you are likely to have on your desk these days will maintain much
better precision than Meeus would lead you to believe (most machines will
only lose one bit of precision in subtraction no matter how close the numbers
being subtracted for example).

	Chris Flatters
	cflatter@nrao.edu

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: dierick@brsux0.bro.dec.com (Dierick Dominique)
Subject: Re: research grade vs. commercial grade
Reply-To: dierick@ketje.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Brussels
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 09:18:13 GMT



Some years ago Meade sold the "Research Grade Newtons". They featured
rotating tube, 2 inch focuser on heavy-duty highly polished equatorial
mounts.
I had one 10 inch about 12 years ago and sold it when I went to live in the
city. Recently by accident I found the same scope back (!) as a donation
to our public observatory...
We tried it out on Saturn and it was still giving magnificent images of
the planet ( better then a Celestron 10 inch ).
A friend of mine still has a 12 inch Research Grade in his observatory.
We had the mirror tested 3 years ago with the Caustic test and it came
out with 1/20 lambda and a very smooth figure - excellent thus.
The only drawback with these telescopes is that although Meade clames
"heavy duty mount", the mount is good enough for the 8 inch or 10 inch,
but is too flimsy for the 12 inch.
You need to fix the declination motor attachment ( if there is one
on the mount ), because that was the major weak point.
Another drawback is if you plan to do deep-sky photography.
You cannot alternate for visual use and prime focus photography without 
moving the primary mirror cell ( extra holes are pre-drilled). You could however
fix this by buying or making a new low profile focuser for the telescope.

Hope this helps.


Dominique
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: phfrom@nyx.uni-konstanz.de (Hartmut Frommert)
Subject: Messier object GIFs
Keywords: GIFs,Messier objects,Deep Sky
Organization: Dept. of Physics, University of Constance
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 14:11:13 GMT

Some time ago I read that somebody has scanned and made a/v (posted on
[].binaries.[] or an ftp-site ?) pictures of (all ?) the Messier objects
in GIF format. Unfortunately I can't find that messege any more, therefore
appreciate any pointer ..
-
 Hartmut Frommert                 <phfrom@nyx.uni-konstanz.de>
 Dept of Physics, Univ of Constance, P.O.Box 55 60, D-W-7750 Konstanz, Germany
                                           -- Eat whale killers, not whales --
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: Toutatis Captured by Radar Images
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A78A9A89B2011C1D@rs14-annex3.sfu.ca>
X-Xxdate: Tue, 26 Jan 93 15:36:41 GMT
Organization: Simon Fraser University
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d16
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 15:36:34 GMT

In article <1551@lyman.pppl.gov> Bruce Scott, bscott@lyman.pppl.gov
writes:

>Actually, one important reason why people turned against the exploding
>planet hypothesis was the discovery that certain classes of asteroids
have
>compositions which are not consistent with any scenario which involves
>heating above 300 K. This and the fact that the property classes
>(achondrite, C1 and C2 chondrite, enstatite, etc) are on isotopic grounds
>irreconciliable with any single parent body are the reasons J S Lewis
>argues against it.

I'm going to look into the literature on this soon (I hope) because I have
learned how far behind I've dropped, but tell me why it is necessary to
have debris which has suffered temperatures greater than 300 K to have an 
explosion? There was an explosion in the lab next door to mine at Cal (I
was in 304 LeConte) which had much debris originally at liquid oxygen
temperature which didn't get *up to* 300 K until after the explosion was 
over! I acknowledge that some (probably central) portion of an exploding
planet likely got very hot, but the bulk of the discorporated planet need
not have seen high temperatures, and the parts that had were probably in a
much finer state of division. The mesoscopic fragments, including 
meteorites, need never have seen high temperatures.

I expect that the time scale for the explosion we are speculating about
was much shorter than transport times for heat within the planet. Appeals
to the lack of evidence for heating do not support the rejection of the 
explosion hypothesis.

Leigh
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: hinz@bonfire (David Hinz (hinz@picard.med.ge.com))
Subject: Re: Vacuum Question
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 07:00:05 GMT

Denis Fafard (denisf@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca) wrote:
: cre1@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (CHRISTOPHER R. EMERSON) writes:

: - 
:   I believe that this topic was covered in the star.trek.tech group. From
:  what I read (and this is just a brief summary) the eventual conclusion
:  reached was that you would NOT explode.  I vaguely remember something
:  about you being able to survive for a short period of time, (matter of
:  seconds) then the body having some affects from the cold and death.
:   That, all under 20 seconds or so ??  Perhaps scan back thru the posts
:  and see if it is still there.  

I don't know if I buy the freeze in seconds bit.  As I recall reading,
perhaps here, space is not so good at being a heat sink.  Yes, it's
quite cold (not many moving molecules), but it can't carry heat away
from you too fast (same reason).

Then we get into heat vs. temperature, which is a can of worms I'm trying
to forget. ;-)

Dave

--

Dave Hinz  -  Opinions expressed are mine, not my employer's.  Obviously.
Ask me if I have an opinion on this! \ Don't blame me; I voted for Perot!
SAAB - Because you get what you pay for.     \       Pherrets are Phun!!!
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: sysevm@nsrvan.vanc.wa.us
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Refurbishing Observatory...SURPRISE !!
Date: 21 Jan 93 11:44:30 PST
Organization: National Systems & Research, Vancouver WA

> was inscribed..." Alvin Clark & Sons    1877     Cambridgeport Mass."
> Does anyone know who this was ? I've removed all the brass an found
> a second lens (7 inches) packed in a brass container.
> The next find was a large case which when opened contained a brand
> new 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain  (called Dynamax) . I've tried to track
> this one down and it seems to be from Criterion. Does anyone know of 
> this scope and if so, is there an owners manual available.

>                                            Jamie Fitzpatrick
> 
>                                       jf4527@adx.adelphi.edu

	Jamie,

	Wow! what a find. this instrument is worth major $$ and you are the
lucky one to do the restoration. Contact the folks at Vernonscope (phone
unknown see Sky and Tel adds) for some information.

	    Alvin Clark scopes are one of the most sought after in the states.
And, collectors would like to take it off your hands sight unseen. The famed
Clark lenses are truely works of art.

	Seek knolageable help in this restoration project and talk to the
trustees there at the school about bringing this treasure back to use.

Regards, Ethan
Organization: Middle East Technical University - Computer Center
Date: Tuesday, 26 Jan 1993 20:33:23 TUR
From: <E49399@TRMETU.BITNET>
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Selected Areas of M W

   Hi
 I'm interested in deep sky observing . I enjoy spending long time behind my
telescope. Especially hunting dark nebula is a challenging work . I want to
find a copy of Barnard's classical book Selected Areas of Milky Way . I know
that original copies of this book are so expensive . But is there anybody who
knows prices of this book or re productions ? If possible I want to have a copy
Does anybody know any address that I may find a re production ?
                                             Thanks
                                              ALPER
From: kopfj@bert.Tymnet.COM (John Kopf, X6305)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Tycho Apocrypha
Date: 21 Jan 93 20:57:03 GMT
Reply-To: kopfj@bert.Tymnet.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems

I heard (from my college astronomy professor, ca. 1959) he had THREE noses: the
original, a silver replacement (casual use), and a gold one (special occasions).

JK
From: Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: Toutatis Captured by Radar Images
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A788D1A3CB011C17@rs11-annex3.sfu.ca>
X-Xxdate: Sun, 24 Jan 93 07:07:15 GMT
Organization: Simon Fraser University
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d16
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 07:07:10 GMT

In article <C1E8C9.66y@well.sf.ca.us> Tom Van Flandern,
metares@well.sf.ca.us writes:

>     That's an interesting question, and I have some speculations about
>that myself, based on the synthesis of evidence for the explosion
>hypothesis in my coming book.  There are clues, such as the heavy neutron
>flux exposure, shock, partial melting, charring, and isotopic anomalies
>found in meteorites.  Meteorite evidence (especially from chondrules)
>strongly suggests an unspecified high-energy event, definitely not pre-
>solar system.  That's why the standard model calls for a nearby supernova
>event; but they can't quite get the details to work out.  I think the
>relatively enormous implied abundance of Al-26 is one of the chief clues
>about what really happened -- unless, of course, that hypothetical
>supernova contained at least a solar-mass worth of Al-26.

I have always subsumed collision into explosion when discussing this
problem. One expects that, given the heterogeneity of the asteroids (seen
by spectroscopy) and of the meteorites known, the asteroids and
meteoroids originated in a large, differentiated body - a planet. Richard
Shumacher's question got me thinking about explosion mechanisms, and I've
got a really wild one to cast out for potshots. Suppose that a small
planet differentiated gravitationally. What element(s) would be found at
the center? Siderophiles would make up the largest single phase, but they
are not the densest of metals. I don't know if uranium is a siderophile,
but if it isn't, it is denser than iron, and it could very conceivably
wind up at the center. A spontaneous chain reaction was once sustained in
an ore body in Africa, in an epoch when U235 was sufficiently abundant to
do it.

  * Perhaps a fission bomb could "happen" for a small enough planet. *

Well, there it is. Start throwing rocks at it.

Leigh
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: mock@sybil.mit.edu (Patrick C. Mock)
Subject: Re: Nukes in space?
Originator: mock@sybil
Organization: MIT Center for Space Research
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 04:54:34 GMT


I heard the same story but it was NOT about a nuclear detonation.  The
SDI folks have been persuaded to postpone testing the TOPAZ nuclear reactor
in orbit.

Pat
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: aad@siemens.com (Anthony A. Datri)
Subject: wanted:  a >8 bit VICAR or PDS image
Organization: Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton (Plainsboro), NJ, USA
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 22:30:08 GMT


I'd like to generalize my PDS and VICAR code for xloadimage and xv to handle
pixel depths greater than 8 bits, but haven't been able to find examples to
work from.  I once had a 16-bit Galileo image, but it was lost in a tragic
disk crash.

So, I'd greatly appreciate a pointer to a >8 bit PDS or VICAR image of
*anything*.

-- 

======================================================================8--<