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LVAS all,<BR>
<BR>
Dr. Don Olive at GWU really came through with this eleventh hour photo, or should I say pulled one out of the hat.<BR>
<FONT face=Verdana><EM><STRONG></STRONG></EM></FONT> <BR>
Roger<BR>
<BR>
> Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:54:44 -0400<BR>> From: dolive@gardner-webb.edu<BR>> Subject: Re: [Lvas] Observing The Virgo Diamond<BR>> To: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>> CC: jdire@gardner-webb.edu; trenglish@gtcc.edu; jlspacerox@aol.com; dbrook@bellsouth.net; steve.davis@fascontrols.com; blclapper@yahoo.com; tjafj@bellsouth.net; reskridge1@carolina.rr.com; frankb@celestialwonders.com; bspencer5@carolina.rr.com; pdwebb53@sc.rr.com; martyk1@bellsouth.net; direduo@bellsouth.net; judyhoff@carolina.rr.com<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Here is a 90sec exposure on a Epsilon 180 corrected Newtonian with an <BR>> SBIG ST-2000 camera. f/2.8 Field of view is 80.5x60.4 arcminutes.<BR>> <BR>> The scope is at the Tzec Maun Observatory in Western Australia.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> roger ivester wrote:<BR>> > Don,<BR>> > <BR>> > This is unbelievable. I am finishing a letter to Dennis at S&T as of <BR>> > this moment. Yes, I would love to have your image. I will change my <BR>> > write-up.<BR>> > <BR>> > Please send to me immediately if at all possible. Don, I thank you so <BR>> > much for your interest and efforts.<BR>> > <BR>> > Tom English was so very kind to advise and assist me also via e-mails <BR>> > last night... nearing midnight.<BR>> > <BR>> > Amazing!!! <BR>
>> Roger<BR>
>> <BR>
<BR>
<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > /* I* can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon <BR>> > the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up <BR>> > into the heavens and say there is no God. Abraham Lincoln/<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > > Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:21:07 -0400<BR>> > > From: dolive@gardner-webb.edu<BR>> > > Subject: Re: FW: [Lvas] Observing The Virgo Diamond<BR>> > > To: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>> > > CC: jdire@gardner-webb.edu; trenglish@gtcc.edu; jlspacerox@aol.com; <BR>> > dbrook@bellsouth.net; steve.davis@fascontrols.com; blclapper@yahoo.com; <BR>> > tjafj@bellsouth.net; reskridge1@carolina.rr.com; <BR>> > frankb@celestialwonders.com; bspencer5@carolina.rr.com; <BR>> > pdwebb53@sc.rr.com; martyk1@bellsouth.net; direduo@bellsouth.net; <BR>> > judyhoff@carolina.rr.com<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > Roger,<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Were you able to observe the Virgo Diamond this weekend? I understand<BR>> > > you are writing an article about the Diamond. I took a couple of<BR>> > > images of it Sunday morning. You are welcome to the pictures if you<BR>> > > want to take a look or use them.<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > roger ivester wrote:<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Good morning all,<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > I had a great time last night. The "Diamond" is almost as difficult<BR>> > > > "visually" as climbing "White Oak Mountain" on my bicycle...maybe more.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Roger<BR>> > > > /* */<BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > From: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>> > > > To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> > > > Subject: RE: [Lvas] Observing The Virgo Diamond<BR>> > > > Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 10:38:05 +0000<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Rob,<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > I am very sorry to hear that your wife is in the hospital. Please give<BR>> > > > her my best. My thoughs and prayers will be with the both of you.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > I am hopeful that you can attempt this most "illusive" object...for <BR>> > sure<BR>> > > > an observers challenge. With the passing of 16 years my memory of this<BR>> > > > object seems to have been lost.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > This object is a "jewel" only in an image...not visually. But for<BR>> > > > a "visual" challenge it is fabulous. I would consider it to be <BR>> > excellent.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > The night for us was beautiful, and fairly calm. The seeing and<BR>> > > > stability was superb. If you noticed on the previous e-mail, I used<BR>> > > > 266X, as it was neccesary to see the two fiainter stars.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > If not for the half moon...killing my contrast, I may have had an <BR>> > easier<BR>> > > > time. High magnification is an essential for seeing this object.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > I would be happy to send a mallingcam image to S&T...we need an <BR>> > image. I<BR>> > > > want "us" to have a thorough report using all instruments, and images<BR>> > > > with both "conventional camera" and a "mallincam".<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > If it were not for my large 6-inch "manual" "Parks Optical" setting<BR>> > > > circles I would not have been able to find this object. Star <BR>> > hopping is<BR>> > > > going to be extremely difficult on this object. I love to star hop, <BR>> > but<BR>> > > > some objects are just too tuff and require far too much time.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Rob, I am really hopeful that you can and Jim can obtain an image.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Time of my writing 6:30 AM Saturday ... eastern time.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Best regards, Roger<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > > Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 21:51:50 -0700<BR>> > > > > From: scopegeek@gmail.com<BR>> > > > > To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> > > > > Subject: Re: [Lvas] Observing The Virgo Diamond<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Roger,<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Too windy in Vegas to try to capture a Mallincam image tonight. <BR>> > If wife<BR>> > > > > is released from hospital tomorrow and the wind dies down, I will<BR>> > > > > attempt to capture the Virgo Diamond tomorrow night.<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Rob<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > roger ivester wrote:<BR>> > > > > > LVAS all,<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > Time of writing: 12:30 AM eastern time<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I had great difficulty locating and seeing the "diamond" with my<BR>> > > > > > 10-inch tonight. Please study the "Sloan" image that was originally<BR>> > > > > > sent by Tom English before you begin your search.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > You will first see only two stars, the N and W. They are by far the<BR>> > > > > > brightest. I was using *190x* when I first noticed these two <BR>> > stars. I<BR>> > > > > > did not think that this was the "diamond" until I used averted <BR>> > vision<BR>> > > > > > and saw the S star "wink". I then increased my magnification to <BR>> > *266x*<BR>> > > > > > and with averted vision I could see all four stars, but could <BR>> > not hold<BR>> > > > > > the E star constantly.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I took me over an hour to realize that I was seeing the "diamond".<BR>> > > > > > Why? I could only see the two stars as described above.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I was so excited as it has been almost 16 years since I looked <BR>> > at this<BR>> > > > > > very challenging asterism. I don't remember it being so dim. <BR>> > The half<BR>> > > > > > moon at approximately 50° degrees to the west reduced my contrast<BR>> > > > > > considerably.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I had mentioned on a previous e-mail that I had performed some<BR>> > > > > > excellent double star work with an 80% moon. It should be noted <BR>> > that<BR>> > > > > > with faint stars of this magnitude they become very difficult <BR>> > to see<BR>> > > > > > with the moon.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I am very hopeful that Jim will be able to image this faint <BR>> > asterism<BR>> > > > > > this night.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > I will be anxious to here a report.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > Roger<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 01:02:27 -0400<BR>> > > > > > > From: trenglish@gtcc.edu<BR>> > > > > > > To: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>> > > > > > > Subject: Re: FW: [Lvas] FW: Virgo Diamond<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Roger,<BR>> > > > > > > I looked up the Virgo Diamond on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and<BR>> > > > > > Wikisky tonight. An SDSS image is attached. This is a very neat <BR>> > little<BR>> > > > > > group.<BR>> > > > > > > Go to Wikisky (http://www.wikisky.org/), zoom out from M31 (the<BR>> > > > > > default view), drag the view around until you find Virgo, then <BR>> > zoom in<BR>> > > > > > on the appropriate coordinate. If you move your mouse over an <BR>> > object<BR>> > > > > > it will give you information.<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > The diamond is clearly seen in these interactive surveys, and the<BR>> > > > > > westernmost star is a double, giving 5 stars.<BR>> > > > > > > Looking for this 5th star is certainly a greater challenge than<BR>> > > > > > looking for extra stars in the Trapezium (but don't tell BoB!)<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > The northernmost star is TYC 4948-53-1 (12h33m18.96s, <BR>> > -0d38'32.3",<BR>> > > > > > m=10.892)<BR>> > > > > > > The westernmost star (the double) is USNOA2 0825-07771246<BR>> > > > > > (12h33m17.88s, -0d38'59.1", m= 12.1)<BR>> > > > > > > The southernmost star is USNOA2 0825-07771362 (12h33m19.61s,<BR>> > > > > > -0d39'15.7", m=13.7)<BR>> > > > > > > The easternmost star is USNOA2 0825-07771459 (12h33m20.79s,<BR>> > > > > > -0d38'50.5", m=13.45)<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > The TYC star was measured by the Hipparcos mission, thus <BR>> > explining<BR>> > > > > > its precise magnitude measurement. I looked it up at the <BR>> > Hipparcos web<BR>> > > > > > site, and found that its parallax had been measured to be 64.8<BR>> > > > > > milliarcseconds, putting it at around 50 light years from us. <BR>> > Here's<BR>> > > > > > the Simbad page for the star:<BR>> > > > > > http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=TYC+4948-53-1<BR>> > > > > > > -t.e<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject <BR>> > to the<BR>> > > > > > North Carolina Public Records law and may be disclosed to third<BR>> > > > parties.<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > Rediscover Hotmail®: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox.<BR>> > > > > > Check it out.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > <http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with<BR>> > > > > > Internet Explorer 8. 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Check it out.<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > <http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > > > Sent via the Lvas mailing list Lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> > > > > > Set options or unsubscribe at <BR>> > http://lvlug.org/mailman/listinfo/lvas<BR>> > > > > > The LVAS discussion list is hosted courtesy of LasVegas.Net<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. 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