[Lvas] Sky and Telescope Response

Thu Apr 2 08:35:42 PDT 2009

LVAS all,

I would like to share my e-mail from Dennis at S&T.

Best regards, Roger ivester

From: ddicicco at skyandtelescope.com
To: drivester at hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 08:20:58 -0700
Subject: RE: The Virgo Diamond

Roger,

What cool stuff! I’m especially impressed with the collection of notebooks and sketches. As many times as I’ve tried in the past, I’ve never been able to keep a constant set of notes – way too much of my life is written on scraps of paper (just ask my tax accountant!).

I agree that getting the Virgo Diamond mentioned again is S&T is worthwhile, but it may have to wait at least a year – we just finished the editorial copy for the July issue! There may, however, be an opportunity to do something on our website ASAP in the way of a small observing feature. Let me review this with a few colleagues (some of the staff is currently in Philadelphia for the 100 hours of astronomy kickoff). Also, I’d like to see the photo you mention.

I’ll get back to you by the beginning of next week, if not before. And please let me know about the photo.

Best,
Dennis 

Dennis di Cicco
Senior Editor
Sky & Telescope (a New Track Media company)
90 Sherman Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-864-7360 (voice)

From: roger ivester [mailto:drivester at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 10:55 AM
To: Dennis Di Cicco; roger ivester
Subject: The Virgo Diamond

Dear Dennis di Cicco,

In the May 1993 edition of Sky and Telescope Page P-110. There was a most interesting article about the newly discovered "Virgo diamond". I was fascinated and could hardly wait to observe this object. I used a 10-inch F/4.5 reflector telescope and was able to see this small and illusive object using a magnification of 190x. I observed it on April 14th 1993 at 11:55 PM under good conditions. I did a sketch that night of which I am attaching. I could only see four of the five stars.

I am attempting to keep the art of sketching and taking notes alive. I am currently a member of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society in Boiling Springs NC and also the Las Vegas Astronomical Society.

I have asked one of my AP friends to get an image for me and I just received one yesterday via a third party. It is beautiful and I wonder if it is the only modern "amateur image" of this object available today. I must get his permission before I can send it...hopefully today.  

I am not aware of one amateur "advanced or otherwise" that has ever heard of the "Diamond". 

It would be my opinion that there are very few people in the world today that have ever observed or imaged this most beautiful "jewel".

I would predict that this object when "announced" again will become a favorite of all who enjoy a challenge. It will also become an "imagers" delight. An object for the ages. 

Dennis, I feel this must be reported again in S&T for the enjoyment of all. I asked a friend in NV to observe with a 16-inch reflector this past weekend. Their weather was much better than ours. He could not find it as he was looking for a much larger object.  

I would also like to share a picture of my 5,000 hours of notes and sketches, and a few of the hundreds of objects that I have sketched. I have detailed notes of all of my observations. I feel amateur astronomy still needs a few visual observers out there still sketching and taking notes. 

Best regards,  Roger Ivester

> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 01:02:27 -0400
> From: trenglish at gtcc.edu
> To: drivester at hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: FW: [Lvas] FW: Virgo Diamond
> 
> Roger,
> I looked up the Virgo Diamond on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Wikisky tonight. An SDSS image is attached. This is a very neat little group.
> Go to Wikisky (http://www.wikisky.org/), zoom out from M31 (the default view), drag the view around until you find Virgo, then zoom in on the appropriate coordinate. If you move your mouse over an object it will give you information. 
> 
> The diamond is clearly seen in these interactive surveys, and the westernmost star is a double, giving 5 stars. 
> Looking for this 5th star is certainly a greater challenge than looking for extra stars in the Trapezium (but don't tell BoB!)
> 
> The northernmost star is TYC 4948-53-1 (12h33m18.96s, -0d38'32.3", m=10.892)
> The westernmost star (the double) is USNOA2 0825-07771246 (12h33m17.88s, -0d38'59.1", m= 12.1)
> The southernmost star is USNOA2 0825-07771362 (12h33m19.61s, -0d39'15.7", m=13.7)
> The easternmost star is USNOA2 0825-07771459 (12h33m20.79s, -0d38'50.5", m=13.45)
> 
> The TYC star was measured by the Hipparcos mission, thus explining its precise magnitude measurement. I looked it up at the Hipparcos web site, and found that its parallax had been measured to be 64.8 milliarcseconds, putting it at around 50 light years from us. Here's the Simbad page for the star: http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=TYC+4948-53-1
> -t.e
> 
> E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law and may be disclosed to third parties. 
> 
> 

Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry Check it out.

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry Check it out.
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync.
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lvlug.org/pipermail/lvas/attachments/20090402/700caa76/attachment-0001.htm 