Wednesday, January 6, 2016
So much news
I am doing a news blast here with many articles that I have collected, and some that I have yet to read. Enjoy, and send me a message if you really like one of them.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Different news
What can I do to catch you up with recent events?
Some particle physics news: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/the-particle-physics-of-you
New views of Pluto and Charon: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/a-day-on-pluto-a-day-on-charon
I have made some progress with my telescope. My older one is a 5 inch reflector. It is all metal and has a sturdy stand but it needs attention from time to time. I bought an adapter unit so I could use my iPhone to take astronmical pictures (planets and star trails and things like that). I had to figure a way to balance the telescope when I added the adapter and my iPhone. One of my friends mentioned "why don't you put an extra weight on the other end?" That seemed like an easy change, so I bought some weights, a carabiner and a chain (from an id tag) so I can hang all of those things on when I use the adapter. It works very well.
Now I just need to take some pictures.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Catching up
This has been a difficult time to do a lot of blogging. Last summer was much better. I wonder what accounts for the difference...
Anyway, I don't want this to be a place where I complain a lot, but I will. It has been BUSY. A little bit has been taken off my plate lately, somewhat against my wishes. I will consider sharing more about that later. At least it has diminished my responsibilities for the moment and that is alright with me.
Astronomy class continues to be great. Despite some hiccups (rare ones) my students have been up to the challenge and respond in thoughtful ways. Today we discussed a way to choose people for a fictional trip to another world. The premise is that the Earth is dying and we need to send a group to a new world (sounds like Interstellar). There is no perfect way to choose people, but we made our own lists and then discussed how to make choices. I always like it when they come up with a new idea or new perspective.
Over time, I think I am getting less enthusiastic for teaching subjects in which there is one "correct" answer. Everyone accepts the answer and there is nothing to talk about (unless you can't figure out that answer and that can be frustrating). (I.e. Physics)
I noticed the beautiful alignment of planets earlier in October. I took this photo as I got in my car at home and was about to drive to school. So this is taken at about 6:45 am looking east. The moon is the easiest to see and a small dot to the lower left of the moon is Venus. As time went on in October, you could see Mars and Jupiter there as well. It was quite a sight to see!
Anyway, I don't want this to be a place where I complain a lot, but I will. It has been BUSY. A little bit has been taken off my plate lately, somewhat against my wishes. I will consider sharing more about that later. At least it has diminished my responsibilities for the moment and that is alright with me.
Astronomy class continues to be great. Despite some hiccups (rare ones) my students have been up to the challenge and respond in thoughtful ways. Today we discussed a way to choose people for a fictional trip to another world. The premise is that the Earth is dying and we need to send a group to a new world (sounds like Interstellar). There is no perfect way to choose people, but we made our own lists and then discussed how to make choices. I always like it when they come up with a new idea or new perspective.
Over time, I think I am getting less enthusiastic for teaching subjects in which there is one "correct" answer. Everyone accepts the answer and there is nothing to talk about (unless you can't figure out that answer and that can be frustrating). (I.e. Physics)
I noticed the beautiful alignment of planets earlier in October. I took this photo as I got in my car at home and was about to drive to school. So this is taken at about 6:45 am looking east. The moon is the easiest to see and a small dot to the lower left of the moon is Venus. As time went on in October, you could see Mars and Jupiter there as well. It was quite a sight to see!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
So much blogging to do, so little time...
This year has been really hectic and busy. I am having a great time teaching astronomy for the first time, but,... the first time with any course means a lot of preparation.
Here are some new things in the news. I have been pleased to see so much news about not just New Horizons, but Mars, comets, exo-planets, black holes and other objects out there.
And while we're at it - take a look at the southern sky in the morning, looking east. You'll see a wonderful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and Mars, in order of brightness. You can't miss them. Here's a link.
Next up: New Horizons published first Pluto paper
Exoplanets! How do you spot an Exo-planet from Earth?
Your moment of Zen: Wonderful video from the ISS of water in space
I have to find some time to go see The Martian...
Here are some new things in the news. I have been pleased to see so much news about not just New Horizons, but Mars, comets, exo-planets, black holes and other objects out there.
And while we're at it - take a look at the southern sky in the morning, looking east. You'll see a wonderful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and Mars, in order of brightness. You can't miss them. Here's a link.
Next up: New Horizons published first Pluto paper
Exoplanets! How do you spot an Exo-planet from Earth?
Your moment of Zen: Wonderful video from the ISS of water in space
I have to find some time to go see The Martian...
Friday, September 18, 2015
Hello astronomy
Well I had some time off at the end of the summer and now I am back at school. Alex and I had some good time to relax and do things that we wanted. It started off as a busy summer with me at NIST and Alex at camps, but ended very nicely with my friend Grzegorz's visit from Poland.
This year I am teaching astronomy for the first time and am having a great time. You never know when you start a new course or project, but this one is working out well. I have the background and the interest and everything is working out fine.
I have some links here to post from some brand new, and also ground breaking news regarding exo-planets (planets orbiting other stars).
Exo-planet "movie"
A comet on its way to hit the sun. This is kind of striking in its own way.
And finally, a group of people making a scale model of the solar system in the desert. Very nicely done.
Next week we will work on our equinox project, during which we will take measurements of the sun and the angle of the shadows that an object makes on the ground. We will share that data with some local teachers as well as a number of my friends from CERN!
This year I am teaching astronomy for the first time and am having a great time. You never know when you start a new course or project, but this one is working out well. I have the background and the interest and everything is working out fine.
I have some links here to post from some brand new, and also ground breaking news regarding exo-planets (planets orbiting other stars).
Exo-planet "movie"
A comet on its way to hit the sun. This is kind of striking in its own way.
And finally, a group of people making a scale model of the solar system in the desert. Very nicely done.
Next week we will work on our equinox project, during which we will take measurements of the sun and the angle of the shadows that an object makes on the ground. We will share that data with some local teachers as well as a number of my friends from CERN!
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Quickly- sign up now!!
A pair of researchers are developing a mobile phone app that will detect cosmic rays.
http://crayfis.io/beta/
(story from NPR) http://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395800694/want-to-do-a-little-astrophysics-this-app-detects-cosmic-rays
Friday, August 14, 2015
Well this is interesting
If this is accurate, the Air Force has a very interesting vehicle at this disposal.
http://m.space.com/30245-x37b-military-space-plane-100-days.html?cmpid=514648_20150814_50787526&adbid=632159827867791360&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856
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