NASA has released more information about the two space telescopes the National Reconnaissance Office has donated to them.
NASA has released more information about the two space telescopes the National Reconnaissance Office has donated to them.
Year: 2012
Unless they can find a buyer the United Kingdom will close down its 3.8 meter infrared UKIRT telescope on Mauna Kea in 2013.
Telescope for sale: Unless they can find a buyer the United Kingdom will close down its 3.8 meter infrared UKIRT telescope on Mauna Kea in 2013.
This is a tragedy. A 3.8 meter telescope is no slouch and can do amazing research. The problem is that all the available money in ground-based astronomy is now being eaten up by the construction of giant telescopes in the 20 to 40 meter range.
What astronomy needs are some wealthy philanthropists who would like to buy these mid-sized telescopes, put their names on it, and finance their operation. This is how most big telescopes were made possible before World War II.
Orbital Sciences successfully launched NASA’s NuSTAR X-ray telescope this morning.
After a three month delay so that NASA could correct software issues, Orbital Sciences successfully launched NASA’s NuSTAR X-ray telescope this morning.
One of the window’s of the observation cupola on ISS has been hit by a micrometeorite and is now shuttered until engineers can evaluate the damage.
One of the windows of the observation cupola on ISS has been hit by a micrometeorite and is now shuttered until engineers can evaluate the damage.
Penn & Teller – Blast Off
An evening pause: See if you can spot how they do this magic trick, before they show you.
Construction of the world’s largest ground-based telescope has been approved by the European Southern Observatory.
Construction of the world’s largest ground-based telescope has been approved by the European Southern Observatory.
No one should get too excited about this announcement. They still need to raise 90% of their funds to build it, and to do so they have to get agreements from the four member countries of the European Southern Observatory. It will be years, probably at least a decade, before this 40-meter truly gigantic telescope sees the light.
On the way home
We are right now driving between Las Vegas and Hoover Dam, and should be home late tonight. Thus, I should be able to resume blogging sometime tomorrow. I will also write up a description of my experiences this past week and post it tomorrow.
Blondie – Dreaming & Heart Of Glass
An evening pause: Two songs, performed live October 5, 1979. Deborah Harry is of course amazing (despite her inserting a silly politically-correct anti-nuke message during the second song), but watch the other musicians, especially the drummer.
20,000 bottle rockets
An evening pause: What happens when you launch 20,000 bottle rockets in less than two minutes?
Caving in Nevada
I finally have an hour free here in Nevada.
For the past three days we have been intensely hiking up mountains over a vast area of Nevada. The goal has been to locate and map caves for the Forest Service in some of the most remote areas of the state. So far we have focused on mapping known caves, putting the possible discoveries aside for later work.
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Loudon Wainwright – One-man Guy
An evening pause:
Don McLean – American pie
An evening pause: