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Space and Astronomy Thread
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HenryGarten
13-03-2010
Apparently the moon astronauts are disappointed with Obama for calling off future missions to the moon.

According to the story Neil Armstong is in London just now. Did anyone know that?

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8565243.stm


Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to push back further Moon missions. Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, said Mr Obama's decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.
The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan, said it was "disappointing".
Maybelle
13-03-2010
I'm amazed no one has been on the moon since 1972, those first astronauts probably thought they were paving the way for others. And now it's possible they won't see anyone else on the moon in their lifetimes.
TelevisionUser
13-03-2010
Originally Posted by HenryGarten:
“Apparently the moon astronauts are disappointed with Obama for calling off future missions to the moon.

According to the story Neil Armstong is in London just now. Did anyone know that?

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8565243.stm

Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to push back further Moon missions. Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, said Mr Obama's decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.
The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan, said it was "disappointing".”

Indeed, HenryGarten. It is so sad but in a way it's also understandable. The US has a huge budget deficit and it's only slowly coming out of recession therefore crewed spaceflight is a luxury at the present time.

The only good news is that the International Space Station is safe for the time being. Ares 1 (http://blogs.physicstoday.org/politi...-ares-1-i.html) is also being cancelled in favour of cheaper, but not yet crew-rated, launchers from private sector providers like SpaceX (http://www.spacex.com/) and Orbital Sciences (http://www.orbital.com/).

I remember the late Arthur C. Clarke saying that humans only got to the Moon fifty years before they otherwise would have because of the Cold War and the competition for dominance between the USA and Soviet Union. It might be a long wait before humans get back to the Moon let alone Mars!
HenryGarten
14-03-2010
Interesting programme on Telescopes on BBC2 right now. It is "Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections".
TelevisionUser
14-03-2010
Originally Posted by HenryGarten:
“Interesting programme on Telescopes on BBC2 right now. It is "Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections".”

Yes, I saw that very programme HenryGarten and fine it was too. Not only that, at 9pm on BBC2, there's the second installment of Prof. Brian Cox's history of the solar system - see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rkksg.

And yes, he is the very same Brian Cox who was the keyboard player for pop band D:Ream. They are perhaps most famous for 'Things can can only get better' here http://www.last.fm/music/D%3AReam/_/...nly+Get+Better.
BeethovensPiano
14-03-2010
Solar Dynamics Observatory is nearly in it's final orbit:

TMF-2 Complete, On to TMF-3 and Final Orbit!

Sun, 14 Mar

Trim Motor Firing #2 was successfully completed this morning. This was different from our previous burns in being a perigee burn to raise apogee. The final orbit trim maneuver, TMF-3, is scheduled for Tuesday evening. It will be an apogee burn to raise perigee to geosynchronous and our period to one day per orbit.

http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/
TelevisionUser
18-03-2010
...by the CoRoT space probe.

It's interesting because it has more moderate atmospheric temperatures when compared with some of too-close-to-their-sun roasted planets and iceballs at the other end of the scale. Although an interesting find, it may not necessarily harbour life.

More on this story here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8572760.stm

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal...100318-04.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal...ture08856.html
HenryGarten
23-03-2010
Wonder if that film on now will have the usual side effect?
Maybelle
23-03-2010
Capricorn One?
HenryGarten
23-03-2010
Originally Posted by Maybelle:
“Capricorn One?”

Yes you are right. So were there any "Moon Hoax" threads started as a result?
Maybelle
23-03-2010
Hoax! I just spend half an hour searching but couldn't find anything, I've been had.
Assa2
25-03-2010
Good news that the UK Space Agency becomes a reality next week, unless it's actually a huge and elaborate April Fool's! Actually, considering the pitiful amount the UK Govt spends on space compared with France, Germany & Italy it is a joke, really. We only just out-spend Belgium for f's sake!

On a happier note I got a Canon DSLR at the weekend so am looking forward to doing some night-time photography over the summer.
Apollo18
25-03-2010
Originally Posted by Assa2:
“Good news that the UK Space Agency becomes a reality next week, unless it's actually a huge and elaborate April Fool's! Actually, considering the pitiful amount the UK Govt spends on space compared with France, Germany & Italy it is a joke, really. We only just out-spend Belgium for f's sake!

On a happier note I got a Canon DSLR at the weekend so am looking forward to doing some night-time photography over the summer.”

That's cool, I just bought a Nikon DSLR and wish I knew how to do some night time photography!
Assa2
25-03-2010
Originally Posted by Apollo18:
“That's cool, I just bought a Nikon DSLR and wish I knew how to do some night time photography!”

There's loads of good websites out there that explain the techniques and the equipment you need. Here's one I use:

http://www.astropix.com/INDEX.HTM

I'm sure people will recommend others. Astrophotography can be as simple as stepping outside and snapping away. If you've got a reasonable lense you'll be able to get good shots of the Moon at the very least. With a tripod you should be able to get some nifty long-exposure shots too. One of my aims is to get some nice shots of the ISS as it goes over.
njp
25-03-2010
Originally Posted by Assa2:
“Astrophotography can be as simple as stepping outside and snapping away. If you've got a reasonable lense you'll be able to get good shots of the Moon at the very least. ”

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that one of the problems with photographing the Moon is that it lies "beyond infinity" as far as the calibration of a typical SLR lens is concerned. Is there any truth in that?

Quote:
“With a tripod you should be able to get some nifty long-exposure shots too. One of my aims is to get some nice shots of the ISS as it goes over.”

I guess something like this has to be the ultimate aspirational ISS photograph (I think someone posted a link to it previously). Needs a bit more than just a good SLR lens though!
TelevisionUser
25-03-2010
There's a very good and serious interview with leading cosmologist and astrobiologist Professor Paul Davies on the subject of the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. It's a BBC radio documentary which can be listened to here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rkdnp for the next six days - highly commended.

Originally Posted by Assa2:
“Good news that the UK Space Agency becomes a reality next week, unless it's actually a huge and elaborate April Fool's! Actually, considering the pitiful amount the UK Govt spends on space compared with France, Germany & Italy it is a joke, really. We only just out-spend Belgium for f's sake!

On a happier note I got a Canon DSLR at the weekend so am looking forward to doing some night-time photography over the summer.”

Indeed Assa2. There's the press release confirming the launch of the UK Space Agency here http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail...3&NewsAreaID=2. It is a welcome development for an advanced industry which employs thousands in the UK and is worth hundreds of milliions (in any currency).
Assa2
26-03-2010
Originally Posted by TelevisionUser:
“There's a very good and serious interview with leading cosmologist and astrobiologist Professor Paul Davies on the subject of the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. It's a BBC radio documentary which can be listened to here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rkdnp for the next six days - highly commended.



Indeed Assa2. There's the press release confirming the launch of the UK Space Agency here http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail...3&NewsAreaID=2. It is a welcome development for an advanced industry which employs thousands in the UK and is worth hundreds of milliions (in any currency).”

The Space Technology industry is perfectly suited to the UK economy and labour pool. The problem is the drop in graduates coming through with appropriate degrees in engineering and physics. The Govt's aspiration to grow the UK's share of the global space market from 6% to 10% is great but I personally don't feel it's good enough. It's going to become an increasigly competative market with the US opening up their space program to the private sector and China & India becoming more active in the commercial space sector. It's a market that's only going to grow and grow and we should be trying to build our share as quickly as possible.
Assa2
26-03-2010
Originally Posted by njp:
“I vaguely recall reading somewhere that one of the problems with photographing the Moon is that it lies "beyond infinity" as far as the calibration of a typical SLR lens is concerned. Is there any truth in that?”

I'm not sure. You certainly can't rely on the AF and manual focusing can be a bit tricky depending on the orientation of the camera. My model allows me to connect to a laptop and 'live view' the image on the laptop screen while focusing. I can also zoom the digital output for easier focusing on objects such as stars so I guess the Moon should be easier. This is all theoretical until I've had a go.
Skysurfer2000
27-03-2010
Really interesting story about Apollo 13 here.
HenryGarten
27-03-2010
Love this pic. See http://astronomy.fm/aapod/2010-03-25...cent-Moon.html
BeethovensPiano
29-03-2010
Amazing images of Saturn's moon Mimas from Cassini

http://www.ciclops.org/view_event/13...Cratered_Mimas
Tiggywink
29-03-2010
Originally Posted by MadgeBishop:
“Nice pics!

I love anything to do with astrology and space.

I regularly look up the Nasa web site, it's got some good stuff on there. I particularly like watching the shuttle launches.”

.. what do you all think of Brian Cox's wonders of the solar system, then?
tiger2000
30-03-2010
Originally Posted by BeethovensPiano:
“Amazing images of Saturn's moon Mimas from Cassini

http://www.ciclops.org/view_event/13...Cratered_Mimas”

Already being calledthe Pac Man image!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8594101.stm
Assa2
31-03-2010
Originally Posted by Tiggywink:
“.. what do you all think of Brian Cox's wonders of the solar system, then?”

I think the Prof must have an obscene amount of airmiles!

It's all very pretty and lovely in HD but pretty thin on the actual science content. Just looks like an excuse for him and the film crew to go on a massive global jolly. Not a patch on The Planets - can't believe that series in 10 years old now!
*marv*
31-03-2010
Originally Posted by Assa2:
“I think the Prof must have an obscene amount of airmiles!

It's all very pretty and lovely in HD but pretty thin on the actual science content. Just looks like an excuse for him and the film crew to go on a massive global jolly. Not a patch on The Planets - can't believe that series in 10 years old now!”

To be fair to the program though it is aimed at people with little interest and/or not much understanding of space and the planets, hence the simple but easy to understand demonstrations he did, i.e how the Mars retrograde occurs.
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