astro
catdynamics | January 16, 2008There are principles in cosmology
We discuss cosmogony and principles...
It could be argued that Ginnungagap is a remarkable metaphor for the modern view of quantum cosmology, I personally think that the detailed description of the spontaneous appearance of a temperature gradient followed by non-linear evolution is quite remarkable. The hint of the multiverse is also interesting, but why stop at nine?
Eschatology, not so hot, though the hint of a cyclic cosmology is intriguing.
On the other hand I have a fondness for pastafarianism.
Maybe this indicates I am a flawed Boltzmann Brain…
catdynamics | January 14, 2008Therese at "Random Thoughts of an Astro Major" scores a short interview with AAS President Craig Wheeler
catdynamics | January 14, 2008The universe is very big.
It is also cold, old and empty.
On a cold monday morning it also feels capricious, as it did to most of our ancestors most of the time.
Yet, one of the most amazing things about the universe is that it actually appears to be amenable to reason.
If we knew why that is, we might understand a lot more.
catdynamics | January 9, 2008As the 211th meeting of the American Astronomical Society powers on in Texas, us homebodies bring you the 36th Carnival of Space, for your reading pleasure...
Fraser, at Universe Today is streaming a steady flow of space and astro related news from the AAS meeting, as is Therese at Random Thoughts of an Astro Major and the Bad Astronomer.
Hey, they had a blogger party?! Bummer.
So, what goodies do we have this week?
Advanced Nanotechnology tells us about low mass density high temperature high current density superconductors based on cuttlefish bones. There are space applications.
Pradeep at…
catdynamics | January 9, 2008Mars Gets Women, but he does not get the New Improved Process for Recommendation Letters for Students
...and, may I say, to the graduate program administrators around the country; the commercial on-line application services universally suck
my current experience is that one of the online service providers is ok, the one used by Caltech and Harvard astro.
I've also had the browser incompatibility and mystery crash issue (no, it is NOT my responsibility to get a current version of IE so that another university can subcontract their letter processing to the lowest bidder).
One service asks for…
catdynamics | January 8, 2008Sounds like the usual bustle down in Austin at the annual American Astronomical Society meeting.
Therese at "Random Thoughts of an Astro Major" is reporting for the SPS and has a good summary of the day's press releases, and links to audio of press conferences.
Phil also has his usual thorough summary of the highlights and pretty pictures.
My correspondent tells me Griffin's talk was interesting. Sounds like SIM was on the chopping block, and was saved by a Congressional earmark line. Something will give elsewhere, the word "scalpel" apparently was used.
NASA education funding is…
catdynamics | January 7, 2008Therese at "Random Thoughts of an Astro Major is at AAS, and is the SPS reporter.
She will pipe the hot new press release into the blogosphere as fast as she can get 'em.
catdynamics | January 7, 2008The Annual Meeting of the American Astronomical Society is underway in Texas...
...and due to UnForeseen Circumstances, I am not there.
Strangely enough I can't find the program on-line, but I gather I am there virtually, although I just realised I have no idea if I am on more than one poster at the AAS.
But dozens of press releases are, so I start with one of the most interesting, which strangely enough did not come out with the AAS meeting, but came out last week.
Astronomers at the Carnegie Institution have found the first indications of highly complex organic molecules in the disk of red…
catdynamics | January 2, 2008"Four times they came for more money and four times we told them 'no,'"
Interesting NYT story on Science Missions Director taking a stern view of cost overruns
If they can stick to their guns, this will be good in the long run.
Might hurt a bit in strange places in the next year or three, though.
Wonder if Exploration could learn this approach...
catdynamics | December 28, 2007Congratulations!
Dr Mandell, Dr Micic and Dr Smith
Just remember, everybody now:
"It ain't what you do, it is the way that you do it..."
Fun Boy Three, indeed.
bloomin' Top o' the Pops.
er, this is a better version...
or we can go live!
While we're on the topic...
catdynamics | December 20, 2007CoRoT, the French stellar photometry satellite, had a press announcement at 1 pm (Paris time) today
They announced the discovery of CoRoT Exo-2b their second extrasolar planet.
3.5 Jupiter masses, 1.4 Jupiter radii with an orbital period of 1.743 days around a K0V star, 12th magnitude.
UPDATE: ESA press release in English
Click for large image
Should note here that CoRoT is now follow-up limited. Transit discoveries are currently announced after ground confirmation to get radial velocities, so first announcements will be high mass, short period, because those are easiest to follow-up, and…
catdynamics | December 19, 2007Bad budget news in the pipeline for science
NASAwatch has the NASA budget summary
As you know, Bob, the US is already into fiscal year '08 but most of the bugdet bills have not yet been passed, and the government is operating under a continuous resolution (basically rolling over last years budget, pro-rated).
A reason the bills are not yet passed, and they must by by friday this week, or the government will shut down, is that President Bush has let it be known that he will veto any bill that goes over his proposed request to Congress.
Congress added $22 billion in discretionary spending to…
catdynamics | December 18, 2007Happy Holidays.
This is, of course, the original by The Firm
Not to be confused with the not quite as good Dr Demento cover.
Here is the original video.
I should note, for extra credit, that I own a copy of the original single.
Bought with great difficulty in a small store in the Lanes in Brighton, in early June 1987.
catdynamics | December 18, 2007Chandra has a fun press release on some clashing galaxies, one active
At 1.4 billion light years, I have to say 3C321 is a nice galaxy, but I don't believe that the jet can transform planets' atmospheres in the target galaxy.
Planetary atmospheres have surprisingly high column densities and at 20,000+ light years even a full blown quasar jet has a hard time doing much. Hard to know for sure without knowing the actual mechanical luminousity of the jet, but unlikely.
Pretty though. The hi-res animations are worth a click
catdynamics | December 12, 2007UK Science and Technology Facilties Council has a "Delivery Plan" for 2008-2011
STF...
They confirm withdrawal from Gemini, but also say they want to negotiate access to Gemini (North), since they are also ramping down the Isaac Newton Group telescopes on the Canaries, which would leave them with acres of glass in the south, but nothing in the northern hemisphere.
Y'know half of all the galaxies are in the northern hemisphere...
I suspect Gemini would let then negotiate access to the northern telescope, and that bidding will start at $8 million per year.
'Course if the brits wait for a…
catdynamics | December 12, 2007Definitive word on the CoRoT results...
Heard by e-mail from an authoritative source, and independently sourced from spacEurope (see comments in CoRoT update thread) that there will be a press conference and associated press release on the early results from CoRoT on 20th December.