One Astronomer's Noise

So now that I have a brand-new laptop, where the battery works and the hard drive isn’t trying to take off, I have no excuse for not keeping up with my blog, even when the weather is gorgeous.  That’s what wireless networks are for, right?

So, catching up on the Carnivals 97, 98, and 99 is the first thing of importance.  Man, I can’t even keep track of all the cool stuff.  I am still stunned by the “space hand” captured by Hubble.  Astro-paredolia FTW.

Last Friday night, I participated in UVa’s Fan Mountain Public Night.  This special event occurs twice a year, in which we put eyepieces on the back of our 43-inch and 31-inch telescopes and invite the public to take a look and a tour of the observatory.  It’s a great event, also including talks by various members of the department, green laser sky tours, and a huge star party with the Charlottesville Astronomical Society.  Find out how to get free tickets to the next Fan Mountain event!  As usual, I did a few talks in the 40-inch control room, telling eager participants all about UVa’s facilities and the typical night for an astronomer.  I also gave a talk to the people waiting outside in the gorgeous weather for their tours, and delivered a presentation about radio astronomy, with my slides projected onto the side of the Fan Mountain station house.  I don’t think I can yet be as entertaining and informational as Ed Murphy, but I can try!  Although 350 tickets were collected, but some of us estimate that there were nearly 400 people there, as tours went well past 11.  Both big telescopes were showing Saturn, with its thin, nearly edge on rings, and we later pointed at the Sombrero Galaxy for an “oooh! ahh!” moment as we were cleaning up.  It was a great night, and you can read more about it from another grad student’s perspective at George Privon’s blog!

Back to work for me, but more to come later…