UPDATE: Rocking great picture by Rachael from McCormick Observatory last night, on her Flickr page, with the awesome 6-inch Clark Refractor in the foreground. UPDATE Again (9/17): Rachael’s pic gets a kudos from UVa alumn, the Bad Astronomer. — I got a great twitter update from Nick in CVille saying that there was a MoonContinue reading “Lunar Goodness over CVille”
Category Archives: astronomy
Seeing Black Holes
This press release came out yesterday that was SO EXCITING to me that I was bouncing up and down. In today’s Nature, astronomers write about the successful attempt to resolve the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy using 1.3 mm VLBI. And now you are going, “huh? jargon say what?” As mostContinue reading “Seeing Black Holes”
Awful Waste of a Drink
This is old, but it’s for posterity. The 2004 Socorro Summer Students present “Contact: The Drinking Game”! Take a swig any time one of these happens: We killed the “Bad Science” rule after Ellie discovers the signal, since then it delves way too far into the unknown. Oh, and the NRAO is not affiliated withContinue reading “Awful Waste of a Drink”
One day I’d love to see a solar eclipse…
… but for now, I’ll settle for the gorgeous pictures on APOD You can see the corona of the sun and the surface of the Moon from reflected Earthshine, in the same amazing photo!
Radio Astronomy on the Moon
So I’ve been able to sit in on a video-conference for a group that is putting out a plan for a low frequency radio telescope on the Moon. I’m just a wee student, so I observed quietly. There are a lot of technical challenges, and the science is fascinating and there is SO MUCH toContinue reading “Radio Astronomy on the Moon”
Wave at the Nice Astronauts!
Did you know that you can see the International Space Station with the naked eye? It’s actually quite bright! Space.com reports on some great opportunities to see the ISS from North America and Europe over the next few weeks. They include a recommendation for http://www.heavens-above.com for figuring out your viewing times. On the home page,Continue reading “Wave at the Nice Astronauts!”
Seeing Aurora with Radio Eyes
Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute recently wrote a very cool article about the radio signals corresponding to aurora as possible indicators of Earth-like planets. His methods of explaining the geophysical phenomena and astronomical techniques are witty and informative. He truly makes me happy for never using the word “listen” to refer to radio astronomy.Continue reading “Seeing Aurora with Radio Eyes”