There is a small storm of activity going on in my house. The majority of this storm is attic remodeling. The more interesting part of this storm is my preparation to go to Europe (which is one way to escape the sound of nail guns).
This Friday I’ll be flying from St Louis to Munich (via Chicago and London), where I’ll be visiting ESA/ESO’s press office and working on some IYA planning. Tuesday evening I’ll be hopping over to London and a bus ride to Oxford, where I’ll be visiting Chris Lintott and giving a talk on IYA (do you see a theme here?), and then Thursday (via Greenwich Obs), I’m on my way to a meeting of the BAA and AAVSO in Cambridge. Sunday will be a tour of Avsbury and Stonehedge, and then I’m on my way home on Monday.
I’m already tired.
I’ll be blogging as much of my trip as I can.
Are you in England? Do you want to introduce me to a Royal Pint? I’m planning to camp out at a pub in Cambridge next Friday, April 11. I’ll announce which pub as soon as I know.
I think I need to do some laundry…
Avebury is a wonderful place to visit. If you have a chance try and get to West Kennet Long Barrow near Avebury. You can (or at least could in the 90s when I was last in the UK) crawl into the burial chamber. There is also the first archaeological dig for 40 years going on at Stonehenge at present which should also be worth seeing.
It will be interesting to follow your blog and hear how the IYA talks go. Things are hotting up on the IYA front here in Australia.
Enjoy the real ales! I’m looking forward to coming to St Louis for the ASP/AAS meeting in June.
It should probably be the Sir Isaac Newton pub up near Castle Hill – not the best in the city but definitely the most appropriate! (or maybe the Man in the Moon, if it is still going).
[former Cambridge regular before I moved to the other side of the world a couple of months ago].
I didn’t think you were going to England! You have no idea how much I want to stowaway in your suitcase right now. Stonehenge! Greenwhich! And the BAA/AAVSO meeting!
“Yes, Mr. Security Guard, I know it says “Occupation: Astronomer” on my papers, but trust me – there is a very good reason why the x-ray machine is picking up a dwarven skeleton in my luggage. Really! Just give me a second to think of it.” 😀
I posted a question on astronomy cast web site a few days ago that has gone unanswered, and it strikes me as something that would make for interesting conversation with the eggheads in England if it has not already been fully researched. It was indicated in your most recent episode that earth’s radio emissions would interfere with radio waves observed from our sun, if our sun was observed by a radio telescope outside of our solar system. Would observing how radio emmissions from distant stars change during planitary transit be a way to look for RF emmiting extrasolar planets as an indication of intelligent life? Could a created RF transmitter or group of transmitters then use modulation of a stars observed RF output as a kind of unfocused galactic semaphore communication?
Have fun. We’re going to Europe with Girl Scouts in summer 2009. I wasn’t keen on doing England, but when they included Stonehenge, I got more enthusiastic. Enjoy the brew. We won’t be able to imbibe. Germany and France alcohol-free???
Have a safe trip. I hear that Greenwich is fun.
Recently started lessening to the Astron Cast (Archives) on my IPOD while I walk. 30 minutes works out great!
I have some old friends at University of Surrey – Guildford England. They have been active for many years (
You might enjoy a visit at Oxford’s Eagle and Child Pub, where Tolkien and Lewis met routinely.
Hope you have a grand time. If it’s foggy, look for sunspots.
Have a great trip! 🙂
Taking the ovriveew, this post hits the spot
Brownie points for creating a post on this topic. There is not enough content written about it (not particularly useful anyway). It is excellent to see it receiving more coverage. Thanks again!