Archive of Writings
Additional articles can be found on EVSN.tv.
Getting your Blog On
I found out via both The Astronomy Blog and Cosmic Variance that this is De-Lurker Week. Translation: If you’re listening, you are encouraged to say “hi” and wave from the comments section.
It’s a slow news week. It appears everything was saved up for the AAS meeting, and now the well of discoveries runs dry. Comet McNaught is the media wonder child of the moment, but from here in the way too cold mid-West, all I can say is “I see clouds.”
On a separate note, I was interviewed by Aaron Price of Slackapedia Galactica, and a former colleague from Slacker Astronomy. You can find the interview here.
AAS Epilogue: The After Hours Party
Building Community, One A** Grab at a time?
Back in 2003, I attended the AAS for the first time as a member of the media. In this new role, for the first time in my life, I was one of the cool kids. I wasn’t quite sure how the transition happened, but I wasn’t going to question. One of the results of getting to run with the fast crowd was being invited to the AAS after-hours party. Now, truth be told, as much as I’ve heard the admonishment, “Be careful who you tell about the party,” I don’t know of anyone who is turned away as not cool enough. All I really know is some people are more aggressively invited than others, and that year, I was one of the people who was taped on the shoulder, handed a little card with directions, and told, “You really need to be there…”
Hosted by Gina, Jake, Emilie and Sara (forgive me if I missed someone), the unofficial after-hours party seeks to change the face of astronomy one cocktail at a time (see their website here.
Astrology vs String Theory
The scientific method requires good scientific theories to build theories based on observations/experiments that make specific predictions about the outcomes of future observations/experiments. It’s okay if we don’t currently have the technology to make an observation. Theories are perfectly capable of sitting on shelves waiting to be proven right or wrong. What matters – what makes the theory science – is that the theory is eventually provable (or disprovable).
So, how do I deal with string theory?
Star Formation
A couple more posts on the AAS are coming, but for now I want to take a moment to answer a question asked by a reader yesterday. Paul asked “I have a question about how stars form. I’m confused about the answers I’ve read or heard about. Some people say that stars “condense” from molecular space gas. As they do, they heat up and ignite. Others say they “collapse” from gas. Still others say that the gas is “compressed” by a nearby supernova. … Can you help explain how stars are formed?”
Sure. I can do that.
The Explosive Universe
NOTE: more links will be added tomorrow.
Many things are in the pipeline for production. In the past 24 hours I have recorded numerous different interviews and tidbits with people working on supernovae, in science reporting, and astronomy education. I have so much material I’m not quite sure when I’ll find the time to edit it together, but time will be made, and Astronomy Cast will have some great new material in weeks to come.
Today’s press conferences spanned a wide gamut, talking about everything from dwarf galaxies to disk formation to, I kid you not, hot chocolate…
When Galaxies interact, it’s Not all Fun and Games
Today’s round of press conference started with the story of three systems that have mutually triggered fireworks in one another’s cores. Specifically, a gravitationally bound system of three quasars has been located at a distance of roughly 10.4 billion light years (z = 2.076). This is the first such triple quasar system that has been located.
Dorrit Hoffleit Video
(AAS presentation)
Today I presented a video on perhaps the oldest living Ph.D. level female astromer in the world: Dr. E. Dorrit Hoffleit. At age 99, she was still brillent in mind and voice in this interview.
AAS – The Many Ring Circus
This is a crazy wonderful place. Over and over, I’ve heard people say this is the super bowl of astronomy. I’m not so sure that is the truth. I feel more like this is the 3 (or 5 or 10) ring circus of astronomy. In every ring there is a new group doing their thing and playing to crowds. I sometimes feel that my attention is getting pulled in every direction as the biggest, the brightest, the shiniest, and the newest all juggle and flip to the music of the stars.
Planetary Pocket Lint
In a universe filled with objects of beauty and power and general awe inspiring wonder I never expected to see dryer lint as a press conference prop.
Its always good to be surprised.
E. Dorrit Hoffleit Historic Video
I am working on a video project on E. Dorrit Hoeffleit, perhaps the oldest living female astronomer in the world. The American Association of Variable Star Observers has compiled some excellent historic footage of her from various events. Can you help identify where and when the clips are from, and who is in the clips?
View Movie “Dorrit Hoffleit: Images from the first 100 years”