On June 5, as Venus passes between Earth and the sun for the last time this century, members of the Big Sky Astronomy Club will make their telescopes available for the public.

At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Flathead Valley Community College, club president Mark Paulson will give a presentation on the significance of this celestial event and what to expect.

Afterwards, anyone can safely view the transit of Venus through telescopes that have special solar filters in place. Venus will be seen as a small dark circle against the bright backdrop of the sun.

The transit begins at 4:05 p.m. and will be in progress as the sun sets at 9:35 p.m.

People are reminded never to look directly at the sun, especially with unfiltered binoculars or telescopes. Even a brief glimpse can cause permanent blindness.

The best method for viewing the transit is through telescopes equipped with solar filters, since the telescope will magnify the image and the filter will prevent eye damage. Other options for safely viewing the transit include pinhole projectors, specially made filters, or watching on TV or online.

Following closely on the heels of the Ring of Fire solar eclipse, the Venus transit promises something much more rare a precise alignment of the sun, the Earth, and another planet. Venus transits usually occur in pairs that are separated by more than 100 years. The upcoming transit had a partner event in 2004, with previous events occurring in 1874 and 1882.

The next Venus transit is not until 2117.

The Big Sky Astronomy Club offers other opportunities for viewing the night sky through telescopes. The club is hosting events at Lone Pine State Park on July 14 and Logan Pass in Glacier National Park on July 20 and Aug. 17.

More information about the astronomy club and the transit can be found at http://www.bigskyastroclub.org or http://www.transitofvenus.org.

See more here:

Watch Venus transit with astronomy club

I was recently interviewed by Zane Claes and Mark Shore of "Let Us Present" and they’ve posted the segment on their site . We talk about where NASA is now and where it’s going, and how things like SpaceX play into that. I’m still trying to figure this all out myself; we’re in a funny time in the history of space exploration, where it’s hard to say exactly where we’ll be in a few years. If you ...

See more here:

I’ve been Streamified | Bad Astronomy

The vastness of space and the puzzling nature of the cosmic objects that occupy it provides no shortage of material for astronomers to ponder.

To round up some of the most enduring mysteries in the field of astronomy, the journal Science enlisted help from science writers and members of the Board of Reviewing Editors to choose eight puzzling questions being asked by leading astronomers today.

As Robert Coontz, deputy news editor at Science, writes in his introduction to the series, the participants decided that, "true mysteries must have staying power," rather than being questions that might be resolved by research in the near future. In fact, while some of the topics discussed may one day be solved through astronomical observations, others may never be solved, he added.

In no particular order, here are eight of the most compelling mysteries of astronomy, as presented by the journal Science:

What is dark energy?

In the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is not static, but rather is expanding. In 1998, the Hubble Space Telescope, named for the astronomer, studied distant supernovas and found that the universe was expanding more slowly a long time ago compared with the pace of its expansion today.

This groundbreaking discovery puzzled scientists, who long thought that the gravity of matter would gradually slow the universe's expansion, or even cause it to contract. Explanations of the universe's accelerated expansion led to the bizarre and hotly debated concept of dark energy, which is thought to be the enigmatic force that is pulling the cosmos apart at ever-increasing speeds.

While dark energy is thought to make up approximately 73 percent of the universe, the force remains elusive and has yet to be directly detected.

"Dark energy might never reveal its nature," Science staff writer Adrian Cho wrote. "Still, scientists remain optimistic that nature will cooperate and that they can determine the origins of dark energy."

How hot is dark matter?

Link:

8 Astronomy Mysteries

Jun 1 2012 By Ninian Boyle

You need to stay up late to get dark skies this month and they are short lived, but don't let that stop you from going out and having a look around at the wonders of the heavens.

So the planet Venus is going to transit the face of the Sun. So what? Well to astronomers the world over this is a big event. It happens once every 105.5 or 121.5 years and then has a gap of 8 years. Why it happens like this is a little complex, but suffice it to say, because of its rarity, it is an interesting event.

We are now in the season of Noctilucent Clouds. The best time to try and see these, if there are any to see that is, will be about an hour after sunset or before sunrise. You'll need clear skies and look towards the northern horizon. They have a distinctive look, having an almost 'electric blue' colour to them and they often occur in herring bone patterns. Check out my blog for more information on these and what you can expect to see.

We have two planets left to view in the evening skies, that of Mars and Saturn. We are moving away quite rapidly from Mars now and it can be disappointing through a telescope due to it showing a very small disc. However, with patient observing through a telescope, it may still show a few dark markings and a polar cap.

The Sun is very active now and is heading towards 'Solar Max' in 2013. You need to take great care if you plan to observe our nearest star and this includes if you plan to see the Transit of Venus across its face. Sunspot counts are rising and if you have access to a hydrogen-alpha solar telescope you will be able to see lots of activity including prominences and filaments.

The constellations and asterisms of Summer are now coming well into view, including the 'Summer Triangle', the 'Keystone' asterism in the constellation of Hercules and the 'Northern Cross' of Cygnus the Swan. Asterisms are a great way of navigating your way around the sky. If you would like to know more about this, then I'll be describing how you can find out how you can use them, next month.

The Moon This Month

We see a Full Moon on the 4th. The Full Moon in June is otherwise known as the Rose Moon, Flower Moon, Strawberry Moon or the Honey Moon. Whatever you may like to call it, it certainly looks impressive. The Full Moon though, is not the best time to go exploring our nearest neighbour in space with a telescope or binoculars, as there is little shadow to make the features such as craters, stand out.

The Planets This Month

Read the original:

Astronomy: June astronomy highlights

Jun 1 2012 By David Moulton

Sadr

The summer months give the opportunity to image some spectacular large Nebulae, some of which span many times the size of the full moon.

The surprise to many is the fact that only very small telescopes are needed to capture these vast dust and gas clouds

On the one hand,imaging the Night Sky during the summer months has the bonus of being warm outside, much more comfortable from the Astronomers perspective . However the nights are very short this time of year and this poses a major challenge for most of us that image the night sky. The problems get worse the further North in the UK you are.

DuringJune the nights not only are very short but just to add difficulty, they dont get completely dark either. For me with my equipment it becomes near impossible to get enough imaging time on an object to producea finished colour picture out of the camera in one sitting, two or three nights are usually required.

The included image I tooklast week usinga Hydrogen Alpha Narrowband filter. The image shows a wide field view of the Sadr region of Cygnus (Sadr being the central foreground star in the cross of Cygnus) .This is a new imaging target for me and this Ha monochrome image shows masses of detail in the Hydrogen gas clouds.

The Nebula itself lies some 3,000 light years away from us and covers a vast area. The foreground Star, Sadr is so bright it is difficult to control and produces large halos when using Narrow band imaging filters. The star itself is not associated with the Nebula in any way and is just a line of sight effect

Ineed at least one more night on this target to get enough data to produce a colour image of the region and I am very keen to get it finished. Hopefully I will get the opportunity and will post up the finished result soon

If you want to learn more about imaging the night sky or any aspect of astronomy you can visit us at our website where we have contact details for anyone that wants to get in touch we are always happy to help

Read more:

Astronomy: Astronomy summer imaging targets

Copyright 2010. The Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Members of the astronomy club will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Science Museum Oklahoma for a live viewing of the transit of Venus across the sun. Experts say the event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sixty-six million miles away might feel a lot closer Tuesday.

Astronomy fans are in for a once-in-a-lifetime event next week as a transit of the planet Venus will be visible from Oklahoma.

TO LEARN MORE

For more information about the viewing party, call 602-3760 or go to http://www.sciencemuseumok.org.

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Its orbit takes it across the face of the sun, making it visible from Earth as a small, black dot.

The Oklahoma City Astronomy Club will host a live viewing of the transit of Venus, starting at 5 p.m. at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52.

Club President Brad Ferguson said Earth won't be in a position to see the cosmic phenomenon again until December 2117.

Link:

Oklahoma City Astronomy Club will host viewing for rare transit of Venus

I have creative friends.

Emily Lakdawalla is a scientist, science journalist, and tireless advocate for space exploration. She also does handcrafts, and recently asked me for my mailing address. Hmmm I thought. Thisll be good.

And I was right! Heres what she sent me:

How cool is that? Its a satellite model made with plastic canvas. Thats a plastic mesh you can cut to size, then stitch yarn in and out of the holes to cover it. I did a live video chat with Emily when Phobos-GRUNT re-entered, and she lamented my not having a good model of a satellite to use for demos. So she made me this one. And look how she signed the letter! I hope you recognize the little guy in her doodle.

I (and many others) suggested she make more spacecraft this way, and she has; she wrote a post at the Planetary Society Blog about them. Shes also created both the patterns and kits for MESSENGER (currently orbiting Mercury) and Dawn (orbiting Vesta, soon to leave for Ceres) which you can buy at her Etsy store (called SpaceCraft, of course). She also has the pattern for the twin GRAIL spacecraft available for free.

Ill add that Emily scolded me that this is not crochet since you dont use a crochet hook. However, the title was too much fun to resist. By the time you read this Ill be at SpaceFestIV; Emily will be there too. I hope shell forgive me.

But either way, I know have this awesome little model to use for the next time I do a live video chat. Thanks, Em!

Related Posts:

- Snapshots from space - Rosettas stunning Mars - What happened to Phobos-Grunt? - Come to SpaceFestIV

Go here to read the rest:

Crotchety spacecraft | Bad Astronomy

This image, supplied by Theo Ramakers, shows the path Venus will take as it crosses the Sun on June 5.

The local astronomy club is offering free front row seats to a planetary event which won't occur again until 2117.

On Tuesday, shortly after 6 p.m. Venus orbits directly between the Sun and the Earth, allowing those on the Blue Planet to view Venus as a small dark spot crossing the Sun. The Charlie Elliott Chapter of the Atlanta Astronomy Club is inviting those interested to come take a look through two high-powered telescopes set up at Homer Sharp Stadium, 3109 Newton Drive in Covington.

"It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this and people will not be able to see this for another 105 years and I think this is the key attraction," said Theo Ramakers, education outreach coordinator for the Charlie Elliott Chapter of the Atlanta Astronomy Club. "We estimate over 1 million people will see this all over the world."

Because the orbit of Venus around the Sun is at a slight incline compared to that of Earth, and its orbit is at a different rate, Venus comes into the line of sight from Earth at infrequent intervals. Venus transits occur in pairs, each eight years apart (it last crossed the Sun in 2004), every 105 and 121 years.

The first person to observe Venus crossing the sun was Jeremiah Horrocks in 1639. He watched the transit by projecting an image of the sun onto a piece of paper via a telescope.

"The thing that really fascinates me about this is that at the time he saw the transit, this fellow was 21 and he was able to calculate when the transit was supposed to take place," said Ramakers.

Ramakers said by observing key transit points and paths from different locations on Earth, scientists have calculated the distance from Earth to Venus and from Earth to the Sun. The distance from Earth to the Sun, 93 million miles, has become the standard measurement -- one astronomical unit -- used by scientists to calculate the size of the solar system.

Ramakers said that he and other astronomy club members will set up their telescopes at 5 p.m. so that visitors can observe the Sun for a while before the transit of Venus.

Continued here:

Astronomy club offers public the chance to view rare astronomical event

(Phys.org) -- Because astronomy and astrophysics are still so much a mixture of theory, conjecture and generally difficult to measure phenomenon, at least as compared with many of the other sciences, one of the most highly respected science journals, Science, has chosen to run a series of articles detailing eight of what it deems the most compelling questions currently vexing those who study the cosmos; each written by someone uniquely qualified to delve into the subject matter at hand.

Adrian Cho is up first with an essay describing the hotly debated topic of Dark Energy, the reason behind why everything in the universe is scattering away from everything else faster than it used to be, or really should be. Equally vexing is that models and equations suggest that whatever the mysterious energy is, it appears to make up 73% of everything that exists, and still it cant be seen, or even measured.

Tied closely to dark energy is Dark Matter, the stuff that most in the field agrees is there, yet cant really explain in any meaningful way. Adrian Cho authors this second in the series and highlights the fact that dark matter is merely a term for describing whatever it is that holds everything in the universe together. He argues that unlike dark energy, scientists stand a reasonably good chance of one day actually detecting a particle of the stuff, which would of course prove that it really does exist.

In the third essay, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, asks, Where are the Missing Baryons? Right now, they cant be found of course, hence the question. Baryons are particles that make up regular matter, but for some reason when adding up dark energy, dark matter and then leaving the rest to baryons, researchers cant come up with a number that equals 100% of everything that is supposed to exist. Hence the mystery. Also by Bhattacharjee is an essay that asks the simple question, How do Stars Explode? After a lot of research over a lot of years, researchers still dont really understand what goes on with a star when it explodes in what is known as a supernova. Theyre still working on the conditions that lead up to one.

Edwin Cartlidge then takes up the question of What Reionized the Universe? Put another way, what caused stripping off of electrons from atoms in the few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang?

In the next essay, Daniel Clery wants to know What's the Source of the Most Energetic Cosmic Rays? Were bombarded with them every day, yet researchers cant agree on where they come from.

Richard A. Kerr follows that by wondering Why Is the Solar System So Bizarre? Did our solar system form the way it did by following logical steps, or was it all just chaos and chance? Nobody really knows.

And Finally, Kerr concludes the series by asking Why Is the Sun's Corona So Hot? Or hotter than it is internally? Those that study the sun still really dont know, but really wish they did.

Journal reference: Science

2012 Phys.Org

Read more:

Science journal offers up essays on 8 mysteries in astronomy

The Wonder of It All

The universe has been around for roughly 13.7 billion years, but it still holds many mysteries that continue to perplex astronomers to this day. Ranging from dark energy to cosmic rays to the uniqueness of our own solar system, there is no shortage of cosmic oddities.

The journal Science summarized some of the most bewildering questions being asked by leading astronomers today. In no particular order, here are eight of the most enduring mysteries in astronomy:

FIRST STOP: Dark Energy

Dark energy is thought to be the enigmatic force that is pulling the cosmos apart at ever-increasing speeds, and is used by astronomers to explain the universe's accelerated expansion.

This elusive force has yet to be directly detected, but dark energy is thought to make up roughly 73 percent of the universe.

NEXT STOP: Dark Matter

Dark matter is an invisible mass that is thought to make up about 23 percent of the universe. Dark matter has mass but cannot be seen, so scientists infer its presence based on the gravitational pull it exerts on regular matter.

Researchers remain curious about the properties of dark matter, such as whether it is icy cold as many theories predict, or if it is warmer.

NEXT UP: Missing Baryons

Dark energy and dark matter combine to occupy approximately 95 percent of the universe, with regular matter making up the remaining 5 percent. But, researchers have been puzzled to find that more than half of this regular matter is missing.

This missing matter is called baryonic matter, and it is composed of particles such as protons and electrons that make up majority of the mass of the universe's visible matter.

Some astrophysicists suspect that missing baryonic matter may be found between galaxies, in material known as warm-hot intergalactic medium, but the universe's missing baryons remain a hotly debated topic.

NEXT UP: Supernova Explosions

When massive stars run out of fuel, they end their lives in gigantic explosions called supernovas. These spectacular blasts are so bright they can briefly outshine entire galaxies.

Extensive research and modern technologies have illuminated many details about supernovas, but how these massive explosions occur is still a mystery.

Scientists are keen to understand the mechanics of these stellar blasts, including what happens inside a star before it ignites as a supernova.

NEXT UP: Re-ionization of the Universe

The broadly accepted Big Bang model for the origin of the universe states that the cosmos began as a hot, dense point approximately 13.7 billion years ago.

The early universe is thought to have been a dynamic place, and about 13 billion years ago, it underwent a so-called age of re-ionization. During this period, the universe's fog of hydrogen gas was clearing and becoming translucent to ultraviolet light for the first time.

Scientists have long been puzzled over what caused this re-ionization to occur.

NEXT UP: Cosmic Rays

Cosmic rays are highly energetic particles that flow into our solar system from deep in outer space, but the actual origin of these charged subatomic particles has perplexed astronomers for about a century.

The most energetic cosmic rays are extraordinarily strong, with energies up to 100 million times greater than particles that have been produced in manmade colliders. Over the years, astronomers have attempted to explain where cosmic rays originate before flowing into the solar system, but their source has proven to be an enduring astronomical mystery.

NEXT UP: Our Solar System

As alien planets around other stars are discovered, astronomers have tried to tackle and understand how our own solar system came to be.

The differences in the planets within our solar system have no easy explanation, and scientists are studying how planets are formed in hopes of better grasping the unique characteristics of our solar system.

This research could, in fact, get a boost from the hung for alien worlds, some astronomers have said, particularly if patterns arise in their observations of extrasolar planetary systems.

NEXT UP: The Sun's Corona

The sun's corona is its ultra-hot outer atmosphere, where temperatures can reach up to a staggering 10.8 million degrees Fahrenheit (6 million degrees Celsius).

Solar physicists have been puzzled by how the sun reheats its corona, but research points to a link between energy beneath the visible surface, and processes in the sun's magnetic field. But, the detailed mechanics behind coronal heating are still unknown.

Read the rest here:

8 Baffling Astronomy Mysteries

SAN ANGELO, Texas Angelo State University's Global Immersion Center will present three full-dome public astronomy shows during its summer 2012 schedule beginning June 7 in the Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 2333 Vanderventer Ave.

Each Thursday through Aug. 2, "The Cowboy Astronomer" will run at 7 p.m., "MarsQuest" will run at 8 p.m., and "Oasis in Space" will run at 9 p.m. All shows are open to the public with admission prices of $3 for adults and $2 for children, active military and senior citizens. ASU students, faculty and staff are admitted free.

"The Cowboy Astronomer" features star tales and Native American legends combined with constellation identification, star-hopping and astronomy tidbits, all told from the viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer.

"MarsQuest" traces a centuries-long cultural and scientific fascination with Mars, weaving a narrative of what the planet means to humanity.

"Oasis in Space" takes audiences on a voyage through the universe, galaxy and solar system in search of water, a key ingredient for life on Earth.

For more information, call 325-942-2136 or visit angelo.edu/dept/physics/planetarium.php. A recording of the show schedule is available by calling 325-942-2188.

More:

Astronomy shows set for summer

On April 22, 2012, a chunk of asteroid one or two meters across burned up in Earths atmosphere. It came in over California and was seen by a lot of people, despite it occurring at about 8:00 a.m. local time and in broad daylight.

I just became aware that some footage was taken of the event, and as far as I know is the only video we have of it. It was taken by Shon Bollock, who was making a time-lapse kayaking video just outside Kernville, California as part of his Shasta Boyz adventuring website:

Pretty cool! It looks like he caught the very beginning of it burning up in the upper atmosphere. Not long after this, the meteoroid broke apart, raining down small meteorites onto the ground which were later found spread over the countryside.

The video is being studied by astronomers and meteoriticists to try to calculate the trajectory, speed, and possible orbit of the object. This is difficult with just one video, so if you have pictures you took or, better yet, more video, please let me know!

Tip o the Whipple Shield to Aaron Johnson on Twitter.

Related Posts:

- A meteors lingering tale - Meteor, Crater - Best video of Soyuz rocket burning up so far - Fireball over Germany

Original post:

Video of the daylight California fireball | Bad Astronomy

By Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Astronomer David Dundee has an out-of-this world offer for anyone who ventures to Cartersville's Tellus Science Museum next Tuesday evening to witness the ultra-rare phenomenon called the transit of Venus.

"We are promising that everyone who comes to watch, if they save their receipts, can get in free to the museum for the next Venus transit," he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek, knowing that there will not be another sighting of the planet's passage between the Earth and sun until 2117. "You know, we know no bounds of generosity."

Actually, astronomy aficionados know no bounds of enthusiasm when it comes to the transit of Venus. Most mortals think of the appearance of Halley's Comet as the rarest of celestial events, visible from Earth every 76 years, give or take. But that is rather commonplace in comparison to the quirky transit of Venus, which won't be spotted from this mortal coil for another 105 years after Tuesday.

People who "collect" astronomical phenomena the way bird watchers check rare winged creatures of their lifetime lists consider the Venus transit, in which the planet appears like a black coin passing right to left across the face of the sun, a holy grail of sorts. That's why they are helping organize viewings across the metro area, from Grant Park to Grayson.

Stone Mountain Park is expecting the largest crowd, easily in the hundreds, who will hike up the mountainside or take the Summit Skyride to the top of "the Rock" before or during sunset. There, members of the Atlanta Astronomy Club will have some 20 solar-filtered telescopes set up for the public to gaze into and 50 pairs of eclipse glasses to lend. (Remember, kids, it's extremely dangerous to stare at the sun without protective filters.)

Atop the outcropping, 1,683 feet above sea level, they will be able to experience a viewing unobstructed by trees or buildings. That means a longer possible viewing -- for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, starting around 6 p.m. -- than anywhere else for miles around, if the skies are not covered by clouds.

"It's going to be great," said Daniel Herron, the club's board chairman and observing chairman. "If the weather is clear, you're raised up higher than anything in the area so you're going to get that extra time. ... We may see 30 or 40 more minutes of the transit because we're a little higher than the horizon.

"I'm really excited," he added, "just extremely excited."

Originally posted here:

Astronomy buffs eye Tuesday's transit of Venus with anticipation

Tomorrow morning, Thursday May 31, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will undock from the International Space Station, perform a series of maneuvers, and then come back home to Earth. Over at The Planetary Society Blog, Jason Davis has a great writeup giving the times of the key events.

The preliminary stuff happens in the middle of the night for me in Colorado, but the actual descent to Earth happens at a much more palatable time. At 14:51 UTC (10:51 a.m. Eastern US time) the Dragon will begin the deorbit burn, dropping it lower in orbit. Less than an hour later, at 15:44 UTC it is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific ocean about 900 km (540 miles) off the coast of Los Angeles in California.

This will all be covered by various live webstreams, including NASA TV. Ill be on Twitter as early as I can and Ill update this post with more video streams as I hear of them.

Related Posts:

- SpaceX Dragon on its way to the ISS! - Dragon is approaching the space station UPDATED: CAPTURED! - When a Dragon mated the space station - Dragon hunting above, dragon hunting below

Continued here:

Timeline for the fall of the Dragon | Bad Astronomy

The vastness of space and the puzzling nature of the cosmic objects that occupy it provides no shortage of material for astronomers to ponder.

To round up some of the most enduring mysteries in the field of astronomy, the journal Science enlisted help from science writers and members of the Board of Reviewing Editors to choose eight puzzling questions being asked by leading astronomers today.

As Robert Coontz, deputy news editor at Science, writes in his introduction to the series, the participants decided that, "true mysteries must have staying power," rather than being questions that might be resolved by research in the near future. In fact, while some of the topics discussed may one day be solved through astronomical observations, others may never be solved, he added.

In no particular order, here are eight of the most compelling mysteries of astronomy, as presented by the journal Science:

What is dark energy? In the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is not static, but rather is expanding. In 1998, the Hubble Space Telescope, named for the astronomer, studied distant supernovas and found that the universe was expanding more slowly a long time ago compared with the pace of its expansion today.

This groundbreaking discovery puzzled scientists, who long thought that the gravity of matter would gradually slow the universe's expansion, or even cause it to contract. Explanations of the universe's accelerated expansion led to the bizarre and hotly debated concept of dark energy, which is thought to be the enigmatic force that is pulling the cosmos apart at ever-increasing speeds.

While dark energy is thought to make up approximately 73 percent of the universe, the force remains elusive and has yet to be directly detected.

"Dark energy might never reveal its nature," Science staff writer Adrian Cho wrote. "Still, scientists remain optimistic that nature will cooperate and that they can determine the origins of dark energy."

How hot is dark matter? In the 1960s and 1970s, astronomers hypothesized that there might be more mass in the universe than what is visible. Vera Rubin, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, studied the speeds of stars at various locations in galaxies. [ Top 10 Strangest Things in Space ]

Rubin observed that there was virtually no difference in the velocities of stars at the center of a galaxy compared to those farther out. These results seemed to go against basic Newtonian physics, which implies that stars on the outskirts of a galaxy would orbit more slowly.

Read more:

8 astronomy mysteries scientists can't explain

The vastness of space and the puzzling nature of the cosmic objects that occupy it provides no shortage of material for astronomers to ponder.

More:

8 Modern Astronomy Mysteries Scientists Still Can't Explain

By JOHN BURNETT

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Richard Crowe, co-founder of the University of Hawaii at Hilos astronomy program and astronomer-in-residence at Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, was killed Sunday in a bizarre Jeep accident near Chinle, Ariz. He was 60.

Crowe and his wife, Debra, were on the mainland for the recent wedding of their older daughter, Ginger Albrecht, in Albuquerque, N.M., their younger daughter, Jasmine Miranda Anderson, said Monday.

We were all together at my sisters wedding in Albuquerque, and he and my mother went to Sedona (Ariz.) on a road trip. They were there for about a week, Anderson said.

While in Sedona, Richard and Debra Crowe took a commercial Jeep tour to Canyon de Chelly. On the return trip, the Jeep went off the edge of a narrow road and rolled end over end down a hillside. Richard Crowe jumped from the Jeep and was struck by the vehicle.

Debra Crowe was treated for minor injuries and released at a nearby hospital.

She didnt really understand how badly he was injured, Anderson said. It took three hours for the helicopter to come and take them (to the hospital), I think.

Crowes condition worsened and others on the tour initiated CPR while waiting for the medevac chopper to arrive. Medics attempted defibrillation, but he died at the scene. Anderson said the family is in shock.

Its really hard, she said. Its just totally unexpected and out of the blue. Were all just pretty shaken up about it and really devastated.

More here:

UHH astronomy professor dies in rollover Jeep crash

[Note: Although I think it's clear in the text below, I changed the title of this post to reflect the fact that it's the Victorian government doing this, not the Federal Australian government.]

In Australia, pertussis whooping cough is at epidemic levels. There were over 38,000 cases last year, and its killed eight babies since 2008. Despite this, the Health Minister of Victoria wants to cut a program that provides free pertussis vaccines for caregivers and parents of babies. He claims (under advice of a panel of experts) that it isnt providing sufficient clinical results, but many doctors are concerned what this will do to the already too-high rates of infection.

Even if the results arent as good as hoped, it would make sense to fund this program until infection rates are down, at least to where they were before the epidemic.

Toni McCaffery the mother of Dana McCaffery, one of those eight infants killed by pertussis has created a petition to continue the program. If you live in Australia, I urge you to read it and sign it if you choose.

And please, please talk to your board-certified doctor and see if you need a shot or a booster.

Why? Because of this, and this, and dammit, because of this.

As long as antivaxxers spread their thin gruel of nonsense, as long as people think its OK to get a religious exemption from a life-saving vaccination, as long as people arent even aware that as adults they need to keep up with their TDAP booster shots (as I wasnt), then I will continue to write about this.

As long as babies are dying, Ill continue to write about this. Lets hope I can stop very, very soon.

Related Posts:

- Followup: Antivaxxers, airlines, and ailments - UPDATE: partial Complete success with American Airlines! - Whooping cough outbreak in Boulder - Stop antivaxxers. Now.

Continued here:

Victoria, Australia government wants to stop free pertussis vaccines | Bad Astronomy

David Heath Wednesday, 30 May 2012 12:21

Opinion and Analysis

Ever since Galileo turned his simple telescope toward Jupiter and saw its four principal moons, we have been in awe of such devices. But they do come with limitations.

However, until the invention of the reflecting telescope some 200 years after Galileo, there was no obvious way to make them large enough to see into the far reaches of the heavens.

In fact for some considerable period of time, big-ish telescopes were constructed using both technologies, but eventually one single reason meant that all super-large telescopes were made as Newtonian (reflector) telescopes, and not lens-based.

What is the principal reason that there has never been a successful, long-serving lens-based telescope with a lens diameter greater than 1 metre?

See the rest here:

Trivia - putting Astronomy under the microscope

Sex offender arrested for allegedly entering a stranger's home Sex offender arrested for allegedly entering a stranger's home

Updated: Wednesday, May 30 2012 12:33 AM EDT2012-05-30 04:33:03 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, May 29 2012 11:42 PM EDT2012-05-30 03:42:58 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, May 29 2012 11:38 PM EDT2012-05-30 03:38:07 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, May 29 2012 11:14 PM EDT2012-05-30 03:14:50 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, May 29 2012 10:35 PM EDT2012-05-30 02:35:55 GMT

Startingon Friday, the Evansville Museum will offer free planetarium shows during the summer season.

The 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. shows will be 'Bad Astronomy', a unique and fun approach to learn about the cosmos.

The 3 p.m. show is 'The Sky Tonight', which will show you where to look to see the constellations and planets.

The free tickets are available at the museum's reception desk and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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Learn about astronomy for free during summer months