Field Notes

Be sure to check out my Podcast on todays 365 Days of Astronomy.

Be sure to check out the 07/10 pod-cast for 365 Days of Astronomy.  It is dedicated to my best friend Jeff Medkeff, aka The Blue Collar Scientist who passed away last August.

Do me a favor.  The next time someone take time to teach you something, be sure to show your gratitude.  My family and I all miss Jeff very deeply.  I am glad I had every minute I did with him.

As always Jeff, thanks for your teachings, your friendship, your caring and for being there when I need an ear.

So, my latest endeavor is to improve my understanding of the mathematical aspect of astronomy.  I have armed myself with the best possible tools, books.  As I started to do my review and learning, it really hit me how little I use advanced mathematics in my day to day life.  Ugh.  I have collected the following books:

• Astronomical Formulae for Calculators
• Astrophysics with a PC
• Astronomical Algorithms
• Celestial Basic
• Math for Amateur Astronomers
• Practical Astronomy with your Calculator

Wish me luck.  I will blog about my experience as I go.  If you know of other good books, please chime in and let me know.  If you are really good at math and would like to help, let me know!

Ethyl Formate

Ok, so its a bit of a “media catch phrase;” however, according to recent work done by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, a recent IRAM survey of Sagittarius B2 indicated the presence of Ethyl Formate.  Planck Institute astronomer Arnaud Belloche said “It does happen to give raspberries their flavour, but there are many other molecules that are needed to make space raspberries.”  Apparently, it has the odor of rum too.  The quote is from an article at Utv but MSNBC has a less sensationalized article.

The research leading up to this discovery was part of a radio astronomy search for amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and life.

Details of the research can be found in the next issue of Astronomy & Astrophysics.

This has got to be one of the most wicked cool amateur hobby events I have ever seen. My Dad was an engineer on Apollo 11. I wish he had lived to see this.

Galileo ExhibitIn the event you have not heard yet, the Galileo exhibit is currently showing at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA.  This appears to be a very cool opportunity to see some of Galileo’s actual instruments.  The exhibit runs from April 4 - September 7.  Ticket prices Adults: $20.75Seniors: $19.75; Children: $14 (ages 4-11).  Advanced tickets are recommended.

Tycho Fact #1: Most people know that Tycho lost a considerable piece of his nose in a duel.  Did you know it was by the broadsword of his third cousin Manderup Parsberg and believed to be over Tycho’s announcement that an eclipse on October 28, 1566 predicted the death of Suleiman the Great, a Turkish sultan.  What Tycho did not know was Suleiman six months before.  This became an embarrassing situation for Tycho and source of levity for Parsberg.

Tycho Fact #2: Some of Tycho’s first measyrments were done by lining up a planet with two stars on a taut piece of string.

To learn more about Tycho, I recommend the book Tycho & Kepler, The Unlikely Partnership that forever changed our understanding of the heavens. Kitty Ferguson. Walker Publishing Company.

As most people in the amateur astronomy community are aware, Saturday April 4, 2009 was the 100 Hours of Astronomy event of the International Year of Astronomy.  At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. several local amateur and professional astronomers gathered to assist the museum staff with celebrating the event and providing public outreach, education, and awareness.  Several tables were setup in the main entance lobby.  Tables volunteers provided information about the IYA in general, schedules of weekend events hosted by local astronomy clubs, equipment displays, dark sky awareness, hands-on-projects for kids, and solar observing.

Amateurs display the tools of their hobby.

Dr. Glen Wahlgren, of Goddard Space Flight Center, speaks to the public about IYA.

Because of the absolutely fabulous weather in D.C. Saturday the solar observing was fantastic through the C14 with a white light filter and through the piggy-backed refractor with a calcium filter.

Solar Observing at NASM

A hands-on table provided kids a chance to build a small two-lens refractor or a pocket solar clock.

Kids get a chance to build a telescope!

Visitors were treated to a panel discussion by Dr. David Devorkin and music by an a Capella group.

What an awesome day!

I just added the clear skies clock for Stargazer’s Field to the site.

A GIANT thank you to Attilla Danko for making a custom clock for my observatory.

To visit this in the future, use the link in the menu above.

Congratulations to the Kepler team.

This is totally awesome!

Kepler Launch