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.

Despite my best efforts I need to take a break from Twittering, Blogging, Writing and the like.  Professional and personal matters must be attended.

Back soon.

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.

The Great Experiment

If you are one of the few people who visit me here at Stargazer’s Field, you will know that I don’t blog too often.  This is a byproduct of an INSANE schedule.  So, since my schedule won’t change, I have decided to try a new blogging experiment.  Rather than try to write a long, deeply insightful blog (have they been?) I am going to try micro-blogging.  (Hey if that term catches on, you saw it here first.)  Small one paragraph, two max blogs.  I know this isn’t anything new, but its new for me.

Wish me luck.