30″ Obsession Dobsonian telescope stolen in San Antonio TX

Keep a look out for a ‘cheap’ 30″ Obsession Dobsonian telescope with S/N 1510.

here is a local TV story on it.

http://www.ksat.com/video/21243470/index.html

more at bad astro
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomical-observing-equipment-accessories/95619-30-telescope-stolen.html#post1608705

–Ben

Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy Galilean Nights October 23 & 24

Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy Galilean Nights
October 23 & 24, 2009

find a nearby event

http://www.galileannights.org/

or make your own event!

and party like its 1609!

Four hundred years since Galileo’s telescopic observations revolutionized our view of the Universe, the public will once again be turning their attention to the heavens. People all around the world are encouraged to take part in Galilean Nights activities on 22-24 October 2009 and experience for themselves the same sense of awe and wonder that Galileo must have felt.

The aim of the IYA2009 is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme‚’The Universe, Yours to Discover’. IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all countries.

–Ben

Paw Print on Mercury

I was reminded of the amazing paw print on Mercury picture, taken by Messenger, while Michael, Doug and I were recording the latest Slacker Astronomy podcast. I added my own text in the tradition of Lolcats. What can I say; I’m easily amused.

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Podcast: CCDs, Cosmology and Ben

Michael, Doug and Mike discuss the charge coupled device (CCD), answer reader mail about cosmology and interivew Slacker-blogger Ben Huset.

You should subscribe to the feed, subscribe via iTunes or just listen or download below.

Send us your questions! Buy a t-shirt!

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This podcast is brought to you by Swinburne Astronomy Online, offering fully online degree programs in astronomy.

nice HST pic of Arp 243 aka NGC 2623.

nice pic of Arp 243 aka NGC 2623.

–Ben

13-Oct-2009: A recent NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image captures what
appears to be one very bright and bizarre galaxy, but is actually the
result of a pair of spiral galaxies that resemble our own Milky Way
smashing together at breakneck speeds. The product of this dramatic
collision, called NGC 2623, or Arp 243, is about 250 million light-years
away in the constellation of Cancer (the Crab)…

http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/html/heic0912.html

Charting The Solar System

interesting data visualization.
–Ben

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Ever Wonder What Every Space Mission From the Last 50 Years Looks Like on One Map?

Well, here it is. National Geographic has plotted the route of every space mission carried out over the last 50 years onto a map of the solar system, giving a nice visual look at the history of space travel.

Each line represents a different space mission, highlighting notable missions, including those from different countries, those of historical significance, and those which have failed. (The map doesn’t seem to make note of the recent LCROSS mission, where a rocket plowed into the moon to probe for water.)

Did you know there have been three more missions to Venus more than Mars (43 to 40)? Check out the whole thing for yourself here.

More at:

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-10/ever-wonder-what-every-space-mission-last-50-years-looks-one-map

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/4002050596_0c2b6c4dd2_o.jpg

This fascinating graphic by Sean McNaughton at National Geographic shows all interplanetary missions since the dawn of ths Space age.

Charting The Solar System

Download large version

Nobel for the CCD

The awkwardly named “charge coupled device” or CCD has probably been the most important technical invention in astronomy since the telescope itself. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the CCD in science and astronomy. It has literally made it possible for us to understand the universe.

So it is freaking awesome that the 2 fellows who invented the CCD were just given the Nobel Prize in Physics!

From Cnet:

Working at Bell Labs in New Jersey in 1969, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith built the first CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). Using the photoelectric effect theorized by Albert Einstein, the sensor transforms light into electric signals. The team’s major hurdle was determining how to gather and read out those signals into a large number of pixels in a short burst of time.

Congratulations, gentlemen, and thank you!

Podcast: North Star Special

We have a new podcast on the feed! It’s been a while since our last show but we made up for it with a nice, long and informative show about Polaris, also known as The North Star.

The podcast features the usual crew — Michael Koppelman, Doug Welch and Mike Simonsen and includes an interview with Dr. Edward Guinan and Scott Engle from Villanova University.

A quick summary of Polaris facts:

1. Polaris is not the brightest star in the sky.
2. Polaris is in the north.
3. Polaris hasn’t always been and won’t always be the north star.
4. Polaris is a variable star of a type known as Cepheids, which have been important stars in understanding cosmic distance scales.

Subscribe to the feed or listen now using the player below.

Download

UPDATE: Mike Simonsen has a nice photo of Ed Guinan and a link to more discussion on Polaris.