I must have stars in my eyes because this is another astronomical post. I saw this story (click on the graphic for the animation) in the New York Times article on 2013: The Year in Interactive Storytelling. The story talks about the planets outside of our solar system that have been discovered by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft. I do love a good info-graphic and find the animated planets just fascinating. There is more to the story here.
This is a page from Galileo’s notebook. On this day in 1610, he recorded his observations of the moons of Jupiter, noting that they did not behave as stars, but appeared to travel with the planet. It was this and other observations that cause Galileo trouble with the church. They are also the reason his name and work endure today – 404 years later. While Galileo was able to discern Jupiter’s 4 largest moons, the actual number of this planet’s moons is 50 or more. Thanks to Lights in the Dark for this reference.
No, not really in space.
But one of the places we visited while in Virginia was the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum – and, if you have been there, you will know that it is spectacular! The space is immense, but with sky walks, stairs and balconies, it is easy to navigate. There were a lot of people there the day we visited. The logical way the exhibits are laid out – and quality of the light and airiness of the space – contributed to a very pleasant experience.
Here are some more photos – but go there if you can.
Want to know how big the space shuttle is? That is my almost six foot tall person standing there under it.
Since the topic is related to Air & Space, let me mention the 80th birthday of Flash Gordon:
Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934. Ref. Wiki.
And this week’s Tattoo Tuesday photo:
This new book from Peter Reid and Tim Goddard. I saw it on Live Science. If you want to take a look at the constructions – inspired by reality and fantasy – without all of the ads, click on the Amazon Look Inside site. I think the Martian rover really is made out of Lego.
STAR TREK first began its mission to explore strange new worlds, and so on . . . on September 8, 1966. The link is from Science.com.
Click on this timeline to make it bigger:
This blog is Gunsmoke and KNITTING, so to celebrate the birth of Star Trek, here is a knitting project for your little Klingon. And speaking of Klingons, did you know that Michael Dorn has a role on Castle? (If you are interested, there are a lot of links in the previous sentence.)
See more like this on All She Wants to do is Knit.
“Don’t know if it’s good or bad that a Google search on “Big Bang Theory” lists the sitcom before the origin of the Universe.”–Neil deGrasse Tyson
Thanks to Mark Sackler at Millenium Conjecture for this reference to the Big Bang – the TV show and the theory.
One small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind. Happy anniversary, Apollo 11!
Thanks to Lights in the Dark for the nudge.
To Mars – at roughly and virtually 3 times the speed of light.
Firearms, fibers, any news or behaviors that make me say, "hmm, let me take another look at this."
I still miss my man, but my aim is getting better.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 