Category Archives: ‘Casts

My vodcasts can be found here. Happy viewing!

'Casts, astronomy, Astronomy outreach, astronomy research, astrophysics, physics, space exploration

Take a Journey into Outer Space

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Or, Listen to Eminent Scientists Talk about It

I just got a note about a very cool-sounding event that will be taking place on March 16, 2011. It’s called “A Journey into Outer Space” and presents a slate of names many folks have heard of, talking about their science and the future in space. The event features the BBC’s Professor Brian Cox, who will speak about the Large Hadron Collider and dark matter; Charles Simonyi will describe exactly what it’s like to be aboard the International Space Station; Colin Pillinger (of Beagle 2 fame) will ask if there’s anyone else out there; the inimitable Richard Holmes will chart the history of humanity’s fascination with space; Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees will talk about everything Big Bang-related; and Rick Stroud will chair. The event is being put on by a group called IntelligenceSquared.

Now, if you were attending this event in person, there’d be a cover charge — and a pretty reasonable one at that, of only £30.00 for regular admission or £15.00 for students. (About $48.00 USD, or €34.00. Go here to convert that to your local currency.)  I think that would be well worth it, if I lived in the area. However, I don’t and so don’t lots of other people. But, the folks at IntelligenceSquared have solved that problem.

For those unable to attend the event in London in person, the organizers have a live stream available, which offers a fantastic interactive alternative for viewerers. Watching live online is free for everybody. You simply have to  create a free account with your email and a password, and then enjoy the event. All the details are on their web site, linked above. Note that the time of the event is given in London time, so be sure and figure out what time that will be in YOUR time zone (and remember, some of us go on Daylight Savings Time this next weekend, so don’t forget to take THAT into account, too).

During the event, live-stream viewers will also be able to discuss the questions raised using our comment tool (including Facebook and Twitter), and vote on the motion if it’s a debate. The IntelligenceSquared folk will forward the best comments on Rick Stroud, who will then ask the panellists to answer the questions.

The organizers have a Twitter account and hashtag, so check out their tweets at:  #iq2space

Many of the panelists are well known to folks in the blogosphere, and it should be an interesting time. And who knows, you might find yourself asking the Astronomy Royal or Professor Brian Cox (or any of the other panelists) a question of your own.

'Casts, astronomy media, astronomy news

Looking Up and Looking It Up

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March SkyGazing and TheSpacewriter Rambles

March skies -- a little everything for both northern and southern hemisphere skygazers. Created using Cartes du Ciel. Click to get the full picture.

March has finally arrived, and with it — for those of us in the northern hemisphere — the promise of spring stargazing. Not that the winter nights have been bad — just a wee bit cold sometimes. But, with March, we get to see the last of the winter/summer constellations (depending on where you live), and a sneak preview of some spring/autumn sky sights.  For example, Orion is making its slow westward trek, and in another month or so will be gone from our view for a few months.   On the other hand, Leo the Lion and Cancer the Crab are beckoning, as well as the sight of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds for southern skygazers.  The weather’s getting more

temperate (I won’t say “warm” yet, since there are still snow showers coming for some of us, while the southern folk are still enjoying the last bits of summer).  But, we know change is coming! Here’s a sky chart for you to use to do a little stargazing this month!

Over at Astrocast.TV, I’ve been putting up a monthly program called “Our Night Sky” for the past few months, with some quickie pointers of sky highlights for the month for both northern and southern hemisphere skygazers. These are short “vodcasts” — only three or four minutes long, so I can’t get into the WHOLE sky. It’s more like a “taste” of the sky with some nice images, star charts, and lovely music for you to enjoy. Check out the March edition here:

I also do a short subject over there called “The Astronomer’s Universe.” This month we’re reprising a segment I did earlier about the bright object Eta Carinae in the southern hemisphere skies.  If I lived south of the equator, I think this would be among my favorite sights to check out.

In other news, this humble blog has been picked up as a sometimes contributor to the Christian Science Monitor Cool Astronomy online section and most recently has become a “featured blog” on the new Spacetimes News from the Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. These are two of the many online “places” that feature some of my work from time to time. I’m amazed and pleased to be included among other well-known writers from such places as Universe Today.  I  welcome all the readers who come my way for a little “ramble through the cosmos.” It’s an amazing universe we ramble through and I’m happy to share the science and my thoughts about it!