Big moon

[NotAllThere]

Lunar

Lunar is an adjective. Selene, I think.

 

[AlfredJPruffock]

This is what makes astronomy so fascinating; even such things as close by as Uranus's rings were only discovered about 30 years ago. There's so much to discover and it's the one science where amateurs can still play a meaningful role.

Hubble's on it's way out in 5 years or so. Perhaps instead of blowing money on badly run banks, crap car manufacturers and stupid ID databases, some serious investment could be made into a real replacement for Hubble, like a large space array to include the visible wavelengths. At least it would be interesting and inspiring, and a step further to understanding the universe.

Aye Mitch

There is a mission next year launched by ESA - Herschel Planck ; which contains two deep space observatories - its mission is to find out what happened the micro second after Big Bang using advanced infra red imaging - looking back to the very Dawn of Time itself .

And a lot more Cosmology and Astronomy experiements.

I think you will find it interesting.

The Herschel Space Observatory will be the largest ever infrared space observatory when it is launched in early 2009. Equipped with a 3.5 metre diameter reflecting telescope and instruments cooled to close to absolute zero, Herschel will observe at wavelengths that have never previously been explored. After a four-month journey from Earth, Herschel will spend a nominal mission lifetime of three years in orbit around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2).


Infrared astronomy is a young and exciting science.

In three decades infrared astronomers have unveiled tens of thousands of new galaxies, and have made surprising discoveries such as the huge amounts of water vapour that fill our galaxy.

Yet scientists know there is still much more to discover. Objects such as other planetary systems, or processes like the birth of galaxies in the early universe, can best be studied with infrared telescopes situated in space and therefore freed from the restrictions imposed by the Earth's atmosphere. This is the reason ESA is constructing the Herschel observatory

 

[AlfredJPruffock]

Lunar is an adjective. Selene, I think.

Well La Lune in French.

But I do like your suggestion of Selene - isnt that Hindu for The Spirit of the Moon?

I once dated a very nice Indian girl called Selene.

But thats another story
Now its time for a cuppa tea

 

[EternalOptimist]

I think they should point that telescope at the Earth and start a search for Gordon Browns fiscal rectitude

 

[Mich the Tester]

Aye Mitch

There is a mission next year launched by ESA - Herschel Planck ; which contains two deep space observatories - its mission is to find out what happened the micro second after Big Bang using advanced infra red imaging - looking back to the very Dawn of Time itself .

And a lot more Cosmology and Astronomy experiements.

I think you will find it interesting.

The Herschel Space Observatory will be the largest ever infrared space observatory when it is launched in early 2009. Equipped with a 3.5 metre diameter reflecting telescope and instruments cooled to close to absolute zero, Herschel will observe at wavelengths that have never previously been explored. After a four-month journey from Earth, Herschel will spend a nominal mission lifetime of three years in orbit around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2).


Infrared astronomy is a young and exciting science.

In three decades infrared astronomers have unveiled tens of thousands of new galaxies, and have made surprising discoveries such as the huge amounts of water vapour that fill our galaxy.

Yet scientists know there is still much more to discover. Objects such as other planetary systems, or processes like the birth of galaxies in the early universe, can best be studied with infrared telescopes situated in space and therefore freed from the restrictions imposed by the Earth's atmosphere. This is the reason ESA is constructing the Herschel observatory

Brilliant stuff. And all this for a tenth of the price of some boring bank bail out. It's time we get back to what's really important; finding out about the nature of life and our universe.

 

[Mich the Tester]

I think they should point that telescope at the Earth and start a search for Gordon Browns fiscal rectitude

There's increasing evidence that it exists; it's a big black hole at the center of our galaxy.

 

[NotAllThere]

Well La Lune in French.

But I do like your suggestion of Selene - isnt that Hindu for The Spirit of the Moon?

I once dated a very nice Indian girl called Selene.

But thats another story
Now its time for a cuppa tea

No. Greek lunar goddess. Selenology is the geology of the moon.

 

[DiscoStu]

There's increasing evidence that it exists; it's a big black hole at the center of our galaxy.

government

You know, that hole where lots of cash gets sucked in to be wasted on our bloated public services in the name of "investment"...

 

[AlfredJPruffock]

Brilliant stuff. And all this for a tenth of the price of some boring bank bail out. It's time we get back to what's really important; finding out about the nature of life and our universe

Such kind words - you do me too me justice.

Well with 2009 being the International Year of Astronomy I shall be posting articles relating to our Amazing Universe.

Even altough Alf is 49 next year - when I gaze at the night sky - I am still amazed with with an overwhelming sense of wonder.

I think,perhaps, that is the key to life - curiousity and a sense of wonder about the Nature of our Marvellous Universe - and it is a Marvellous Universe - dont you agree ?


I look at the World
And I notice its turning
Still My Guitar gently weeps

 

[Mich the Tester]

Even altough Alf is 49 next year - when I gaze at the night sky - I am still amazed with with an overwhelming sense of wonder.

I think that is the key to life - curiousity about the Nature of our Marvellous Universe - and it is a Marvellous Universe - dont you agree ?

Yes, it puts everything else in perspective and reminds us how insignificant our daily worries really are.. Earth's pretty amazing too; go and stand on Mount Etna and witness the eruptions, or climb to the top of Vesuvius and stand on the edge of the caldera looking down into the bubbling molten earth; that gives me a similar sense of wonder.