Let's not dismiss the bachelor's degree! I got my BS in physics and have been loving my life as a planetarium director for more than 11 years now! It's actually what I wanted to do after college and I can't think of much else I'd rather do.
How nice to find this group! I founded the Southern Oregon Skywatchers in 1993 and have been an avid amateur astronomer for twenty years. Got my chemistry degree at age 44; if my local university had had a degree in astronomy I would have gotten that instead.
I'm a new member, just found Atheist Nexus, and very glad to be here. Just completed a new scope using a mirror I have had for a couple of years. Like any other ATM, I love to share it. Info available here.
Get out your telescopes! Two small asteroids will come within moon distance of Earth Wednesday.
The first, asteroid 2010 RX30, will come within 154,100 miles of Earth — about 60 percent of the Earth-moon distance — at 5:51 a.m. EDT (1251 UT). This asteroid is estimated to be about 42 feet across.
The second, 2010 RF12, will come almost 12 hours later, at 5:12 p.m. EDT (0012 UT Thursday). It will swing by Earth at just 20 percent the Earth-moon distance, or 47,845 miles. 2010 RF12 is even smaller, only about 23 feet across.
Has anyone else thought about the orientation of the Milky Way in the sky and how it relates to the orbital plane of the Earth? I wonder if it is common to have an orbital plane that does not match the Milky Way orbital plane?
@Cane - Obital planes are almost always going to be tilted related to other orbital planes because it is unlikely for them to align exactly. Just like the axis of the earth's spin is tilted with respect to the earth's orbit around the Sun.
@George - Orbital planes have to do with the gravitational collapse of a cloud (nebula). The collapse causes a spin, but there is nothing specific that controls in what direction the spin will occur. I believe it is random.
If that's a current photo, then we have to realize that it's winter in the northern hemisphere. That explains the brown. Notice that the Southeast, where there are more evergreens, is still fairly green.
Just joined Atheist Nexus and found this group. Amazing, it's astronomy that really helped me to become a critical thinker and no that religion is just a myth.
I have a roll off roof observatory in the mountains of San Diego with a 14" Meade LX200 GPS telescope. Although it doesn't get a lot of use with my current work schedule, I've been doing this hobby for 40 years and can't learn enough. I do enjoy doing outreach for local schools and groups and am the founder of "Julian StarFest", a three night star party, public outreach and vendor exhibit in Julian, CA.
April 11-20 is the final opportunity to participate in GLOBE at Night this year. Go outside an hour after sunset (8-10pm local time), look up, use one of their magnitude charts to measure how dark your local sky is and report back to them.
Which planet is this? Which space probe took the pictures used to build this big picture? What general feature are we seeing in this picture? Have you ever seen this planet from this perspective before this picture (I haven't)? I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have!!!!
MJ
http://heritage.stsci.edu/gallery/gallery.html
Mar 29, 2009
Stephen Goldin
Mar 29, 2009
MJ
Mar 29, 2009
Jim C.
Apr 19, 2009
MsGalaxy
Apr 23, 2009
Pete Soderman
I'm a new member, just found Atheist Nexus, and very glad to be here. Just completed a new scope using a mirror I have had for a couple of years. Like any other ATM, I love to share it. Info available here.
Thanks for being here!
Pete Soderman
Jul 18, 2009
Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie!
Mar 1, 2010
Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie!
Apr 8, 2010
Little Name Atheist
Apr 8, 2010
Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie!
Apr 8, 2010
Stephen Goldin
Apr 8, 2010
George
Newfound Asteroid Will Fly Close by Earth Thursday (space.com)
The asteroid will pass 9/10ths of the distance between the earth and the moon - 223,000 miles - so I would say no.
Apr 8, 2010
Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie!
Aug 20, 2010
George
Wired.com: Asteroid Double Whammy Near Earth Wednesday
Get out your telescopes! Two small asteroids will come within moon distance of Earth Wednesday.
The first, asteroid 2010 RX30, will come within 154,100 miles of Earth — about 60 percent of the Earth-moon distance — at 5:51 a.m. EDT (1251 UT). This asteroid is estimated to be about 42 feet across.
The second, 2010 RF12, will come almost 12 hours later, at 5:12 p.m. EDT (0012 UT Thursday). It will swing by Earth at just 20 percent the Earth-moon distance, or 47,845 miles. 2010 RF12 is even smaller, only about 23 feet across.
Sep 8, 2010
Sarah Walton
Sep 24, 2010
The Big Blue Frog
Sep 24, 2010
Sarah Walton
Oct 8, 2010
George
That is pretty cool.
From 17 miles up
Oct 8, 2010
George
Dec 23, 2010
AtheistTech
Sep 26, 2011
AtheistTech
Cool Animation!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEheh1BH34Q&feature=colike
Sep 28, 2011
AtheistTech
Oct 20, 2011
Richard Lawrence
Oct 20, 2011
AtheistTech
Oct 20, 2011
George
@Cane - Obital planes are almost always going to be tilted related to other orbital planes because it is unlikely for them to align exactly. Just like the axis of the earth's spin is tilted with respect to the earth's orbit around the Sun.
Wikipedia - article celestial coordinate systems
Oct 21, 2011
AtheistTech
Oct 22, 2011
AtheistTech
Super-sized Lunar Eclipse Saturday 12-10-2011
Get the details beloiw:
Dec 2, 2011
George
Wikipedia: December 2011 lunar eclipse
Not sure how much of the eclipse will be visible on the East coast
Dec 2, 2011
Sandi
Our big blue marble:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/blue-marble-2012-earth-ima...
How brown the land is. What happened to all the green?
Jan 26, 2012
The Big Blue Frog
If that's a current photo, then we have to realize that it's winter in the northern hemisphere. That explains the brown. Notice that the Southeast, where there are more evergreens, is still fairly green.
Jan 26, 2012
Steph S.
Feb 6, 2012
AtheistTech
http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1204/
Feb 21, 2012
Sarah
Gorgeous shot of Saturn, Titan and Prometheus from Cassini:
http://www.universetoday.com/93853/moons-large-and-small/#more-93853
Feb 29, 2012
Scott Baker
Just joined Atheist Nexus and found this group. Amazing, it's astronomy that really helped me to become a critical thinker and no that religion is just a myth.
I have a roll off roof observatory in the mountains of San Diego with a 14" Meade LX200 GPS telescope. Although it doesn't get a lot of use with my current work schedule, I've been doing this hobby for 40 years and can't learn enough. I do enjoy doing outreach for local schools and groups and am the founder of "Julian StarFest", a three night star party, public outreach and vendor exhibit in Julian, CA.
Hope to enjoy the discussions here.
Scott
Mar 16, 2012
Scott Baker
That should be "know" not "no". Been a long day.
Mar 16, 2012
Sarah Walton
Apr 1, 2012
Jedi Wanderer
Yeah Sarah! That was fun, thanks!
Apr 1, 2012
Sarah Walton
You're welcome! If They Might Be Giants ever come to your neck of the woods check them out.
Apr 2, 2012
Sarah Walton
April 11-20 is the final opportunity to participate in GLOBE at Night this year. Go outside an hour after sunset (8-10pm local time), look up, use one of their magnitude charts to measure how dark your local sky is and report back to them.
Apr 11, 2012
Sarah Walton
APOD might be in trouble: http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=28288
Apr 17, 2012
AtheistTech
http://www.numbersleuth.org/universe/
Apr 27, 2012
AtheistTech
Which planet is this? Which space probe took the pictures used to build this big picture? What general feature are we seeing in this picture? Have you ever seen this planet from this perspective before this picture (I haven't)? I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have!!!!
May 21, 2012
Loren Miller
I will take a guess and say the one which Gustav Holst called "The Bringer of Jollity" ... and the view from the pole IS a MOST unusual view!
May 21, 2012
Sarah Walton
Ha! Amazing! Thanks!
May 21, 2012
Steph S.
Beautiful picture Cane!
May 21, 2012
Joan Denoo
JUPITER The Bringer Of Jollity
Thanks, I have not heard of Holst or ""The Bringer of Jollity". My education is lacking.
May 21, 2012
Joan Denoo
Gustav Holst - The Planets - Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
I like this one better.
May 21, 2012
Joan Denoo
God, your "Magnifying the Universe" just sends goose bumps when I take the journey!. I love the concept of micro- to tele- scopic views.
Where did you find the photo of Jupiter from that perspective? A great photo!
May 21, 2012
Joan Denoo
Write4U
It is a cold and rainy day; your music fits the mood. Very nice.
May 21, 2012
AtheistTech
@ Joan : I subscribed to this newsletter (weekly email) and it was in the email from Mon, May 21, 2012 http://www.yearinspace.com/weekly-e-mail.html
May 22, 2012