“Potato” isn’t a shape, it’s a lack of shape.
News Release: Space Potato
Author: Brian Garthwaite
Construction Photo
Six decades ago, there wasn’t much on the south end of campus, making it an ideal place for the new Observatory. Relatively calm, not much to block the view, and few sources of nearby light pollution. A lot can change in that time.
Today’s maples and oaks – not pictured, because they were maybe saplings? – are now large enough that they block some low areas of observation and are losing limbs due to disease and age. The stadium has been wreathed by parking lots and festooned with high-intensity lights. Campus buildings have crept southward, surrounding the site. Lewisburg and its surroundings have developed, installed more nighttime lighting, and the sky has grown brighter, obscuring more of the night sky.
Clouds, however: they’re here as much as they ever were. Oh, central Pennsylvania.
News Release: Space Footwear
This raises a major question: do astronauts typically wear shoes? Or do they float about in socks? Or those pajamas with the feet? We understand that every gram counts when launching things into space, so what sort of footwear makes the cut?
The Converse look is a fine one, of course. And do we spy both laces and zip-up sides?
Sun, Spotted
Some days, you just get lucky.
SunSpotter
There’s a total solar eclipse coming across North America shortly. Weather permitting, make sure you take a little time to appreciate it!
With a little luck, we’ll be watching that little circle disappear, bit by bit, awaiting a little magic.
Photo: Space Frogs
Here they are, the orbiting frogs. Not being a frog, it’s hard to comment with confidence on how they feel, but one can assume they’d all rather be elsewhere, doing ordinary frog things.
News Release: Space Frogs
We’re all relieved to hear that. While the American bullfrog enjoys a large natural range throughout eastern North America, and are celebrated jumpers, they are not typically encountered at heights above the earth that one would consider “in orbit.”
Whatever it’s like to think like a frog, we can safely assume that the rocket launch and orbital microgravity experiences were weird by any frog standards.
Wind Speed Indicator
This particular wind speed indicator hasn’t been functional in ages, but at some point it was probably useful in determining whether or not to go outside for telescope observations. Wind is of concern in astronomy, as it can produce poor seeing and – when really strong – cause telescopes to shake. But wind chill is the more immediate concern. Cold nights can be good for observing, with clear skies and good seeing, but rough on fingers and toes.
All of that standing still, lack of warming sunshine, etc. doesn’t do a lot to counter a cold night. Maybe think ahead and bring along a hot beverage?
An awful lot of that chart is devoted to conditions when no one should be outside at all. One line of thought considers that a chart with all of your category indicators bunched up on the left isn’t the ideal for communicating information visually. Another notes that an endless tundra of negative numbers tells you enough without needing the particulars.
News Release: Balloon Survival
Science: if we can learn something from sending a 1,200 lb. payload over Saskatchewan via (a very large) balloon, by golly we’re going to try.
Warning Label
For very important safety reasons, you should never point a telescope at the sun. Without proper safety filters and the utmost care, that is.
There’s a solar eclipse in a month, and we’re definitely pointing this particular telescope at the sun. With the proper filters and the utmost care, of course.