OK, so I waited more then a day for the second post... my apologies, but I had a good reason: out of the blue I received a phone call to have breakfast with a four time NASA astronaut. Needless to say, that changed my schedule 'a bit'. But OK, now part two... Nibiru
Have you ever heard that name? Nibiru is the mythical planet, that is supposedly on a collision course with Earth. Need a planet? Let's invent one!
In 1995, Zecharia Sitchin claimed to have re-translated Sumerian texts proving the existence of this planet, that for some strange reason everyone else just happened to have missed. And this planet (which of course has never been actually seen by anyone) is on a collision course with Earth. Another name for this planet is planet-X.
To show the amount of nonsense is involved here, is that we were all supposed to die due to this collision back in May of 2003, when they initially predicted the collision. But, oops, nothing happened, so they "moved it up a bit" to 2010, and now magically the date has been changed again, so now it will be in 2012. On December 21 of course.
So, we have to believe that this one guy and his followers are so enlightened that they understand something that no one else does, but then so stupid to miss the date-of-doom by 9 years, but then only to come around and now we have to accept the incredible precision of a December 21 prediction. And mind you, no one has actually seen this planet, and planets are big things. If we were to believe we are going to collide with a planet (or in some claims a red dwarf) in only 3 years, this means that the object should be pretty much in our solar system by now. But somehow we all, including the believers, are looking in the wrong direction??
Yeah sure.
Next post: Good Ol' Nostradamus
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
No, No and No
I have already been asked by several people for more information about the end-of-the-world in 2012, and the vehemency and accusatory tone of the questions are quite frankly rather shocking. How dare I not agree with their point of view?
On top of that, there is an enormous amount of misinformation that is actively being spread over the internet and other media, and folks that have less of a science and astronomy background might honestly be fearful. Either way, it is our task as a place of public education, to sort out the myths from the facts. The whole story is too long for one blog post, so let's start with the claims and over the coming days I will add posts that debunks each.
So... what is all the hullabaloo about? Well... it all starts with a calendar. As you know we have a calendar lasting 365 days, and this is based on how long it takes the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. However, other cultures have (or had) different calendars. In this case it comes to the calendar of the Mayan Culture.
This calendar is a true piece of mathematical art. It is based on a whole set of calendars, which are intertwined, creating a horrifically complex system lasting many thousands of years. You can read more at the wikipedia page about the calendar, and I think you will agree that this calendar is not something simple to understand.
As a matter of fact, the calendar is so complex that even today it is still in dispute of exactly when it started, and when it will "end". Anyway, the word "end" is exactly the hinge where all the problems come from. Does our calendar "end"? Well... in one way you can state that yes, it ends at December 31, and then rolls over to January 1st. But for some reason, in this case, probably because we're talking about Mayans, "end" has taken on a life by itself.
But let's keep to the facts... as far as we can tell the Mayan calendar does indeed roll over on December 21, 2012. Some scientists however, dispute the exact date and place it 200 years later, for this post, let's assume December 21 is the date.
So.. are there indications from the Mayans that they linked their calendar to a date-of-doom? No they didn't. Did the Mayans interpret the end date as "The End"? Nope, they saw it as the beginning of a new era, probably coinciding with a lot of Mayans starting new diets (OK I made that last bit up).
So, although there is nothing that leads us to believe December 21, 2012 is the date of doom, this has not stopped certain individuals to start piling things on top, resulting in a hodge-podge of claims and simply nonsense.
Tomorrow more...
On top of that, there is an enormous amount of misinformation that is actively being spread over the internet and other media, and folks that have less of a science and astronomy background might honestly be fearful. Either way, it is our task as a place of public education, to sort out the myths from the facts. The whole story is too long for one blog post, so let's start with the claims and over the coming days I will add posts that debunks each.
So... what is all the hullabaloo about? Well... it all starts with a calendar. As you know we have a calendar lasting 365 days, and this is based on how long it takes the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. However, other cultures have (or had) different calendars. In this case it comes to the calendar of the Mayan Culture.
This calendar is a true piece of mathematical art. It is based on a whole set of calendars, which are intertwined, creating a horrifically complex system lasting many thousands of years. You can read more at the wikipedia page about the calendar, and I think you will agree that this calendar is not something simple to understand.
As a matter of fact, the calendar is so complex that even today it is still in dispute of exactly when it started, and when it will "end". Anyway, the word "end" is exactly the hinge where all the problems come from. Does our calendar "end"? Well... in one way you can state that yes, it ends at December 31, and then rolls over to January 1st. But for some reason, in this case, probably because we're talking about Mayans, "end" has taken on a life by itself.
But let's keep to the facts... as far as we can tell the Mayan calendar does indeed roll over on December 21, 2012. Some scientists however, dispute the exact date and place it 200 years later, for this post, let's assume December 21 is the date.
So.. are there indications from the Mayans that they linked their calendar to a date-of-doom? No they didn't. Did the Mayans interpret the end date as "The End"? Nope, they saw it as the beginning of a new era, probably coinciding with a lot of Mayans starting new diets (OK I made that last bit up).
So, although there is nothing that leads us to believe December 21, 2012 is the date of doom, this has not stopped certain individuals to start piling things on top, resulting in a hodge-podge of claims and simply nonsense.
Tomorrow more...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wow, right?
I hope the word "WOW" came to mind when you started to read this post. Looking nice eh?
Yes, after many months of work we finally were at a point to go live with our new website. The design, as created by NAKA media, was done for some time ago, but that was simply the start of a long process, because we wanted a whole bunch of new pages as well. Plus, we wanted to introduce a content management system for the site, so that staff without programming skills, would be able to make updates to the site. We specifically want to thank Anthony Plattsmier from Open Gadget for his enormous help on this front, because he donated many dozens of hours installing, debugging and other complex coding time to this website.
So, now you have an opportunity to read in much more detail what the Austin Planetarium is about, how you can help, and how this project is progressing. But wait, there is more, because as a matter of fact we're not done yet!
One thing we are still working on is our online store. Yesterday, just before going live, we discovered some bugs preventing a customer from actually paying for an item, so there is still some more work to do there, but hopefully within a week we should be done with that as well. Then there are some additional pages we would like to add, and then we want to start rewriting the AstroNews page.
But for now, we're a BIG step forward, and I hope that you are impressed with our efforts so far. Please let us know what you think!
Yes, after many months of work we finally were at a point to go live with our new website. The design, as created by NAKA media, was done for some time ago, but that was simply the start of a long process, because we wanted a whole bunch of new pages as well. Plus, we wanted to introduce a content management system for the site, so that staff without programming skills, would be able to make updates to the site. We specifically want to thank Anthony Plattsmier from Open Gadget for his enormous help on this front, because he donated many dozens of hours installing, debugging and other complex coding time to this website.
So, now you have an opportunity to read in much more detail what the Austin Planetarium is about, how you can help, and how this project is progressing. But wait, there is more, because as a matter of fact we're not done yet!
One thing we are still working on is our online store. Yesterday, just before going live, we discovered some bugs preventing a customer from actually paying for an item, so there is still some more work to do there, but hopefully within a week we should be done with that as well. Then there are some additional pages we would like to add, and then we want to start rewriting the AstroNews page.
But for now, we're a BIG step forward, and I hope that you are impressed with our efforts so far. Please let us know what you think!
Monday, September 28, 2009
We can do more things in a planetarium than "Showing Stars"
Yesterday I met Tammy Jarocki, who blogs about Art and Science here in Austin and I mentioned that it is my full intention to combine Art and Science in the Austin Planetarium. Most of the time I get blank stares because this is something new. So, I promised I would email her and my plan was to point her to a blog post on the subject... only to discover that I never blogged about it!
Actually, we did write about it, but only in our AstroNews pages some time ago. So... let's fix that right now. Be sure to watch (listen!!!) the amazing video at the bottom of this blog. And yes, it is completely safe to do this right at work.
---
Of course a planetarium is to show the night sky in its most perfect condition. But did you know that these days we can do MUCH more in a planetarium dome? Of course, it is very difficult to prove this to you because we do not have a planetarium, but we will do our best!
The first major revolution that changed the planetarium world was the advent of "full dome video". In the old days we used to have a star projector to project the stars, and then we added slide projectors to add images. At the planetarium in Amsterdam, where I worked for several years, we actually had dozens and dozens of slide projectors all working together, creating an image that covered the entire dome. That was very pretty, but does not even come close to what we can do these days!
Of course you have seen LCD projectors. They are used for presentations in class or any other venue where we need moving video on a large screen. Now imagine taking several much stronger LCD projectors, and somehow "stitch" the separate images together covering the entire dome. That is exactly what we do with full-dome video. The result is a "TV screen" that wraps above and around you. Using video, we can show anything! Not just astronomy - but Biology, Chemistry, or even Architecture!
But, actually, having full dome video really opens up an entirely new experience. For example, when I visited the planetarium in Kiel, Germany I was treated to an amazing music show, created by Jens Fisher. And you bet I did make sure to invite him over to play his show when the Austin Planetarium has been built (and he accepted). The other wonderful thing is I can show you the show right here. The video was shot using a camera in that planetarium (you can see the curvature of the screen), and Jens is sitting at the center creating the music. He is doing this all by himself, live, no recordings, no other musicians, just him. Enjoy!
Actually, we did write about it, but only in our AstroNews pages some time ago. So... let's fix that right now. Be sure to watch (listen!!!) the amazing video at the bottom of this blog. And yes, it is completely safe to do this right at work.
---
Of course a planetarium is to show the night sky in its most perfect condition. But did you know that these days we can do MUCH more in a planetarium dome? Of course, it is very difficult to prove this to you because we do not have a planetarium, but we will do our best!
The first major revolution that changed the planetarium world was the advent of "full dome video". In the old days we used to have a star projector to project the stars, and then we added slide projectors to add images. At the planetarium in Amsterdam, where I worked for several years, we actually had dozens and dozens of slide projectors all working together, creating an image that covered the entire dome. That was very pretty, but does not even come close to what we can do these days!
Of course you have seen LCD projectors. They are used for presentations in class or any other venue where we need moving video on a large screen. Now imagine taking several much stronger LCD projectors, and somehow "stitch" the separate images together covering the entire dome. That is exactly what we do with full-dome video. The result is a "TV screen" that wraps above and around you. Using video, we can show anything! Not just astronomy - but Biology, Chemistry, or even Architecture!
But, actually, having full dome video really opens up an entirely new experience. For example, when I visited the planetarium in Kiel, Germany I was treated to an amazing music show, created by Jens Fisher. And you bet I did make sure to invite him over to play his show when the Austin Planetarium has been built (and he accepted). The other wonderful thing is I can show you the show right here. The video was shot using a camera in that planetarium (you can see the curvature of the screen), and Jens is sitting at the center creating the music. He is doing this all by himself, live, no recordings, no other musicians, just him. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Terra Firma
The Associated Press reported today that European astronomers have discovered, for the first time ever, a planet outside of our solar system that is not just “full of hot air.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s hot alright, with a surface temperature of 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s not exactly suitable for life as we know it; but it is solid. More than 300 planets have been discovered outside of our solar system, all of them gaseous balls; but this is the first time one has ever been proven to be as rock-solid as good ol’ Mother Earth. The planet, which was actually discovered earlier this year, has been dubbed Corot-7b and it closely circles a star only a stone’s throw away at a distance of approximately 500 light-years.
The discovery of Corot-7b’s firm physicality has brought great excitement to the scientific community, because of the implications it carries for the potential discovery of planets suitable for human habitation, as well as the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life. It is widely assumed that the beginnings of life anywhere would require some solid ground in which to gain footing, so this discovery strengthens the argument for the existence of life outside of our planet.
As we here at the Austin Planetarium continue our search for some solid ground to build our facility on, we will continue to keep the community updated on our progress and the astronomy and science news of the day. Let us know what you think about the search for extraterrestrial life by commenting on this blog. Stay tuned for more!
For more information on Corot-7b click here.
The discovery of Corot-7b’s firm physicality has brought great excitement to the scientific community, because of the implications it carries for the potential discovery of planets suitable for human habitation, as well as the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life. It is widely assumed that the beginnings of life anywhere would require some solid ground in which to gain footing, so this discovery strengthens the argument for the existence of life outside of our planet.As we here at the Austin Planetarium continue our search for some solid ground to build our facility on, we will continue to keep the community updated on our progress and the astronomy and science news of the day. Let us know what you think about the search for extraterrestrial life by commenting on this blog. Stay tuned for more!
For more information on Corot-7b click here.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Raiders of the Lost...Shuttle?
Officials at NASA today announced that they have opened a registration process that allows educational institutions, museums, and other like-minded institutions to begin screening artifacts from the Space Shuttle program. NASA intends to allow organizations to display these artifacts at their facilities at no cost; except the cost of shipping and the special handling fees that will be necessary for the safe transport of these historical treasures. There will be eligibility guidelines that will be determined by NASA, but their intention is to “ensure broad access to potential shuttle artifacts.”
We here at the Austin Planetarium are very excited at the prospect of having some Space Shuttle artifacts available for display. One of the aspects of our vision for the Austin Planetarium includes the construction of a museum facility focusing on space science, as well as a technology center which will display the hardware that has been utilized in driving technology forward. The Space Shuttle program has been a tremendous asset to the scientific community and a great source of pride for Americans for almost 40 years, and what better way to pay homage than by making the hardware of the program available to the public for exhibition.
Needless to say, these types of artifacts would be perfect for display in our proposed facility. I sure hope there are some left by the time the planetarium is built; otherwise we may find ourselves stuck with the dregs of the program, and decommissioned zero gravity toilets , although important to the space program, just don’t carry the wow factor we hope to induce in our visitors. Thanks for the memories Shuttle Program!
For the full story, and more information on the screening of Space Shuttle artifacts, click here.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Heavenly Bodies
As you may or may not know, NASA sent its fourth and apparently final service mission to refurbish the orbiting Hubble space telescope in May of this year. Wednesday, NASA released the newest images from the now 19 year old telescope, to the great joy of all those who love astronomy. These images utilize two new instruments, the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), that were added to the Hubble array during the STS-125 servicing mission in May, and the results are spectacular.
The new images from the Hubble include a star that has spread its wings like a butterfly in the throes of a 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 600,000 mph death; a quintet of galaxies that appear to dance in formation with one another; and the phenomenon of gravitational lensing produced by galaxy clusters almost 5 billion light-years away. Additionally, NASA has provided some graphical analysis of a few heavenly bodies using data from the newly installed COS. Whether you’re an amateur astronomer or someone who simply enjoys the beauty of the cosmos, there’s something for everyone in this recent round of images.
Images from the Hubble space telescope have always evoked strong responses in those who view them; people’s reactions range from the academically impressed to the religiously ecstatic. These responses are a great reminder of why we want to bring a Planetarium to Austin. The intellectual and emotional heights that can be reached when beholding the cosmos in all its celestial beauty are extremely powerful as a catalyst for introspection and curiosity. This is the goal of the Austin Planetarium, to allow people the opportunities to not only learn more about the world around them, but to feel their place in the universe.
It was the great public outcry that convinced legislators to approve the multi-billion dollar refurbishing of the Hubble space telescope, and we know that it is the same kind of public support we require to realize our dream of building a world-class planetarium for the Central Texas community. Please show your support for the proliferation of science and research by signing up for our newsletter and helping us spread the word about our vision for the Austin Planetarium.
To read more about the Hubble space telescope and view the recent images click here.
The new images from the Hubble include a star that has spread its wings like a butterfly in the throes of a 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 600,000 mph death; a quintet of galaxies that appear to dance in formation with one another; and the phenomenon of gravitational lensing produced by galaxy clusters almost 5 billion light-years away. Additionally, NASA has provided some graphical analysis of a few heavenly bodies using data from the newly installed COS. Whether you’re an amateur astronomer or someone who simply enjoys the beauty of the cosmos, there’s something for everyone in this recent round of images.Images from the Hubble space telescope have always evoked strong responses in those who view them; people’s reactions range from the academically impressed to the religiously ecstatic. These responses are a great reminder of why we want to bring a Planetarium to Austin. The intellectual and emotional heights that can be reached when beholding the cosmos in all its celestial beauty are extremely powerful as a catalyst for introspection and curiosity. This is the goal of the Austin Planetarium, to allow people the opportunities to not only learn more about the world around them, but to feel their place in the universe.
It was the great public outcry that convinced legislators to approve the multi-billion dollar refurbishing of the Hubble space telescope, and we know that it is the same kind of public support we require to realize our dream of building a world-class planetarium for the Central Texas community. Please show your support for the proliferation of science and research by signing up for our newsletter and helping us spread the word about our vision for the Austin Planetarium.
To read more about the Hubble space telescope and view the recent images click here.
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