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Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

July 20, 2009 02:33 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Very interesting Interviews! Update

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

Just finished watching a very interview with 7 of the surviving Apollo astronauts live on NASA TV. Those guys were really talking sense about the need for more investment in space exploration and castigating politicians for their lack of vision. For once, the questions from the press appeared well thought out and elucidated very forthright responses from the astronauts. Those guys are still as intense, direct, and competitive as when they were flying! The biggest laugh from everyone came when someone asked " Can you reach a consensus on anything?"

Not sure if it will be available in the NASA TV archives, but it should be. If it is, it would be well worth watching.

Cheers,

Maurice

Here is the link to NASA TV. It is not in the archives yet. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Update: The interview has been posted on YouTube. Here is the address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8BEIVa1rM

July 21, 2009 03:54 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

John Glenn lecture 19 July 2009

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

The John Glenn Lecture at the Smithsonian on 19 July has been posted on YouTube. Well worth a watch as Chris Kraft, and the 3 Apollo 11 astronauts talk about Apollo 11 and what it was like, plus their views for the future.

Cheers,

Maurice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9fCPhspOCQ&feature=channel

August 7, 2009 04:18 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

The Sputnik Moment

Posted By Maurice Clark
Just come across a very interesting documentary on YouTube called "The Sputnik Moment".

A very interesting look at the reaction of the USA to the launch of Sputnik. Could be interesting for my students next semester. Some very telling comments during the film. One of the most telling I think was by Charles Van Doren, American Intellectual: "What went wrong? How did a nation of backward peasants forge so dramatically ahead of us in the race to space?" Sounds very familiar, considering some of the comments that appear on other fora here.

Cheers,

Maurice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhJnt3xW2Fc

August 11, 2009 12:41 AM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Planetary collision!

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

Thought that heading would get your attention!! grin Actually it is somewhat accurate! Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have discovered evidence of a collision between a Moon sized object and a Mercury-sized object around the star HD 172555, which is some 100ly away and a very young system, believed to be only around 12 million years old.

The full story is here along with a great animation of the collision!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer-20090810.html

Cheers,

Maurice

October 6, 2009 03:24 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

2009 Nobel Prize in Physics

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

Did you see the announcement today that half of the 2009 Nobel Physics prize went to the person who developed the optical fibre system without which the high-speed internet would not be possible.

The other half went to the 2 men who invented the CCD!

Great to see the people who made such a contribution to our hobby being recognised!!! grin

Maurice

October 14, 2009 04:14 PM Forum: Investment Discussions

Currencies

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

I have been watching the currency markets for quite a while now and one thing has me curious..... The US$ seems to move in opposite to the share index, and I am curious as to why this would be. I am also wondering just how long the drop in the value of the US$ can be sustained before problems start to become severe.

When I first came to the US 8 years ago, one Aust dollar would buy 49.5 US cents. Now that same dollar will buy over 90 US cents, which means that the US$ has fallen almost 50% in the last 8 years. That is quite a major drop! I think that the only reason the US has not been majorly impacted is because countries such as China have linked the value of their currency to the US$. If they even change from this, the inflation in the US could be very bad indeed.

Any thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Maurice

October 20, 2009 03:30 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

New lens suggestions

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

I have been using a modified Digital Rebel for the past few months with good success, so now I am thinking it is time to invest in a new lens for it. The camera came with the standard 25mm - 85mm (I think) lens so I am wanting something with a bit longer focal length. I do have a 5" refractor which has a focal length of 625mm, so I am thinking something in the range of 200mm - 350mm would fill in the gap nicely.

Any suggestions as to suitable lenses? (Keeping in mind that anything I consider would have to be vetted by the family treasurer!!!! 8O )

ThaNks

Maurice

October 27, 2009 01:58 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Send your name to Venus

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

Just saw that the Japanese space agency JAXA is accepting submission of names to be sent to Venus on their next deep-space mission, Venus Climate Orbiter (now known as Akatsuki).

To submit your name and a short message go here: http://venus.star2009.jp/index_e.php

For information go here: http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002177/

Cheers,

Maurice

November 6, 2009 02:01 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M83 from Hubble

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

Just came across this amazing picture of M83 taken with the new wide-field/planetary camera onboard the HST. Go to the website and download the 3900 x 3900 full resolution image (15MB!) The detail is astounding!

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/29/image/b/warn/

Cheers,

Maurice

November 9, 2009 02:20 PM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Nasa and Esa sign Mars agreement

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi all,

I have just read a news report on the BBC website that NASA and ESA have signed a "letter of intent" that ties together their Mars programs.

"The Mars Joint Exploration Initiative (Meji) has been under discussion for several months, with the key elements - covering scope, division of responsibility and financing - gradually falling into place. The letter of intent puts the initiative on a more formal footing."

This sounds interesting and if it helps keep Mars exploration going forward then it is good news. Disappointing to read that ESA's Mars rover is now delayed until 2018. cwy

Cheers,

Maurice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8348867.stm

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