Fed by Birds

I picked up this textbook from 1876 by J. Norman Lockyer, designed for schoolchildren and ‘children of a larger growth’, mainly for its beautiful little illustrations and diagrams.

Continue reading "Elementary Lessons in Astronomy" »

Posted by at 5:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Nasa Astrobiology Unit offers this useful service - submit your own, or browse other people's astrobiological queries. An understandable note of exasperation seems to creep into the answers, as the astrobiologist in question is exposed to the full force of the public's stupidity about his subject. In particular the endless drivelling questions about evolution ('Are we from adam or are we from monkey? if we are somehow like a monkey why the other ones couldn't be humans?') and UFO conspiracies push the poor man to his limit:
'Greetings, I cannot help but be skeptical of the govt's ufo claim that they simply do not exist.'
Answer: 'If you choose to disbelieve the opinions millions of experts, that is your choice. But then why do you take the trouble to write to "Ask an astrobiologist"?'
'Sir the life on other plasnet also exista this has came became clear now by the video of aliens on the moon /why u hide these thinmgs from us'
Answer: 'You are badly misinformed...'

Posted by at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These extraordinary sounds from Saturn were sent back by the Cassini-Huygens mission (found via Mrs Deane). Thus proving that Delia Derbyshire and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop were completely right about what other planets would sound like.

Posted by at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From here. Also Martian rust:

Posted by at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A top Astronomy Picture of the Day. Click to enlarge.

Posted by at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you didn't go out and look at the total lunar eclipse last night you must be crazy. Or maybe living somewhere where it wasn't visible. The moon turned blood red. The Dictionary of Superstitions tells me that it's a bad idea to undertake any business of importance during a lunar eclipse, and 'as to Nativities this is very remarkable' - although it doesn't specify in what way the nativities are remarkable. Hopefully in a good way. Also, it's unlucky to point at the moon, whatever it's doing. Penalties vary from being struck blind to being denied access to heaven, but all of them are severe.

Posted by at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)