Posted on September 9th, 2008 by Brian
Riding with Robots on the High Frontier is a website with the tagline “Saddle up for a trip with the robotic spacecraft now exploring the wild black yonder!”.
It updates daily with superb photographs and animations from various exploration spacecraft.
Well worth a visit!
The Chasms of CerberusSent by: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | From: Mars
Released: Aug, 2008 | [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Techie
Posted on September 5th, 2008 by Brian
Yesterday three of us were lucky enough to be invited to attend the Space: 08 event at the Barbican Centre.
The highlight of the event for me was the Masterclass conducted by Roger Shawyer the Director of SPR Ltd. After introducing himself and explaining his background in various satellite launch products, Roger went on the explain [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hardware, Hobbies, Scams, Techie
Posted on August 26th, 2008 by Brian
Next year is the International Year of Astronomy and the Vectis Astronomical Society are intending to join the rest of the astronomy world by holding events throughout 2009.
As well as pavement astronomy, we are hoping to join together with other interest groups around the Island and provide talks and general sky watching.
Planning is at a [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight, Seasonal
Posted on August 6th, 2008 by Brian
It seems the excitement of NASA scientists over the Pheonix findings may have been a little premature:
They reckon to have found perchlorate - also found on earth - and say:
“Finding perchlorates is neither good nor bad for life, but it does make us reassess how we think about life on Mars,”
more…..
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies
Posted on August 4th, 2008 by Brian
http://www.universetoday.com is reporting:
“It would appear that the US President has been briefed by Phoenix scientists about the discovery of something more “provocative” than the discovery of water existing on the Martian surface. This news comes just as the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) confirmed experimental evidence for the existence of water in the Mars [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies
Posted on July 29th, 2008 by Brian
August is a good month for taking a look at the sky above you. There are three easily viewable events this year.
Please remember though, NEVER look directly at the Sun. Direct observation either with or without optical aid is to be avoided unless correct filters are used. Instead project the Sun’s image through a pair [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight, Seasonal
Posted on February 20th, 2008 by Brian
(Public domain image by Thomas Knoblauch)
Just in case you didn’t know; early tomorrow morning (21/02/2008), between about 1.45 and 5am, there will be a total lunar eclipse (similar to the one shown above!). Totality will be at around 3.30am.
If you do miss it, there won’t be another until December 21, 2010.
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight
Posted on February 11th, 2008 by Brian
I have been trying to update details for the Vectis Astronomical Society (VAS) on the BBC website for some time now but they can’t be bothered to do it!
This has caused some confusion for those trying to book tickets etc for the upcoming Star Party here on the Island.
This posting is made in the hope [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight
Posted on September 21st, 2007 by Brian
The Vectis Astronomical Society, in association with SAGAS, is holding a Star Party here on the Isle of Wight between 6th - 10th MARCH 2008.
A new website has been set up at http://www.iowstarparty.org/ and will contain more details as they become available
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies, Isle of Wight
Posted on August 28th, 2007 by Brian
The pictures which follow were shown at a recent meeting of the Vectis Astronomical Society and show the relative scale of the planets, the sun and a few stars.
I really like them as it’s not easy to get any impression of scale by looking either upwards or at the more usual diagrams.
All the pictures are [...]
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Filed under: Astronomy, Hobbies
