Lost in Space

This past Friday evening, Dr. Steve Danford (UUC-G) addressed the Greensboro Astronomy Club regarding the future of America's space program. Steve's always a good presenter, and he can even make sense out of the chaos we call NASA.

He shared a graphic from Dr. Harry Shipman (University of Deleware) that puts the major issues before us and guides us to logical conclusion.

If I read this correctly, if we find that some things are best made in space ("space industrialization") AND we find celestial resources to live independently of Earth ("Extraterrestrial Resources to Support Humans") we will see, sooner or later, full human settlement of outer space, with a thriving space station or two and some colonies on the Moon, Mars, and other locales.

If, on the extreme other hand, we find neither things to make in outer space, nor resources on which to live, we will have a future with robotic explorers and telescopes.

What do you think? Does this approach make sense?

Turtle in the Road

Coming home from shopping today we encountered a big and dirty Eastern Painted Turtle in our street.

We use to be able to walk to Hester Park from our house, but the addition of Painter Boulevard has cut off not only our path to the park, but the route for animals as well.

I've noticed that the Japanese Beetles have not been eating our Purple Leaf Plum trees like they use to. We're also seeing fewer raccoons and possums.

So where this big turtle was going, and how it was planning to get there, I am at a loss.

We loaded him in the car and drove him to the lake at Hester Park. Boy did he seem happy, although the geese seem to be a little disappointed.

Beauty of Saturn

One of the most popular sights at the Observatory is the sixth planet from the Sun, Saturn. Friday I had the opportunity to have dinner with a member of the Cassini Mission investigating this beautiful planet and her moons.

Dr. Anne Verbiscer from the University of Virginia shared this wonderful image taken by the space probe in September of 2006. This is the ringed planet back-lit by the Sun. Detected from this work were two new faint rings

You can see more by going to the Cassini Home Page at http://www.ciclops/org/index/php

Dr. Doolittle

I've been working at the Natural Science Center of Greensboro for almost six years, now. It's been a great experience, and I really enjoy working with the animals.

Many times I'll talk to the animals, as if they can understand what I'm saying. They may be able to pick up the tone of my voice, but I still say nice words to them.

Launa, one of our newer birds, has not been used in any of my programs yet. She's a nice little bird, and I not only talk to her, but I sing. Sometimes Launa talks back and sings with me. She'll often sit on my hand and nibble on my watch.