Wednesday, July 03, 2013
EldestOne wins a Writing Prize
It was a free-wheeling science fiction story, I thought it rather good (although I'm his dad, so that doesn't count, but the part where Tasmania rose out of the ocean and launched itself into space was pretty hilarious).
Well, the judges thought it okay as well, and he won Silver in the Youth Writer (15-24 years) section. Not bad for his first competition. The Deputy Mayor read out the précis of his story with relish.
EldestOne is off holidaying with the rest of the family while I stay here and mark exams (sad face), so I gave him the good news by phone, and impersonated him for the photo's I also conveyed the part of one of the judges speech where she emphasised edition and revising (evil grin).
Now if I can just convince MiddleOne that his art is fine.
Labels: home life, miscelaneous
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Please Think About Donating to the iTelescope.Net Siding Spring Bush Fire Appeal.
While the telescopes were saved, many homes were lost on the mountain and in the surrounding areas and many people lost everything.
Now iTelescope is collecting donations that will be sent to the Warrumbungle Shire Mayor's Bushfire Appeal and the ANU Siding Spring Observatory Fire - Staff Emergency Relief Fund. I quote from a post on iTelescope.Net
Please consider donating to the iTelescope.Net Siding Spring Bush Fire Appeal.
Thank you for all the generous donations so far! Within hours of the newsletter going live, we've managed to raise $2,766 AUD already.
More details and donation links can be found here:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=36b4e32ee1a576c773b1ff086&id=726354d823&e=b31825f43f
Labels: bushfire, iTelescope, miscelaneous
Sunday, July 29, 2012
AVCON 2012
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| The boys in their Magica costumes | A Dalek, a Doctor and Unit |
I enjoyed AVCON, my favourite part being the panel (actually a lecture) on why Americans perfere superheros and Japanese prefer giant robots by Crispin Freeman, the Diesel Punk panel was interesting too. Saw some good Anime as well (The Disappearance of Harui Suzumiya was excellent, as was the Full Metal Alchemist movie, and SquidGirl was cute) and some interesting art.
EldestOne was a bit disappointed, even though he got to play LAN games for the first time the year. MiddleOne had as much fun as I did though, aided by his friends turning up on Sunday. SmallestOne came in on Sunday and played retrogames. The costumes were pretty cool too.
Labels: home life, miscelaneous
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Making Magic Staffs
For Christmas the two eldest boys got Magica robes, (Magica being a computer game where you play slightly inept wizards). The robes were not pre-made, you got the cloth and a pattern and had to make it yourself (which means in practice, the Bettdeckererschnappender weisle gets to make them). Nearly 7 months later they are almost finished in time for AVCON.
So naturally EldestOne and MiddleOne are going as Magica wizards, and I'm "helping" them make the magic staffs ("crafts are not your forte", my beloved says). I'll make a Steam Punk themed costume for myself, but it will be a bit tatty compared to the boys.
Labels: home life, miscelaneous
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Cool Turing Stuff.
In honour of the 100 years of computer pioneer and code breaker Alan Turing, I give you two cool Turing machines
This elegant one with real paper tape and a Lego Turing Machine (for mega awesome)
This elegant one with real paper tape and a Lego Turing Machine (for mega awesome)
Labels: miscelaneous, science
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Speaking of Indigenous Skies....
The Adelaide Planetarium at the University of South Australia is presenting, as part of their 40th Anniversary celebrations, "Aboriginal Skies" with Paul Curnow. You can see Paul talking about Aboriginal skies here.
From their email to me:
"Come and learn how to find the different constellations (stellar patterns) as seen by indigenous groups around Australia. Hear about the Dreaming stories that relate to the night sky. Learn about how constellations like the Southern Cross and Orion are seen by Aboriginal Australians. The evening is strictly designed for the adult beginner, with little or no astronomical knowledge who would like to know more about the night sky and the constellations, as seen by the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia."Seats are running out fast: Saturday 30th of June 2012 at 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Adelaide Planetarium,
Building P
Mawson Lakes Campus,
University of South Australia
Cost $30.00 per person. Enrolments are subject to the seating capacity of the planetarium. To make a booking or for further information phone 8302 3138 or email the planetarium at adelaide.planetarium@unisa.edu.au.
Labels: Astronomy, miscelaneous
A Tale of Larnankurrk and Kulkunbulla
Unfortunately most of the Indigenous lore of South-Eastern Australia is lost. Still we have some stories. This one comes from the Boorong peoples of north-west Victoria.
The stars we know as the belt and sword of Orion (or the Saucepan, here in Australia) are Kulkunbulla, a group of young men dancing a corroboree. Larnankurrk, the group of stars we know as the Pleiades, is a group of young women watching th young men dance. Gellarlec (Aldebaran) is an old man singing and beating time to the dancing. Gellarlecis also known as the Major Mitchell Cockatoo.
See Paul Curnow's Boorong Skies for more information.
Labels: constellations, miscelaneous
Thursday, June 07, 2012
A Martian Chronicler Has Died
Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction writer and visionary, has died at the age of 91. As an impressionable young lad I fervently read his stores along with Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C Clarke, Andre Norton and Ursla K LeGuin. Reading the dystopian trio "Fahrenheit 451", "1984" and "Brave New World" back to back was a significant milestone, three visions so compelling, but so different. Of all of them, I think Bradbury's infotainment society has come closest to fulfilment. Some good tributes to the Man can be found at the Planetary Society and i09.
Labels: miscelaneous
Friday, June 01, 2012
Write Your Name in Galaxies
Follow this link and you can write your name (or anything else) in Galaxies.
Labels: amazing, miscelaneous
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Australia AND South Africa Both Win the Square Kilometer Array
In case you haven't hear the news, the site of the Square Kilometre Array, a massive synthetic aperture radio telescope that will greatly advance our understanding if the universe, has been awarded to BOTH South Africa and Australia.
This is a great outcome for both our countries, and science. We get the low
Of course, The Australian sees this result as a snub, not a win.
*Sorry, I wrote this at about 1 am, so I misunderstood what was going on. Australia basically gets to probe the very beginning of the Universe. Astroswanny has a much better article explaining what it means here.
Labels: Astronomy, miscelaneous, Radio Astronomy
Sunday, April 29, 2012
I Have the Best Life Partner Ever
She brought back loads of presents (I'm not worthy), I got a t-shirt dyed with colours that come from coffee beans, EldestOne got a T-shirt whose colours come from volcanic ash and the two others got "Angry Birds" hats.
The outstanding present was an "iHelicopter" a toy remote control helicopter you can run from your iPad, iPad or iPhone. MiddleOne, who is slowly building a remote control plane, is having great fun. But everyone else is getting a go too. I'm very good at smashing it into the ceiling.
I also got an Olympus SZ-14. It has a fantastic 24x optical zoom, selectable ASA ratings, and a whole bunch of other useful features. The only thing that it lacks is user selectable shutter speeds. Still, this will go into my bushwalking/astrophotography reasonably priced cameras group. Should be great for lunar eclipses and twilight Venus.
Labels: home life, miscelaneous
Monday, April 23, 2012
Citizen Science Project: TargetAsteroids!
NASA has announced new citizen science project called Target
Asteroids! where it will recruit amateur astronomers to monitor asteroids
to support the OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission (which amongst other things will return wit a sample
of asteroid).
You can read the press release here, and go direct to the Target Asteroids! site here.
You can read the press release here, and go direct to the Target Asteroids! site here.
Labels: asteroids, citizen science, miscelaneous
Friday, April 20, 2012
In Which I am a Media Star Noch Mal
I am being interviewed on ABC Radio 702 tonight (Friday 20 April) at 9 pm AEST (8:30 pm ACST) about a recent column I did at The Conversation; Death by Caffeine.
Live stream for those not in New South Wales:
http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/programs/listenlive.htm?ref=nav
My umms and ahhs will be hear all over the Emerald City.
Live stream for those not in New South Wales:
http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/programs/listenlive.htm?ref=nav
My umms and ahhs will be hear all over the Emerald City.
Labels: miscelaneous, Radio, science communicators
Monday, April 16, 2012
My Solarography Camera
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I finally made and mounted my pinhole camera for the Solargraphy project. In the end getting the cans was the hardest bit. We are not a big carbonated beverage family, and we rarely by cans of drink so it took a little while to get some cans, and the the BDEW thew them out! Collected a second lot, and the BDEW threw them out again!!
So the final time I hid them, then I, my kayaking mate up the road, and his kids (mine didn't want to be involved :-( made pinhole cameras and put in the special film.
I've mounted mine high up, so I can get a good horizon effect, but taping the can while trying to level out the pinhole and balance on the ladder was, umm, challenging.
Now I just have to wait until 28 May to see how it came out.
Labels: miscelaneous
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Global Astronomy Month Starts 1st April
Global Astronomy Month starts April the 1st. An initiative of Astronomer without Borders, there will be star parties, image competitions and more. See the Global Astronomy Month homepage for more information, follow the Australian GAM facebook page, or visit the IceInSpace GAM page.
To start off, there's an online Messier Marathon at 18:00 hours UT on April 1, (that's 4am April 2, AEST)
To start off, there's an online Messier Marathon at 18:00 hours UT on April 1, (that's 4am April 2, AEST)
Labels: miscelaneous
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Is that a Flare I see?
No it's Venus (I'm quoted). To be fair, down by the sea flares are a serious matter, and one going off can mean someone in distress or the local yobbos having a lark, so it's better to be safe than sorry. The Advertiser article on the Planet Dance is here, in the actual paper version there was a nice photo of my telescope.
Labels: miscelaneous
Sunday, March 25, 2012
I'm an iTelescope Science Advisor
Most of you know I blog at the iTelescope site (Sky Alerts), well, you should because it's in the info bar to the left.
Anyway, the good folk at iTelescope have made me a Science Advisor to them. I am very chuffed, it's an honour to work with the iTelescope crew, and very humbling to know they find my contributions valuable.
And it sounds cool: Ian Musgrave, Science Advisor to the STARS!
Anyway, the good folk at iTelescope have made me a Science Advisor to them. I am very chuffed, it's an honour to work with the iTelescope crew, and very humbling to know they find my contributions valuable.
And it sounds cool: Ian Musgrave, Science Advisor to the STARS!
Labels: housekeeping, iTelescope, miscelaneous
Friday, March 23, 2012
Another 15 minutes of Fame
For denizens of South Australia, my telescope will feature in an article on the upcoming Dance of the Planets in the Monday Advertiser. The photographer took quite a number of shots of Don, the 8" scope, before rain forced us to abandon the photo-shoot, one should have turned out nice.
Labels: miscelaneous, Science Blogging, science communicators
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Earthquake in Oaxaca and Heavy Mass Objects
My article on Earthquakes and the recent prediction of a magnitude 9 earthquake on March 22 by Terral03 has had a sudden spike in hits in the wake of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Oaxaca.
But remember, we have on average 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7-8 every year, the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 7-8 on any given day of the month is 1 in 24. the probability that an earthquake of magnitude 7-8 will fall within +/- 2 days of a given day is 1 in 5.
So, no a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in on March 20 does not validate Terrals' prediction.
But remember, we have on average 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7-8 every year, the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 7-8 on any given day of the month is 1 in 24. the probability that an earthquake of magnitude 7-8 will fall within +/- 2 days of a given day is 1 in 5.
So, no a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in on March 20 does not validate Terrals' prediction.
Labels: earthquakes, miscelaneous
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
