From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4@msn.com)
Date: Thu Apr 25 2002 - 22:08:58 PDT
----- Original Message -----
From: badastro@badastronomy.com
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 12:46 AM
To: badastronomy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [badastronomy] Bad Astronomy Newsletter Issue #12 (April 25, 2002)
THE BAD ASTRONOMY NEWSLETTER
Issue #12
April 25, 2002
http://www.badastronomy.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/badastronomy
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Bad Astronomy Newsletter #12
Contents:
1) Apologies for the silence, and good book news
2) Report from Pittsburgh and Nashville
3) TechTV appearance Friday
4) Astronomy Tidbit 1: Planetary alignment
5) Astronomy Tidbit 2: Hubble images to be released April 30
6) Subscribe/Unsubscribe info
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1) Apologies for the silence
First off, I am sorry there has not been a newsletter in over two weeks.
I have been traveling extensively, both for work and to promote the book,
and my internet connection has been spotty.
However, I have good news about the "Bad Astronomy" book: it's gone into
a second printing! Besides meaning it's selling well, it also means I was
able to correct some nagging typos and errors. In a book like this, it's
important to get even the small details down.
For info about the book, go here:
http://www.badastronomy.com/book/badastrobook.html
* * * * * * * * * * * *
2) Report from Pittsburgh and Nashville
I just returned from a series of trips which included speaking about
Bad Astronomy at the Buhl Planetarium at the Carnegie Science Center
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Sudekum Planetarium at the
Cumberland Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee. I had a great time
at both places, and found the staff to be warm, helpful and friendly.
Both weekends were filled with fun, good conversation, and of course
astronomy. Too bad it rained both times! Of course, there was certainly
plenty to do and anyway it was a wonderful experience.
Both centers are doing a great service by teaching the public about
science in general and astronomy in particular. If you are ever in either
city, stop on by and visit.
The Sudekum Planetarium website: http://www.sudekumplanetarium.com/
The Cumberland Science Center: http://www.cumberlandsciencemuseum.com/
The Buhl Planetarium: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/exhibits/planet.asp
The Carnegie Science Center website: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/
* * * * * * * * * * * *
3) TechTV appearance Friday
A reminder: I'll be on the show "Call For Help" on TechTV on Friday
April 26. The show starts at 2:00 a.m. Pacific time (5:00 p.m. Eastern)
and I'll be on some 20 minutes into the show. I'll be talking about
movies featuring fear of technology, and the scientific transgressions
that occur therein. For more, go to the "Call for Help" website:
http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/
* * * * * * * * * * * *
4) Astronomy Tidbit 1: Planetary alignment
If you've looked west anytime in the past few days, you may have noticed
an unusual congregation of bright "stars". Actually, they're planets, and
the ones involved (from the horizon up) are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn,
and Jupiter. Next month, the Moon will slide into view as well, making
this a dramatic family portrait of the solar system.
Astrologers are claiming this "alignment" will bring serenity and peace to
many people. I certainly am peaceful and happy looking at the planets,
but not for the reason those quacks -- I'm sorry, "astrologers" -- mean.
I think the planets are just pretty.
A couple of years ago, some people thought a similar alignment would
destroy the Earth. It shouldn't surprise you to learn they were wrong.
Read all about it at:
http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/planets.html
To see more about this current confluence, try here:
or here:
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_572_1.asp
or here:
http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/812ciedb.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * *
5) Astronomy Tidbit 2: Hubble images to be released April 30
I just received a press release saying that images from the new
Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard Hubble will be released in
a press conference on Tuesday, April 30. A press conference will be
broadcast on NASA TV and the images will no doubt be gracing newspapers,
magazines and websites soon thereafter. I have heard through the
grapevine that the pictures are amazing, and I am sure they will live
up to expectations!
You can watch NASA TV online at:
and see the images will be online (once they are released) at:
* * * * * * * * * * * *
6) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
If, for some weird reason, you want to unsubscribe to this
newsletter, just send email to badastronomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
with no body text. Make sure you send it from the address to which the
newsletter is sent! Alternatively, you can unsubscribe from the
Yahoo!Groups website. Go to
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/groups-32.html
for more info.
Remember, the newsletters will be archived on the website at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/badastronomy
so even if you unsubscribe you can still read them there. I suggest
staying subscribed so you get them as soon as I send them.
Also, I do *not* sell your email addresses and neither does Yahoo!
Take a gander at the Yahoo!Groups privacy message if it makes you
feel better:
http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/
Note that the email addresses *are* visible to me, but I have no prurient
use for them. If that makes you nervous for whatever reason, feel free to
unsubscribe and simply read the archived newsletters at the website listed
above.
**************************
Phil Plait
The Bad Astronomer
badastro@badastronomy.com
http://www.badastronomy.com
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