About Bad Astronomy
If you went to BadAstronomy.com and found yourself here, never fear: the BA Blog has moved to its new home at Discover Blogs. The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking and all that) is still online, too.
Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com
Bad Astronomy is a Wikio Top Blog! Clearly, Wikio has excellent taste. 
Bad Astronomy was chosen as one of Time.com's Best Blogs of 2009. Subscribe to BA using an RSS Feed
Death from the Skies!
Order a copy of Death from the Skies! from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Borders.
"If things worked the way I wanted them to, any reporter about to do another 'sensational' story on deadly meteors would consult this volume, and bang! common sense would find its way into the news. How strange would that world be?"
-- Adam Savage, Mythbusters"Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, but oddly exhilarating."
-- Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot UprisingSocial/Networking/Cool Stuff
DISCOVERmagazine.com: Latest Articles on Space- DISCOVER Blogs: The Loom
May 25th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Take your time, enjoy the scenery, and drive safely!
May 25th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Be careful and enjoy the ride. Keep posting to Twitter so we all know you’re OK.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:37 am
California will be poorer for your absence BA! Hope the move goes smoothly and pleasantly for you.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Happy Towel Day… it somehow seems a fitting day to move.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Maybe you will be even more sane leaving California, and going to the center of the country!!
And from a higher geological vantage point, it will make it easier for you to see where the pseudo-freaks are and stomp them out with the truth of science!!!
Remember — he that holds the high ground rules.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am
In college, two friends and I did Santa Cruz to Denver non-stop…about the same distance as you are traveling. We had a station wagon with an air bed the back. One person is always sleeping so we didn’t have to stop.
Well, we sort of neglected to take into account that the air pressure thing. We started at sea level. The Eisenhower Pass is over 11,000 feet, leading to a decent size pressure difference. You can imagine the hilarity that ensued as the pressure inside the mattress became much greater than the air pressure outside!
Word to the wise…think about things you have brought with you that might explode at 11,000 feet!
Rob
May 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Phil, what’s up? Contact me when you get a chance, Marc is finally getting married!
May 25th, 2007 at 9:20 am
You take photos while you’re driving? Shame on you!
Enjoy the ride and post some nice pictures from the drive and your new home!
May 25th, 2007 at 9:23 am
All the best on your move, Phil. Say hello to your new neighbor, James Dobson, for me, I’m sure you’ll get along just famously!
May 25th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Santa Rosa misses you already!
May 25th, 2007 at 9:41 am
According to my NASA travel guide, you’ll make better time if you wear diapers.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I once drove from Phoenix to Denver – in a 1953 Hillman Minx! So you should be OK in your obviously more advanced vehicle.
http://www.philseed.com/hmminxp5.html
Be safe and have fun.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am
… I’m leaving you today.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
Goodbye all you people,
there’s nothing you can say
to make me change my mind.
Goodbye.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Diapers only work in that context when you’re also psychotic and carrying a really big club.
That’s a long drive and mostly uphill. Hope gas prices don’t unduly deplete your pocket book.
Looking forward to many pics of your new location.
Gary 7
May 25th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I know you won’t see this for several days, but …
Why are you driving south across the Golden Gate to get from Santa Rosa to Denver?
Whatever the reason, I hope your journey is a safe one. (I won’t “wish” you “luck” … )
May 25th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I have a homebrew waiting for you when you get here!
May 25th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Safe journey to you and yours, Phil.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am
California To Boulder, CO USA
Drive: 1,185 mi (about 16 hours 32 mins)
1. Head southwest on 56th St toward M St 0.2 mi 1 min
2. Turn left at Folsom Blvd 0.2 mi 1 min
3. Turn right at 59th St 0.3 mi
4. Turn right to merge onto US-50 W toward I-80-BR 1.7 mi 2 mins
5. Take exit 6C to merge onto Capital City Fwy/I-80-BR E toward Reno 8.9 mi 10 mins
6. Merge onto I-80 E Passing through Nevada Entering Utah 638 mi
8 hours 53 mins
7. Take the exit onto I-15 S/I-80 E 2.8 mi 3 mins
8. Take exit 304 to merge onto I-80 E toward Cheyenne Entering Wyoming 433 mi 5 hours 53 mins
9. Take exit 359A to merge onto I-25 S/US-87 S toward Denver
Entering Colorado 79.7 mi 1 hour 4 mins
10. Take exit 228 for NW Pky Toll toward Broomfield 0.8 mi 1 min
11. Merge onto Northwest Parkway W Partial toll road 8.0 mi 8 mins
12. Continue on Storage Tek Dr 0.4 mi
13. Turn right to merge onto US-36 W 9.3 mi 11 mins
14. Turn left at Arapahoe Ave 1.1 mi 3 mins
15. Turn right at Broadway St/CO-93 440 ft
May 25th, 2007 at 10:24 am
What out, that bridge is right behind you!
May 25th, 2007 at 10:38 am
See you in Colorado soon. Well, it’s not like I’m going to stalk you or anything, but it is cool that you’ll be 30 minutes away from Denver. You’ll have to come down and see my improv troupe one month. Oh, yeah. I went there.
SAFE TRIP!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Thomas: if one is forced to drive the Interstate Highway System to Colorado from the left coast, the I-70 slab beats the 80 in pure scenic goodness.
As there is no Bidlack present to do so, I feel obliged to say “there goes the neighborhood!”
May 25th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Happy Trails!
Fifty bucks to the first to identify the make and model of the car.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Well,
Perhaps a happy day for you, but slightly sad for me.
I was always very proud that we lived in the same state.
Stupid? Yes, I just can’t help that.
I’m kinda stuck with it…
Only happiness, just the same. (In your new, NON CALIFORNIA home…But then again, when the Governor can’t pronouce it correctly, I’ll bet it’s a good time to leave).
Waiting in line for the new book,
rod
May 25th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I’ll buy you a tequilla upon safe arrival… after all, natural selection works for a reason.
And I’ll bend your ear and set you straight as to why the movie ‘Contact’ sucked my ass.
John
May 25th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
As Homer Simpson said as he left Springfield, “So long STINKTOWN!”
May 25th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Toyota Sienna. But I have seen it before. Email me for my address so you can send my $50
May 25th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Won’t you be close to Ted Haggard? Maybe you can have dinner with him sometime.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Well crud. Now I’m fresh out of famous next door neighbors.
All the best to and the family, Phil!
May 25th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
When you look at that reflected object in the mirror it can bring this thought to mind.
You are not burning bridges, you are on another span to further your destiny.
Good Luck and God Speed
May 25th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
All the best Phil.
Moving house is tough. I wish friendly new neighbours, sunny skies and aquatic hover mice upon you.
Perhaps the last wish isn’t strictly required.
Have a good move, I know it’s awfully stressful and a lot of work. Keep up the good work! And when you’re good and ready, continue defending us from woolly thinkers. You are bloody good at that.
Nic, Hampshire, UK.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Have a good trip! I won’t tell you to drive carefully, because if you didn’t, your wife and daughter would probably strap you to the roof of the car like a deer. (That’s an interesing image, lol.)
Off-topic: Did everybody see this on Spaceweather dot com a few days ago? It’s a lovely site (click on all the tabs) and put together well.
IN DEFENSE OF THE NIGHT SKY: Many of the wonders you see daily on spaceweather.com are visible because, somewhere out there, last night’s sky was dark enough for astronomy. The problem is, “the quality of the night sky is deteriorating at an alarming rate.” So says UNESCO and other groups who met last month on the Canary Islands to discuss the growing problem of light pollution and disappearing stars. Their Declaration in Defence of the Night is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the heavens.
The link will go to the spam queue: [http://www.unescocan.org/starlight/starlighteng.htm]
May 25th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Hey Phil, maybe I’ll see you when I start at CU Boulder in 2 years! (I’m gonna major in aerospace engineering, which I, being your belated next door neighbor, am sure you will agree with)
P.S.- Say high to the family and also Canus Major and Canus Minor for me!
May 25th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Hoping this finds you safe and sound in your new home, Dr. BA.
May 25th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
You can say goodbye to the land of fruits and nuts!
May 25th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Good luck in you new occupation, Phil
Pete
May 25th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
hope ure not leavin us for good.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I envy you, Phil. I can’t seem to find a way out of this crazy state!
May 26th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Boo-hoo-hoo… sob… I guess those of us here will have to slide into the sea and slip beneath the sunset… sniffle… what with your departure an-and speedin’ into a new sunrise. Honk! (nose blowing)
Strange, my ears started ringing?! Some forgotten song I suppose.
Good speed to you and yours.
May 26th, 2007 at 4:16 am
The shadows are not parrallel! There is obviously more than one light source! There are no stars in the sky! It’s a hoax!
Have a good trip, Phil. Say hello to Pike’s Peak, if you happen to see it.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Phil and Phamily:
Enjoy the trip, drive safely over the mountains, and may the transition to the new home, neighborhood, schools, and city be without major problems. I guess your leaving has done something to those of us (at least me) remaining in the Golden State, though: I can no longer get the blog to appear in my e-mail. It quit just about the time you began packing. Oh well, I can still use the bookmark to find you.
Will. M.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Even though I don’t even live in the same hemisphere as you (or country; your continent spans both hemispheres) I hope you have a safe journey and that you enjoy your new home. Best wishes to you and your family.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Hey Phil, (and all the “hangers-on”), have a great trip over the mountains. You will be further away from us on the other side of the Pacific, but still as close as ever I hope when you get settled and in the swing of blogging again, seriously.
By the way you won’t forget to put your clock ahead whatever, will you? On the blog, I mean. I guess we will all have to remember to use Mountain time in future when we make our comparisons.
All the best,
Ivan.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
God bless you and grant you safe travels!
May 26th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Hey Phil!
I’m stoked that you’re coming to my hometown! I hope to see you around!
Danny Schade
May 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Goodbye, God’s Speed, Good Luck, Best Wishes and I HOPE You have a wonderful trip…!
Dang! It’s hard to give journey-salutations as a skeptic…!
Cheers! (GREAT PIC, BTW…
)
May 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Safe travel BA and don’t take pictures while driving!!!
May 26th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
So, Phil, when are we gonna get to take you on a tour of the Boulder bar scene? You don’t look too old for that….yet
May 26th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
IIRC Goodbye California was the title of a third rate thriller novel which had an alignment of the outer planets being used to somehowe trigger a massive earthquake to drop California into the sea.
You did leave a forwarding address did you?
May 26th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Welcome to Colorado, Phil!
May 26th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Yeah, Phil. Are you going to have a meetup so we can all welcome you to our state?
May 27th, 2007 at 5:40 am
See you in Colorado!
May 27th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Just in time for the Boulder Creek Festival, I notice. Good call! Hope to see you, blearily, there.
May 27th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Something to fill the time while Phil moves:
http://www.kevinandkell.com/2007/strips/kk20070527.gif
May 27th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I was going to point out that Phil couldn’t have taken that photo while driving, but then I realized that he must have been driving on the wrong side of the road.
May 27th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
—POP— Are we there yet?
May 28th, 2007 at 12:23 am
I’ve got some great friends in the area where you’re moving. It’s a great place. I’m jealous in some ways. Wanna go skiing?
May 28th, 2007 at 1:20 am
I hope you’ll post on your blog again as soon as you have the means to connect to the internet in your new house, Phil. A quick video on YouTube would be awesome, too.
May 28th, 2007 at 7:25 am
All the best in your new life, Phil!
May 28th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Wow, thanks for all these great comments!
Dave– Marc’s getting married?? That’s fantastic! Tell him where to find me on the internets.
Daniel– BZZZZT! The Sienna is the van. I was in the car. That’s what you get for showing off.
Gerry and Andy– Maybe the new guys moving in will start a blog and become the scourge of the web too.
Everyone else: wow. This is a fairly scary time, so it’s great to know I have so may people watching my back. Thanks.
May 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
WARNING: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.