Comments on: SpaceFest Report #3 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Buzz kill | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-101722 Buzz kill | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:00:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-101722 [...] walk on the Moon, has published a science fiction novel, did a guest spot on The Simpsons, and even signed a copy of my book. But that won’t stop me from calling him out when he says something [...] [...] walk on the Moon, has published a science fiction novel, did a guest spot on The Simpsons, and even signed a copy of my book. But that won’t stop me from calling him out when he says something [...]

]]> By: Astrolink [Global Edition] » Spacefest wrapup | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46501 Astrolink [Global Edition] » Spacefest wrapup | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:15:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46501 [...] got a copy of my Bad Astronomy book and had it autographed by many of the astronauts (and also astronomers Dan Durda and Carolyn Porco). I presented the book [...] [...] got a copy of my Bad Astronomy book and had it autographed by many of the astronauts (and also astronomers Dan Durda and Carolyn Porco). I presented the book [...]

]]> By: Astrolink [Global Edition] » The Amazing Cruise: Day 3 | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46500 Astrolink [Global Edition] » The Amazing Cruise: Day 3 | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:39:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46500 [...] well. I made lots of dumb jokes, and everyone had a good time. Regular readers may remember that I got a copy of my first book autographed by several astronauts. I mentioned I had big plans for it… well, today I presented that book to Randi so that he [...] [...] well. I made lots of dumb jokes, and everyone had a good time. Regular readers may remember that I got a copy of my first book autographed by several astronauts. I mentioned I had big plans for it… well, today I presented that book to Randi so that he [...]

]]> By: Mena http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46499 Mena Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:39:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46499 Oddly enough, I watched the <i>From the Earth to the Moon</i> series (yes, all of it) for the first time on Saturday. I was a bit young to remember a lot of this stuff (I was 35 days old at the time of the Apollo 1 tragedy, if anyone wants to dare to do the math!) but I do remember the frog men, launches on tv, etc. It was nice to have the blanks filled in. I'm not a space enthusiast per se, my interests are more toward the life sciences with a spattering of physics and there's that darn math fetish but I do see what those guys did as being quite amazing. The idea of sitting on top of what amounts to a bomb, going through the physical endurance of lift off, sitting in a confined area, and having to take the chance that the environmental stuff works the whole time with the computer power of my calculator is quite impressive. It's very sad that we didn't keep up with the space program. Imagine what we could have done in the mean time and what we could have now. :^( BTW, on the subject of Gene Cernan, is there anyone else in the Chicago area who has no use for the Adler Planetarium after their "improvements" (which seemed to convert the show from an educational astronomy sky show to a video game) and has gone to the Cernan Space Center at Triton College? I went there once, it seems like they did the best that they could with the budget they have, but it is quite a step down. Is there somewhere around here that has a decent and educational sky show? Milwaukee perhaps? Oddly enough, I watched the From the Earth to the Moon series (yes, all of it) for the first time on Saturday. I was a bit young to remember a lot of this stuff (I was 35 days old at the time of the Apollo 1 tragedy, if anyone wants to dare to do the math!) but I do remember the frog men, launches on tv, etc. It was nice to have the blanks filled in. I’m not a space enthusiast per se, my interests are more toward the life sciences with a spattering of physics and there’s that darn math fetish but I do see what those guys did as being quite amazing. The idea of sitting on top of what amounts to a bomb, going through the physical endurance of lift off, sitting in a confined area, and having to take the chance that the environmental stuff works the whole time with the computer power of my calculator is quite impressive. It’s very sad that we didn’t keep up with the space program. Imagine what we could have done in the mean time and what we could have now. :^(
BTW, on the subject of Gene Cernan, is there anyone else in the Chicago area who has no use for the Adler Planetarium after their “improvements” (which seemed to convert the show from an educational astronomy sky show to a video game) and has gone to the Cernan Space Center at Triton College? I went there once, it seems like they did the best that they could with the budget they have, but it is quite a step down. Is there somewhere around here that has a decent and educational sky show? Milwaukee perhaps?

]]> By: Debra http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46498 Debra Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:12:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46498 I'm sure you all know about this film about those men who walked on the moon: http://www.intheshadowofthemoon.com/ I had the pleasure of seeing an almost finished cut of this at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival earlier this year. It is fabulous. Unbelievably fabulous. It will be playing in theaters in limited release next month (September 2007). I believe it will be released on DVD in spring 2008. It is a must see. I’m sure you all know about this film about those men who walked on the moon: http://www.intheshadowofthemoon.com/

I had the pleasure of seeing an almost finished cut of this at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival earlier this year. It is fabulous. Unbelievably fabulous.

It will be playing in theaters in limited release next month (September 2007). I believe it will be released on DVD in spring 2008.

It is a must see.

]]> By: KaiYeves http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46497 KaiYeves Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:36:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46497 The success of the Apollo program made the Golden Decade of space exploration that followed possible. It gave us our first taste of space, and we were hooked. If not for Apollo, we would not have had Viking, Pioneer, Voyager, or, for that matter Galileo, Magellen, Cassini-Huygens, Mars Observer, the MERs, Phoenix, New Horizions, Messenger, or the planned Orion. "We came in peace, and in peace we shall return." Travel is broadening. It's time to hit the road again. (Those last two lines are from the mystery guy I mentioned before. Does anyone have a clue now? Remember, I asked "Just as a trivia thing, does anyone here know who briefed the Apollo 11 astronauts before they flew to the moon?") The success of the Apollo program made the Golden Decade of space exploration that followed possible. It gave us our first taste of space, and we were hooked. If not for Apollo, we would not have had Viking, Pioneer, Voyager, or, for that matter Galileo, Magellen, Cassini-Huygens, Mars Observer, the MERs, Phoenix, New Horizions, Messenger, or the planned Orion. “We came in peace, and in peace we shall return.”
Travel is broadening.
It’s time to hit the road again.
(Those last two lines are from the mystery guy I mentioned before. Does anyone have a clue now? Remember, I asked “Just as a trivia thing, does anyone here know who briefed the Apollo 11 astronauts before they flew to the moon?”)

]]> By: DenverAstro http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46496 DenverAstro Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:26:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/08/20/spacefest-report-3/#comment-46496 Phil, I have to say that I am just GREEN with envy. I look like Kermit the Frog right now. But it's a good envy and I'm really happy for you that you were able to experience that. Those men, all of them, have been my heros since I was a little kid. Jim Lovell was always my personal favorite, tho. On a different note, I would like to talk to you about an event coming up in the near future which is sponsored by my company, Raytheon. This is a serious inquiry about you possibly making an appearance. What is the best way for me to contact you? My email is: cadman1a@sprynet.com Please contact me if you are interested and maybe we can work something out. Thanks! D7M Phil, I have to say that I am just GREEN with envy. I look like Kermit the Frog right now. But it’s a good envy and I’m really happy for you that you were able to experience that. Those men, all of them, have been my heros since I was a little kid. Jim Lovell was always my personal favorite, tho.
On a different note, I would like to talk to you about an event coming up in the near future which is sponsored by my company, Raytheon. This is a serious inquiry about you possibly making an appearance. What is the best way for me to contact you? My email is:
cadman1a@sprynet.com
Please contact me if you are interested and maybe we can work something out.
Thanks!
D7M

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