Comments on: Tangled Bank now up http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/ 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. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:14:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John Weiss http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71802 John Weiss Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:20:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71802 BA: Patience was required last night. I was at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory open house for the event and we got some pretty good looks at it, in between clouds. Near the end, I saw it beautifully from Gunbarrel, too. 'twas a fun evening at SBO, even during the cloudy bits. BA: Patience was required last night. I was at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory open house for the event and we got some pretty good looks at it, in between clouds. Near the end, I saw it beautifully from Gunbarrel, too. ’twas a fun evening at SBO, even during the cloudy bits.

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71801 CR Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:48:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71801 I had a spectacular view from southern Wisconsin, though frigid doesn't even begin to describe the temperature! (I think my toes are still thawing out several hours later.) I'm always amazed during total lunar eclipses how many stars one can see right next to the full moon. I know WHY they're visible, but it's such an unusual sight, that it still amazes me. I'd love to take a look at Earth from the lunar surface during totallity; the 'halo' our atmosphere must make around our homeworld would be a gorgeous sight to behold! I had a spectacular view from southern Wisconsin, though frigid doesn’t even begin to describe the temperature! (I think my toes are still thawing out several hours later.) I’m always amazed during total lunar eclipses how many stars one can see right next to the full moon. I know WHY they’re visible, but it’s such an unusual sight, that it still amazes me.

I’d love to take a look at Earth from the lunar surface during totallity; the ‘halo’ our atmosphere must make around our homeworld would be a gorgeous sight to behold!

]]> By: cc petersen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71800 cc petersen Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:44:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71800 Crystal clear throughout the eclipse for us here in Frost Heaves, MA. It was lovely! Crystal clear throughout the eclipse for us here in Frost Heaves, MA. It was lovely!

]]> By: dang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71799 dang Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:51:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71799 I watched for a while, but remember that this whole "eclipse" thing is *just a theory*. My own theory involves a giant space turtle. There are details on my blog. That's right, I'm an "eclipse truther." http://tiny.cc/0COXq I watched for a while, but remember that this whole “eclipse” thing is *just a theory*. My own theory involves a giant space turtle. There are details on my blog. That’s right, I’m an “eclipse truther.”
http://tiny.cc/0COXq

]]> By: DennyMo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71798 DennyMo Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:55:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71798 Beautiful view from Indiana, got to try out a new camera. Once I finally figured out the right settings, I got some decent shots. Nothing worth publishing, but fine for the scrapbook. Beautiful view from Indiana, got to try out a new camera. Once I finally figured out the right settings, I got some decent shots. Nothing worth publishing, but fine for the scrapbook.

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71797 Michelle Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:48:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71797 @SteveT: Oh I'm not surprised... I mean, French Canada is a pain in the behind area. I love the cold and winter though ;) It's a pain for other reasons. @SteveT: Oh I’m not surprised… I mean, French Canada is a pain in the behind area.

I love the cold and winter though ;) It’s a pain for other reasons.

]]> By: Gareth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71796 Gareth Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:34:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71796 The only thing I saw at 3.26am this morning was the inside of my eyelids. The only thing I saw at 3.26am this morning was the inside of my eyelids.

]]> By: themadlolscientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71795 themadlolscientist Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:04:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71795 @Richard: Thanks! Too much light pollution around here to tell what's what except that it had to be something pretty bright - we have a high school on one side and a small college on the other, both of which keep the lights blazing in their parking lots all night long. :-\ @Matt: I noticed the planes flying over while I was out, and wondered how the view was from up there! @Richard: Thanks!

Too much light pollution around here to tell what’s what except that it had to be something pretty bright – we have a high school on one side and a small college on the other, both of which keep the lights blazing in their parking lots all night long. :-\

@Matt: I noticed the planes flying over while I was out, and wondered how the view was from up there!

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71794 Matt Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:32:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71794 I am an airline pilot and we were flying over the rockies tonight and got a wonderful view. we did a few turns after coordinating with atc so the pax could get a view too I am an airline pilot and we were flying over the rockies tonight and got a wonderful view. we did a few turns after coordinating with atc so the pax could get a view too

]]> By: AG http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71793 AG Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:06:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71793 For once, I'm in the right place at the right time -- central Nebraska, achingly clear skies, spectacular view. Of course, it was too damned cold to go outside for it, but I did get to hold my seven-day-old nephew up to see it through the window. He even opened his eyes, which... hey, probably the greatest sense of accomplishment I'll have all week. For once, I’m in the right place at the right time — central Nebraska, achingly clear skies, spectacular view. Of course, it was too damned cold to go outside for it, but I did get to hold my seven-day-old nephew up to see it through the window. He even opened his eyes, which… hey, probably the greatest sense of accomplishment I’ll have all week.

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71792 Davidlpf Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:40:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71792 Well I am at work tonight but right before the eclipse went for my lunch and saw and tried to take a pics with my digital camera, a worker tried the previous half an hour going back and forth between two cameras. Well I am at work tonight but right before the eclipse went for my lunch and saw and tried to take a pics with my digital camera, a worker tried the previous half an hour going back and forth between two cameras.

]]> By: Richard B. Drumm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71791 Richard B. Drumm Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:49:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71791 J. D. Mack & madlol: It's Saturn to the left and Regulus above the Moon (with North to your back). Good one Quiet Desp.!But you knew that... It's so cold here that the LN in the Dewar froze solid! Had to chip it out with an ice pick and put it on the fire to chill the detectors! ;-D Rich J. D. Mack & madlol:
It’s Saturn to the left and Regulus above the Moon (with North to your back).

Good one Quiet Desp.!But you knew that…

It’s so cold here that the LN in the Dewar froze solid! Had to chip it out with an ice pick and put it on the fire to chill the detectors!
;-D
Rich

]]> By: themadlolscientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71790 themadlolscientist Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:26:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71790 We had overcast skies and occasional feeble attempts at snow all day in the Phila. PA area, but things cleared up around 8pm, so we did get to see the eclipse. (My neighbor down the hall was joking about pulling the fire alarm at 10:30 to get everyone outside to see it.) I was out for about 20 minutes with my cheap binocs (around 30F here, not too bad with a ski jacket). I noticed the two bright "stars" and decided that the one to the moon's lower left must be a planet. Saturn, you say? What was the star above the moon? Nice show, whatever it was. @Daniel Fischer: Ah, but did the satellite shootdown come in under budget? On time is only half the deal! We had overcast skies and occasional feeble attempts at snow all day in the Phila. PA area, but things cleared up around 8pm, so we did get to see the eclipse. (My neighbor down the hall was joking about pulling the fire alarm at 10:30 to get everyone outside to see it.)

I was out for about 20 minutes with my cheap binocs (around 30F here, not too bad with a ski jacket). I noticed the two bright “stars” and decided that the one to the moon’s lower left must be a planet. Saturn, you say? What was the star above the moon? Nice show, whatever it was.

@Daniel Fischer: Ah, but did the satellite shootdown come in under budget? On time is only half the deal!

]]> By: Quiet Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71789 Quiet Desperation Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:05:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71789 Here in So Cal the clouds broke up for a nice view. We are, after all, the One True Promised Land. ;-) I was outside with just a T-shirt. <i>I once had a friend from Ontario (no, this isn’t the start of a limerick)</i> I once had a friend from Ontario, Who was really quite the Lothario. He forgot to view the eclipse, Distracted by feminine lips, In a less than romantic scenario. Damn, I'm good. :-) Here in So Cal the clouds broke up for a nice view. We are, after all, the One True Promised Land. ;-) I was outside with just a T-shirt.

I once had a friend from Ontario (no, this isn’t the start of a limerick)

I once had a friend from Ontario,
Who was really quite the Lothario.
He forgot to view the eclipse,
Distracted by feminine lips,
In a less than romantic scenario.

Damn, I’m good. :-)

]]> By: PerryG http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71788 PerryG Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:03:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71788 It's warm here in Alabama. The eclipse was clouded out at about the same time it reached totality. I did manage to get a few shots, though. http://www.flickr.com/photos/perry_g/sets/72157603954052761/ It’s warm here in Alabama. The eclipse was clouded out at about the same time it reached totality. I did manage to get a few shots, though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/perry_g/sets/72157603954052761/

]]> By: Pete http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71787 Pete Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:01:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71787 Started off with variable clouds at 8:45 and began to clear up as the night wore on. By 11:30 I was done. It's only 23 F which isn't horribly cold but gets cold enough when your trying to adjust your scope at all the objects that appeared at total eclipse. What a fun night. 17P Holmes looked wonderful and I finally caught Saturn's rings. Sorry for the folks with the lousy weather. Started off with variable clouds at 8:45 and began to clear up as the night wore on. By 11:30 I was done. It’s only 23 F which isn’t horribly cold but gets cold enough when your trying to adjust your scope at all the objects that appeared at total eclipse. What a fun night. 17P Holmes looked wonderful and I finally caught Saturn’s rings. Sorry for the folks with the lousy weather.

]]> By: SteveT http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71786 SteveT Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:42:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71786 Michelle, I once had a friend from Ontario (no, this isn't the start of a limerick) who volunteered that if the US were to invade Quebec and claim it as our 51st state, he didn't think anyone else in Canada would mind! Funny, I don't think it was because it gets so cold in QC that he said that. In any case, I bow to your superior frigidness! ;P Michelle,

I once had a friend from Ontario (no, this isn’t the start of a limerick) who volunteered that if the US were to invade Quebec and claim it as our 51st state, he didn’t think anyone else in Canada would mind! Funny, I don’t think it was because it gets so cold in QC that he said that.

In any case, I bow to your superior frigidness! ;P

]]> By: Daniel Fischer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71785 Daniel Fischer Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:40:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71785 Both the eclipse and the satellite intercept worked as advertised and were precisely on time (when can you say that about celestial mechanics and the military in the same sentence? :-). Check out <a href="http://cosmos4u.blogspot.com/2008/02/now-official-word-from-pentagon.html" rel="nofollow">this post</a> about the DoD's official word - <i>and links to some great eclipse pictures!</i> Both the eclipse and the satellite intercept worked as advertised and were precisely on time (when can you say that about celestial mechanics and the military in the same sentence? :-) . Check out this post about the DoD’s official word – and links to some great eclipse pictures!

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71784 eddie Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:37:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71784 Well, FOXNews is reporting the satellite was hit, so it HAS to be true... Well, FOXNews is reporting the satellite was hit, so it HAS to be true…

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71783 eddie Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:31:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71783 Beautiful eclipse here in NW FL. 50s here. Michelle, I'm seeing the same CNN report on the satellite shootdown. Just a source report so far, though. Beautiful eclipse here in NW FL. 50s here.

Michelle, I’m seeing the same CNN report on the satellite shootdown. Just a source report so far, though.

]]> By: Raymond http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71782 Raymond Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:26:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71782 I am wondering about the timing of the Space Shuttle landing today. They were way over the clouds the day before the total lunar eclipse that is happing right now. I wonder how many of those grounded astronauts felt about missing the event from orbit? From my location on the ground, I was lucky to observe a perfect sight of this celestial event through binoculars. Ohio does have cloud cover very often during the winter. Eclipse watchers here also got a clear view of the last lunar eclipse right before sunrise on August 28, 2007. The moon tonight turned red and orange. The Aug 2007 eclipse turned the moon into a purple-blue color. What is the cause of red-orange vs. purple-blue moon coloring? I am wondering about the timing of the Space Shuttle landing today. They were way over the clouds the day before the total lunar eclipse that is happing right now. I wonder how many of those grounded astronauts felt about missing the event from orbit?

From my location on the ground, I was lucky to observe a perfect sight of this celestial event through binoculars. Ohio does have cloud cover very often during the winter. Eclipse watchers here also got a clear view of the last lunar eclipse right before sunrise on August 28, 2007. The moon tonight turned red and orange. The Aug 2007 eclipse turned the moon into a purple-blue color. What is the cause of red-orange vs. purple-blue moon coloring?

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71781 Michelle Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:22:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71781 @Ron: Partial eclipse perhaps? When it's partial, the hidden part looks pretty black. In fact, the start of the eclipse and the end of it tonight looks dark! A total eclipse pretty much is always red when it's 100%. @Ron: Partial eclipse perhaps? When it’s partial, the hidden part looks pretty black. In fact, the start of the eclipse and the end of it tonight looks dark!

A total eclipse pretty much is always red when it’s 100%.

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71780 Michelle Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:21:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71780 Psh. -2? I laugh at your -2! That's warm! We had a neat -40F not long ago here in Quebec City. ;P Psh. -2? I laugh at your -2! That’s warm! We had a neat -40F not long ago here in Quebec City. ;P

]]> By: Ron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71779 Ron Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:19:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71779 The kids and I saw it in South Jersey. It was reddish and the moon didn't darken like I remembered in a past eclipse. Any idea why? The kids and I saw it in South Jersey. It was reddish and the moon didn’t darken like I remembered in a past eclipse. Any idea why?

]]> By: SteveT http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/comment-page-1/#comment-71778 SteveT Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:13:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/20/tangled-bank-now-up/#comment-71778 Some of you people think that 19F is COLD? HA! I laugh at your feeble bodies! It's -2F here in St. Paul, MN right now. Now THAT is cold! I'm looking forward to when it warms up to 19F at night around here. Sounds pretty balmy to me. Then I might even be able to get my telescope out again. At least we got a nice, cloudless sky for the eclipse. I think all gases in the atmosphere may have condensed out at this temperature, leaving pristine vacuum between us and the moon. Probably why it's so hard to breathe outside. Some of you people think that 19F is COLD?

HA! I laugh at your feeble bodies!

It’s -2F here in St. Paul, MN right now. Now THAT is cold!

I’m looking forward to when it warms up to 19F at night around here. Sounds pretty balmy to me. Then I might even be able to get my telescope out again.

At least we got a nice, cloudless sky for the eclipse. I think all gases in the atmosphere may have condensed out at this temperature, leaving pristine vacuum between us and the moon. Probably why it’s so hard to breathe outside.

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