Comments on: Science and space tidbits http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/ 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. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:24:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Science Pundit http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88883 The Science Pundit Wed, 14 May 2008 23:03:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88883 Dr. BA, You might have covered this before, but there's a question I need to ask. The Saturn picture that Carolyn Porco showed was of Saturn totally eclipsing the Sun (as it had to be in order to resolve the Earth). That means that we were looking at the <i>dark side</i> of Saturn. So where did the light come from to take the picture? I can understand the rings on the side, but the picture shows so much more. Is it a composite picture where the <i>dark side</i> was a super long exposure lit by starlight?? I'm just curious. ~TSP, FCD Dr. BA,

You might have covered this before, but there’s a question I need to ask. The Saturn picture that Carolyn Porco showed was of Saturn totally eclipsing the Sun (as it had to be in order to resolve the Earth). That means that we were looking at the dark side of Saturn. So where did the light come from to take the picture? I can understand the rings on the side, but the picture shows so much more. Is it a composite picture where the dark side was a super long exposure lit by starlight?? I’m just curious.

~TSP, FCD

]]> By: Richie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88882 Richie Wed, 14 May 2008 11:21:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88882 At the photos in #5) Especially love the second photo. That's the beautiful country of New Zealand in the background, with the upper half of the South Island taking up most of the space, and the lower half of the North Island at the top middle (yes...not highly original names...we know). Unfortunately, the mast at the top of the equipment is blocking a view of Wellington, but Christchurch is visible at the base of the bay on the left. In fact it almost looks like the astronauts are aiming a giant cannon at it.... At the photos in #5)

Especially love the second photo. That’s the beautiful country of New Zealand in the background, with the upper half of the South Island taking up most of the space, and the lower half of the North Island at the top middle (yes…not highly original names…we know). Unfortunately, the mast at the top of the equipment is blocking a view of Wellington, but Christchurch is visible at the base of the bay on the left. In fact it almost looks like the astronauts are aiming a giant cannon at it….

]]> By: csrster http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88881 csrster Wed, 14 May 2008 06:54:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88881 Helioprogenus: I don't know how it works, but there was an astronaut on Wait, Wait a few months ago and I remember the Car Talk guys once took a call from the shuttle. So I guess not everybody at NASA PR has their head where the Sun don't shine. Phil, you forgot to mention that Adam Savage scored a perfect three-from-three on the life of Bram Stoker. Who else would have guessed that he'd stolen Oscar Wilde's girfriend? Helioprogenus: I don’t know how it works, but there was an astronaut on Wait, Wait a few months ago and I remember the Car Talk guys once took a call from the shuttle. So I guess not everybody at NASA PR has their head where the Sun don’t shine.

Phil, you forgot to mention that Adam Savage scored a perfect three-from-three on the life of Bram Stoker. Who else would have guessed that he’d stolen Oscar Wilde’s girfriend?

]]> By: Joseph Hertzlinger http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88880 Joseph Hertzlinger Wed, 14 May 2008 05:42:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88880 A suggestion for a Science Debate topic: There is evidence for the existence of a natural nuclear fission reactor on Earth two billion years ago based on the nuclear waste found in rocks of that age. Candidates can be asked if they accept such evidence and what they think of the implications of the fact that the waste did not move with respect to the surrounding rock (in particular, the implications for nuclear waste disposal). A suggestion for a Science Debate topic: There is evidence for the existence of a natural nuclear fission reactor on Earth two billion years ago based on the nuclear waste found in rocks of that age. Candidates can be asked if they accept such evidence and what they think of the implications of the fact that the waste did not move with respect to the surrounding rock (in particular, the implications for nuclear waste disposal).

]]> By: mermo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88879 mermo Wed, 14 May 2008 04:33:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88879 Was Adam Savage wearing his YES Watch when you talked to him? They are so awesome. I meant to ask you about that and show you my YES watch in Detroit, but forgot. They are really cool watches for astronomy. Was Adam Savage wearing his YES Watch when you talked to him? They are so awesome. I meant to ask you about that and show you my YES watch in Detroit, but forgot. They are really cool watches for astronomy.

]]> By: riki http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88878 riki Wed, 14 May 2008 03:50:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88878 This was a hilarious http://www.catholic.ie/ This was a hilarious http://www.catholic.ie/

]]> By: Blu-Ray-Ven http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-88877 Blu-Ray-Ven Wed, 14 May 2008 03:27:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/13/science-and-space-tidbits/#comment-88877 kevin says colbert is entertainment, i disagree, i dont get much amusment from a smug pr**k who enjoys attacking science, ya thats entertainment in america phil i am suprised you posted about col-bert, considering he attacked micheal shermer- remember http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3kFn_3xRY ohhh but its comedy, (i say while rolling eyes) kevin says colbert is entertainment, i disagree, i dont get much amusment from a smug pr**k who enjoys attacking science, ya thats entertainment in america

phil i am suprised you posted about col-bert, considering he attacked micheal shermer- remember

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3kFn_3xRY

ohhh but its comedy, (i say while rolling eyes)

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