Comments on: Spectroscopy Returns to Hubble!

By: Charon

Charon — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:45:11 +0000

Julianne – yes, I’ve reduced ACS/SBC prism data. Yes, it sucks to reduce. But it’s given me great science nonetheless.

By: Tod R. Lauer

Tod R. Lauer — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:06:31 +0000

STIS is back!

By: Julianne

Julianne — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:57:47 +0000

Charon — I didn’t mention the SBC because, well, have you ever tried to reduce that data? OY. But yeah, I should’ve given it a shout out for completeness — I was trying to post before rushing out the door in soccer mom mode. Just got back home, and ran straight to the computer to check what was going on.

The astronauts sound incredibly chuffed about the success of this EVA. Kindof punchy, even. One of them just said “Hello tether!” to a piece of equipment. I don’t know if they packed margaritas for this trip, but they definitely deserve some after these past few days.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:13:55 +0000

Phil Plait says that ACS is fixed, and they’re quitting early.
http://twitter.com/BANews

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:06:57 +0000

Charon,
True, but COS has greatly enhanced capability in the ultraviolet.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:03:51 +0000

Dinyar,
I signed the petition a few days ago. Thanx for the information and the link.

By: Charon

Charon — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:00:24 +0000

That’s not entirely true. ACS/SBC has prisms, which can do spectroscopy. Not that having COS isn’t !!!AWESOME!!!!, but HST was still able to do some interesting spectroscopy even in its prior crippled state.

By: Dinyar

Dinyar — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:00:53 +0000

Hi!

Not related, but you may have heard about the Austrian science ministers decision to pull out of CERN. As an Austrian physics student with an interest in particle physics I waned to ask if you could mention the petition by the Austrian Physical Society at http://sos.teilchen.at/petition/.

Thanks in advance!

By: Brad H

Brad H — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:13:26 +0000

Another telescope milestone passed yesterday – Spitzer used up the last of its Helium. The cryogenic mission is now over. RIP I guess, except for the warm mission (although
personally I would call it the zombie phase – not out of any animus, but it just sounds
cooler). There’s a certain amusing synchronism here – as we lose the far IR, we recover
the UV.