SPACE

zip accident · Post by **zip accident** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:26 am 0

Zoot wrote:

Binoculars are vastly underrated

Found some 7x50s in a charity shop on wednesday, Â£4.50 including case. Much better than my old 8x26, not least because I've always suspected the maginfication on the latter was an area one, the new ones that's possible, but I don't think so, and even if it is, the extra brightness will compensate.

I thought my first post HAD substance

I didn't, on first reading. I got to the line, and thought the rest was signature.

Zoot · Post by **Zoot** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:29 am 0

zip accident wrote:
I thought my first post HAD substance
I didn't, on first reading. I got to the line, and thought the rest was signature.

Ahhh............ that makes sense! Wondered what folks were on about

Good score on the binocs - you got a tripod mount on them?

Dvorak · Post by **Dvorak** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:38 am 0

Do you know that it is (at least theoretically) possible to detect exoplanets from your backyard?

Some time ago I stumbled about this paper here: The Detection of Transits of Extrasolar Giant Planets with Inexpensive Telescopes and CCDs
Looks like all you need is a, say, 5000â‚¬ rig and loads of luck.

zip accident · Post by **zip accident** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:49 am 0

Zoot wrote:

you got a tripod mount on them?

No, but then they'll mainly be for wildlife, and planes. They're not heavy enough to need one, I think, though for planet watching that might be good.

Zoot · Post by **Zoot** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:47 pm 0

Watching as much of NASA TV as I have this week, it certainly feels like I have got to "know" the crew (what's not to like about a woman who walks in space, FFS? Yikes

).

It occured to me that I am glad that I didn't watch this stuff (was it even available then?) when Columbia perished. Shit, that would have been traumatic because you would have *known* them

Dunno whether anyone else was watching, but right at the end of the EVA, Tanner asks whether he should go and photograph something or other. The shuttle tells him to go up and get in place and then says:

"Houston: Atlantis. Can Steve photograph (whatever)?"

The answer comes back:

"Atlantis: Houston. That is not required."

Basically: "Get back inside you fucker!" (which is eerily reminiscent of what NASA told Ed White when he didn't want to get back in on the first USA space walk)

Sir_LANs-a-lot · Post by **Sir_LANs-a-lot** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:49 pm 0

Frey wrote:" .. it seems to go on and on forever ... but then at the end there's
a gorilla throwing you shit .. "

It'd be barrels wouldn't it?

Zoot · Post by **Zoot** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:50 pm 0

Sir_LANs-a-lot wrote:
Frey wrote:" .. it seems to go on and on forever ... but then at the end there's
a gorilla throwing you shit .. "

It'd be barrels wouldn't it?

And just look what THAT started

mutopian · Post by **mutopian** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:20 pm 0

I love all things related to space and am lucky to stay somewhere where I can get away from a lot of the light pollution. On a good night you can get a great view of the milky way and spot the occasional satellite zooming past. During the winter we get stunning views of the 'merry dancers' (aurora borealis) on a clear night. Always makes me feel fuzzy inside knowing theres so much out there that'll never be discovered in my lifetime

Always thought about getting a telescope at some point but am lost where to begin - any suggestions ?

Matrixxx · Post by **Matrixxx** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:39 am 0

I'd love to be alive when commercial space trips start being affordable. One caveat though is the 3 day "puke ya guts out" transition for you body to get used to the zero G.

Id love to see nasa try to actually attach a teather to the moons surface, and use it for controlled speed transit to avoid falling through the atmosphere and doing the whole rentry burnup thing.

I'd LOVE to see warp engines in commercial use.

Id love to see someone actually setup a "starfleet command"... hey dont laff, ok so its star trek now, but remember, dan dare went to the moon in comics before it became a reality

I'd like to teach the world to sing... in perfect harmony..... *ahem, i digress*

i'm fascinated by space physics and otherworldly environments, like, metallic snow on mercury....

I'd love them to visit cydonia and find out that it actually WAS inhabited at one time

I'd love them to colonise the europa moon (mainly ice)... because it seems to contain everything we need to terraform it.

I'd love to see someone actually slingshot around the sun and see if they end up in 1987.

I'd love to see the USA's first inhabbited battle platform, and wonder how it will compare to either a dyson sphere, or a deathstar

/discuss

thalamus · Post by **thalamus** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:49 am 0

Isn't Zoot fucking ace?

~D4T45H4T~ · Post by **~D4T45H4T~** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:29 am 0

Matrixxx wrote:i'm fascinated by space physics and otherworldly environments, like, metallic snow on mercury...

Nah that's Venus, Mercury is just a frazzled lump of rock.

ThetaReactor · Post by **ThetaReactor** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:38 am 0

You've inspired me. I've put the Hubble Ultra Deep Field up on the projector.

I feel very small.

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/sea ... bjectsonly

anon76235 · Post by **anon76235** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 11:30 am 0

space is massive

Matrixxx · Post by **Matrixxx** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:03 pm 0

~D4T45H4T~ wrote:
Matrixxx wrote:i'm fascinated by space physics and otherworldly environments, like, metallic snow on mercury...
Nah that's Venus, Mercury is just a frazzled lump of rock.

Illustrating the basic issue with posting at silly o'clock in the morning.

moi baaaaad

gravy · Post by **gravy** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:16 pm 0

space is the place