"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools."
--1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work.

"Correction: It is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum. The 'Times' regrets the error."
NY Times, July 1969.

— New York Times

Blogs

Have some fun the next 3 years

By kuky at Tue, 05/05/2009 - 4:51pm

For scary speculation about the end of civilization in 2012, people usually turn to followers of cryptic Mayan prophecy, not scientists. But that’s exactly what a group of NASA-assembled researchers described in a chilling report issued earlier this year on the destructive potential of solar storms.

Sun-Earth

Astronomical League Convention and Exposition for 2009

By JohnMiksits at Fri, 04/10/2009 - 7:07pm

http://www.alcon2009.org/


I got an email about a week ago from Richard Huber of the Amatuer Observers Society of NY.  He is their Co-Chairman of the Astronomical League 2009 Convention Committee.  Check out the website and make plans.  The dates are August 7-8.  Lots of things going on.  Take care.

 

 

Dark Sky Observers now on NJASTRO.ORG

By JohnMiksits at Fri, 04/10/2009 - 5:03pm

Thanks to Kuky and Myamiphil.

I am quite happy that the NJAG's Dark Sky Observer is online. These newsletters have sat for many years in archive. Perhaps former members will find them and contact us.

Can static discharges produce Gamma Rays????

By myamiphil at Mon, 04/06/2009 - 7:55pm

In researching info on ULF/ELF waves I found an interesting article....

what comes first the chicken or the egg?
 
see.....

What ya find when your searching the net

By myamiphil at Sun, 02/22/2009 - 1:59am

I was researching some geneology tonight and came across my name... in an astronomical webpage!!!
 
www.socalastronomy.com/Scopes4Schools.html
 
Im famous!
 
 

iPhone Stars

By kuky at Tue, 02/17/2009 - 6:55pm

 

Look! Up in the sky?! … No, down on your iPhone. It’s the entire night sky on your iPhone! GoSkyWatch Planetarium is more than a mouthful, and I’m surprised it doesn’t make your iPhone heavier simply because of how much data it contains.

http://www.appleiphoneapps.com/2008/08/review-goskywatch-planetarium/#mo...

 

And a Free iPhone app "Stars"

http://nelix-dev.com/

Asteroid Ceres - for you folks with computer operated Scopes!

By myamiphil at Wed, 02/11/2009 - 11:43pm

This may be of some help in sighting the asteroid Ceres

On the page is a link to daily
ephemerides. You need a star chart
with fainter stars in the vicinity
to be really sure that you have
found it. Then if you look again
on a succeeding night, it will have
moved relative to the stars, another
confirmation.

Comet Lulin

By Kevin at Sat, 02/07/2009 - 11:38pm

Here is a finder chart for Comet Lulin which is gettign brighter now. It will soon be near the bright star Spica. This is for about 1:00 am. Later in the morning hours the comet will be higher in the sky.
 

Comet Lulin Chart

Odd planet's extreme global warming: Highs of 2240

By kuky at Thu, 01/29/2009 - 3:23pm

WASHINGTON – Astronomers have found a planet with a galactic case of hot flashes. In just six hours, this planet four times the size of Jupiter heats up by more than 1,200 degrees, according to a study published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.