超新星コンデンセート
Supernova Condensate is a blog about our place in the Universe. Of astronomy, chemistry and life in the big bad bubble of academia.
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Invader Xan is a molecular astrophysicist and part-time alien invader, who spends life looking at very small things on very large scales, and trying to better understand the chemistry of interstellar space.
DFTBA ♥
すべての我々は星で作られています。
Buy me a coffee?
Writing this blog is a labour of love, and one which I evidently need a little encouragement towards on occasion. If you like what I write, the best way to show your gratitude would be to fuel my caffeine addiction and buy me a coffee to say thank you. All coffee donations are gratefully accepted!
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Carnival of Space 260!
Welcome, one and all, to the 260th edition of Carnival of Space! After being a contributor on and off for a few years, I’m proud to finally host the Carnival here on Supernova Condensate. For anyone unaware, a blog carnival … Continue reading
Henrietta Leavitt
This is Henrietta Leavitt. And she is one of astronomy’s great unsung heroes. Working at the Harvard College Observatory in 1893 as a humble assistant, she had been tasked with counting images on photographic plates. But while she was looking … Continue reading
Chlorine and water purification
Just one more thing… Anyone who’s been camping will likely be familiar with the so-called “chlorine tablets” which can be used to purify water for drinking. Just so that we’re clear here, these tablets may contain a chemical compound which … Continue reading
Need to purify your water? Why not try drinking poison!
Every now and again, I hear something which makes me so aghast that I really don’t know what to think. The so called “Miracle Mineral Solution” which I heard of today was exactly one of those things. Aghast, perhaps, but … Continue reading
Spaaaaaace!
Most gamers will probably recognise Space Core from Portal 2 by now – and thanks to an anonymous NASA technician, he’s getting his dream of being in space. The little image of Space Core (or is it Wheatley?) in the … Continue reading
Posted in art, Sci Fi, space, Tech
Tagged spaceflight, technology
Galactic orbits
A galaxy is a chaotic place. Sure, they may look silent and motionless, suspended in space, but a galaxy is in constant motion. Hundreds of billions of stars, swirling around at hundreds of metres per second, gravitationally fixed in place … Continue reading
Asteroids do not concern me, general.
Darth Vader was unimpressed by asteroids. Which, I suppose, is natural when you’re a sith lord. However, a lot of people find them rather interesting indeed. So if you’re one of those people, you might be interested to have a … Continue reading
I’m a shameless Portal geek★. I think, to anyone who reads my blog regularly, this should be quite apparent. And this is the best cover of the Portal 2 ending theme I’ve ever heard! And if you like that, you … Continue reading
Sh*t Astronomers Say
Oh god, it’s true. Every word of it. I’ve actually made people angry before by asking “What about dust?” (For some reason, certain astronomers really don’t like dust. Or rapidly rotating iron filings.)
Those final small steps…
This is an image of the Apollo 17 landing site, captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). This image shows the descent stage left behind by the “Challenger” lunar module when Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt blasted off from the … Continue reading
Posted in space
Tagged space exploration, spaceflight, the moon
