Tag Archives: telescopes

Postcards from Another Star

Posted on January 8, 2014 by

Anyone who knows me should be able to readily attest to the fact that I’m endlessly enthralled by exoplanets. And you know, who wouldn’t be? I was raised on a healthy diet of Star Trek and Isaac Asimov stories after … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

I ♥ Ultraviolet

Posted on July 13, 2013 by

As I often say, ultraviolet is my favourite colour. Actually, when I say this I’m not being entirely facetious. The ultraviolet part of the spectrum is a helpful area for people like me. Helpful but… also troublesome. You see, optical … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, astronomy | Tagged | 1 Comment

Eyes in the sky – looking at exoplanets

Posted on December 23, 2012 by

Anyone who’s been paying attention this last year will know that it’s been a turbulent year for space telescopes. Turbulent, but not without some unexpected windfalls. One in particular is that earlier this year, the US National Reconnaissance Organisation (NRO) … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, physics, space, Tech | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Adopt an observatory: Abandoned world class 4m infrared telescope in need of a loving owner

Posted on October 4, 2012 by

Poor UKIRT. You may remember me writing a few months ago about the regrettble decision by the UK government to pull the plug on the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) and shut down all operations by September 2013. This was after … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy | Tagged ,

Shiny!

Posted on September 25, 2012 by

When constructed, the James Webb Space Telescope (or JWST for short) is scheduled for launch in 2018. When it does, it will be the largest and most complex orbital telescope ever constructed, with a 6.5 m primary mirror giving it … Continue reading →

Posted in space, Tech | Tagged ,

Pulsar spirograph

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

The Fermi telescope, seeing the sky in gamma rays, has given us our best view yet of the high energy Universe. A world where bizarre events give out so much energy that it’s difficult for us to fully appreciate their scale. … Continue reading →

Posted in art, space, Tech | Tagged , ,

Planets, planets, everywhere!

Posted on July 12, 2012 by

NASA’s Kepler telescope has been staring unblinkingly at a single patch of the sky for nearly three and a half years now. In that time, it’s discovered a huge number of planets in all sorts of sizes around numerous different … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Radio quiet, please!

Posted on July 6, 2012 by

For an article written by yours truly, all about the Square Kilometre Array and the decision to split it across two continents, pay a visit to Australian Science!

Posted in astronomy | Tagged

Radio Eye

Posted on June 6, 2012 by

Imagine if you could see in radio waves. Things would appear a lot different to the way they are to you right now. Much of your world would suddenly appear to be made of glass, transparent as far as you … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Closing our eyes

Posted on May 31, 2012 by

Les temps sont durs pour les rêveurs. Et les temps sont durs pour les astronomes aussi. The UK has been determined to drop any and all astronomical operations in Hawaii ever since that fateful research repriositisation in 2009. I just … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, astronomy, life | Tagged , | 3 Comments