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!
Tag Archives: telescopes
Postcards from Another Star
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
I ♥ Ultraviolet
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
Eyes in the sky – looking at exoplanets
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
Adopt an observatory: Abandoned world class 4m infrared telescope in need of a loving owner
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 politics, telescopes
Shiny!
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 space exploration, telescopes
Pulsar spirograph
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 astronomical images, neutron stars, telescopes
Planets, planets, everywhere!
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
Radio quiet, please!
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 telescopes
Radio Eye
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
Closing our eyes
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
