I thought it was great to see ABC paying some attention to space related stuff for a change instead of the endless navel-gazing newscycle and tiresome sports reporting. ABC were one of the only networks globally that reported on the highly attended World Science Festival in Brisbane as well. Meanwhile 100+ articles hit the global news about the first test match in India (yawn). The stadium was mostly empty.
Lasers? Bring it on. Everything is better with lasers. I thought it was commendable they were using cameras capable of showing the stars and the presenters in the same frame without exposure issues - that's no easy feat.
In case anyone missed it, tune into the chat they have after the main broadcast. It's a little less of the pop-sci stuff we all know here and a bit more casual with just some amazing scientists drinking a beer and having a chat. It's on the livestream on facebook or ABC2 I believe.
"Data taken on 3rd April 2017 using the CACTI camera in 2dF at the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope. Color image using B (12 x 60s, blue) + [O III] (12 x 60 s, green) + Hα (12 x 60 s, red) filters."
Why waste time on astronomy shows, we need more cooking shows, married at first sight, weight loss stories and similar...
Well done ABC. Great effort good show excellent presentation I give them full marks.
I hope they can keep it up.
Alex
In case anyone missed it, tune into the chat they have after the main broadcast. It's a little less of the pop-sci stuff we all know here and a bit more casual with just some amazing scientists drinking a beer and having a chat. It's on the livestream on facebook or ABC2 I believe.
They should have included a warning about the dangers of drinking alcohol, and it was completely inappropriate to broadcast scenes showing the consumption of alcohol in a show which was clearly aimed in part at children and teenagers.
Seriously, though, I thought the show (and the follow-up on ABC2) was great - for its intended audience.
The show is clearly aimed at a lay audience, and it would be unrealistic to expert cutting-edge content that would "wow" an experienced amateur observer. Instead, the emphasis was on what a complete "newbie" can see if you step outside, and a few references to stories that have been in the news recently (such as the Trappist-1 system, the search for Planet 9, etc).
Star Parties and Outreach Nights are all very well - but you've got to get people interested enough to actually attend one. Using the "star power" (pun intended!) of Julia Zemiro and Brain Cox will surely have got a lot of people watching who would otherwise not. The show entreats people to get out and actually look at the night sky - and surely, some people will, perhaps for the first time. From there, we can all play our part in carrying on the education process.
They should have included a warning about the dangers of drinking alcohol, and it was completely inappropriate to broadcast scenes showing the consumption of alcohol in a show which was clearly aimed in part at children and teenagers.
Hehe. Oh yeh, lasers AND beer. Everything is better with lasers and beer is what I meant to say.
(Disclaimer: this message is sponsored by Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, as is most of my astrophotography).
Just got back from a meeting in which our students formally thanked the AAO for assistance in constructing a competition robot. During the meeting we were interrupted by Brian Cox, Julia Zemiro and "Space Gambon".
All were respectful, courteous and friendly to the students.
It made all of the students days. BC, JZ and SG have gained a new bunch of fans. Well done and Thankyou to all of them.
Just got back from a meeting in which our students formally thanked the AAO for assistance in constructing a competition robot. During the meeting we were interrupted by Brian Cox, Julia Zemiro and "Space Gambon".
All were respectful, courteous and friendly to the students.
It made all of the students days. BC, JZ and SG have gained a new bunch of fans. Well done and Thankyou to all of them.
That's so great! I had a chance to meet some of the team recently in Brisbane, and they were all impossibly lovely people. I'm looking forward to seeing some of them again in Byron Bay for Star Stuff in June where we hope to dive a little bit deeper into some of their topic areas.
Looking forward to tonight's broadcast re: Planets. I assume they'll image Jupiter with it's recent opposition!
I thought it was great to see ABC paying some attention to space related stuff for a change instead of the endless navel-gazing newscycle and tiresome sports reporting. ABC were one of the only networks globally that reported on the highly attended World Science Festival in Brisbane as well. Meanwhile 100+ articles hit the global news about the first test match in India (yawn). The stadium was mostly empty.
Lasers? Bring it on. Everything is better with lasers. I thought it was commendable they were using cameras capable of showing the stars and the presenters in the same frame without exposure issues - that's no easy feat.
In case anyone missed it, tune into the chat they have after the main broadcast. It's a little less of the pop-sci stuff we all know here and a bit more casual with just some amazing scientists drinking a beer and having a chat. It's on the livestream on facebook or ABC2 I believe.
"Data taken on 3rd April 2017 using the CACTI camera in 2dF at the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope. Color image using B (12 x 60s, blue) + [O III] (12 x 60 s, green) + Hα (12 x 60 s, red) filters."
d
Yes - I watched the first show & the only good thing was that pic of the Keyhole.
I wish they would have told us a bit more.
e.g. were they using real adaptive optics?
- a flexible secondary mirror?
I was tickled pink last night when they put up my Rho Ophiucus and Antares picture, although someone at the ABC decided to wind the saturation up even more than I dared to! I got the distinct impression from the email exchange with the producer that half the fun was Prof. Cox having the excuse to say 'Flying Spaghetti Monster" with a straight face!
Here's to all the pastafarians out there!
Cheers
Andrew.
Yes - I watched the first show & the only good thing was that pic of the Keyhole.
I wish they would have told us a bit more.
e.g. were they using real adaptive optics?
- a flexible secondary mirror?
...which would mean what to the lay general public?
I think its been a great show so far and congrats to the guys that got some photos on board well done its good to see people looking up at the night sky and these are the guys that can help teach people to do just that
AL
Exactly Alan
