Tag Archives: astronomy

A global map of active solar observatories

The map provided below identifies the currently active solar observatories on Earth. While other observatories may include some facets of research related to the Sun, this map identifies those optical and radio observatories whose primary purpose is the study and … Continue reading

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Ten planning lessons from astronomical research sites

The following are ten planning lessons learned from visiting multiple astronomical research sites including the Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Very Large Array, Griffith Observatory, and similar facilities across the country. It also includes information learned from the International Dark-Sky … Continue reading

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Tuesday Tunes: Out-of-this-world rock band names

Listed below are band names (primarily from rock) that are out-of-this-world in nature. The most common terms are star (17), star (13), moon (13), sun (13), and space (7). Meanwhile Mars (8), Venus (6), Mercury (2), Jupiter (2), and Pluto … Continue reading

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Riding the rails of interstellar discovery at the Very Large Array

It’s hard to fathom that a mere 39 miles of railway track could deliver the entire galaxy to astronomers around the globe. But, when the cargo is limited to 230 ton radio telescopes being moved into position, then such a … Continue reading

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An out-of-this-world visit to the Very Large Array (VLA)

This past Thursday afternoon several of us had an exciting opportunity to visit the Very Large Array (VLA) in west-central New Mexico. Anyone who has watched the 1997 movie Contact starring Jodie Foster should be familiar with the VLA. More … Continue reading

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“Enlightened” city planning amid rural Iowa cornfields

In the film Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s father asks him, “Is this heaven?” His response is, “No, it’s Iowa.” Well, to some, Iowa may just be their slice of heaven, especially those who reside in and around the City … Continue reading

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“Project Hail Mary” – Science fiction at its very best!

I cannot express enough accolades about Andy Weir’s newest novel, Project Hail Mary. The book is simply outstanding. It’s one of those books that is hard to put down and you never want to end. I don’t want to give … Continue reading

Posted in aerospace, art, Astronomy, aviation, book reviews, books, Communications, culture, entertainment, environment, fun, futurism, geography, Geology, humanity, inclusiveness, literature, nature, Outer Space, place names, product design, reading, Science, Science fiction, Statistics, technology, transportation, Travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Astronomical metro areas

The following cities have the highest metropolitan area concentration of astronomical and radio observatories and related uses in the world. A minimum of three (3) such facilities was required for inclusion in the list. As can be seen from the … Continue reading

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Dim the lights and celebrate International Dark Sky Week!

Begun in 2003, International Dark Sky Week celebrates the awesome glory of the night sky while also informing the public of threats from sky glow, glare, and other forms of light pollution. In 2015, International Dark Sky Week takes place from April … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Astronomy, cities, climate change, education, environment, fun, geography, health, history, land use, light pollution, nature, pictures, planning, pollution, seasons, spatial design, sprawl, sustainability, tourism, Travel, urban planning, visual pollution, weather, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Interstellar” is indescribably awesome!

Kathy and I saw Interstellar last night. This science-fiction epic is so good that a description cannot and should not be compartmentalized into a blog post. The cast, including a surprise un-billed guest appearance, were superb, the visual images were … Continue reading

Posted in aerospace, art, Astronomy, aviation, civility, culture, entertainment, environment, family, film, fun, history, humanity, Love, movies, music, music reviews, Outer Space, pictures, pollution, Science, Science fiction, sustainability, technology, Travel, video, weather, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment