Just want to say I still have all 10 fingers and 10 toes after going out at 3AM this morning to capture this rare astronomical event.
Just want to say I still have all 10 fingers and 10 toes after going out at 3AM this morning to capture this rare astronomical event.
View my pictures of the eclipse here.
Did anyone else see?
-Geoff
Thank you
Geoff thanks for the wonderful pictures!
Besides radio, I am very interested in
the science of space and space exploration.
I am sure a lot of people on the board like
them as much as I do.
Best Wishes
Bruce, MIRO1690/1700
The Real Holiday
For me the longest night of the year, the shortest day of the year, The Winter Solstice, is the REAL holiday and marks the TRUE beginning of a new year, with one-minute extra light everyday thereafter.
Of course Christmas is something else entirely, and has a large place in culture. It is religious and commercial, but my radio station is secular and non-commercial. Moving on….
So called “New Years Day” is just a mistake caused by the Gregorian Monks down in a candle lit dungeon inventing the calendar with plenty of altar wine to go around. I like to put a ceremonial wine stain on my new calendar.
I wouldn’t be able to say these things in a sports bar.
Carl,
You’re a breath of
Carl,
You’re a breath of fresh air in a stagnant world.
This could be your next show!
Happy Solstice!
Geoff
my hobby too
Besides being a radio geek and working at a big AM radio station here in Baltimore, I also work at a planetarium in the city as well, doing live sky shows and such, and generally trying to make astronomy interesting to newcomers and young people.
I’m currently trying to get a show going at that station doing reports on space exploration and interesting science stuff. Still working on that one with my boss.
(sry for spelling errors, shift works takes it toll…)
Regards,
Geoff NEXTGEN.FM
Really important work!
I’m currently trying to get a show going at that station doing reports on space exploration and interesting science stuff
I can’t compliment you enough on trying to do that – after being a leader in science information in the 1930s and 1940s, mass media has almost become anti-science. I’d love for today’s young people to be able to tune into radio shows or download podcasts like “Adventures in Research” or “Science Magazine of the Air”
Sky & Telesope Sky Tour
Sky and Telescope puts out an audio program on astronomical events. I believe they put them out monthly. They run about 5 minutes.
Listen to one of them by DOWNLOADING HERE.
You may need to request permission from Sky and Telescope to broadcast it. Years ago I obtained permission to use the shows on a “dial-in and listen” free service.
Vernal equinox
Carl opined that the winter solstice, when the days become longer and the nights shorter, is the real beginning of the new year. I think that historically it is at the beginning of the Zodiac, the spring equinox.
In my opinion, it is much more logical to make Christmas the same as New Year’s Day, since the first Christmas should be the division between B.C. and A.D. Maybe Christ was really born in the spring, and not the winter, as the pastoral scenes in Luke would suggest
Science Programs
archive.org has several interesting science programs both old and new.
“Adventures in Research,” just mentioned by SCWIS, is available, or it was a year ago, and another good one: “Captains of Industry,” both in the public domain.
And for new productions try Berkeley Groks, a weekly interview show featuring current science topics hosted in a very humorous style by two scientists, available under Creative Commons and uploaded at archive.org. If you contact the Groks, they will list your station on their website.
New Science Program Discovered
I just found a monthly science podcast that is very, very well produced.
Skeptic Check: Cell Phone Danger
Every month the topic is different.
radio.seti.org
Is There Anybody Out There?
Thanks for the heads-up on the Seti programs. I have emailed the organization to see if these are free-to-air.
I joined SETI and ran the SETI process program on several computers several years ago. They ranked you by number of data packs processed and provided you a certificate of appreciation for each level completed.
Quick Turn-Around
Within a few hours I received a reply from Barbara Vance of the SETI Institute AWA radio group regarding Free-To-Air. Here is her reply:
==================================================
Hello Bob,
We would be delighted for you to air our show. We make it available for broadcast free of charge. We already have some low frequency/low power stations to our credit, and would be glad to add any in your group. We also would be glad to list your station(s) on our website.
We have a variety of ways to obtain the show files, rather than just downloading the podcast version from our website. I suspect that you do not use any of the three broadcast distributors where we place our shows: PRSS Content Depot, PRX, and Audioport/Pacifica. However, I do make the show files (both in pieces and as a single file) on my ftp site in both wav and mp3. We also include a billboard and promo for each show, and would be glad to make a custom promo for any station that wishes one.
You can check out the files for this week by going to ftp://ftp.seti.org/bvance/
There you will find a folder for wav files (lf wav) and for mp3 (lf mp3). There is also a folder for the unchanging music files (a :30 music bed and 2 1:00 floating breaks).
The show is made in 3 interview parts, which always add up to 50:30, but the individual segments vary from week to week. The “total” file is the three interview pieces put into one file, but not including the billboard or music. I give them the same names each week, to make any automation easier.
I’m on vacation at the moment, but let me know if you would like more details, or can let me know the stations that are interested in airing Are We Alone, and I’ll get back to you when I’m back in the office next week.
Thanks for your interest in our show, and for asking permission!
Have a wonderful New Year,
Barbara
==================================================
I’d say that was a very warm response indeed!
Geoff was producing a good one…
I liked Geoff’s Starline Astronomy Podcast, although it appears he quit doing it several months ago.. A few days ago I posted his blog and asked if there was any plans to resume it
The http://www.part15.us/node/2325 post links to it
And there’s about 10 years archived podcast of what I consider a excellent show at http://www.thenakedscientists.com. It does have numerous astronomy shows, but it really covers a wide range of science topics. I’ve been listening to them for years. Very entertaining program.
I did email them about 4 or 5 years ago asking permission to air them on my Part15, and their reply was positive, but it would be a good idea to ask again.
You should check them out.
I just sent them an email myself, will post their response when it comes in
Geoff’s program ‘STARLINE’. and ‘The Naked Scientist’
I’m not sure what happened to my last comment, but I’m going to say it all again…
Geoff’s own program “Starline Astronomy Podcast” was a good one. Unfortunately the most recent show is from back in September. I listened to 2 or 3 episodes the other night. This program sounds like one worth resuming to me…Link at http://www.part15.us/node/2325
Also worth checking out is “The Naked Scientist”. A new show is produced every week, half hour long and they have a 10 years archive as well. It has numerous astronomy shows, but it really covers many science topics. I’ve been listening to them for years. Very entertaining, diverse, and informative.. http://www.thenakedscientists.com. .
UPDATE: I emailed The Naked Scientist a couple hours ago.. Below is a copy with their reply…
Original Message:
—————–
From: The Naked Scientists [email protected]
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:05:42 -0700
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Contact the Naked Scientist
Dear Richard
Thank you for dropping us a line; in principle there are no problems with this, but we would need you to complete a license agreeement for us before we can grant permission to re-broadcast.
I can send you a specimen license for you to peruse?
Chris
— On Tue, 28/12/10, [email protected] wrote:
From: [email protected]
Subject: Contact the Naked Scientist
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, 28 December, 2010, 8:05
Chris,
I’ve been listening to your show for years via your podcast.
About 5 years ago I had contacted you asking permission to rebroadcast your program on my “Part15 AM”. (a legal unlicensed method of broadcasting on the AM band for community radio, it doesn’t go very far.. maybe two miles at most, but it’s great to serve local neighborhoods.
Anyway, back then your reply was positive. I just want to make sure it’s still ok, because I am starting my neighborhood broadcast up again. Just looking for your permission to air your podcast. I really like your program.
Thanks for any consideration,
Richard Powers
Back Dating
One thing is that December 25th is not mentioned in the Bible, so moving Christmas seems o.k.
B.C. was “before Christ,” and A.D. is “after death (of Christ),” so what is the post-fix for the period during Christ? D.C.?
I’m usually pretty ignorant, but…
I just happen to know this..
AD is actually Latin for “anno domini” which means “in the year of our Lord.”
From wikipedia.com…
“Because BC is the English abbreviation for Before Christ, it is sometimes incorrectly concluded that AD means After Death,…
But the D.C. thing was cute!