Thursday, July 31, 2008

CHPL

When the Nighthawk was the Tri-Cities/Southside Virginia chapter of STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, we held meetings in the meeting room of the Colonial Heights Public Library, for many years.
Now the Nighthawk is an independent sci-fi club and meets at another location on fourth Sundays.
Four members of the old Nighthawk club met for years for monthly meetings and socials.
Jim, Theydon and Al are three of the four members that kept the Nighthawk going.
Thank you gentlemen for your support.
And the CHPL gave the club permission to have a display of science fact and science fiction items in their lobby display case.
Thank you, CHPL staff, for your continued assistance to our club.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Nothingness of Space Could Illuminate the Theory of Everything

I am looking at this article, Nothingness of Space Could Illuminate the Theory of Everything Could the vacuum contain dark energy, gravity particles, and frictionless gears? by Tim Folger published online July 18, 2008, on Discover magazine's website.

Jim and I talked about two articles in the August issue of Discovery 2008 on Sunday.
I had read them last week.
And it seems he read them as well.

Roving Mars IMAX Film & HST Exhibit

I went to the Science Museum Monday.
I went through the new "Hubble Space Telescope : New Views of the Universe" exhibit.
I saw the new IMAX film Roving Mars.

The exhibit has some interesting images of images from the HST.
The film showing some interesting problems that were solved to get the two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, to the surface of Mars in one piece.
For example, the rovers got heavier as they were being built and tested at the jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Research and development went in to get a parachute to use on a rover falling at MACH 2 and inflatable air bags to land on the surface.
Also the two sites were the rovers landed were discussed.
One site showed signs of water on Mars above ground form a long time ago.

Can We Run The World Off The Sun?

I am reading this story, Can We Run The World Off The Sun?, on NPR's website.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Mars Lander Team Applies for Mission Extension

I am reading this article, Mars Lander Team Applies for Mission Extension
By Andrea Thompson, on Space.com.
I would like to see this mission go on longer if possible.
I hear that weather is a factor.
But the equipment might survive.

Shore Leave 30

I had a great time at Shore Leave 30.
It was my first time at this convention.
The science panels that I attended on Friday and Saturday were: Yoji Kondo's "Finding Exoplanets with Kepler", Lucy Albert's "Enjoying the Summer Night Sky", Ray Villard's "News from the Hubble Space Telescope", and the last half of Kirk Borne "The New U-Science: Putting "You" in the Science".
I missed Inge Heyer's panels because I was doing something elase at those times. However I did get to met her.
I got in some stargazing Friday and Saturday nights as well.
I saw my first Iridium flare, M13 and Jupiter with two bands of color and four of its Moons.
I met some members of the Westminster Astronomical Society Saturday night while stargazing.
I saw David Hawlett, George Takei, Malcolm McDowell, Jewel Staite, W. Morgan
Sheppard and Mark Sheppard.
I met some authors who write sci fi.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Nighthawk Sci Fi Club Meeting

There is a monthly Nighthawk Sci Fi Club meeting scheduled for Sunday 27 July 2008 at 1400 EDT.
Meetings are free and open to the public.
Civil discussions of science fact and science fiction topics are appreciated.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress -- Robert Heinlein

I'm just finishing Robert Heinlein's book The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I hardily recommend it. It is hard to believe this book is 42 years old. Robert Heinlein won the Hugo award 4 times -- a record that still stands -- he won his fourth Hugo for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Shore Leave 30

I am reading the schedule for science programming at Shore Leave last year on their website, http://www.shore-leave.com/home/science.htm.

Looked really interesting to me for information on astronomy.

Hopes For Climate Solutions Dim At G-8 Summit

I am reading this article, Hopes For Climate Solutions Dim At G-8 Summit
by Richard Harris, on NPR's website.