Comments on: Touching Hubble’s history http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:00:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: MadScientist http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-2318 MadScientist Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:43:02 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-2318 Hey there Phil, when were you last at Mt. Stromlo? I'm currently 'squatting' there (I have nothing to do with the observatory but they were kind enough to permit me to take up some office space). I've enjoyed the tours given by friends over the years and still feel really sad about all the damage in the 2003 fires; the Yale-Columbia telescope (the only sort of 'telescope' you see drawn in comics) and the Oddie telescope (a beautiful clockwork-driven refractor) are probably the ones I miss most even though they did not have the complexity or capability of the larger telescopes on site. A colleague of mine dropped by Mt. Wilson late last year; he showed me a photograph and I said "that's funny - it looks exactly the same as a photograph I've seen in a book printed over 40 years ago". Some things change so little. Hey there Phil, when were you last at Mt. Stromlo? I’m currently ‘squatting’ there (I have nothing to do with the observatory but they were kind enough to permit me to take up some office space). I’ve enjoyed the tours given by friends over the years and still feel really sad about all the damage in the 2003 fires; the Yale-Columbia telescope (the only sort of ‘telescope’ you see drawn in comics) and the Oddie telescope (a beautiful clockwork-driven refractor) are probably the ones I miss most even though they did not have the complexity or capability of the larger telescopes on site.

A colleague of mine dropped by Mt. Wilson late last year; he showed me a photograph and I said “that’s funny – it looks exactly the same as a photograph I’ve seen in a book printed over 40 years ago”. Some things change so little.

]]> By: Thomas Davidson http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1302 Thomas Davidson Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:57:23 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1302 Just standing outside at nite I get that feeling. Just standing outside at nite I get that feeling.

]]> By: fly44d http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1181 fly44d Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:50:05 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1181 Awesome. I get the same feeling just walking in the redwoods and thinking how over the years scientists have put together the knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology to understand the sunlight, geology and life around me. Awesome. I get the same feeling just walking in the redwoods and thinking how over the years scientists have put together the knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology to understand the sunlight, geology and life around me.

]]> By: Carl http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1170 Carl Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:48:19 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1170 At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, I just had to reach out and touch the heat shield of a Gemini capsule. I know that feeling very well. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, I just had to reach out and touch the heat shield of a Gemini capsule.

I know that feeling very well.

]]> By: Max http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1115 Max Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:17:11 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1115 I too understand, when on road trip, we stopped at the Wright-Paterson air museum inside they have a apollo command module, with a big do not touch sign. They should have put the chain a little farther back. When I touched it every image from the early space program I have seen, seemed to race through my mind, and I felt connected to something so much larger than my self. I too understand, when on road trip, we stopped at the Wright-Paterson air museum inside they have a apollo command module, with a big do not touch sign. They should have put the chain a little farther back. When I touched it every image from the early space program I have seen, seemed to race through my mind, and I felt connected to something so much larger than my self.

]]> By: psiloiordinary http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1113 psiloiordinary Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:53:24 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1113 No Phil; ESPECIALLY a skeptic responds to that. Regards, Psi No Phil;

ESPECIALLY a skeptic responds to that.

Regards,

Psi

]]> By: Larian LeQuella http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1101 Larian LeQuella Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:36:28 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1101 Beautiful description Dr. Plait. That feeling you are talking about I feel all the time when really contemplating science and how far these rather hairless simians have come. I just wish that we could project that sense physically to those who seek to fill their lives with woo and whatnot. I'll make sure to point folks to this entry. Beautiful description Dr. Plait. That feeling you are talking about I feel all the time when really contemplating science and how far these rather hairless simians have come. I just wish that we could project that sense physically to those who seek to fill their lives with woo and whatnot. I’ll make sure to point folks to this entry.

]]> By: LovleAnjel http://skepticblog.org/2008/12/03/touching-hubbles-history/#comment-1100 LovleAnjel Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:34:20 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=572#comment-1100 Such a wonderful experience! I'm jealous. I only hope you didn't leave a smudge...altho I suppose that wouldn't make a difference on the reverse of the mirror. Such a wonderful experience! I’m jealous. I only hope you didn’t leave a smudge…altho I suppose that wouldn’t make a difference on the reverse of the mirror.

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