Comments on: Things You Should Read On the Internet http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:00:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sam Gralla http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-134374 Sam Gralla Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:39:54 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-134374 Thanks for all your responses. I couldn't see anything on the official beyond Einstein site about any of this. So I guess you guys are "in the know". Do you also know who is on the panel, or what the timetable is for their decision? If LISA isn't funded, I may have to consider changing fields... Thanks for all your responses. I couldn’t see anything on the official beyond Einstein site about any of this. So I guess you guys are “in the know”. Do you also know who is on the panel, or what the timetable is for their decision? If LISA isn’t funded, I may have to consider changing fields…

]]> By: Count Iblis http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-134316 Count Iblis Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:56:56 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-134316 Even Bush uses "the Google" to surf "the Internets" these days :) Even Bush uses “the Google” to surf “the Internets” these days :)

]]> By: Amara http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-134018 Amara Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:49:16 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-134018 Sam Gralla, I don't know the answer to your question, but for solar system exploration, I can offer the latest best information. Recently an independent panel followed up on the decadal study to advise NASA. Here's the <a href="http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/road_map_final.pdf" rel="nofollow"> Solar System Exploration Roadmap</a> for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (date: September 15, 2006). Sam Gralla, I don’t know the answer to your question, but for solar system exploration, I can offer the latest best information. Recently an independent panel followed up on the decadal study to advise NASA. Here’s the Solar System Exploration Roadmap for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (date: September 15, 2006).

]]> By: island http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-134017 island Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:39:10 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-134017 I understand the reasoning, but it seems like you'd have to go a comparitively long-way to get a better return. It may just be romantic, but it sadens me to think that the servicing mission might only be for the lack of better projected return. Such is the life of "progress", I guess. I understand the reasoning, but it seems like you’d have to go a comparitively long-way to get a better return. It may just be romantic, but it sadens me to think that the servicing mission might only be for the lack of better projected return.

Such is the life of “progress”, I guess.

]]> By: Rob Knop http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-134009 Rob Knop Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:05:43 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-134009 <i>Seriously, I can’t even believe the rationale for not fixing it, unless you’re planning to replace it with something better, maybe.</i> Well, if you took the total amount of money that would go into the servicing mission, and instead used that amount of money entirely towards a different astronomical mission, the money probably could be better spent (i.e. with a higher scientific return). But, as Sean points out, that's utterly unrealistic. It's not a zero-sum game. If the servicing mission doesn't happen, the money (effectively) disappears for astronomy. -Rob Seriously, I can’t even believe the rationale for not fixing it, unless you’re planning to replace it with something better, maybe.

Well, if you took the total amount of money that would go into the servicing mission, and instead used that amount of money entirely towards a different astronomical mission, the money probably could be better spent (i.e. with a higher scientific return).

But, as Sean points out, that’s utterly unrealistic. It’s not a zero-sum game. If the servicing mission doesn’t happen, the money (effectively) disappears for astronomy.

-Rob

]]> By: island http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133949 island Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:58:48 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133949 <blockquote>The production of scientists and mathematicians in the early 20th century was so prolific that many otherwise calm observers believe Budapest was settled by Martians in a plan to infiltrate and take over the planet Earth. -Leon Lederman</blockquote> Save the Hubble for the sake of fine art!... ;) Seriously, I can't even believe the rationale for not fixing it, unless you're planning to replace it with something better, maybe.

The production of scientists and mathematicians in the early 20th century was so prolific that many otherwise calm observers believe Budapest was settled by Martians in a plan to infiltrate and take over the planet Earth.

-Leon Lederman

Save the Hubble for the sake of fine art!… ;)

Seriously, I can’t even believe the rationale for not fixing it, unless you’re planning to replace it with something better, maybe.

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133812 Sean Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:38:45 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133812 AstroCook, I know that I won't be attending -- don't know about anyone else. Sam, I think Brian is basically right. These are not decisions that are typically discussed in public very much, so I don't know of any place (other than the link above) to read about it. Right now they're trying to decide which one mission to do, which may or may not be followed by doing other missions. All of this is subject to change without notice. AstroCook, I know that I won’t be attending — don’t know about anyone else.

Sam, I think Brian is basically right. These are not decisions that are typically discussed in public very much, so I don’t know of any place (other than the link above) to read about it. Right now they’re trying to decide which one mission to do, which may or may not be followed by doing other missions. All of this is subject to change without notice.

]]> By: AstroCook http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133637 AstroCook Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:33:07 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133637 will any of you be attending the Blogging Conference in January? will any of you be attending the Blogging Conference in January?

]]> By: Brian Gerke http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133614 Brian Gerke Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:25:38 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133614 Sam Gralla: Sean probably knows more, but my understanding of the situation at NASA is this: a funding "wedge" (incremental increase in funding, year-on-year, leading to a launch) will open in the next few years to cover ONE of the five Beyond Einstein missions. The National Academies panel is a group of senior astrophysicists who have been asked to advise NASA about which mission to fund with this wedge. This doesn't mean that the other four will never happen, necessarily; it just means they won't have funding in the foreseeable future. It is worth pointing out that the status of the "foreseeable future" vis-a-vis funding is subject to change without notice, especially, say, this Tuesday. Sam Gralla:

Sean probably knows more, but my understanding of the situation at NASA is this: a funding “wedge” (incremental increase in funding, year-on-year, leading to a launch) will open in the next few years to cover ONE of the five Beyond Einstein missions. The National Academies panel is a group of senior astrophysicists who have been asked to advise NASA about which mission to fund with this wedge. This doesn’t mean that the other four will never happen, necessarily; it just means they won’t have funding in the foreseeable future.

It is worth pointing out that the status of the “foreseeable future” vis-a-vis funding is subject to change without notice, especially, say, this Tuesday.

]]> By: Yvette http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133207 Yvette Sun, 05 Nov 2006 07:39:19 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133207 As a Hungarian-American, I have to say that the title to the Hargittai book is awesome. (Those who understand why get a gold star.) I actually have a copy of the book, my mom passed it on to me, but I haven't found the time to read it... As a Hungarian-American, I have to say that the title to the Hargittai book is awesome. (Those who understand why get a gold star.) I actually have a copy of the book, my mom passed it on to me, but I haven’t found the time to read it…

]]> By: Sam Gralla http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133088 Sam Gralla Sun, 05 Nov 2006 03:21:29 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133088 Sean, Where can I read more about this national academies panel? They've announced that only one of those five missions is to go forward? -Sam Sean,

Where can I read more about this national academies panel? They’ve announced that only one of those five missions is to go forward?

-Sam

]]> By: Rob Knop http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133077 Rob Knop Sun, 05 Nov 2006 02:48:42 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133077 Jan 20... let's see... Google maps claims that that is a 10 hour drive. And I don't teach on Friday next semester. Maybe I'll go! Gonna have to think about it a bit more first, though. -Rob Jan 20… let’s see…

Google maps claims that that is a 10 hour drive. And I don’t teach on Friday next semester.

Maybe I’ll go! Gonna have to think about it a bit more first, though.

-Rob

]]> By: coturnix http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-133075 coturnix Sun, 05 Nov 2006 02:41:26 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-133075 Thank you for the plug for the conference. I hope to see some Cosmic Variancers there in January! Thank you for the plug for the conference. I hope to see some Cosmic Variancers there in January!

]]> By: nigel cook http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/11/04/things-you-should-read-on-the-internet/#comment-132911 nigel cook Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:15:19 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=1019#comment-132911 Proof that God <i>does exist and care about the universe, after all!</i> He has partly wrapped a few stars in a giant sheepskin (or other animal fur, or I suppose maybe a fur-shaped dust cloud) to keep them warm, how kind ... Proof that God does exist and care about the universe, after all! He has partly wrapped a few stars in a giant sheepskin (or other animal fur, or I suppose maybe a fur-shaped dust cloud) to keep them warm, how kind …

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