Comments on: Well, That was Fun. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:48:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24443 Julianne Fri, 11 May 2007 03:23:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24443 <blockquote>I'm sure there's a quip to be made with this project being called "ANGST," but I'm not sure what it is ...</blockquote> I've been threatening to name my next big project HAPPYLUVLUV or SNOOKUMS. So yeah, it's occured to me too...

I’m sure there’s a quip to be made with this project being called “ANGST,” but I’m not sure what it is …

I’ve been threatening to name my next big project HAPPYLUVLUV or SNOOKUMS. So yeah, it’s occured to me too…

]]> By: mollishka http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24444 mollishka Thu, 10 May 2007 20:34:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24444 I'm sure there's a quip to be made with this project being called "ANGST," but I'm not sure what it is ... I’m sure there’s a quip to be made with this project being called “ANGST,” but I’m not sure what it is …

]]> By: Knitting is a Guy Thing | Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24455 Knitting is a Guy Thing | Cosmic Variance Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:02:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24455 [...] Ok, I need to get involved in another CV fracas about women in science right now like I need a hole in the head, but here goes: [...] […] Ok, I need to get involved in another CV fracas about women in science right now like I need a hole in the head, but here goes: […]

]]> By: Hubble Trouble - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24456 Hubble Trouble - Asymptotia Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:49:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24456 [...] There are other instruments on board too, but the loss of use of this one is a heavy blow to lots of Astronomy research programmes. There is a scheduled space shuttle servicing mission, due to take place in September 2008, and so it is expected [but see update below] that this instrument will be replaced as part of the already scheduled work for that mission (graphic above right is from the BBC article, where you can also find a summary of the work scheduled for 2008). That’s quite a long time to wait, of course, so my heart goes out to the many people affected by this. It’s not just a slow down in research - it will also certainly mean some postdoctoral and other positions no longer being viable, as pointed out on Dynamics of Cats. [update: See also Julianne’s post on Cosmic Variance.] [...] […] There are other instruments on board too, but the loss of use of this one is a heavy blow to lots of Astronomy research programmes. There is a scheduled space shuttle servicing mission, due to take place in September 2008, and so it is expected [but see update below] that this instrument will be replaced as part of the already scheduled work for that mission (graphic above right is from the BBC article, where you can also find a summary of the work scheduled for 2008). That’s quite a long time to wait, of course, so my heart goes out to the many people affected by this. It’s not just a slow down in research - it will also certainly mean some postdoctoral and other positions no longer being viable, as pointed out on Dynamics of Cats. [update: See also Julianne’s post on Cosmic Variance.] […]

]]> By: Karen K. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24445 Karen K. Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:27:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24445 Yes, I am also in mourning. Our project to observe compact groups is also affected by the ACS failure. We'd submitted that proposal about 5 times before getting it approved, so to not get the data after all these years is very heartbreaking. We do have 3 groups observed, but I believe there were 9 overall. sigh... I also need to decide if I'm going to rewrite the proposal I submitted Friday. Yes, I am also in mourning. Our project to observe compact groups is also affected by the ACS failure. We’d submitted that proposal about 5 times before getting it approved, so to not get the data after all these years is very heartbreaking. We do have 3 groups observed, but I believe there were 9 overall.

sigh…

I also need to decide if I’m going to rewrite the proposal I submitted Friday.

]]> By: Jonathan S. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24446 Jonathan S. Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:32:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24446 This is terrible news; the ACS was such an amazing instrument. I remember my first couple days as a summer student last year at STScI working on ACS edge-on galaxy data. I didn't believe Roelof when he told me that we could see individual stars so far from the plane of the galaxy--but there they were. And not only that, but hidden behind those stars were beautiful far-away galaxies (which were a chore to SExtract out!) and even the odd gravitational lens. Those images are just a pleasure to explore in DS9. Oh well, I guess all that there is left to do is wring out the images for everything they're worth; in fact, I think I'll work on my star tessellation codes tonight just to spite the ACS Failure Gods. This is terrible news; the ACS was such an amazing instrument. I remember my first couple days as a summer student last year at STScI working on ACS edge-on galaxy data. I didn’t believe Roelof when he told me that we could see individual stars so far from the plane of the galaxy–but there they were. And not only that, but hidden behind those stars were beautiful far-away galaxies (which were a chore to SExtract out!) and even the odd gravitational lens. Those images are just a pleasure to explore in DS9. Oh well, I guess all that there is left to do is wring out the images for everything they’re worth; in fact, I think I’ll work on my star tessellation codes tonight just to spite the ACS Failure Gods.

]]> By: Oldfart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24436 Oldfart Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:35:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24436 I understand there is to be a Hubble mission in 2008. I also understand, probably incorrectly that the problem with the camera is a power problem - the ACS has run thru two battery sources now. There is maybe some chance they will be able to connect it to the main power supply? Here is wishing you good luck that something will be fixed or be able to take it's place. I understand there is to be a Hubble mission in 2008. I also understand, probably incorrectly that the problem with the camera is a power problem - the ACS has run thru two battery sources now. There is maybe some chance they will be able to connect it to the main power supply? Here is wishing you good luck that something will be fixed or be able to take it’s place.

]]> By: Nicholas http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24435 Nicholas Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:15:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24435 Hope those margaritas arent hurting too much right now :) NM Hope those margaritas arent hurting too much right now :)
NM

]]> By: Steinn Sigurdsson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24437 Steinn Sigurdsson Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:27:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24437 The current word is that the servicing mission schedule is full with other priority tasks and the training schedule is also full, so they will most likely not attempt a repair of the ACS. The WF3 camera, the new one, is not quite the same, it will not be able to do some of the science ACS did - by design, the expectation was that ACS would be operational and complementary. Don't listen to the "designed to last 5 years, lasted 4.9, so not bad" spin - the five year design lifetime was nominal, with moderate luck the ACS would have lasted until the gyros or batteries broke. The current word is that the servicing mission schedule is full with other priority tasks and the training schedule is also full, so they will most likely not attempt a repair of the ACS.
The WF3 camera, the new one, is not quite the same, it will not be able to do some of the science ACS did - by design, the expectation was that ACS would be operational and complementary.
Don’t listen to the “designed to last 5 years, lasted 4.9, so not bad” spin - the five year design lifetime was nominal, with moderate luck the ACS would have lasted until the gyros or batteries broke.

]]> By: Garth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24432 Garth Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:10:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/29/well-that-was-fun/#comment-24432 Do I understand correctly that the problem will be fixed during the next HST servicing mission slated for Sepptember 2008? Garth Do I understand correctly that the problem will be fixed during the next HST servicing mission slated for Sepptember 2008?

Garth

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