Comments on: Dodging a Flaming Bullet http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:24:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Travis Rector http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30180 Travis Rector Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:50:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30180 Karen, unfortunately the days of Mayberry are over on Kitt Peak. Aside from my experience, there have been several break-ins to the dorms and residences of there. Its the last place I thought I'd ever have to lock my door. So far there's been no violent crime, but your experience is certainly a concern. There's been a good amount of talk about it at NOAO. Perhaps you should bring it up on your side of the street. Karen, unfortunately the days of Mayberry are over on Kitt Peak. Aside from my experience, there have been several break-ins to the dorms and residences of there. Its the last place I thought I’d ever have to lock my door. So far there’s been no violent crime, but your experience is certainly a concern. There’s been a good amount of talk about it at NOAO. Perhaps you should bring it up on your side of the street.

]]> By: Karen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30179 Karen Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:48:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30179 Travis, that's interesting to hear. There's not been much talk on my side of Cherry Ave. about the illegal immigrant problem up there. Even though, one time I was driving up the road, when I saw someone walking down it. From afar, it looked like another astronomer and my thought was that perhaps his car had broken down. I slowed down, and as I did so, realized that it was not that person. I rolled my window down just a crack and the guy said in broken English, "Go up?" At the same time, he tried the door handle. Thankfully, I almost always travel with my doors locked. I said no and drove off, but was rather scared about the whole incident. Those I related the story to said that there wasn't any reason to worry, but I guess there is. :( Travis, that’s interesting to hear. There’s not been much talk on my side of Cherry Ave. about the illegal immigrant problem up there. Even though, one time I was driving up the road, when I saw someone walking down it. From afar, it looked like another astronomer and my thought was that perhaps his car had broken down. I slowed down, and as I did so, realized that it was not that person. I rolled my window down just a crack and the guy said in broken English, “Go up?” At the same time, he tried the door handle. Thankfully, I almost always travel with my doors locked. I said no and drove off, but was rather scared about the whole incident. Those I related the story to said that there wasn’t any reason to worry, but I guess there is. :(

]]> By: Zarquon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30178 Zarquon Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:11:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30178 These days ground-based telescopes are built well above the tree line in places such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Atacama in Chile. These days ground-based telescopes are built well above the tree line in places such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Atacama in Chile.

]]> By: Travis Rector http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30177 Travis Rector Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:44:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30177 I can't resist posting this story: While observing on Kitt Peak last March an illegal immigrant stole my coat and camera bag out of my car. Illegal immigrants on Kitt Peak have become an increasing problem, as it is relatively close to the border and the white domes are easy to see from afar (many illegals are instructed to "walk to the domes" to be picked up there). At any rate, he was caught while still on the summit and I was able to recover my coat and camera, but one of my lenses was missing. It wasn't clear if another person had made off with the lens, or if it was hidden somewhere. I wasn't able to find it then, nor when I returned a few weeks ago. But while clearing brush in anticiaption of the approaching fire my lens was found hidden in a crack in a rock. Without the fire it may have never been found. Life is strange. I can’t resist posting this story:

While observing on Kitt Peak last March an illegal immigrant stole my coat and camera bag out of my car. Illegal immigrants on Kitt Peak have become an increasing problem, as it is relatively close to the border and the white domes are easy to see from afar (many illegals are instructed to “walk to the domes” to be picked up there). At any rate, he was caught while still on the summit and I was able to recover my coat and camera, but one of my lenses was missing. It wasn’t clear if another person had made off with the lens, or if it was hidden somewhere. I wasn’t able to find it then, nor when I returned a few weeks ago. But while clearing brush in anticiaption of the approaching fire my lens was found hidden in a crack in a rock. Without the fire it may have never been found. Life is strange.

]]> By: Dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30176 Dave Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:09:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30176 Mt. Stromlo doesn't really fit the pattern of building telescopes on high mountains in dry conditions away from population centers. Mt. Stromlo is a hill in the suburbs of the Captital, Canberra, in one of Australia's wetter regions. The Australians considered developing a new observatory in the South-central Flinders Mountain range, which is very much dryer than Mt. Stromlo. But, they gave up after running some seeing tests. Mt. Stromlo doesn’t really fit the pattern of building telescopes on high mountains in dry conditions away from population centers. Mt. Stromlo is a hill in the suburbs of the Captital, Canberra, in one of Australia’s wetter regions. The Australians considered developing a new observatory in the South-central Flinders Mountain range, which is very much dryer than Mt. Stromlo. But, they gave up after running some seeing tests.

]]> By: Amara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30175 Amara Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:59:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30175 Count Iblis: I'm sure that the southern US location was an important part of the NASA decision to have a quasi-equatorial launching facility, and if a rocket goes haywire, then there is a large expanse of water where it can go and not hurt anyone. Unfortunately, that large expanse of water at the edge of the continent is also one of the reasons behind the hurricanes and storms, so their safe launching facility has its downsides. Count Iblis: I’m sure that the southern US location was an important part of the NASA decision to have a quasi-equatorial launching facility, and if a rocket goes haywire, then there is a large expanse of water where it can go and not hurt anyone. Unfortunately, that large expanse of water at the edge of the continent is also one of the reasons behind the hurricanes and storms, so their safe launching facility has its downsides.

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30174 Sean Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:32:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30174 Frumious, I'm pretty sure that we need more than one telescope. Satellites are never going to put ground-based astronomy out of business. Frumious, I’m pretty sure that we need more than one telescope. Satellites are never going to put ground-based astronomy out of business.

]]> By: mollishka http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30173 mollishka Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:26:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30173 Goddamn squirrels. Too bad the fires on Mount Graham a few years ago didn't take all of them out, eh? Goddamn squirrels. Too bad the fires on Mount Graham a few years ago didn’t take all of them out, eh?

]]> By: FrumiousBandersnark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30172 FrumiousBandersnark Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:48:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30172 Gosh. If only we had a telescope in space far away from atmospheric disturbances. If only ... . Gosh. If only we had a telescope in space far away from atmospheric disturbances. If only … .

]]> By: jackd http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30171 jackd Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:30:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/07/13/dodging-a-flaming-bullet/#comment-30171 Count Iblis, I thought the desirability of launching eastward, over the ocean, from relatively close to the equator pretty much dictated that there was going to be a tradeoff for weather. Count Iblis, I thought the desirability of launching eastward, over the ocean, from relatively close to the equator pretty much dictated that there was going to be a tradeoff for weather.

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