February 21, 2012
1:04 am
by: MPax

What is a Nebula?

Dust. More scientifically, an interstellar cloud of dust and ionized gases. There are nebulae which are remnants of dead or dying stars, and nebulae which are forming new stars.

From dead or dying stars, there are two types of nebulae. One is supernova remnants. A notable example is the Veil nebula in Cygnus. It’s not very visible by telescopes unless you have an Oxygen III filter. Then it appears as a greenish smudge in the eyepiece. We don’t get the spectacular color the computers add in for the Hubble shots.

The second type from a dying star is the planetary nebula. The final stages of a main sequence star’s life (our own Sun will die this way), it’s shedding off its gases. Prime examples are the Ring nebula and the Dumbbell nebula.

The Ring appears as named and has a blue tint in eyepieces. Bigger telescopes which gather more light can show a star in the center of the nebula. It’s in the Lyra constellation near Cygnus.

The Dumbbell is in the Cygnus constellation. It’s a planetary nebula sideways. It appears with a greenish tint in the eyepiece. This photo taken by the camera attached to the 24″ Cassegrain at Pine Mountain Observatory.

Prominent examples of nebulae forming new stars are the Orion nebula (in Orion’s sword–the closest region of star formation to Earth) and the Lagoon nebula near Sagittarius. Since Orion is a winter constellation, the Lagoon is what I usually show to visitors at the observatory in the summer. The Orion nebula is below it. Both photos also taken at PMO.

There are also H II Region nebulae which include diffuse, bright and reflection nebulae. By definition they contain no well-defined boundaries, which actually applies to almost all nebulae. A nebula can have more than one classification. It can have dark and bright regions, be forming new stars and parts of it may reflect light.

The Swan nebula, also know as Omega, Checkmark, Lobster and Horsehead nebula is a group of newly formed stars. It’s also a nebula we often show in the summer, located near Sagittarius.

My favorite nebula is Orion. But since it isn’t visible most of the summer (unless I stay up until dawn), the Lagoon is my favorite summer nebula.

Do you have a favorite?

 

Posted in astronomy, photos, science

February 17, 2012
1:07 am
by: MPax

Space: 2099

While researching nanoprocessors, I ran across the fact that there is a remake of Space: 1999 coming out called Space: 2099.

From concept creator, Eric Bernard [brought us the new V]: After hundreds of replies from the fans on a short survey we did this past year, we came to the conclusion that the best way to achieve their wishes for the revival of the series is in the form of a sequel television movie event.  No reboot, re-imagining or remake, but rather a more comprehensive and respectful production that would capture the best of the original Space: 1999 series in a new contemporary fashion.  Simply the best of both worlds.  We think that we have achieved that objective with “Legacy”.  You may have even more questions after going through the site as it is composed only of the basic elements of the project for now, but I can assure you that “Legacy” is the answer you have been waiting for 40 years.

Space opera on TV again? Yay!! I can’t wait.

For more visit: Moonbase Alpha / Follow on Twitter

So what are your thoughts?

Posted in Sci-Fi on TV, science fiction

February 14, 2012
1:07 am
by: MPax

Spider Goats

As amusing as the idea is of goats dangling from spinnerets in barns, reality doesn’t go that far. Not yet.

Spider silk is attractive as a material because it is tough, elastic, strong and adhesive; tougher than Kevlar and stronger than steel. Scientists and engineers have wanted to explore more uses for this natural material. The problem: spiders are territorial and kill each other, making spider farms difficult. They needed larger supplies to test medical applications such as artificial ligaments and tendons, eye sutures, and jaw repair.

Uses can also be anticipated for bulletproof vests and improved car airbags.

So scientists figured out how to splice the ability to produce silk into mammal genes and in 2010, scientists at the University of Wyoming incorporated it into goats’ milk. Not all goats with the gene modification have been able to produce spider silk, just like not all of us utilize every ability in our genes.

Experiments continue, hoping to grow a strain of alfalfa that produces even greater quantities of spider silk. Learn more.

I realized most of my upcoming stories utilize gene manipulation in some way, so these types of breakthroughs fascinate me.

What do you think about spider goats?

Posted in essays, science

February 10, 2012
1:09 am
by: MPax

Weird Science

Thanks to Maurice Mitchell and the Geek Twins for honoring my blog with their first ever Weird Science Award.

I’m quite flattered. Science has always fascinated me and was always among my best subjects in school. My other favorites were English and history.

 

So, I’m to name ny three favorite scientists:

1. Marie Curie, the mother of modern physics. Coined the phrase, “radioactivity.” Where would science fiction be without radioactivity? We would have missed out on so many great [OK, cheesy great] monster movies without radioactivity.

 

 

2. Charles Messier. I have no idea how he discovered those 110 Messier Catalog items with such a small telescope. The man had super human eyesight. The wonders he found continue to amaze me every time I’m out with my telescope, and the people I show them to up at the observatory. Even with the 24″ telescope, we scratch our heads at some objects. How’d he see that?

 

3. Caroline Herschel. The first woman to discover a comet. Her work with her brother, William, led to the discovery of Uranus. What would we do without Uranus to make fun of? Without Uranus we’d still be unaware of Neptune and Pluto. The universe would be so much smaller. Uranus is a fascinating planet. It’s axis is tilted on its side. I’d love to see missions go to Uranus and Neptune. I want to know what’s out there.

I also admire all of the amateur astronomers who spend so many nights freezing and watching the skies. Kudos to the kids who come up to the observatory and tell me they want to be scientists when they grow up. Those are my current favorite scientists.

I’m to pass this onto three others:

1. Jon Mac of Mythik Imagination. I love his Weird Wednesday posts. He has no idea how much those have inspired me. I also like his very technical posts.

2. Stephen Tremp of Breakthrough blogs. He seems to have a passion for the sky as much as I do.

3. Suze of Analog Breakfast. I love the way her mind works.

And I’ll end with a photo from last summer:

The brightest dot is Uranus. Taken by the camera attached to the 24″ telescope.

Posted in astronomy, photos, physics, PMO

February 7, 2012
1:44 am
by: MPax

The Serial

Also known as chapter plays, serials were often based off of pulp magazine fiction. Broken down into episodes or ‘chapters’, these shorter features would play before the main movie. They always ended with a cliff hangar, the hero or heroine in perilous danger. Oh no! Viewers would have to return to the theater the next week to find out what happened.

I enjoy watching these old films. One of the most fascinating things I find about old movies, is that it’s like stepping back into history, a past we can actually witness. It’s like time travel.

So far my favorite serials have been Undersea Kingdom starring Crash Corrigan and Radar Men From the Moon featuring the adventures of Commando Cody.

I especially love the old, campy sci-fi’s.  How about you? Do you enjoy these old movies at all?

I’ve heard some writers are making the serial a come back in ebooks. What do you think about that? Ending a novel or novella on a cliff hangar?

Posted in movie, Sci-Fi on TV, science fiction, Uncategorized