Posts: 11,030
Threads: 751
Joined: Sep 2012
Update on Oumuamua (discovered by Pan-STARRS 1 on Haleakala):
An astrophysicist believes he has pinpointed the origin of Oumaamua, a distant system known as the “Pleiades moving group” of young stars:
https://theconversation.com/how-i-discov...amua-89577
The part I found most exciting was what this discovery of an interstellar object passing through our solar system might mean for the future:
Oumuamua is probably just the tip of the iceberg. My research suggests there are likely more than 46m similar interstellar objects crossing the solar system every year. Most of them will be too far away for us to see with our current telescopes. But new telescopes and surveys should soon be able to find these interstellar messengers, which may be sending us important information about how stars and planets formed.
"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 10,236
Threads: 345
Joined: Apr 2009
There's a Nova Special on black holes called "Black Hole Apocalypse" airing this evening (Weds, Jan 10th) at 9 pm on the Hawaii PBS channel. It includes an interview with UH Institute of Astronomy astronomer Eilat Glikman. (edited - spelling error).
Preview:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/black...lypse.html
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 7
Joined: Sep 2014
Mahalo Tom. We’re watching.
Posts: 10,236
Threads: 345
Joined: Apr 2009
Hope you're you're enjoying it, Kenney, I am and it's remarkably few of errors so far! Perhaps having an actual expert in the field narrate the show helps. It's just got into the Hawaii/Mauna Kea chapter as I write this.
Posts: 11,030
Threads: 751
Joined: Sep 2012
remarkably few of errors so far!
Speaking of scientific errors on TV and in documentaries, recently I read the film Interstellar had a Mauna Kea astrophysicist as advisor on the production staff for accuracy, as much as is possible in a Hollywood blockbuster:
Dr. Kip Thorne's presentation at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel to get an inside look at the science behind the 2014 film. Thorne is a world-renowned theoretical astrophysicist and Nobel Prize winner who served as an adviser for "Interstellar."
In his presentation, Thorne explained some of the scientific elements of the film, including wormholes and laws of gravity.
Thorne says he worked with director Christopher Nolan to turn science fact into science fiction as accurately as possible.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37208...aii-island
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 7
Joined: Sep 2014
I loved it Tom. All my training is Psycho-Social, Medical, so I really needed a good Tutorial. I was really proud to see how important the Mauna Kea Observatory is to advancing Science that is way beyond my comprehension. (which is why I rarely chime in on this thread)
I hope for the continued ability of all you Astrophysists to keep up the good work!
Posts: 11,030
Threads: 751
Joined: Sep 2012
I started to watch Black Hole Apocylypse this evening with PBS on demand. Pleasantly surprised to see Janna Levin as the host, I read her book Black Hole Blues last year about the planning & construction & success of the two LIGO observatories in the US. It's a great book, so I'm looking forward to learning more about the contributions Mauna Kea scientists have made in black hole & gravity wave discoveries.
Thanks Tom!
"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 10,236
Threads: 345
Joined: Apr 2009
Kenney - I hope you continue to chime in here - I'm always very happy to try and explain things which might come across as complicated or a bit obscure. I enjoy trying to make astronomy understandable to those interested.
I thought the show did a really good job of explaining gravity and general relativity in a fairly simple manner. Interestingly, general relativity is incredibly complicated mathematically, but simpler to explain to the layperson. Special relativity, which is essentially general relativity without acceleration (i.e., gravity), is mathematically quite simple, but very difficult to explain.
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 7
Joined: Sep 2014
Mahalo Tom. Your efforts to Educate are appreciated.
I think I’ll see PBS is offering it online. It’s worth watching again.
Posts: 11,030
Threads: 751
Joined: Sep 2012
I’ll see (if) PBS is offering it online.
Kenney,
I have a Roku streaming device, with the PBS channel, and most of their first run programs are available to watch for two weeks.
I thinks it's the same for the PBS app on an iPad.
"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
