Humans to Mars - crazy idea?

My friend Colin Pillinger writes in the Telegraph today that the notion of a human expedition to Mars is quite crazy. Robotic and lander missions are about to enter a long phase of inactivity following the great success of Spirit, and Phoenix. Colin would like 40million GBP to send Beagle 3 or Beagle 4.

Queen Mary 2

I'll be on board Queen Mary 2, 9 - 19 December, Caribbean cruise, promoting astronomy and the Royal Astronomical Society

Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur

I visited the Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur yesterday. It is in Nice France. There are fifteen historic buildings, all in the course of resotoration and many have been magnificently restored. The magnificent Grande Coupule has a 24m dome by Gustave Eiffell, seated on a charming observatory by Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera. The observatory staff have undertaken a great program of public outreach and education. The observatory is set in a huge park with absoutely spectacular views of the city of Nice, and extending right along the coast to St Tropez. This place is a must for any astronomy enthusiast visiting Nice.
website http://www.oca.eu

Simon
http://www.totalastronomy.com

Massive coverage of the arc

The circumzenithal arc photograph received massive coverage: 250 websites / blogs, mainly praiseworthy and intrigued.

Just goes to show what you can see in the sky by "looking up"

Today I've seen parhelia, Venus, and Jupiter, just by glancing at the sky

Clear skies!
Simon

Solar sights

The circumzenithal arc is a rare phenomenon. Much commoner are parhelia or 'sun dogs'. These occur when the sun is low in the sky. They appear 22° to the left and right of the sun, as bright spots of light. You may be able to see part of a 22° halo as well. The light from the parhelion is slightly refracted, giving a slight rainbow effect. Occasionally I have seen bright pillars of light extending a further 5° in the horizontal plane.

Frequent observation of the daytime (and night time!) sky is often repaid by the observation of beautiful phenomena that escapes the casual observer.

Upside down rainbow

Last week we saw a circumzenithal arc, which is a somewhat rare natural phenomenon outside the polar regions. It was right overhead, surprisingly bright, and lasted ten minutes.

Explanation: the Sun is at an angle of about 22 degrees above the horizon. There are zillions of hexagonal ice crystals in the stratosphere. Sunlight hitting the ice crystals at 90 degrees goes through two internal reflections, and sends a rainbow earthwards.

Leave a comment if you have seen one of these.Read more at http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=349778

Find out more at http://www.totalastronomy.com