Comets Water Life!

Comets, water, and life, an astrobiology news item Just published in Int J Astrobiology (which I edit) the following story about comets, water and life http://tinyurl.com/m59wpo. This one has legs
Simon
http://totalastronomy.com

Cotes du Rhone Villages

In pursuit of good wine, I visited several villages in the Cotes du Rhone appellation, southern France. I much admire the wine from small producers (recoltants) who hand pick their own grapes. These artisanal wines never show up in supermarkets in the UK. I purchased very good CdR Villages and Vacqueras from La Bastide St Vincent (Guy DANIEL).

I'm doing astronomy lectures on Queen Mary 2 11 November - 17 November Southampton to New York. I have great topics: how to see UFOs, origin of the universe, armchair tour of the universe

I like jogging round the wrap around promenade deck, but I think in November that will be impossible as the liner does 35 km / hr into a 35 km /hr westerly breeze

byeee Simon

http://www.totalastronomy.com

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