Sorry, I know this isn’t the Observatory, although it was taken up there. I just wanted to say a few words about this picture.
I generally hate the way I look. I’ve hated my appearance since I was very young. Nevertheless, I love this photo. I don’t know what it is about it, but I think I look pretty for once. It’s such an odd feeling, I’m completely unused to this. I hope it doesn’t wear off soon, because not feeling bad about myself feels wonderful.
♥ ♥ ♥
First thought on my new camera:
The body is smaller and lighter than I expected, whereas the lenses are bigger and heavier. When I hold it, I don’t feel like I’m holding a camera; I feel like I’m holding a tube full of quasi-magical glass.
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
And you know what’s sad? I’m actually at the Observatory right now, but I left my SD cards at home so I can’t even take any photos! I wanted my camera’s first light to happen up here… Oh, well. I guess at home will do just as well.
My new camera is here!
It’s a Micro Four-Thirds Panaconic DMC-G3, in case anyone was wondering. Photo posting will resume as soon as I figure out how to work it comfortably.
News + Shameless Self-Promotion
Hey all.
Guess what?
My camera has gone into a pretty deep coma. Uh, oh.
I do still have some photos left to upload, and I’ll try to trickle them in until I get a new camera or can resuscitate the old one. It could be a while before either of those things happen, unfortunately.
Nevertheless, there is some good news. I am going to keep posting on my other (more personal) blog through this time. So, if you want to know what’s up in my life or read the things I write from time to time, check it out.
Curious about the Arecibo Observatory or Astronomy? ASK ME ANYTHING!
If I don’t know the answer, one of the scientists onsite will.
The path around the telescope’s dish, and the road under the dish. The distance around the dish is exactly 1 km.
fs35s asked: Hey, just curious, what all kinds of disciplines, or whatever you want to call it, are there of astronomy? Like Astrophysics and theoretical astronomy etc.
Wow, that’s quite a complicated question! I asked Tapasi Ghosh, a senior research associate here at the telescope, to answer.
This is what she said:
There are two different ways of defining sub-fields in Astronomy.
(1) by the groups or types of celestial objects one studies (using any tools)
(2) by the wavelength (and hence technology) one uses to study any object emitting or absorbing that wavelength.
Examples of first categorization could be : Planetary Astronomy, Stellar Astronomy, Pulsar Astronomy, Galactic Astronomy,
Extra-galactic Astronomy, & Cosmology.
Example of the second method of categorizing could be: Radio Astronomy, Optical Astronomy, Infra-red Astronomy,UV Astronomy,
X-ray Astronomy, Gamma-ray Astronomy and neutrino Astronomy.
Astrophysics can be applied to all types of Astronomy, as it just describes the physical mechanism of astronomical objects.
As for Theoretical Astronomy, it’s not much different to Astrophysics. It often concerns the creation of theoretical and mathematical models. Also, Astronomers who work with computer-simulations fall under this banner.
Basically, there are many different types of astronomy. The Arecibo Observatory, of course, is a radio-telescope, and it studies all types of celestial objects. It also does Ionospheric Studies, but those aren’t quite astronomy.
The cable-car. People who go up to the telescope’s platform ride in it. It looks terrifying when it’s in motion. Despite that, I can’t wait ‘til I’m finally 18, because then I’ll get to go up too!
octosquid asked: Are y'all friends of the PARI observatory in North Carolina? I'm an amateur radio astronomer, and I use their equipment remotely to study quasars. 'Tis cool.
Yes, we are their friends! I know my parents have done some pretty extensive work with some of the folks from PARI. I’ve even been there myself once. It’s such a beautiful place. ‘Tis very cool indeed.
I know you might be getting tired of tower pictures, but the thing is that they’re easy to take and make good fillers. So, have Tower 1.
70 Years of Telescopes Tuned to Cosmic Radio
Published last October, This Images illustrates the progression of radio telescopes from Jansky’s primitive ’scope to the huge arrays of antennas now installed in the world’s deserts and perhaps, one day, on the moon
Radio astronomy began with static. Bell Laboratories wanted to get rid of it and went looking for its causes. With a hand-built radio telescope, Karl Jansky discovered a clear signal of something else amidst the noise from thunderstorms near and far: a steady static that appeared to emanate from the center of the Milky Way.
The field of studying radio waves arriving at Earth from outer space was born. Jansky didn’t know what could be causing the radio waves, and Bell Labs pulled him off the project soon after his big discovery. Still, he’s considered the father of radio astronomy.
Via It's Full of Stars
About me
Formerly Daughter of the Dish. One eighteen-year old girl, dedicated to photoblogging every nook and cranny of the Arecibo Observatory.
.
If you're curious about who I am or just like reading about random things and looking at pictures, please check out my main blog, Dustmite Goddess!
.
LINKS:
► The Arecibo Observatory Website
► The Arecibo Observatory Facebook
