You Go Bill Nye!

Any scientist who can make science fun is a rare breed.  Any scientist who also speaks out for the sciences is even more rare.  Recently Nye had this to say about parents wishing there children be removed from the discussion of evolution, "And I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need people that can - we need engineers that can build stuff, solve problems. "It's just really a hard thing, it's really a hard thing. You know, in another couple of centuries that world view, I'm sure, will be, it just won't exist. There's no evidence for it."

 

So true...

Comet Lulin

I tried but was never able to see it.  Need more powerful binoculars.  Need a good comet once in a while!

The Night Sky

Here are Sol's closest neighbors out to 15 light years.  Interesting to note that as of May 2008 the Voyager 1 spacecraft has gone approximately 0.0017 light years from the sun (moving at 17 km/s).  It has something like 40,000 years to go before it passes even close to another star!  

The magnitude of time and distance is hard to comprehend at times.  Beyond the fantasies of science fiction can one really imaging journeying to the stars?  It's been 50 years since man has gone into space.  What will the next 50 years bring?  Mars?  Could you imagine the Earth being overcrowded and Conestoga like journeys to Mars to start a fresh?  Is there a Columbus who just decides to head out on a one way trip through the solar system.  Would you leave all behind for a one way trip to see something no man has seen before?