Chris Lintott’s Universe

October 18th, 2007

10 things to do before you die

Posted by chrislintott in Uncategorized

I’ve just spotted this post on the New Scientist space blog with a list of things for astronomers to do before we die. I’ve done seven of the ten, which suggests it could do with a bit of expansion. I’d include see the Southern sky (for those of us in the North), see a daylight comet (a bit out of our control this one), a total solar eclipse and experience weightlessness. Any other nominations?

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  1. Nick Cross said,

    on October 18th, 2007 at 11:15 am

    Hi Chris,
    You haven’t properly linked to the New Scientist space blog. It is good to see you blogging again. I am very curious about the Galaxy Zoo results too. How large a volume of galaxies does it represent. Is it all over the SDSS, or a subset of data? Is the bias a function of magnitude or size or inclination (ellipticity), colour or redshift?
    Regards,
    Nick

  2. chrislintott said,

    on October 18th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

    Thanks for the correction. We’re working on the details of the results…sorry for not saying more now, but we want to be absolutely sure of what we’re saying.

  3. Alice Sheppard said,

    on October 18th, 2007 at 3:40 pm

    I’m not sure I’ve done any of the New Scientist suggestions. But unless you really hate the idea, I don’t think any astronomer’s life is complete unless they’ve gone to a local school and either started or got involved with an astronomy club!

  4. Rob Hollow said,

    on October 18th, 2007 at 9:56 pm

    Hi Chris

    An interesting list. I’ve done two of them so far and a actually going to Chankillo in Peru in just over a week which will be fascinating. I would also like to do the others on the list!

    I’d add a few things to the list:
    1. Spending a night out under dark skies with a group of friends, students, children introducing them to the night sky.
    2. Visiting any of the great observatories of the world. They’ve listed Mauna Kea which I hope to get to in 2009 but there any many other great ones.

  5. Nick Cross said,

    on October 19th, 2007 at 8:54 am

    Hi Chris,
    I understand that you need time to check and want to be sure. Now I have seen the link, I realise I am only half way. However, hopefully I am less than half way through my life too.
    Nick

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