tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86833046624636776382024-03-13T02:41:48.571+00:00Trousers to Grow IntoWhen I was a youngster my parents bought me a pair of braces to hold up my new trousers. Of course these were 'Trousers to grow into' and without such support I would have been running around bare arsed. The braces were blue and had pictures of planets and rockets and, in the box, was a genuine ticket to the Moon.
<br />I know, because it said so.
<br />
Somewhere in a landfill site, many many years ago...Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.comBlogger983125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-27554104041545510122012-08-08T20:45:00.000+01:002012-08-08T20:45:38.242+01:00More cameras see light on MarsWith the mast now upright Curiosity's main cameras are waking up to greet the day. The navigational cameras were first to the bathroom. There are four of these, a pair on either side of the main cameras (which are still calibrating). All the mast cameras point the same direction, to give stereoscopic views wherever the mast head is turned.
Here we are looking north, the rim of Gale crater Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-40025730491395344342012-08-08T15:38:00.000+01:002012-08-08T15:39:24.100+01:00A birds eye view of CuriosityAfter it captured Curiosity (MSL) parachuting down, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter had another look at the landing site.
MRO was a lot further away on this orbit pass so the resolution isn't so high, however the components which put Curiosity down safely are all clear. The sky crane and parachute are to the left of Curiosity, some 600m away. The heatshield is to the lower right. In about Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-84396254548478077902012-08-07T19:07:00.000+01:002012-08-08T01:33:27.002+01:00Shadows of Martian CuriosityOH WOW!
Curiosity stands in Gale crater, looking forwards to the east-southeast, in the late afternoon. The long shadow of Curiosity reaches out towards the mountains some 6km away (it may be further). Is this the central peak of the crater? I'm not sure but possibly not. If it's a foohill what will Mount Sharp look like?
This still just a low res hazcam, though a front one this time,&Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-11722394667671128082012-08-07T17:34:00.000+01:002012-08-08T00:05:04.777+01:00Another view of Curiosity's heatshieldAs MRO was passing overhead Curiosity took it's own pictures with a camera on it's belly. With the parachute deployed the camera began clicking at 4 frames per second when the heatshield was dropped. Here's one of the first frames:
NASA have put together a low res, 4fps video of the whole descent. You can see the heatshield fall away and watch for the dust cloud thrown up at the end by the Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-57695136723033142012-08-07T16:38:00.000+01:002012-08-07T16:38:01.806+01:00Flash, bang, wallop, what a picture!
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has done it again!* As it passed overhead the mighty HIRISE camera had one chance to capture the scene; here is the result. From over 300km away not only is Curiosity clearly visible, dangling on it's parachute, but below is the heatshield!
But look again. There is no disturbance on the surface around the heatshield, no crater, no dust cloud.
Conclusion - it's Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-87458342076390537232012-08-06T11:53:00.000+01:002012-08-07T16:50:07.954+01:00If Curiosity meets a cat on Mars...will it be obliged to kill it?
This and other deep philosophical problems may be answered over the coming months following the successful landing of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) aka Curiosity.
I have dithered for weeks about posting on this because of the hugely ambitious landing procedure. I didn't know how to describe the complexity and all hopes could have been dashed by the Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-8797971010464340102012-04-03T15:28:00.003+01:002012-04-03T15:39:55.573+01:00Dust That SingsFollowing on from my post by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, YouTuber philhellenes gives his take on the subject.Ramp up the quality, make it full screen and enjoy...Dust That Sings [12:37]Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-59568955388787920112012-03-18T15:26:00.002+00:002012-03-18T15:44:06.504+00:00A thought for a SundayProhibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.Sun Tzu - The Art of War - 6th century BCEAndy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-24411378921074895262012-03-14T23:12:00.003+00:002012-03-15T00:32:56.852+00:00The Most Astounding FactI realise that I've not been active round here for a while. Sorry to the world and thanks to NobblySan for the nudge.What is the most astounding fact about the Universe? A deep question which has tied up philosophers, theologians and scientists for millennia. The astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked this in an interview for TIME Magazine in 2008 (I think). I would have said 'the directionAndy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-6333685793575255122012-02-12T23:53:00.004+00:002012-02-13T00:07:29.071+00:00A thought for a Sunday - only moments late"It may not be said that there is no god.It may be said that there is no reason to think that there is one."Christopher Eric Hitchens (1949 – 2011)Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-72267158763322279302011-12-24T14:31:00.004+00:002011-12-24T14:37:50.545+00:00Merry Christmas To AllHave a great weekend!Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-34205248113255945292011-12-17T05:13:00.005+00:002011-12-17T05:53:02.593+00:00This is how I want to remember HitchChristopher Hitchens has died and the world has lost one of the greatesat speakers in the debates for rationality and human rights. May the spirit of his words endure...This, I think, is Hitch at his best Debating free speech laws at the University of Toronto in 2006. The motion is: 'Be It Resolved: Freedom of Speech Includes the Freedom to Hate.' "Stay cool"Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-70163944219892527542011-11-13T15:48:00.004+00:002011-11-13T15:56:42.620+00:00A thought for a SundayAndy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-78021747738005795032011-11-04T19:37:00.002+00:002011-11-04T19:42:02.780+00:00A bit of musicSometimes it just hits the right spot!Steeleye Span - Drink Down The Moon (1974)Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-10524808517699799812011-11-02T19:50:00.005+00:002011-11-02T20:09:04.866+00:00Oh! So this is why we have 'small clothes'Lawrence Ferlinghetti reads UnderwearAndy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-58146971981149150282011-10-23T17:41:00.003+01:002011-10-23T18:10:16.193+01:00A thought for a Sunday"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."Alice Walker (b. 1944)(Found at the start of this film trailer)Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-31703830456347799032011-10-16T16:43:00.007+01:002011-10-16T17:00:16.983+01:00A thought for a Sunday"People get the wrong idea. If you're a scientist the two most exciting things you can be are wrong or confused, because that means there's a lot left to learn, and we are living in very exciting times. We're just like the early map makers in a sense. Just a lifetime ago we knew of one galaxy in the entire universe, now we know there are 400 billion galaxies. In a single human lifetime our Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-50865721935860828982011-10-14T14:43:00.004+01:002011-10-14T15:03:23.749+01:00Bad Astronomy at TEDThe highly entertaining Phil Plait gives a talk to TEDx about asteroid impacts on the Earth, and how we may be able to avoid them.From the 6 mile wide rock which may have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago to the smaller, more recent, Meteor Crater and Tunguska impacts the Earth has been under continuous bombardment from space.How can we escape the next big one? Phil Plait explains...Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-22194803247883741182011-09-25T20:51:00.002+01:002011-09-25T20:56:44.137+01:00Brian Cox take a new view of the universeI have no comment ;)Wonders of the Stoner SystemAndy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-28538866269696040162011-09-11T14:15:00.005+01:002011-09-11T14:34:58.379+01:00Need something interesting to pass an hour ot two, or more?Go visit openculture.com The site is a vast repository of links to free audio and video in lots of categories.So far I've watched a video about black holes, downloaded two audio books (Isaac Asimov's Nightfall and Rudyard Kipling's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi - there are many, many more I will get) and lined up a series of lectures called 'Science, Magic, and Religion' from UCLA. I'm off to dig through the Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-84977920239925943752011-09-04T14:27:00.004+01:002011-09-04T14:39:27.886+01:00John Martyn, One World.The remarkable song writing of the late John Martyn joins with a very subdued Dave Gilmour.
Perfectly...
John Martyn.and David Gilmour- - "One World"
Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-73413953701387092442011-09-04T13:55:00.003+01:002011-09-04T14:03:55.821+01:00A thought for a Sunday
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180 CE)Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-23951765560998357552011-09-01T02:52:00.004+01:002011-09-01T03:41:04.892+01:00The 1st BBC Comedy PromFor those in the UK only (sorry) the full concert is on the BBC iPlayer for a few more days, though clips are sprouting on YouTube. It is a magical divergence for the often dry and dusty annual Promenade Concerts from the Royal Albert Hall in London. Tim Minchin hosts a gala of music and fun which is a must see. Yes, this Tim Minchin!
I can't yet find the clip I want to play so bugger the Proms,Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-51708436785576672552011-07-06T13:26:00.002+01:002011-07-06T13:42:22.884+01:00Glastonbury 2011I wasn't there but thanks to the wonderful BBC iPlayer I've probably seen more than if I had been. What I did miss was the micro-atmosphere though: the sights, sounds and smells as you walk around, the endless stalls where you can spend an afternoon just shopping, and an entire world of food. The Beeb recorded many hours of video and it's all on their website, from short clips to full Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683304662463677638.post-33815222431962381672011-06-07T23:03:00.003+01:002011-06-07T23:27:16.902+01:00Caption this...It's not often I do a 'caption this' but I saw this on the news today and it was too much to resist.I'll try:"now wash your hands""Spain introduces new EU standards in condom testing" The guy at the left says "so that's what they are for!"Give me your worst.Andy Holroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375354122515047883noreply@blogger.com7