Moon Shot

Hello all.  I am writing as I orbit the moon!

I have taken advantage of a wonderful simulation created by Wicked Quasimodo.  Wicked has coordinated the construction of a Saturn V rocket and is developing a simulation of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.  Wicked has not completed the entire flight.  As of this writing your journey will take you to the moon and place you in lunar orbit in about 30 minutes.

What a fantastic flight!  Check out the pics, and visit the simulation yourself.  Make sure to pick up the HUD at the base of the launch pad which provides NASA audio from the flight mission.  For best results adjust your graphic setting to the highest quality possible, otherwise you will miss the beauty of seeing our home and satellite from orbit.

The rocket launches around the half hour every hour.  There are only four seats in the capsule, so you may want to arrive early to get on board.  Enjoy your flight!

Far Out Friday

Welcome once again, dear readers.  Last week I received an invitation to a live broadcast of the Far Out Friday lecture series from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.  The broadcast was held at the International Year of Astronomy Amphiteater on Astronomy 2009 island.  The series is host to speakers from the field of science every first Friday of each month.  This time the speakers were Br. Guy Cosolmagno, Astronomer at the Vatican Observatory, and Scott Gaudi, Professor of Astronomy at Ohio State University.

The amphitheater at the IYA island is beautiful.  We sat on a grassy hill, covered by a translucent dome of blue with white stars on it.  The setting was perfect, and as the virtual sun set and the stars began to shine in the darkened sky I sincerely felt this was the right place to be for this event.

I was, however, surprised by the low number of avatars present.  How, I wondered, could it be that such a great event only garnered the interest of a dozen avatars or so?  Ourania Fizgig, manager of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 presence in Second Life and host of the event, explained that this was a 'soft opening' by invitation only, thus the low numbers.  She explained that future lectures will be advertised, and I expect the number of avies present will be greater.  I'll tell you something, I will certainly do my part to spread the word.

In real life Ourania Fizgig is Adrienne Gauthier, Industrial Designer and Technologist at the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona.  Along with Christopher Impey, Professor of Astronomy at the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona and Second Life resident Cosmo Priestman, Ourania worked with undergraduate students at UofA to create the History of Earth and Life on Earth Walking Exhibit in Second Life.  You can read more about this project at the EDUCAUSE Review website.

At the lecture Ourania was busy coordinating the real life event in Chicago with it's manifestation in Second Life while at the same time dealing with my incessant questions and shouts of excitement.  I certainly didn't make it easy on her.

Aside from a few technical challenges (good thing this was a 'soft opening'.... I guess Ourania knows what she's doing) I was very excited during the entire event.  It just blows my mind that I can be thousands of miles away from Chicago and still be able to enjoy and 'be present' at such an interesting lecture thanks to modern technology.  Not only that, the fact the lecture was being broadcast live in Second Life was emphasized from the beginning, giving me pleasure in and of itself, but during the q&a period following each lecture we were actually part of the live discussion!  I got to ask Br. Consolmagno about the Kepler mission (which happened to be launching the same evening) and what opinion or stance the Vatican has in regards to the implications finding extra-solar earthlike planets, and by extension life elsewhere in the universe, would have on humanity.  Want to know how he responded?  So do I.  Unfortunately I had difficulty understanding him clearly as the audio was a bit muffled and my real life ears are not as functional as they used to be, but the lectures will supposedly be available as vodcasts.

I want to make a point about my appreciation of modern technology, specifically for Second Life as a platform and tool, as well as about the work Ourania put into making this event a success.  The technology in and of itself is amazing, but worthless without hands to manipulate and control it.  People like Ourania, and various other individuals and organizations, who individually and collaboratively use this tool to provide anyone in the world (with a high-speed internet connection) with information and resources (and by extension power) are what keep me wanting to explore more of Second Life.  Thank you Ourania for making this event happen.

I encourage you to visit the Astronomy 2009 island as it is host to a wonderful exhibit dedicated to humanity's exploration of and appreciation for the heavens, and to come out on Friday, April 3rd,  for the next lecture in the Far Out Friday series at the Amphitheater located near the north-west corner of the island.  You'll probably see me there, whooping with excitement like a little boy looking at the moon through a telescope for the first time.

Remember, comments are greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Take care.

Pluton Karas

P.S:  A note on Ourania's name.  Ourania (or Urania) was a daughter of Zeus and one of the nine muses.  She was the muse of Astronomy.

Rocket Building Competition

Hello everyone.  Pluton here to tell you about the Tiny Moonraker rocket building competition held at Space Frontier earlier today.

I arrived on schedule, at 2 pm SLT, at the Space Frontier Sandbox, where there were some tiny rocketeers present.  I knew this contest was targeted at tinies, but when I actually found myself surrounded by little adorable bears, bunnies, and dragons I felt like cuddling them, a feeling which was unexpected and strange.  They were very cute, all done up in clever space suits and outfits befitting the occasion.

I had never been surrounded by so many tinies.  I had met a few in isolated situations, but being in the presence of so many gave me a sense of other-worldliness, and once everyone gathered at the actual launch site things got even stranger.  There were so many tinies all around that I felt nervous about walking, concerned that I might crush one of them!  Then they began to remind me of the mischievous creatures of the Gremlins films!  But not for long.  The tinies were bundles of chaotic energy, just like those nasty green creatures, but certainly not mischievous and bent on destruction.  No, these tinies were highly imaginative and bent on creating, as I was soon to learn.

UKBIKER Betsen, and other tinies, awaiting launch time

The rocket creations were fantastic works of imagination and absurdity.  I was unable to capture all the rockets on film, so the following is not a complete listing of all the rockets launched.

Copper Mistral's copper rocket

Etherea Parrot's giant bottle rocket

Catten Carter's retro-futuristic rocket

Hannibal Salamander's half scale Saturn V rocket

Xanda Bracken's rocket animal

Skinty Sparta's Tiny Astronomical Space Accidents (TASA) rocket

Rizzo Taurus' udderly fabulous rocket (wish I had a better pic)

SHAMUS Carter's sim transporting rocket

SHAMUS ready for takeoff

Vic Titanium's carbonated sugar-water propellant rocket

Azelle Mavendorf's double booster lounge pad

patrich Merlin's baby bottle space booster

Raymond Nightfire's ballistic V-2 creation

There was a great moment I wish I could have captured on video.  Skinty Sparta's rocket initially malfunctioned and exploded!  Fortunately Skinty was unharmed, most certainly due to the flawless design of her crew cabin and flight suit.

Skinty ready for take off

Mayday!  Mayday!

Skinty protected in the crew cabin!

Hurrah!  Skinty is unscathed!

After an hour of fun rocket launches it was time for the judges to deliberate over the contestant's efforts.  Fifth place was awarded to Raymond Nightfire, fourth place to Lara Vidor (not pictured), third place to SHAMUS Carter, second place to Azelle Mavendorf, and first place to Gadget Jun.

The best rocketeers of the day

Gadget Jun and her winning rocket

Special Honorable Mention was bestowed upon JiKun Aero who missed the opportunity to launch a multi-stage rocket that would have surely impressed the judges.

If you would like to see the rockets visit the Space Frontier Sandbox.  Some rockets are launch capable, some are copyable.  Feel free to roam and explore.

My sincere apologies go out to all the rocketeers whose creations were not represented in this entry; Differ Darwin, UKBIKER, Tiamat, Lara Vidor, and PsychicMediumMeri Indigo.

This event was one worthwhile attending, and certainly one worth repeating.  I hope Krull Aeon, Rocket Sellers, and all the community of Space Frontier do it again.  Thank you all for working so hard to make this happen.

Thanks go out to all the tinies who participated.  Your creativity is amazing, and your energy is boundless!

Sincerely,

Pluton Karas