Philosophy
Okay, a worthy idea, but is it official?
Astronomy Prof. Irving Robbins is offering the astronomical bargain of the decade.
A sizable donation to the College of Staten Island's astronomy program could earn you the right to name not only the school's tiny observatory but also - not one but two - planetoids Robbins was recently credited with discovering.
"Could" is the operative word since Robbins is also considering naming the planetoids - 2009 VH24 and 2009 XNO7 - after his sons, Isen, Davy or Zeav, his girlfriend, Dana, or his ex-wife of 37 years, Freda.
"I found these things, so I get to name them," Robbins said. "Somebody wants to give some money toward a new observatory, we can talk."
Robbins, 69, has taught at CSI for 42 years and started the astrophysics program there.
It's a popular course, attracting about 800 students in the academic year despite the fact Robbins "toughened it up a bit lately by including more math."
As director of the college's Astrophysical Observatory, Robbins, his assistants and students have tracked not only the planetoids he will name but also many Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA) and Near Earth Objects (NEO) whose orbits may eventually cross the Earth's celestial path.
Robbins said the hunt is personal.
"I really believe that there is a good possibility that we're going to get hit" by an errant asteroid, Robbins said. "If an object comes near the Earth, the question is always if it will hit us."
In 1988, Robbins noted, when the Harvard University-based Minor Planet Center first began tracking threatening celestial objects, there were 25 known objects that came close to the Earth.
"Now there are over 2,000," he said. "Some of them get very close and are potentially hazardous. This is an important problem."
Great teachers make complicated things simple. Here is how Robbins explained his discoveries.
Using government grants, Robbins buys time at $200 an hour to remotely control ground-based telescopes located in the Arizona mountains.
Using advanced software and digital cameras, Robbins positions the telescopes on the part of space he is interested in and then snaps a series of pictures over a set interval.
"Say we get three pictures," he said. "Then we get the computer to put the pictures together and flash them, or make them blink.
"Stars don't move. Stars move because the Earth turns, but we're moving with the stars. But the asteroid is moving amongst the stars.
"So when we flash the images, or blink them, we see the asteroid [a tiny white dot among hundreds of white dots] jumping along."
Ethical advertising--name a star
- We're All Monkeys
We are monkeys... that's right... you and me and the guy who narrates this entertaining and thought provoking little rant... and Nietzsche was also a monkey... a very smart monkey. Technically, though, we're apes, as this hilarious rant from The...
- Deceased--arthur Young
Arthur YoungJanuary 4th, 1940 to February 12th, 2912Arthur Young standing next to a siderostat at Kitt Peak National Observatory in June 1974."SDSU astronomer Arthur Young dies at 72"byGary RobbinsMarch 8th, 2012The San Diego Union-TribuneArthur Young,...
- Grab Your Moderately Powerful Telescope...asteroid 2005 Yu55 Will Be Nearby
"Giant Asteroid to Buzz Earth Tuesday; When and How to See It" Space rock as big as 2005 YU55 hasn't gotten so close since 1976. by Ker Than November 7th, 2011 National Geographic An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will make a close pass...
- Nerds Rule--how?
"Why Nerds Succeed" by Jessica Bruder June 24th, 2011 The New York Times For the modern adult, nothing signifies self-confidence, street credibility and authenticity like one simple confession: “I was such a nerd in high school.” (Emphasize “such”...
- Deceased--brian G. Marsden
Brian G. Marsden August 5th, 1937 to November 18th, 2010 "Brian Marsden, longtime director of the Minor Planet Center, dead at 73" by John Matson November 18th, 2010 Scientific American Brian G. Marsden, who as director of the International Astronomical...
Philosophy
College of Staten Island and bucks for names
Okay, a worthy idea, but is it official?
"College of Staten Island astronomy professor who discovered planatoids puts names up for sale"
by
Clem Richardson
April 30th, 2010
NYDailyNews
by
Clem Richardson
April 30th, 2010
NYDailyNews
Astronomy Prof. Irving Robbins is offering the astronomical bargain of the decade.
A sizable donation to the College of Staten Island's astronomy program could earn you the right to name not only the school's tiny observatory but also - not one but two - planetoids Robbins was recently credited with discovering.
"Could" is the operative word since Robbins is also considering naming the planetoids - 2009 VH24 and 2009 XNO7 - after his sons, Isen, Davy or Zeav, his girlfriend, Dana, or his ex-wife of 37 years, Freda.
"I found these things, so I get to name them," Robbins said. "Somebody wants to give some money toward a new observatory, we can talk."
Robbins, 69, has taught at CSI for 42 years and started the astrophysics program there.
It's a popular course, attracting about 800 students in the academic year despite the fact Robbins "toughened it up a bit lately by including more math."
As director of the college's Astrophysical Observatory, Robbins, his assistants and students have tracked not only the planetoids he will name but also many Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA) and Near Earth Objects (NEO) whose orbits may eventually cross the Earth's celestial path.
Robbins said the hunt is personal.
"I really believe that there is a good possibility that we're going to get hit" by an errant asteroid, Robbins said. "If an object comes near the Earth, the question is always if it will hit us."
In 1988, Robbins noted, when the Harvard University-based Minor Planet Center first began tracking threatening celestial objects, there were 25 known objects that came close to the Earth.
"Now there are over 2,000," he said. "Some of them get very close and are potentially hazardous. This is an important problem."
Great teachers make complicated things simple. Here is how Robbins explained his discoveries.
Using government grants, Robbins buys time at $200 an hour to remotely control ground-based telescopes located in the Arizona mountains.
Using advanced software and digital cameras, Robbins positions the telescopes on the part of space he is interested in and then snaps a series of pictures over a set interval.
"Say we get three pictures," he said. "Then we get the computer to put the pictures together and flash them, or make them blink.
"Stars don't move. Stars move because the Earth turns, but we're moving with the stars. But the asteroid is moving amongst the stars.
"So when we flash the images, or blink them, we see the asteroid [a tiny white dot among hundreds of white dots] jumping along."
Ethical advertising--name a star
- We're All Monkeys
We are monkeys... that's right... you and me and the guy who narrates this entertaining and thought provoking little rant... and Nietzsche was also a monkey... a very smart monkey. Technically, though, we're apes, as this hilarious rant from The...
- Deceased--arthur Young
Arthur YoungJanuary 4th, 1940 to February 12th, 2912Arthur Young standing next to a siderostat at Kitt Peak National Observatory in June 1974."SDSU astronomer Arthur Young dies at 72"byGary RobbinsMarch 8th, 2012The San Diego Union-TribuneArthur Young,...
- Grab Your Moderately Powerful Telescope...asteroid 2005 Yu55 Will Be Nearby
"Giant Asteroid to Buzz Earth Tuesday; When and How to See It" Space rock as big as 2005 YU55 hasn't gotten so close since 1976. by Ker Than November 7th, 2011 National Geographic An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will make a close pass...
- Nerds Rule--how?
"Why Nerds Succeed" by Jessica Bruder June 24th, 2011 The New York Times For the modern adult, nothing signifies self-confidence, street credibility and authenticity like one simple confession: “I was such a nerd in high school.” (Emphasize “such”...
- Deceased--brian G. Marsden
Brian G. Marsden August 5th, 1937 to November 18th, 2010 "Brian Marsden, longtime director of the Minor Planet Center, dead at 73" by John Matson November 18th, 2010 Scientific American Brian G. Marsden, who as director of the International Astronomical...