"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight."
When I was nine, I read up Snoopy's Encyclopedia and learned that the first bright thing you see in an evening sky is most likely to be a planet, and not a star. Only for the simple reason that the sky would still have been too bright for a pin-point light to be seen.
The weather in JB was not so favourable to the common star gazer. The one and only session happened on our first night there, and even so, the quite well lit-up area of Senai was interrupted by the occasional cirrus clouds.
See the white dot on the top right? That's Jupiter.
But when it did happen, Padre's six inch Celestron opened my world to Jupiter. I managed to catch a glimpse of five of its 16 satellites (or moons) and the latitudinal bands were quite prominent. How fascinating and incredible!
An enhanced computer image of Jupiter as seen on Padre's laptop.
To infinity and beyond...
(WARNING: Images on this post may not be suitable for the faint-hearted.)
The downpour on the island earlier today made it impossible for my exercise routine. The plan was either to swim or bike. (What else can I do with a back problem right?) I guess the next appropriate way of shedding some weight is to donate blood.
It was a pleasant visit on this wet Friday morning, there was virtually no one.
The nurse reminded me that I have a fat thick vein - the
only reason I can think of why I have it is this.
450ml (15.8oz) of fresh warm red plasma and other good stuff
If you are above 50kg (110 lbs) and are medically fit, I encourage you to "shed some weight".
I'm off to JB* for a star gazing session over the weekend with some of my old art friends. Padre is bringing his telescope so that'll be the highlight. Watch this space soon...
*JB - Johor Bahru, southern tip of peninsular Malaysia.
Since Griffith Park has been in the news a bit, I'd thought I'd like to share my visit to the Observatory two weeks back.
Many movies have this as a key backdrop. My favourite is Disney's The Rocketeer.
In focus from left: Kepler, Galileo and Copernicus, as they guard the Observertory.
A Foucault Pendulum - an instrument that measures the earth's rotation.
A rock from our closest satellite.
There's Alf & Einie doing their thing.
There was a screening of "Centered in the Universe" at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, a large dome-like 300-seater featuring state-of-the-art projection technology. I was awed by the presentation as it took me through a trip across the universe. (Well, as far as what we've covered at this point in time.) It reminded me of how puny I am, and how mega-ginormous my Creator is!! It certainly brought tears to my eyes to be able to not just realise it, but to be able to physically see it.Like that wasn't enough. I had to witness something even more beautiful! An elderly lady was walking down some steps with her walking stick, and in comes her husband who could barely walk properly... to assist her. Awww... Cheers and blessings to their marriage! ;O)
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