Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/11/26/Ian_Morison_400_Years_of_the_Telescope
Gresham Professor of Astronomy Ian Morison discusses some of the most memorable images from NASA’s nearly 20-year-old Hubble Space Telescope.
—–
A lecture to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first use of a telescope to observe the heavens by Galileo Galilei in 1609.
The lecture charts the development of optical telescopes since then, the subtle ideas that are greatly improving their performance and how they are bringing ever-further parts of the universe within our reach. – Gresham College
Ian Morison – Gresham Professor of Astronomy Ian Morison made his first telescope at the age of 12 with lenses given to him by his optician. Having studied Physics, Maths and Astronomy at Oxford, he became a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Observatory and teaches Astronomy and Cosmology at the University of Manchester.
Over 25 years he has also taught Observational Astronomy to many hundreds of adult students in the North West of England. An active amateur optical astronomer, he is a council member and past president of the Society for Popular Astronomy in the United Kingdom.
At Jodrell Bank he was a designer of the 217 KM MERLIN array and has coordinated the Project Phoenix SETI Observations using the Lovell Radio Telescope. He contributes astronomy articles and reviews for New Scientist and Astronomy Now, and produces a monthly sky guide on the Observatory’s website.
Duration : 0:5:13
[youtube SXfM8jblEMY]
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
this IS the word of …
this IS the word of god. nothing wrong with studying and learning about it.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
broadcastyamum
Yes …
broadcastyamum
Yes I understand you do not want to discuss the issue you just want to take a dump on me and run off.
Make sure to wipe your ass!
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
I’ll just let you …
I’ll just let you carry on making a fool of yourself. How about that?
*cue*
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
this is so wrong …
this is so wrong wasting tax payers money like this its downright evil the money should be used to distribute new bibles to haiti (they need it bad to make god forgive them for voodoo) and help others around the world who have not yet heard the word of GOD there is nothing more important you know it
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
broadcastyamum
…
broadcastyamum
What? You want to go a few rounds with me too? I’ll give you the first punch.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Implying that you …
Implying that you are more mature than someone is a good way of indicating that you are not.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Codfer970
Now be a …
Codfer970
Now be a good little boy and take your nap.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
KasparHauser4
…
KasparHauser4
Whatever you say, Mr. Senile Grandpa, don’t forget to change your diapers.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
I think this is …
I think this is brilliant. Science for science sake. The legacy of hubble should fire the imagination of more and more kids. If the human race is to survive we’re gonna need kids inspired by just this sort of thing.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Codfert970
There …
Codfert970
There there now! feel better? Now go take a nap. But remember what I told you about sucking your thumb!
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
You are the only …
You are the only cry-baby I see posting here.
Straighten me out???? It was you who assumed NASA was not interested in the Moon, when all you had to do was go to their Homepage.. way to go, you completely misconstrued my response.
NASA will continue to use YOUR taxes to “star gaze” whether you like it or not, because they are scientists… not youtubers…. and they don’t care if someone who is scientifically illiterate opposes their work.
dude… you made an idiotic post… deal with it…
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
DonQuixotedeKaw
…
DonQuixotedeKaw
Ahh you sound bitter and little yourself pal. If you want a civil response please post a civil comment. Otherwise go take a hike!
No homework here is necessary. I know as much as the next well informed citizen about Near earth objects.
You don’t need a billion dollar budget and Hubble for that. Again I can understand the cry baby attitude on your part. Hey if you want star gazing and looking at all the pretty lights in the universe then you can pay for it.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Kasper, you seem a …
Kasper, you seem a bit bent out of shape yourself. While what you advocated above is correct, you are mistaking the public face of “ooo-ahh” astronomy for its actual function. Near Earth Object (NEOs) detection is the nuts and bolts of modern astronomy. Far from a waste of effort, considering a certain event 65 million years ago, and that we are returning to the cycle locale, in which that happened. Please don’t ass-u-me the public facade is the real science. More homework 4U young man.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Codfert970
Well …
Codfert970
Well your welcome. I am glad I could straighten you out. Now shoo! Go outside and play with the other childeren.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
KasparHauser4
I had …
KasparHauser4
I had a feeling you would respond in a smug, douchey manner. Somebody must gore my sacred cow. Oh thank you so much for putting all my ducks in a row, how foolish of them to study distant objects in space in hopes of better understanding our own solar system.
NASA’s website:
“At the core of NASA’s future in space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build a sustainable long term human presence.”
NO SHIT?
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Codfert970
Sorry …
Codfert970
Sorry to have gored your “sacred cow” but somebody has to do this. There is no practical value in stargazing a couple of hundred light years into the universe even discovering a planet. it is a waste of the tax payer’s money just to entertain the starry eyed.
Interstellar travel is impossible. It cannot be done.
It is time we take on the Practical challenges and reap the real benefits from our own solar system rather than continuing to entertain dreamers.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Unprofitable …
Unprofitable stargazing?? Since when was NASA in the business of making money??? Its not like taking pictures with it costs millions, plus we are discovering new planets and learning more about space than ever using Hubble.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Time to stop …
Time to stop throwing our money away on frivolous star gazing!
Instead we need to put our money into building a robust moon colony from which we can easily explore in detail our own solar system.
If the potential of Helium3 is realized, a moon colony could pay for itself.
But we need to stop funding this silly unprofitable star gazing. If people want such things let them pay for it themselves and stop using government money on this fruitless enterprise.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:45 am
It’s beautiful
It’s beautiful