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Mallorca Astronomy Week

Its been quite a holiday, if I can call it that.

I spent a week in Mallorca studying astronomy and planetary science with the Open University.

Sharon kindly drove me to the airport early in the morning and I caught the plane on to Mallorca. (Actually I only just made it to the plane as I was queing through security for an hour and a quater, I actually arrived at the plane five minutes after it had flown… or at least should have…)

The flight was uneventful apart from quite a lot of stomach turning drops as we flew over the Mallorca mountians, then over an hour wait for my luggage but after that a half hour trip to “Hotel Horizonte“

Just time for a quick walk into the centre to have a look around and get some essentials (Snickers and coke…) before the first coach ride into the heart of Mallorca and towards the “domes of knowledge” (telescope domes…). The coaches follow an ever narrowing road, eventually bearly much wider than the bus itself. (And we learned days later that the coach company uses the run as a “initiation test” and actually there’s a perfectly good motorway just up the road.)

After about an hour drive into the centre of the island we arrived at the observatory, I was expecting a panarama view of the island, but even though we were pretty high up the observatory was completely surrounded by trees, a problem we encoutered as some times the telescopes had to look right through the branches. (Apparently, this was all part of planning permission, to be able to build the observatories a certain number of rare and local plants had to be planted – unfortunately plants grow and had begun to crowd over the telescopes)

Check out some of my photo’s here

#flag: “Open University”, Mallorca, SXR208, Astronomy, “Planetary Science”, links

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My Birthday

Got some presents posted to me… but none of them arrived yet. (They will arrive next week though when I’m on holiday – Edit 26/09/06) Did get some cards though.

Sharon bought me loads of presents so thanks. A new large plant for my front room, a load of DVD’s and A rocket clock that changes colour depending on the hour.
(Also got some more DVD’s (From Ma and Pa, two Tshirts (From Sis and Bro), two planes so I could have my own “Air Race” (after the disaster on Saturday) and a flying lesson (also from Mum and Dad) – Edit 26/09/06)

Then Sharon took me out for Dinner at the “Linton Lodge Hotel” in Oxford – I wanted to try this place as I’d been informed that they had a wide range of food’s like Crocodile, Kangaroo and Ostrich. (Oh, and Belgain waffles (uuuummmm) ) Sadly they didn’t have Crocodile that day (or belgain waffles ) but Sharon tried the Ostrich which tasted quite nice. It was a nice evening out. So thanks Sharon.

#flag:

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Star trek's 40 years old.

I’ve been watching star trek for years and years. I don’t even remember the first time I watch it.

I wouldn’t call myself a trekkie, but I would say I’m a big fan if the show and its positive outlook for all our future’s.

The bbc has some nice images from shows acroiss the decades here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/5306538.stm

And here’s the official star trek site:
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/editorials/article/25215.html

#flag: “Star trek”, birthday

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Robin hood, Robin hood, out amongst the trees

Sharon and I with a group of seven others went out in to the park at night to watch the legendary tale of Robin hood played out before us by the people at Creation theatre

The open air show was perfectly placed in the centre of Hedington Park in Oxford. Seating half ringed a 200 year old great oak with a backdrop of the woods and park just behind.

Then Robin Hood arrived from his battles in the Middle East and arrows began to fly hither and there. John Little fights with staffs and Maid Marion shows off her sword play. And not forgetting Fryer Tuck, Will Scarlett and Robin of Lockslys servant.

The Sheriff of Nottingham plots Robin’s downfall, tricking him into taken part in a great archery competition but his merry men fight to the last to try free him .

Meanwhile Witches and wizards of the forest battle it out for ultimate power.

Until the final show down when Robin must stop the power crazed megolomaniacs from taking over. Can he do it?

I can honestly say I really enjoyed it, it was funny, and exciting, witty but sad, well written, and well acted. I recommend going to see something like this as its a great experience – unfortunately this play has now finished, but a new one starts in November, “Arabian Nights”. I for one will be trying to catch it.

Another review here.

#flag: play, theatre, “Robin Hood”

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Red bull air race longleat

To say the least I’m Disappointed but here’s how it went:

On Saturday after a three hour drive to Longleat (about an hour more than it should have taken because of the traffic) Sharon and I arrived in a muddy field on the top of a hill.

From the Car park it was about a 20 minute walk down to the valley floor where Longleat house was, but the impressive view as you walk down is worth the walk.

Even though the sky was grey, umbrellas were up and the wind was trying to knock us over, the air was full with an excitement which made you forget the dull light that was trying to overcast the day.

Hangers had been put up for the planes just across from the 16th Century LongLeat House and the place was filling up with people. The house is surrounded by acres and acres of land and scattered around where giant inflatable cones, standing 12 feet high. Or at least they would have been inflated if it hadn’t been so Windy…

The pre-race shows were cancelled – parachute display and helicopters – because of thew wind, but my hopes were still high (as you could sense were the other 99,999 peoples) that the weather would soon change.

Even as we huddled under a unberella away from the rain trying to stop it from exploding inside out our hopes were high – announcements were good that soon the wind would fall and we’d be seeing what we came for.

Then two planes took off and flew around – at first I was impressed by the amazing flying sideways tricks they were doing, until I realized they were simply being blown sideways by the high winds.

Things were getting desperate now. Recent weather news said the wind was soon to drop so – ever optimistically – the pilots and entourage knocked on the doors of Longleat house and Lord Longleat himself declared that the race was open.

Unfortunately the miracle we were all praying for didn’t come and the inevitable cancellation was announced.

Still we’d been there five hours and I was dammed if I was leaving so early.

So, as yesterday the pilots had successfully completed a qualifying round – the award ceremony was played out and we stopped to watch.

Then all there was to do was to climb back up the 20 minutes walk (now 40 minutes long) and sit in the car for an hour until the cars could actually get through the massive amount of traffic that had accumulated.

It had been a good but highly disappointing trip. :o(

There’s always next year…

Redbull: www.redbullairrace.com
Longleat: www.longleat.co.uk

#flag: “Red bull air race”, longleat

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Respects to Steve Irwin

Sad news today. Steve Irwin died yesterday while filming another of his “Worlds deadliest” series.

I, as I expect most people, have only seen and known him on TV but I have a lot of respect for him. You could always tell he enjoyed working with the animals and firmly believed in Conservation of the planet and all its inhabitants.

Although its hard to tell what people are really like on TV he came across as a genuine person working hard for something he believed in. I, for one, will miss his unique shows and his pure enthusiasm.

I just want to add my condolences to his family and friends. The World would be a better place with more like him, it seems a little less friendly now he’s gone.

Rest in Peace.

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Early birthday present.

Today Sharon bought me a new plant for my Flat as an early birthday present. We went to have a look around “Millets Farm”.

Thanks Sharon!

#flag: Present, plant, “Millets farm”

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Planets and plutons

Are we soon to expand our solar sytem to include more planets?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon and 2003 UB313 ?

Ceres orbits in teh asteroid belt, Charon was a moon of Pluto but now Pluto and Charon are two planets (or plutons) orbiting each other. 2003 UB313 (provisional name – thank goodness!) is one further out even than pluto, but thought to be much bigger.

Any suggestions for 2003 UB313 – your comments / suggestions welcome.

See also: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060816082231.htm and http://www.iau.org/

#flag: space, planets

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August

Well, I’ve been slacking again, no post for several weeks.

Apparently July has been the hottest month ever (since records began anyway), and I mean the hottest of any month, not just the July ones… I really should get around to finishing my Green website… but SO busy…

Work is also offering some new challenges, I’m currently working on Flash, I’m supposed to be creating a installer menu thing, but actually I’m just playing with it – I’ve never used it before!

OU work is also catching up on me, I’m supposed to finish reading a 300 page assignment book by end of August… which now seems pretty impossible… still, I’m sure I’ll be able to blag it! :0)

Also, around bank holiday in August I’m going camping and surfing – really looking forward to the surfing… not so sure about the camping… I’m going here.

#flag: work, OU, camping, green, links