by StarmanHDB » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:11 am
I just want to send out a hearty 'THANK YOU' to one of our local TV stations' weather reporters--CHUCK GAIDICA of WDIV TV, Detroit--for again proving that he is an advocate of popularizing astronomy by spotlighting the May 29, 2007 APOD of M81 on that evening's newscast.
As I was in the kitchen preparing dinner, I didn't catch the beginning of the report (I ran to the TV when I heard him mention "M81"), but I did manage to catch Chuck explain that the image was taken by the HST, that it was that of a spiral galaxy, and that M81 is VERY FAR AWAY. To emphasize M81's distance from Earth, he translated the light years into miles (with LOTS of ZEROS) so that all could understand and appreciate that vast distance. The only thing Chuck neglected to mention was that M81 is readily available for anyone to observe provided they have access to the combination of dark skies, a telescope, and/or a pair of binoculars. I'm only stressing this point as this APOD is so beautiful and that its real object is one of amateur astronomy's greatest ambassadors--well within anyone's reach....even welcomed newcommers to the hobby. Either way, as I have mentioned, since Chuck is VERY GOOD about keeping Metro Detroiters informed about astronomical phenomena, I'll let this relatively minor ommision slide.
Once again, thanks Chuck! Keep up the good work!
I just want to send out a hearty 'THANK YOU' to one of our local TV stations' weather reporters--CHUCK GAIDICA of WDIV TV, Detroit--for again proving that he is an advocate of popularizing astronomy by spotlighting the May 29, 2007 APOD of M81 on that evening's newscast.
As I was in the kitchen preparing dinner, I didn't catch the beginning of the report (I ran to the TV when I heard him mention "M81"), but I did manage to catch Chuck explain that the image was taken by the HST, that it was that of a spiral galaxy, and that M81 is VERY FAR AWAY. To emphasize M81's distance from Earth, he translated the light years into miles (with LOTS of ZEROS) so that all could understand and appreciate that vast distance. The only thing Chuck neglected to mention was that M81 is readily available for anyone to observe provided they have access to the combination of dark skies, a telescope, and/or a pair of binoculars. I'm only stressing this point as this APOD is so beautiful and that its real object is one of amateur astronomy's greatest ambassadors--well within anyone's reach....even welcomed newcommers to the hobby. Either way, as I have mentioned, since Chuck is VERY GOOD about keeping Metro Detroiters informed about astronomical phenomena, I'll let this relatively minor ommision slide.
Once again, thanks Chuck! Keep up the good work!