Ask an Astrophysicist - APOD's Dr. Jerry Bonnell

[neufer]

I'm tempted to ask Dr. Bonnell what color his eyes are,
if only to ensure that he actually gets to answer a question that is posted here for him!

VLADIMIR: We have to come back tomorrow.

ESTRAGON: What for?

VLADIMIR: To wait for Bonnell.

ESTRAGON: Ah! (Silence.) He didn't come?

VLADIMIR: No.

ESTRAGON: And now it's too late.

VLADIMIR: Yes, now it's night.

ESTRAGON: And if we dropped him? (Pause.) If we dropped him?

VLADIMIR: He'd punish us. Everything's dead but the tree.

ESTRAGON: (looking at the tree). What is it?

VLADIMIR: It's the tree.

ESTRAGON: Yes, but what kind?

VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow.

ESTRAGON: Why don't we hang ourselves?

VLADIMIR: With what?

ESTRAGON: You haven't got a bit of rope?

VLADIMIR: No.

ESTRAGON: Then we can't.

VLADIMIR: We'll hang ourselves tomorrow. (Pause.) Unless Bonnell comes.

ESTRAGON: And if he comes?

VLADIMIR: We'll be saved.

[neufer]

Well, that's it then. This topic is closed. Thank you for your questions.
Please check back next week for the answers.

Will we have to bring the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West?

[bystander]

Will we have to bring the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West?

[url=http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070101.html][size=110][b][i]NGC 6960: The Witch's Broom Nebula[/i][/b][/size][/url]

---

No, we've got it. Just go wait with Didi and Gogo.

[geckzilla]

Aw, I meant to ask him what the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow flying in the atmosphere of Mars is.

[Guest]

you can reply in locked threads.

[geckzilla]

That's true, but out of courtesy I would not.

[Beyond]

Aw, I meant to ask him what the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow flying in the atmosphere of Mars is.

Geckzilla, could you perhaps provide me with a brief description of what it is to be a "ladened" swallow

[neufer]

Aw, I meant to ask him what the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow flying in the atmosphere of Mars is.

Geckzilla, could you perhaps provide me with a brief description of what it is to be a "ladened" swallow

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

Arthur, King of the Britons

[Beyond]

Neufer wrote(pictured) "Arthur - King of the Britons.
That's no answer!! Its not even a definition of what kind of swallow.

[neufer]

Neufer wrote(pictured) "Arthur - King of the Britons.

That's no answer!! Its not even a definition of what kind of swallow.

<<Swallows have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world and breed on all the continents except Antarctica. It is believed that this family originated in Africa as hole-nesters; Africa still has the greatest diversity of species. They also occur on a number of oceanic islands. Swallows are excellent fliers, and use these skills to attract a mate, feed and to sometimes carry coconuts Swallows usually forage at around 30–40 km/h, although they are capable of reaching speeds of between 50–65 km/h when traveling [except when ladened with coconuts].>>

[Beyond]

Neufer wrote(pictured) "Arthur - King of the Britons.

That's no answer!! Its not even a definition of what kind of swallow.

<<Swallows have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world and breed on all the continents except Antarctica. It is believed that this family originated in Africa as hole-nesters; Africa still has the greatest diversity of species. They also occur on a number of oceanic islands. Swallows are excellent fliers, and use these skills to attract a mate, feed and to sometimes carry coconuts Swallows usually forage at around 30–40 km/h, although they are capable of reaching speeds of between 50–65 km/h when traveling [except when ladened with coconuts].>>

Coconuts? Coconuts?? Gives a whole new meaning to "Bird Bombs."
No wonder the observatory domes are thick!!

[neufer]

<<Swallows have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world and breed on all the continents except Antarctica. It is believed that this family originated in Africa as hole-nesters; Africa still has the greatest diversity of species. They also occur on a number of oceanic islands. Swallows are excellent fliers, and use these skills to attract a mate, feed and to sometimes carry coconuts Swallows usually forage at around 30–40 km/h, although they are capable of reaching speeds of between 50–65 km/h when traveling [except when ladened with coconuts].>>

Coconuts? Coconuts?? Gives a whole new meaning to "Bird Bombs."
No wonder the observatory domes are thick!!

It does seem a little hard to swallow.

[Beyond]

it does seem a little hard to swallow

Maybe all those swallows should be Capistrano'd

[neufer]

Maybe all those swallows should be Capistrano'd

<<Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on All Saints Day November 1, 1776, by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order

The Cliff Swallow is a migratory bird that spends its winters in Goya, Argentina but makes the 10,000 km trek north to the warmer climes of the American Southwest in springtime. According to legend the birds, who have visited the San Juan Capistrano area every Summer for centuries, first took refuge at the Mission when an irate innkeeper began destroying their mud nests. The Mission's location near two rivers made it an ideal location for the swallows to nest, as there was a constant supply of the insects on which they feed, and the young birds are well-protected inside the ruins of the old stone church. A 1915 article in Overland Monthly made note of the birds' annual habit of nesting beneath the Mission's eaves and archways from Spring through Fall, and made the swallows the "signature icon" of the Mission. On March 13, 1939, a popular radio program was broadcast live from the Mission grounds, announcing the swallows' arrival. Composer Leon René was so inspired by the event that he penned the song "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" in tribute.

Tradition has it that the main flock arrives on March 19 (Saint Joseph's Day), and flies south on Saint John's Day, October 23. In recent years, the swallows have failed to return to the Mission.>>

<<John of Capistrano (June 24, 1386 – October 23, 1456) was a Franciscan priest from Italy. Between 1451 and 1453, his fiery sermons against Jews persuaded many southern German regions to expel the entire Jewish population, and at Breslau some were burned at the stake. As legate, or inquisitor, he prosecuted the last Fraticelli of Ferrara, the Jesuati of Venice, the Crypto-Jews of Sicily, Moldavia and Poland, and, above all, the Hussites of Germany, Hungary and Bohemia.

After the Fall of Constantinople, Pope Callixtus III sent him at the age of seventy, to preach a Crusade against the invading Turks at the Diet of Frankfurt in 1454, and he succeeded in gathering together enough troops to march onto Belgrade. In the summer of 1456, these troops, together with John Hunyadi, managed to raise the siege of Belgrade, with the old and frail Capistrano actually leading his own contingent into battle. This feat earned him the moniker of 'the Soldier Priest', and although he survived the battle, Capistrano fell victim to the bubonic plague.>>

[Ann]

Coconuts or no coconuts, swallows or no swallows, Capistrano or no Capistrano (but it was very interesting to read about all of this, so thank you, neufer) - I'm eagerly awaiting Dr. Bonnel's replies!

Ann

[bystander]

I apologize for the delay, but I have yet to hear from Dr. Bonnell. I will post his replies as soon as I am able.

[neufer]

I apologize for the delay, but I have yet to hear from Dr. Bonnell.
I will post his replies as soon as I am able.

• VLADIMIR: Time flows again already. The sun will set, the moon rise, and we away . . . from here.
  
  POZZO: Pity!
  
  VLADIMIR: Poor Pozzo!
  
  ESTRAGON: I knew it was him.
  
  VLADIMIR: Who?
  
  ESTRAGON: Godot.
  
  VLADIMIR: But it's not Godot.
  
  ESTRAGON: It's not Godot?
  
  VLADIMIR: It's not Godot.
  
  ESTRAGON: Then who is it?
  
  VLADIMIR: It's Pozzo.

[bystander]

I heard from Dr. Bonnell. He hasn't forgotten us. It's just taking longer than he expected. Stay tuned for later developments.

[bystander]

The Answer has arrived. I plan on collating Dr Bonnell's answers into the original thread. The updated thread will be posted as soon as I can finish.