Waiting for E.T.

Metroactive Features ^ | 06/15/05 | Jaclyn Barcewski

[KevinDavis]

What if E.T. called to say hello? How would the third planet from the Sun respond? We can't speak for the planet as a whole, but we can say that the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club is ready for such challenges. And never mind quantum physics and fancy telescopes. This club has eyes for the earthling community below, as well for the infinite skies above.

Take Santa Cruz Astronomy Club events coordinator Doreen Devorah, who wears a satisfied gaze as she notes that the Harvey West Clubhouse, which is where the club meets, is full of mostly graying SCAC members.

"Two landers on Mars, Cassini circling around Saturn and then there's Titan! It's amazing," says Devorah with a wink as the club is called to session. "It's the golden age of astronomy!"

As it happens, Devorah doesn't really know much about astronomy. She doesn't even own a telescope, nor does she altogether grasp the fundamental basics of observational and theoretical astronomy, or astrophysics. What she does know is that she loves looking at the stars and talking about cosmology.

[KevinDavis]

[Sam Cree]

"with club members concerned about the politics and sociology behind that decision"

Glad they know what sociology is, anyway.

[TitansAFC]

Thanks for the ping!

We are getting better at unmanned missions. I think we need to send highly advanced probes and telescopes at top speeds to much greater distances than Titan. Perhaps a very-long-term-project launch toward a "nearby" planet in another solar system.

We need to get a manned mission to Mars, though, and start experimenting more with potential forms of nuclear propulsion. I think the next golden age of Space Travel starts with footprints on Mars.

[KevinDavis]

I agree that a combination of Human/Robotic mission would be good. Well there are people who is developing a plasma rocket...

[anymouse]

This begs the question of whether or not NASA's obsession with "Astrobiology" (the search for extraterrestrial life) is really a cult movement or legitimate science? If you read much of the media's coverage of the topic, it focuses on illogical assumptions and wishful thinking, rather than on dispassionate empirical scientific discovery and analysis. Then again so does much of the so-called scientific establishment when seeking funding support. :)

[RadioAstronomer]

"We don't know why there aren't more younger members. UCSC's Astronomy program has the best minds in the country

From reading the article, I sure don't wonder why.

[vannrox]

The following is automatic screen capture picture. It was obtained by an "abductee" who rigged her computer Web CAM to take pictures every 30 seconds or so and then post them on the internet. The cam was black and white with IR diodes providing the lighting. This is the only picture that she was ever able to capture. Since this event and picture, the computer now always depowers prior to an abduction event, and repowers about 45 minutes later.

[mikrofon]

'Been here, left large unpaid phone bill...