The Cosmic Diary is not just about astronomy. It's more about what it is like to be an astronomer.
The Cosmic Diary aims to put a human face on astronomy: professional scientists will blog in text and images about their lives, families, friends, hobbies and interests, as well as their work, their latest research findings and the challenges that face them. The bloggers represent a vibrant cross-section of female and male working astronomers from around the world, coming from five different continents. Outside the observatories, labs and offices they are musicians, mothers, photographers, athletes, amateur astronomers. At work, they are managers, observers, graduate students, grant proposers, instrument builders and data analysts.
Throughout this project, all the bloggers will be asked to explain one particular aspect of their work to the public. In a true exercise of science communication, these scientists will use easy-to-understand language to translate the nuts and bolts of their scientific research into a popular science article. This will be their challenge.
Mariana Barrosa (Portugal, ESO ePOD)
Nuno Marques (Portugal, Web Developer)
Lee Pullen (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
André Roquette (Portugal, ESO ePOD)
Jack Oughton (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
Alice Enevoldsen (USA, Pacific Science Center)
Alberto Krone Martins (Brazil, Uni. S. Paulo / Uni. Bordeaux)
Kevin Govender (South Africa, S. A. A. O.)
Avivah Yamani (Indonesia, Rigel Kentaurus)
Henri Boffin (Belgium, ESO ePOD)
Hi everyone,
While a lot of astronomical research these days requires either very large and high-technology telescopes or spacecraft missions, that’s not true in all cases. Sometimes you can do good, valid work with small instruments.
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I’ve realized that it’s been about a week and a half since I’ve posted, so I guess it’s time to share a few more things.
It took me a little bit longer than a day to get this post ready, but I had some things crop up. But now let’s see what I can write.
The whole point of the Cosmic Diary is to show that those of us who do astronomy for a living are in fact living, breathing human beings — just like all of you. And as you can see from the little blurb on the right side of the diary, I have the extra “attraction” of being somewhat famous — or perhaps infamous. But I’m still just a person, who happened to have something rather extraordinary happen to him a few years ago.
With all this in mind, let me introduce myself . . .
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Hello everyone, and welcome to my “Cosmic Diary” blog!
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Alan Hale, 50 years old, born in Tachikawa, Japan
Biography:
Alan is probably best known as being the co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995. He was born in Japan to U.S. military parents but spent all of his childhood years in Alamogordo, New Mexico (USA). He is founder of the independent research and educational organisation, Earthrise Institute. In addition to its research and educational activities, Earthrise's mission includes the utilisation of astronomy and space as a tool for building bridges between different nations and cultures.
Place of Work: Earthrise Institute
Simply stated, the mission of the Earthrise Institute is to use astronomy, space, and other related endeavours as a tool for breaking down international and intercultural barriers and for bringing humanity together.
Location: Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Cloudcroft is a village in New Mexico. Its scenic location and mild weather attracts tourists from the surrounding areas, and this provides a solid economic foundation.
Website: www.earthriseinstitute.org/