The Amateur Astronomy Thread

[icowden]

What you're proposing is essentially an Air B&B in the ISS

Yes if you like. Your tourist offsets some of the cost of the journey. Win / win.

 

[Psamathe]

It does seem like a lot of money, and a lot of fuel and resources to give a few people some jollies.

I think space tourism has a role, but I'd prefer to see it working side by side with necessary work rather than just "cos".

Or spend the money giving public access to telescopes with people to explain the wonders of what they are seeing.

That said, I do confess to being maybe too focused on "useful"? A few years back one module on my Astronomy degree course for a course assessment essay I won a prize of observing time on the Liverpool Telescope (remote 2 m scope in the Canaries) and rather than me choosing something of personal interest (likely a Globular Cluster) where my time would have served no useful purpose I told the University to give the time to a researcher of their choice for their research (eg somebody whose bid for time was to be not granted), put to resource to use.

Ian
Edit: To clarify, I don't have an Astronomy degree but for a time was doing different modules on UCLAN and Liverpool JMU Astronomy degree courses.

 

[Psamathe]

I think space tourism has a role, but I'd prefer to see it working side by side with necessary work rather than just "cos".

Yes if you like. Your tourist offsets some of the cost of the journey. Win / win.

(Without wanting to get into NACA areas), Do you trust the tech bros billionaires to carry out any useful research work? Maybe "research" into schemes to make even more money whilst further polluting our night skies or maybe some work into life extension/anti-aging some of them seem so interested in. Useful research to further out understanding of the universe ... they'd just need to know where's the profit?

Ian

 

[classic33]

On the 10th August, 6 planets — Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune — will align in the sky.
Last chance until February next year, to see a similar number in the night sky.

 

[stephec]

I bought a cheap Skywatcher 90mm refractor a few weeks ago, to use as a travel jobbie for when I'm working away, that should give me an excuse to test it tonight.