Comet in Moominland

I read ‘Comet in Moominland’ to my daughter Alice when she was a little girl.  We both thought this was one of Tove Janssons’s best books about the adventures of the Moomins; Moomintroll, Moominpappa, Moominmamma, Sniff , the Snork Maiden and the Hemulen.  The Moomins love and support each other in a harmonious community in which the ‘family’ is the centre of their world. They all live together happily in the idyllic Moomin Valley. 

Comet in Moominland describes Moomintroll’s journey to a far off Observatory where he finds out more about the fast approaching comet.  During this epic journey he discovers that water has been disappearing  from their world and falls in love with the enigmatic Snork Maiden.  Mooomintroll is both an‘Eco-warrior’ and a ‘Romantic’

Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok, have detected  an inbound comet in photographs taken using a 15.7-inch (0.4-meter) telescope at the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON), near Kislovodsk.  The new comet,  designated as C/2012 S1, is currently far too faint to be seen with the naked eye being about 625 million miles from Earth.  It will be much closer in November 2013, when it could become a magnificent sight in the sky.  The preliminary orbit for this comet has been computed and  it bears a close resemblance to the orbit of the 'Great Comet of 1680'.  They might be related or one and the same!

Look for C/2012S1 first in October 2013, predawn, in the constellations of Leo and then Virgo,  it should be observable with the naked eye as a faint object.  Comets are, however, notoriously fickle, so you shouldn't give up if you fail to spot it at the first attempt.

Either way, in 2013, towards the end of November,around about my birthday and the 'American Thanksgiving Day ',  we could witness a display by a spectacular comet just like the one seen by the Moomins!

I can relate to the 'Hemulen', a troll who is a collector of  ‘things’.  In Finn Family Moomintroll, he becomes sad when he realises that he has acquired every stamp ever issued in the world.  He brightens up, however, when he realises that  he could take an interest in Botany and collect plants instead.

10,000

Thanks to all worldwide readers of my Blog 'Cabine du Jardin Deux'.  The Cabine has today passed the 10,000 page views milestone. 

This got me thinking about the number 'ten thousand'.

Apparently, each neuron in the brain has connections to 10,000 others. The latest research, which involved making brain soup and counting the number of nuclei belonging to neurons, gives the average number of neurons in a human brain as eighty six billion.  Therefore the human brain has something like 860,000 billion connections.  It makes you think, doesn't it? 

There are said to be 10,000 species of birds.

The speed of a fast neutron is 10,000 Km/sec.

A 'myriagon' is a polygon with 10,000 sides.

Human Gene ID 10000:  AKT3 v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 3 (protein kinase B, gamma) [ Homo sapiens ]

Ten thousand steps for the average fit male is approximately five miles.

The ten thousandth prime number is 104,729.  For more information on the first 10,000 prime numbers see:      http://primes.utm.edu/lists/small/10000.txt

In the USA, every day between 2011 and 2030, 10,000 baby boomers will reach the age of 65 years. Twenty-six percent of the US population are baby boomers.

There are fourteen physicians for every ten thousand members of the world population.

The Alpine Valley (Vallis Alpes)

Northern Hemisphere of the Moon
(Taken from my backyard)

Vallis Alpes is a lunar valley feature that bisects the Montes Alpes range. It extends 166 km from the Mare Imbrium basin, trending east-northeast to the edge of the Mare Frigoris. The valley is narrow at both ends and widens to a maximum width of about 10 km along the middle stretch. 

The valley floor is a flat, lava-flooded surface that is bisected by a slender, cleft-like rille. (This cleft is a challenging target for telescope observation from the Earth.) The sides of the valley rise from the floor to the surrounding highland terrain, a blocky, irregular surface. The southern face of the valley is straighter than the northern side, which is slightly bowed and uneven. The more rugged edges of the valley lie at the narrow west-southwest end that cuts through the mountain range. Most likely this valley is a graben that was subsequently flooded with magma from Mare Imbrium and Mare Frigoris.

 (Credit Wikipedia)

Location of the Alpine Valley

Enlargement of my image

View of Alpine Valley
taken by Lunar Prospector 5
(NASA)

A Grand Day Out (Credits Wikipedia, NASA, Nick Park)

Misplaced Architecture No9

Does what it says on the Tin

"In the future everyone will be world- famous for 15 minutes" Andy Warhol 1968.  

Benjamin H.D. Buchloh suggests that the core tenet of Warhol's aesthetic, being "the systematic invalidation of the hierarchies of representational functions and techniques" of art, corresponds directly to the belief that the "hierarchy of subjects worthy to be represented will someday be abolished," hence anybody, and therefore "everybody," can be famous once that hierarchy dissipates, "in the future," and by logical extension of that, "in the future, everybody will be famous," and not merely those individuals worthy of fame. (credit Wikipedia)

" I don't know much about art but I sure like Toot's soup" George Roberts 2012

The English Baccalaureate

Thank goodness that we are "all in it together" and England's school children are soon to be educated in a more enlightened age when 'traditional values', for so long only passed on to the privileged few attending our renowned public schools, are espoused and championed by our state funded schools , free schools  and academies.

How privileged I feel to have lived long enough to witness the removal of all barriers to the educational progress of our children.  No longer will social deprivation, intellectual inability or even hunger be used to justify failure in achieving the grade.  Hurrah for the demise of lefty psychology, information technology and sport.  Three cheers for the ascendancy of 'times tables', 'league tables', learning by rote, Aristotle and a nice school uniform.

I have had my ' Road to Damascus" experience, clearly a dangerous journey in these times of conflict. I have rejected the hedonistic life style of the recently 'retired' and by taking a more active role in the 'Big Society',  I hope to make amends for my feckless 'baby boomer' greed and crimes against the unborn.

As this is day one in my re-construction, I humbly offer, to the Baccalaureate curriculum, my copy of this book of wisdom from the USA and past times, 'Wilkes' Priceless Recipes'.  Be of no doubt, between its tattered covers ravaged by the passage of time', lies a broad reservoir of learning.  No aspect of life or useful endeavour is ignored. With November the Fifth fast approaching, how helpful are the entries describing the the manufacture of gunpowder and fireworks?

Who could not be impressed by the book's expressed cardinal points of excellence "Reliability, Usefulness, Brevity and Simplicity'. Could this be a future strap line for the Department of Education?  I am sure the National Health Service could only benefit from the book's sagacious words on the removal of pain and soreness from wounds.

"The value of smoke from burned wool to remove pain and soreness from wounds of all kinds is great and it will give immediate relief from the intense pain caused by a gathering. Take some hot ashes with a few small live coals on a shovel, sprinkle some wool flannel strips on it, and hold the injured member in the smoke for five or ten minutes, using plenty of flannel to make a thick smoke. Repeat as often as seems necessary, though one smoking is usually enough".

"It was the best of times and the worst of times" Mr Charles Dickens

For further information  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

Sir Bernard Lovell 1913- 2012



The Lovell Radio Telescope Cheshire
(Credit Wikipedia and
Mike Peel; Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics,
University of Manchester)

 

Sir Bernard Lovell OBE FRS in 2000
(Credit Wikipedia and Mr Robert Alexander)
 

Forty-four years ago this September, I commenced my undergraduate studies at Manchester University.  As part of the organised  activities of 'Freshers' Week' I was taken by coach out into the wilds of Cheshire to see the the Jodrell Bank RadioTelescope .  Forty-four years later the telescope, upgraded and refurbished, remains at the cutting edge of astronomy and is the control hub for the seven telescopes which together form the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometry Network (E-MERLIN). 

 

I never had the opportunity to meet Sir Bernard Lovell but have long admired his scientific leadership as a hands on pioneer in the development of radio astronomy.  Above all else he was the driving force behind the construction and development of the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope which, now bearing his name, continues to operate as a National and International resource.

 

Sir Bernard Lovell died in August this year at the great age of 98 years, leaving behind a record of scientific achievement of immense stature.

 

Obituary see:  resource.http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=8592

 

 

Going, Going, Gone

Arctic Sea Ice, melting and breaking up 

Ironically,when I type in 'Arctic Sea Ice' into the search engine on my laptop, in the top three returns, I get "Buy your Arctic Sea on Ebay for less".

Sadly this September the area of Arctic sea ice is at its lowest level for years. Clearly, this is one of the most dramatic indicators of global warming.

As we have all been collectively peeing in the bath for years it ill behoves any of us to complain about the quality of bathing water.

My thoughts go out to the Polar Bears for whom the future looks bleak and warmer simultaneously.



For more information see http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

Bikes, Boats and Big Skies in Suffolk

Taking the dog for a ride

In East Anglia there are so many opportunities for photographer and artist to capture moments in time in the landscape.  Today, as I came out of the Harbour Inn Public House, I saw on the opposite river bank, this unknown lady taking her dog for a ride in the basket on her bike.

Southwold seen across the marsh

Looking towards the town I could see the Lighthouse and the chimney from the Adnams Brewery silhouetted against the horizon.  The coast has a special light and palette of colours that have been captured by generations of Norfolk and Suffolk artists.  There are many galleries in Southwold where you can view and purchase works by local artists.  I created these images this afternoon using base photographs that I took this morning.  I digitally remastered the images and reorganized them using Photoshop software.

Given time, I may work up some or all of these images, in oils on canvas, to create full scale paintings.

Southwold in Suffolk is a great place to take a holiday or a weekend break. Whether in summer, autumn, winter or spring its well worth a visit!

If you are lucky you might find some amber amongst the pebbles on the beach or see a Marsh Harrier in the sky.

If nothing else appeals to you, you can always waste an hour or two just "Mucking about in boats"


There are moorings and ships chandlers and a number of shacks selling locally caught fish and seafood.  The Harbour Inn provides an excellent lunch and a great pint!

In days gone by there was a narrow gauge railway that ran along the river bank.  Evidence of the rail sleepers can still be found in a number of places. Today Southwold and the Harbour are accessible by car, bike, boat and foot.

Salmon Fishcakes

Fishcakes with 'Gastro Fancy Danery' veg.

 Toot made red salmon fishcakes for supper and they were absolutely delicious.  Now Toot has used all sorts of salmon for fishcakes, wild, farmed, fresh, frozen and canned, Scottish and Alaskan.  Do you know what?  We both rate the best fishcakes as made with canned Alaskan Red Salmon!

Toot says that Salmon Fishcakes should be simple with only a little seasoning. Toot grew the potatoes for the fishcake mash on her allotment.  She boiled them in salted water, drained them and then mashed them with a knob of lightly salted butter (no milk or cream).  The mash was then allowed to completely cool.  The contents of a small can of red salmon was folded into the cold mashed potato.  A large egg was beaten and added to the mixture.  Two or three sprigs of parsley from the garden were chopped and  added to the fishy eggy mash and all was then seasoned with a little black pepper.  Toot then took spoonfuls of the mixture, formed them into balls in her hand and rolled them in plain flour to create 2 inch (50mm) diameter discs about 3/4inch (20mm) thick.  The fishcakes were cooked on a very hot flat frying pan with a little groundnut oil and butter. The fishcakes must be flipped so they are golden on each side and once they are cooked on the outside the heat should be turned down and the cakes cooked through.

Fishcakes with chips and spinach

Toot likes her vegetables good and simple, chips and spinach steamed with pepper and a little grated nutmeg.

I like a bit of Gastro Fancy Danery! so I had my fishcakes with  potatoes sauteed with red onions thyme and chilli pepper, Swiss chard braised in butter and steamed spinach. Yummy yummy!

Toot enjoyed her supper so much, she had a small celebratory 'chip butty' to finish off!

Why not make yourself salmon fishcakes they are so much nicer than the ready-mades you buy at the supermarket?

The chip butty

Solar Activity

Fantastic image of the eruption of a massive solar filament
 taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on the 31st August 2012
Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA, NASA/STEREO, SOHO (ESA & NASA)

Yesterday, I spent two hours in my backyard with my telescope, camera and laptop taking video clips of sunspots.  All went reasonably well until, having packed all my gear away, I discovered that I had not registered the captured frames and consequently had nothing to show for my labours!

What a fool am I?

Anyway those nice people at NASA have come to my rescue! I thought this photograph taken from space is absolutely fantastic, to use a much abused word 'Awesome'!

I would recommend watching the video from which this still was taken. Its brilliant!
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News090412-filament.html

Anyway, here's a photo of a sunspot I took earlier in May using a compact camera to shoot HD video through my 90mm Maksutov Cat telescope with a white light filter. Notice the 'orange peel' affect on the sun's surface created by thermal convection currents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maksutov_telescope

Bradley Wiggins

Toot snapped this great image as the Tour of Britain riders passed through Oulton Broad on their way to Norwich.  Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins is leading this small group of riders along the Somerleyton Road about a mile from our home.

Toot, Rachel, William and our grandchildren, Felix, Maisy, Custy and Tabby, cheered them on their way!

Well done to Team Sky's Luke Rowe who won the opening stage of the Tour in East Anglia on Sunday and also to William who cycled the forty miles from Wickham Market to Oulton Broad on Saturday!

Customer Care

Last night, I sat in the garden with my son William,  discussing 'Customer Care' in the National Health Service.  We drank some wine, ate some cheese, steak and scallops and as the stars came out we warmed our toes by the fire in our terracotta chimera.

After a few glasses of 'robust red', we reminisced over past examples of the good customer service we had experienced from local businesses. William recounted a great tale  of ' exemplary customer care' from his student days.

In Oulton Broad there is a well established and much loved Pizza and Kebab Take-away, 'The Manhattan Pizza and Kebab House'.  Apparently, in the early hours of the morning one night long ago, William, on foot and tired and emotional, after a heavy session on locally brewed beer, went into the Manhattan and ordered a large pizza, potato wedges and 'slaw for delivery to our house two miles away.  He then asked the delivery man if he could ride with his meal.  So for the really competitive price of four of your British Pounds sterling, William enjoyed a substantial late supper or early breakfast and a taxi to his door. Now that's what I call top class customer care!!

Well done 'Manhattan Pizza and Kebab House'

Motoring on Mars

Curiosity making tracks in Gale Crater - Mars

The photographs from NASA's Curiosity Rover just get better and better! The engineers and scientists at NASA have been testing the various on board systems and everything appears to be working just fine. If you haven't visited the NASA Curiosity web-site, why not follow the link:  http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html

Foothills of Mount Sharp

Credits: images NASA/JPL

Misplaced Architecture No8

The Trifle Tower

Misplaced Architecture No7

Leaning Tower of Pizza

Credits Thanks to Chrissie and Wikipedia.