CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-16 15:11:13 (19 comments, 16 reshares, 59 +1s)

Billy Idol played at #io13, but this was the highlight for me. Tesla coils playing music. Science!

2013-05-14 20:17:51 (25 comments, 13 reshares, 98 +1s)

Don't settle for being an unpaid intern

We get a lot of requests at Universe Today from starting journalists, grad students and astronomers who'd like to "intern" with us. I've never worked in a traditional media company, so I'm a little unclear on the intern tradition. But from what people are proposing, I don't think it's necessary.

There are so many outlets out there where you can showcase your writing abilities. And the only way to get better at writing is to write. And write and write and write. Start up a blog at Wordpress or Blogger, or even here on Google+ and get reporting in areas that interest you.

There are now dozens of stories a day that we just don't have time or resources to cover, and you do. The more original, underreported story you can find, the more likely you'll go viral, since you're reporting news... more »

2013-05-14 14:40:22 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

Off to #io13

I'm just about to make the epic drive from my home town to Victoria, BC to fly out to #io13. I'll be in San Francisco by around 4 pm.

I'm really looking forward to meeting people I've only interacted with electronically. See you there +Jenny Murphy, +Brian Glick , +Ade Oshineye, +Charles Jaimet, +Allen Firstenberg, +Jonathan Beri, and more...

2013-05-13 17:59:23 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 19 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for another live episode of Astronomy Cast. This week we'll talk about Planetary Migration, how the planets formed and then moved around in the Solar System.

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Astronomy Cast Episode 301: Planetary Migration

We're so familiar with the current configuration of the planets in the Solar System, but did the planets always orbit in this way? Did they form further out and then migrate inward to their current positions? And what about other star systems out there? 

#ac301  

2013-05-13 17:17:39 (21 comments, 40 reshares, 126 +1s)

What is the Biggest Star in the Universe?

Here's another video explainer. This time, I investigate what is the biggest star in the Universe, the most massive star, and the limits of star size. This is based on an article I wrote a few years ago, which is now totally out of date and in need of a refresh.

http://www.universetoday.com/13507/what-is-the-biggest-star-in-the-universe/

Again, a big thanks to +Jason Harmer for helping me create these.

2013-05-13 03:19:57 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

It's Sunday, which means it's time to join your favorite co-hosts: +Fraser Cain and +Scott Lewis for the +Virtual Star Party! They'll be gathering up their phenomenal group of citizen astronomers from across the globe in order to share their view of the universe from their telescopes in a Google+ Hangout on Air!

In addition to Fraser, Scott, and the astronomers are PhD astronomers discussing and explaining the amazing space science and astronomy that's being viewed in the telescopes. We'll even take requests and answer questions left in the comments.

To make a suggestion, ask a question or just say "hi" to the team, please leave your comments below in the Google+ event, through any of the shares of the live show, or on Twitter using the hashtag #StarParty      

  
#VSP20130512   #ScienceSunday   #ScienceEveryday   #Astronomy  #Space   #... more »

2013-05-11 00:36:53 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Cory Schmitz is hanging out in a live Hangout On Air. #hangoutsonair

2013-05-10 19:01:11 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 8 +1s)

Nicole Gugliucci is hanging out with 4 people right now in a live Hangout On Air! #hangoutsonair

2013-05-09 13:46:33 (37 comments, 36 reshares, 120 +1s)

How Long Does it Take to Get to Mars?

Here's my next space explainer video on how long it takes to get to Mars. A big thanks to my buddy +Jason Harmer for working with me on these, helping me figure out all the tools.

P.S. Video is hard.

2013-05-08 02:29:38 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Scott Lewis hung out with 1 person. #hangoutsonair

2013-05-08 01:02:11 (13 comments, 21 reshares, 151 +1s)

Here is the teaser for the Eta Aquarid time lapse I am working on. This is a star trail from the Torrance Barrens, Ontario, Canada. Taken on May 5, 2013. This is a stack of 600 images. 
Title: The Northern Blend
Canon 7d
Tokina 11-16mm @ 11mm
F/2.8, ISO 1600, 30 second exposures

©2013 Wesley Liikane
All rights reserved

Feel free to like and share. Thanks :D

2013-05-06 18:03:56 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for a live episode of Astronomy Cast. Watch us record an episode of the show, and then stick around to ask us your questions about space and astronomy.

---------------------------

Astronomy Cast, Episode 300: What We've Learned in Almost 7 Years

We created Astronomy Cast to be timeless, a listening experience that's as educational in the future as it was when we started recording. But obviously, things have changed in almost 7 years and 300 episodes. Today we'll give you an update on some of the big topics in space and astronomy. What did we know back then, and what additional stuff do we know now?

#ac300

2013-05-06 15:34:11 (14 comments, 96 reshares, 112 +1s)

Beautiful Aurora/Milky Way Timelapse from Shawn Malone - Over 10,000 pictures used

The incredible Shawn Malone created this timelapse of the night sky using a year's worth of images he captured from Northern Michigan. Over 10,000 separate images, captured during 33 separate scenes of observing, were used to make up this beautiful timelapse.

If you watch closely, you'll see: northern lights, meteors, nebulae, galaxies, planets, Venus and Jupiter, constellations, the milky way, comet Pan-Starrs, and more.

Here's more info:
http://vimeo.com/65504232

2013-05-05 19:01:59 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 31 +1s)

It's Sunday, which means it's time to join your favorite co-hosts: +Fraser Cain and +Scott Lewis for the +Virtual Star Party! They'll be gathering up their phenomenal group of citizen astronomers from across the globe in order to share their view of the universe from their telescopes in a Google+ Hangout on Air!

In addition to Fraser, Scott, and the astronomers are PhD astronomers discussing and explaining the amazing space science and astronomy that's being viewed in the telescopes. We'll even take requests and answer questions left in the comments.

To make a suggestion, ask a question or just say "hi" to the team, please leave your comments below in the Google+ event, through any of the shares of the live show, or on Twitter using the hashtag #StarParty      

  
#VSP20130505   #ScienceSunday   #ScienceEveryday   #Astronomy  #Space   #... more »

2013-05-05 01:25:30 (65 comments, 12 reshares, 143 +1s)

Would you fly on SpaceShipTwo?

Virgin Galactic performed a test last week, pushing SpaceShipTwo beyond the speed of sound. We're getting closer and closer to humans being able to exchange $200,000 for a few minutes of weightlessness at the edge of space?

Would you go? Would you be willing to take the risks of launch and re-entry for that experience of seeing Earth from that altitude? It won't be a smooth ride, but the view will be unparalleled.

2013-05-03 22:58:29 (36 comments, 22 reshares, 115 +1s)

Why Flying Saucers Wouldn't Spin

Now that I think about it, spinning flying saucers are ridiculous. Neil deGrasse Tyson articulates just a few of the so many reasons why it would be a very bad idea to set your spaceship spinning quickly. Thanks +StarTalk 

2013-05-03 22:42:17 (9 comments, 10 reshares, 39 +1s)

Here is my time lapse from the 2013 Lyrid Meteor shower. This is 4 nights of photographs, both of the local dark sky locations, Torrance Barrens, Ontario, Canada and Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. Now remember that May 4,5 is the Eta Aquarids Meteor shower. Hope you get to enjoy this time lapse and the get to also enjoy the meteor shower. Have a great weekend everyone! :D
Lyrid Meteor Shower 2013

2013-05-03 18:20:11 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Join our crew of space journalists and aficionados as we round up this week's space news.

#SpaceHangout  

2013-05-02 18:23:32 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for a live recording of Astronomy Cast. We'll record the episode live in a Google+ Hangout, and then stick around and answer your questions about space and astronomy.

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Astronomy Cast 299: Space Stations, Part 4: Future Space Stations

Sometimes a trilogy needs four parts. We've looked at the history and modern era of space stations but now it's time to peer into the future at some space station concepts still in the works. Most of these will never fly, but the ideas are important. We can't call ourselves a true spacefaring civilization until humans live permanently outside the Earth. 

2013-04-30 17:21:56 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for a live recording of Astronomy Cast. We'll record the episode live in a Google+ Hangout, and then stick around and answer your questions about space and astronomy.

----------

Astronomy Cast 299: Space Stations, Part 4: Future Space Stations

Sometimes a trilogy needs four parts. We've looked at the history and modern era of space stations but now it's time to peer into the future at some space station concepts still in the works. Most of these will never fly, but the ideas are important. We can't call ourselves a true spacefaring civilization until humans live permanently outside the Earth. 

2013-04-30 02:18:13 (28 comments, 21 reshares, 130 +1s)

No, Comet ISON isn't Nibiru (which still doesn't exist)

+David Dickinson has written a wonderful and lengthy article for +Universe Today debunking the inevitable Comet ISON conspiracy theories.

http://www.universetoday.com/101798/debunking-comet-ison-conspiracy-theories-no-ison-is-not-nibiru/

2013-04-29 18:39:26 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for a live episode of Astronomy Cast, recorded right here on Google+. We'll record today's episode (the International Space Station), and then stick around and answer your questions about space and astronomy.

#ac298  
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Astronomy Cast 298: Space Stations, Part 3: International Space Station

And now we reach the third part in our trilogy on space stations, with the largest vehicle ever assembled in space: the International Space Station. Launched in 1998, it now consists of 450 metric tonnes of modules, power systems and spacecraft and is regular host to a handful of astronauts from many countries. 

2013-04-29 14:44:29 (2 comments, 5 reshares, 40 +1s)

Go home, Sun. You're drunk.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/04/29/analemma_the_position_of_the_sun_in_the_sky_changing_over_a_year.html

2013-04-29 02:43:25 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

It's Sunday, which means it's time to join your favorite co-hosts: +Fraser Cain and +Scott Lewis for the +Virtual Star Party! They'll be gathering up their phenomenal group of citizen astronomers from across the globe in order to share their view of the universe from their telescopes in a Google+ Hangout on Air!

In addition to Fraser, Scott, and the astronomers are PhD astronomers discussing and explaining the amazing space science and astronomy that's being viewed in the telescopes. We'll even take requests and answer questions left in the comments.

To make a suggestion, ask a question or just say "hi" to the team, please leave your comments below in the Google+ event, through any of the shares of the live show, or on Twitter using the hashtag #StarParty    

#VSP20130428   #ScienceSunday   #ScienceEveryday   #Astronomy   #Space  #Telescop... more »

2013-04-28 17:28:25 (441 comments, 294 reshares, 1162 +1s)

Why We'll Never Meet Aliens?

In a long essay, +Paul Tyma makes the case that we'll never meet aliens. And his conclusion is that we'll never meet aliens because once they've developed the technology to travel the great distances between stars, the trip will be meaningless.

I think there's a lot of validity to this argument. We anthropomorphize aliens based on our current state of technology. We imagine aliens flying around in their alien spaceships, sipping their alien coffees, perusing alien laptops. "We come in peace."

But you have to comprehend the compounding effect of exponential technological advancement. iPhones didn't exist 5 years ago, now we consider smartphones a commodity. Once an alien has the ability to travel from star to star, they'll probably just be getting their robots to do the work for them - in fact,t... more »

2013-04-27 01:02:15 (7 comments, 9 reshares, 111 +1s)

Snowbirds from Space! Canada’s premiere aerobatic team, photographed from orbit. Amazingly clear, and great timing!

2013-04-26 21:02:03 (21 comments, 64 reshares, 71 +1s)

Super Science Circle - April 2013 Edition

It's time for another sharing of my Super Science Circle. This is a collection of 400+ active people on Google+ who often post about science. If anyone tells you G+ is a ghost town (not that anyone does any more), get them to import this circle. 

PLEASE SHARE THIS CIRCLE... FOR SCIENCE!

I have personally reviewed each and every person on this list, to make sure that they:

1. Are active and engaged on Google+
2. Regularly post science-related stories on Google+

In this list you'll find scientists, journalists, researchers, professors, astronauts and general science enthusiasts. 

Not everyone in this list is going to be to your personal liking. So what you'll want to do is import the list into a temporary circle. Then move people over one by one into more permanentl... more »

2013-04-26 18:49:00 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Join us as our rowdy bunch of space journalists and aficionados round up a week's worth of space and astronomy news.

This week we're covering a pulsar test of general relativity  Mars One astronaut selection, a meteor in Saturn's rings, and more!

Time Zones: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=WSH&iso=20130426T14&p1=605&ah=1

#spacehangout  

2013-04-26 18:16:18 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

How I Handle Donations/Memberships on Universe Today

Many website publishers struggles with how the can monetize their websites. Creating content costs money, and so you need to bring in intrusive advertising in order to provide the revenue.

But readers hate ads. 

The solution is for websites to create some kind of membership system, where readers pay a monthly fee for various perks, including no ads. The monthly memberships are usually around $5/month.

I wanted to implement a system like that, but I also know that people are getting sick of monthly memberships, and often come to resent a service that's extracting money from them every month. Unless it's a service they highly value, it's just a matter of time until they cancel.

So I wanted to come up with a solution that allows people to remove the ads from the site, and lets them... more »

2013-04-26 04:36:39 (4 comments, 11 reshares, 41 +1s)

Virtual Star Party in 60 Seconds

+Scott Lewis boiled down the April 21st Virtual Star Party into 60 seconds. It was surprising to see just how many different objects we were able to see. Check it out. 

2013-04-25 15:24:57 (28 comments, 4 reshares, 26 +1s)

I'm about to share my Super Science Circle - any nominations?

I'm probably going to be releasing a new version of my Super Science Circle today or tomorrow. Can you recommend anyone who I might have missed? 

I'm looking for people who are active on Google+ and regularly post interesting science stories. I'm really interested in people who provide context and insight to the stories they post and engage with their commentators.

Let me know!

2013-04-25 15:04:20 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

In this week's hangout we're joined by special guests theorists Lisa Randall and Raman Sundrum, authors of two of the most cited papers in physics for the past ten years. They join #CERN physicists as we look at how the #LHC experiments are investigating extra dimensions.

Join this "Hangout with CERN" broadcast live on Thursday 25 April at 17:00 CEST, on CERN's Google+ and YouTube pages, with a recording later available on YouTube.

You can post questions in advance in the comments below or on Twitter to @CERN with the hashtag #askCERN . We'll pick the best ones to answer and we may even invite you to participate in the live hangout!

This background video Extra Dimensions - PHD Animation is courtesy of "Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com © Jorge Cham.

Want to watch our previous hangouts? They're all... more »

2013-04-25 05:18:14 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 124 +1s)

Dropping in, like a boss

My son finally worked up the courage to drop into the skate bowl on his scooter. It was great to see him overcome something that really scared him. You can't half-drop into the bowl, you've got to commit. Mind over matter. 

2013-04-24 18:53:04 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 20 +1s)

Can we learn from Nature's Engineers?
We are extremely excited to be part of +National Geographic and +Google+  #OurEarth series. The Hangout panel includes  National GeographicExplorer Amy Dickman, expert from +Zoo Atlanta and Director of Herpetological Research +Joe Mendelson and moderator +Fraser Cain . Join the Hangout to discuss their favorite Engineers of Nature.

Send your Hangout questions and comments using the hashtag #OurEarth during the broadcast.

2013-04-23 22:57:25 (31 comments, 12 reshares, 124 +1s)

I Love, "I Fucking Love Science", But Not Their Lack of Credit

+Alex Wild hits this mark with this critique of IFLS. They do a great job of boiling down scientific progress into sharable memes. They promote scientific discovery and do a good job of keeping out the pseudoscience.

But they need to get better at policing credit for artists. You should always provide credit for images when you can find them, it's the very least we can do to honor the efforts made by these talented people in the name of science.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/compound-eye/2013/04/23/facebooks-i-fcking-love-science-does-not-fcking-love-artists/

2013-04-22 18:59:02 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Pamela Gay for a live episode of Astronomy Cast. We'll broadcast the show, mistakes and all, and then stick around for a few minutes and answer your questions about space and astronomy.

Astronomy Cast 297: Space Stations, Part 2: Mir

Last week we introduced the history of space stations and focused on the US and Soviet stations that were launched. This week we look at one of the longest running missions ever launched: Mir. From its launch and construction to its fiery finale, Mir helped both the Russians and the Americans extend their understanding of what it actually takes to live in space.

#ac297

2013-04-22 18:15:45 (7 comments, 7 reshares, 42 +1s)

Noodling Google's Doodle

Today's Google Earth Day Doodle is adorable, but - and I hate to say this - has some wee scientific inaccuracies in it. Did I miss any?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/04/22/google_doodle_earth_day_doodle_has_a_few_science_errors.html

2013-04-22 02:45:51 (2 comments, 7 reshares, 28 +1s)

Join +Fraser Cain and +Scott Lewis as they gather up a group of amazing citizen astronomers from across the globe to share their view of the universe through their telescopes in a live Google+ Hangout on Air! 

Joining our cohosts and astronomers will be commentary by PhD astronomers to help discuss and explain the amazing space science and astronomy that's being viewed in the telescopes. We'll even take requests and answer questions left in the comments.

To make a suggestion, ask a question or just say "hi" to the team, please leave your comments below in the Google+ event, through any of the shares of the live show, or on Twitter using the hashtag #StarParty  

#VSP20130421  

2013-04-19 23:51:28 (6 comments, 16 reshares, 70 +1s)

Zoom into the Moon with this Insanely High Resolution Mosaic

This is beyond awesome. Use your mouse or the + and - buttons on this incredible interactive view of the Moon. Use your mouse to let the image take you where you want to go; click on the button in the lower right to go full screen and you’ll feel like you are in lunar orbit.

Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/101594/zoom-into-the-moon-with-this-insanely-high-resolution-mosaic/

Hat tip to +Cory Schmitz 

2013-04-19 19:04:18 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Scott Lewis is hanging out with 3 people right now in a live Hangout On Air! #hangoutsonair

2013-04-18 01:24:05 (18 comments, 14 reshares, 56 +1s)

I know I have been fairly quiet the past few weeks. I know, based on stats, that you've noticed my silence. My silence has been driven by funding fears and sequestration.

I have spent the past several weeks trying to figure out how to write this post. Sometimes emotions are so raw that they don’t readily shape themselves into words: They manifest themselves as a face that can’t smile, a head that throbs with a stress migraine, and with an exhaustion driven not by lack of sleep but rather deriving from the emotional exhaustion that just makes a person want to hide in a dark room locked away from the world. My head hurts. I am exhausted. My emotions are raw. I am writing now because there is a very real possibility that the proposed restructuring of the US education system may eliminate the NASA funding I and my staff rely on to pay our salaries. In the worst case, everyone I employ at myuni... more »