Martin Griffiths

Access, Astronomy and Science Fiction. A Case Study in Curriculum Design.

It is argued that a positive response to lifelong learning policies involves the use of imaginative curriculum design in order to attract learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who are otherwise alienated from higher education. In this article a case study is presented based on the popularity of science fiction within popular culture, beginning with community-based modules in the South Wales valleys and culminating in a complete BSc honours award in Science and Science Fiction. This experiment in curriculum engineering has recruited adult learners, as well as school-leavers, and has led to the use of innovative teaching and learning methods that complement curriculum objectives and outcomes.

Mars in fact and fiction

Mankind has always been fascinated by Mars, and this article examines how this interest has evolved over time and been expressed in various ways, particularly in the literature of science fiction.

Planetary Nebulae by Constellation

The following section details in constellation order rather than right ascension order each planetary nebula found on the primary list. This format makes it easier for those interested in planning an observing session around a particular constellation or seasonal group in order to experience not just the planetaries but also the many additional types of objects to be found there. It also allows the reader to enjoy the objects in a more accessible manner.

Planetary Nebulae Catalogues

The first list details the main features and positions of 135 planetary nebulae contained within this book. The list following that is based on the P-K catalogue as a supplement to this main catalogue and is included to allow astronomers with larger apertures or CCD cameras to observe and capture many further objects should they wish. It assumes that the reader is familiar with sky coordinate systems, and all are marked in RA order and their magnitudes and sizes given.

The Evolution of Planetary Nebulae

The connection between stars and the gaseous envelopes we now call planetary nebulae was not evident to observers of the past. William Herschel’s 1784 insight was the first step on the road to a fuller understanding. Even today, astronomers are concerned with modeling the minutiae of planetaries, and although we have a far greater understanding than our historical counterparts, there are still many problems to be overcome in our quest for a final agreement between observation and theory.

A Short History of Planetary Nebulae

The beautiful objects we now recognize as planetary nebulae led invisible lives until the middle of the eighteenth century. On the evening of July 12, 1764, the French comet hunter Charles Messier observed a barely resolved blob of light in the constellation of Vulpecula. His note of the discovery shows that he dismissed it immediately after recording its position. After all, it was not the kind of object he was interested in:

Observing Planetary Nebulae

Planetary nebulae are one of the most varied groups of objects to observe. Many can be seen in relatively small telescopes, while others of their class require larger apertures and specific observing techniques involving filters. They range in magnitude from 7.5 for the Dumbbell Nebula to 14th or 18th magnitude for some of the fainter Abell or P-K catalogue members. Although several astronomical objects also have wide ranges of magnitudes, planetaries have something special about them in their variation in morphology, brightness, size and observability under different conditions.

Photographing Planetary Nebulae

On the face of things, photographing planetary nebulae seems to be a daunting task. Most of the objects are faint or small and the average astronomers list of photographic equipment could be limited. While this may have been true in the past, today’s amateur observers have access to fantastic equipment at reasonable prices, equipment that can grab faint details and reveal small nebulae in just a few seconds of exposure. In the last 20 years, the digital revolution has changed astronomical imaging forever. Digital SLR cameras, CCD cameras and webcams now provide the user with opportunities that previous generations could only dream of.

A Planetary Nebulae Marathon

Each springtime sees amateur astronomers all over the world take on the observing might of the Messier catalogue in an attempt to see all of the objects in one night. It is a dusk to dawn activity that builds bonds, hones skills and enables the observer to grapple with a wealth of different objects that characterize almost all astronomical bodies that can be visually represented.

Radio and Reason--The Reith Lectures and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Radio broadcasting offers a unique opportunity to reach the public and facilitate their entertainment and education. In this vein, a series of high profile lectures in honour of Sir John Reith was initiated by the BBC in 1948 as a way of introducing the public to some of the greatest scientists of the age, enabling such thinkers to spread a message of communication and scientific sense to the British public. This essay examines J Robert Oppenheimers 1953 Reith lectures and their relevance today.