#Tag
I just *ironed a shirt* (for the first time in... years?) and put on fancier earrings. Shit's getting real.
Kia Ora, Auckland! Time to yell about satellites, for hopefully lots of you! #ProfSamLectureTour
I just *ironed a shirt* (for the first time in... years?) and put on fancier earrings. Shit's getting real.
Kia Ora, Auckland! Time to yell about satellites, for hopefully lots of you! #ProfSamLectureTour
I am incredibly tired, but I am very happy about the talk I gave for the Northland astronomical society, and I saw giant Kauri trees, and I saw a real kiwi up close! (Captive, part of a breeding program, but WOW he was active!) A good day.
#ProfSamLectureTour
I am incredibly tired, but I am very happy about the talk I gave for the Northland astronomical society, and I saw giant Kauri trees, and I saw a real kiwi up close! (Captive, part of a breeding program, but WOW he was active!) A good day.
#ProfSamLectureTour
I am incredibly tired, but I am very happy about the talk I gave for the Northland astronomical society, and I saw giant Kauri trees, and I saw a real kiwi up close! (Captive, part of a breeding program, but WOW he was active!) A good day.
#ProfSamLectureTour
Just had my first 7am NZ/7pm Europe media interview on satelllite pollution (the NZ time zone is tricky for this!) While watching the sun rise over gorgeous semi-tropical hills and giant Norfolk pine. This isn't too bad (other than the 7am interview thing...) #ProfSamLectureTour
Just had my first 7am NZ/7pm Europe media interview on satelllite pollution (the NZ time zone is tricky for this!) While watching the sun rise over gorgeous semi-tropical hills and giant Norfolk pine. This isn't too bad (other than the 7am interview thing...) #ProfSamLectureTour
I have to say that driving down a road I've never been on in a country I don't live in (on the opposite side that I'm used to) and seeing a photo of yourself on a giant sign on the side of the road is one of the most surreal things that's ever happened to me. Kia Ora, Whangarei! #ProfSamLectureTour
I have to say that driving down a road I've never been on in a country I don't live in (on the opposite side that I'm used to) and seeing a photo of yourself on a giant sign on the side of the road is one of the most surreal things that's ever happened to me. Kia Ora, Whangarei! #ProfSamLectureTour
The second book is Astrotopia by Mary-Jane Rubenstein https://www.maryjanerubenstein.com/
This book explains why and how the billionaire techbros are using religious language: "The world is ending! The only way you can save yourself is to come with me to Mars!" And also hilarious! I didn't know I could laugh out loud while reading awful things about environmental limits and billionaires. #ProfSamLectureTour
And the third book is More Everything Forever by @adambecker.bsky.social https://freelanceastrophysicist.com/
Goes more deeply into the techbro culture/religion that seems to think that AI will save us all and that we have a duty to destroy our planet and go to the stars. (Also the best way I've ever heard to explain how hard it is to live on Mars: even if you lived on Earth the day that the dinosaur-extinction asteroid hit, you'd be better off than trying to live on Mars.) #ProfSamLectureTour
The second book is Astrotopia by Mary-Jane Rubenstein https://www.maryjanerubenstein.com/
This book explains why and how the billionaire techbros are using religious language: "The world is ending! The only way you can save yourself is to come with me to Mars!" And also hilarious! I didn't know I could laugh out loud while reading awful things about environmental limits and billionaires. #ProfSamLectureTour
And the third book is More Everything Forever by @adambecker.bsky.social https://freelanceastrophysicist.com/
Goes more deeply into the techbro culture/religion that seems to think that AI will save us all and that we have a duty to destroy our planet and go to the stars. (Also the best way I've ever heard to explain how hard it is to live on Mars: even if you lived on Earth the day that the dinosaur-extinction asteroid hit, you'd be better off than trying to live on Mars.) #ProfSamLectureTour
The first book is https://acityonmars.com/ by Kelly and @zachweinersmith.bsky.social
The authors apparently started writing this as a =how-to manual, before realizing that it was actually pretty much impossible for us to live on Mars. Discusses all the reasons why this is not going to happen anytime in the next few hundred years with lots of easy to understand scientific examples. Also, delightfully hilarious while discussing incredibly important topics. #ProfSamLectureTour
The first book is https://acityonmars.com/ by Kelly and @zachweinersmith.bsky.social
The authors apparently started writing this as a =how-to manual, before realizing that it was actually pretty much impossible for us to live on Mars. Discusses all the reasons why this is not going to happen anytime in the next few hundred years with lots of easy to understand scientific examples. Also, delightfully hilarious while discussing incredibly important topics. #ProfSamLectureTour
The second book is Astrotopia by Mary-Jane Rubenstein https://www.maryjanerubenstein.com/
This book explains why and how the billionaire techbros are using religious language: "The world is ending! The only way you can save yourself is to come with me to Mars!" And also hilarious! I didn't know I could laugh out loud while reading awful things about environmental limits and billionaires. #ProfSamLectureTour
Talk is mostly updated and ready for tomorrow (and the following 2 weeks), though I'm sure I will learn things as I go that will necessitate small edits! (Very exciting to parachute down into another country and immediately try to teach stuff to people there)
One edit I'm very happy with is I added a "further reading" slide with books that have really helped me to understand what's happening in orbit and why. #ProfSamLectureTour
The first book is https://acityonmars.com/ by Kelly and @zachweinersmith.bsky.social
The authors apparently started writing this as a =how-to manual, before realizing that it was actually pretty much impossible for us to live on Mars. Discusses all the reasons why this is not going to happen anytime in the next few hundred years with lots of easy to understand scientific examples. Also, delightfully hilarious while discussing incredibly important topics. #ProfSamLectureTour
Next week is Napier (can't find a link...)
Then New Plymouth (also not finding a link...)
Then Wairarapa-Marlborough https://www.wairarapadarksky.nz/blog/post/158812/astronomy-vs-the-billionaire-space-race/
Then Wellington https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scps/about/events/astronomer-vs-the-billionaires-space-race
(I'll have some talks on the South Island over the next couple months, will announce as they get closer)
Talk is mostly updated and ready for tomorrow (and the following 2 weeks), though I'm sure I will learn things as I go that will necessitate small edits! (Very exciting to parachute down into another country and immediately try to teach stuff to people there)
One edit I'm very happy with is I added a "further reading" slide with books that have really helped me to understand what's happening in orbit and why. #ProfSamLectureTour
