Cassini Mission - Sacred Space Astronomy

Cassini – The Last Splendiferous Hurrah

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Deirdre KelleghanSeptember 11, 2020

The 15th of September 2017 was the day a superb mission to Saturn ended in a spectacle which for the most part was for Saturn’s eyes only. I wrote the following blog back on September 12th 2017,it was updated here in 2018. Its entitled The Last Splendiferous Hurrah because it is about the demise of the Cassini Mission to the gas giant. One hopes Cassini 2 is on the drawing board. 2017 Blog The English language is lacking in affirmations glowing enough to encompass the significance of the Cassini Mission to Saturn. Side winding its way into my mind in the effort to find the right words came a memory of an old TV variety show. In the show, the host announces the artists to perform by pronouncing very large words in rapid precision. Each word is preceded by a judgemental gavel blow. The hyperbolic introductions primed the audience to welcome the splendiferous offerings of the forthcoming show. The pulchritudinous … Continue reading →

Space Camp Joy

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Deirdre KelleghanApril 3, 2020

This blog was originaly posted shortly after Easter 2019 – This year sadly my Easter Space Camp for children can not take place due to COVID 19. Ironicly the children are not in school for the same reason and Space Camp would have been a very useful event for both kids and parents struggling in this crisis. Stay safe, hope you enjoy this rerun. Children spinning their little handmade Saturn models with joy !! At Easter I ran a small space camp for children. It was over three mornings in Louisburgh Co Mayo.The venue was Books at One, the local community bookshop. We packed a lot of things into the three mornings, in fact, I had too much planned. Better too much than too little in my experience. Space Camp joy abounded ! Day 1 Space Camp We built paper rockets that we blew into space (in the room). I have a box of interesting forever goodies. These are intended … Continue reading →

Katie Steinke October 27, 2020 at 10:01 am on In the Sky This Week – October 27, 2020Hi Bob, Just want you to know how impressed I am every week by your posts. So much information all in one place! I can’t see early morning to the east well but always check the southern night sky. Thank you! I’ve been following the Bennu mission, too. I met...
Steven Lanoux October 26, 2020 at 10:57 am on The Ideas Behind Black HolesThank you! I get it. As a marine scientist, we refer to "life as we know it" recognizing that that is merely a time stamp until the next bizarre discovery. Physics seems to be more rational--until time and space no longer are relevant.
Christopher M. Graney October 26, 2020 at 8:31 am on The Ideas Behind Black HolesI would not put too much weight on ideas about what might be inside a black hole. Note that I said "space and time, and hence the laws of physics, as we know them, do not exist in a black hole". I suppose if no laws of physics at all...
Robert Macke October 26, 2020 at 5:16 am on Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 7 – Somigliana, Volta, Vercelli, Bauer, Baillaud, and PerrierFernando Comeron: Thank you! This is very helpful. I will update my records. (And maybe this page as well.)
Robert Macke October 26, 2020 at 1:40 am on The Ideas Behind Black HolesInteresting fun fact regarding the photographs from the workshop. The one on the right, labeled "an intense side discussion" is between Penrose and Francesco Cecchetti, the son of the farmer who lives next door. (He was doing videography for the workshop.) I took the photo, and it is one of...
Fernando Comeron October 25, 2020 at 9:31 am on Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 7 – Somigliana, Volta, Vercelli, Bauer, Baillaud, and PerrierDear Bob, here are my two cents about one of the visitors about whom information was missing. Colonel Delcambre, who later became General Delcambre, is a prominent name of French meteorology who had been appointed as director of the National Office of Meteorology in 1921, thus shortly before his visit...
Steven Lanoux October 24, 2020 at 5:42 am on The Ideas Behind Black HolesVery nicely done; thank you! One of my challenges to non-believers regarding the existence of God is to ask, "Why are the laws of physics?" The question is posed just so; there is no word missing. Why are the laws of physics what they are and not some other set...
Franca Gallucci October 21, 2020 at 11:04 am on ⓜ Small Worlds: Diary of 21 October, 2020So special to have seen the OsirisRex exhibit at FAW last year and now to be seeing the results of this monumental mission. Congratulations to all players!! So exciting!!! Franca and Domenic
Alfred Kracher October 21, 2020 at 9:47 am on ⓜ Small Worlds: Diary of 21 October, 2020A good day for solar system science! It was great that Dante Lauretta, and later the whole team, acknowledged Mike Drake and included his memory in the celebration.
Fr. Timothy Sauppé October 21, 2020 at 9:38 am on ⓜ Small Worlds: Diary of 21 October, 2020Congratulations to all you at the Vatican Observatory too, and to all scientists. This is what science is all about.
Fr. James Kurzynski October 19, 2020 at 9:02 am on The Non-Populist Pope: A Pastor’s Take On Pope Francis’ New Encyclical (Part Two)Excellent insight Bob!! It inspires me to revisit Laudato Si' as well! Keep sharing your insights!
Andrea Dudek October 19, 2020 at 7:51 am on OSIRIS-REx to Gather Sample from Asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20thThis is exciting news. I'll certainly be tuning in. Thanks for the reminder.
Bob Prokop October 19, 2020 at 7:22 am on The Non-Populist Pope: A Pastor’s Take On Pope Francis’ New Encyclical (Part Two)I want to thank you for writing this posting. It inspired me to take down from my bookshelf my copy of Laudato Si, which had been languishing up there unread these past 5 years. And am I ever glad that I did! What an amazing document. I practically destroyed my...
Br. Guy Consolmagno October 17, 2020 at 10:09 am on I got to see Fr. Angelo Secchi’s telescope at the Cincinnati ObservatoryThe actual Secchi telescope had a sad fate. Secchi’s international reputation was such that even though the anti-clerical Italian government had confiscated the Roman College, the site of the observatory, in 1870 they allowed Secchi to continue his work until his death in 1878. Eventually the telescope was taken over...
Deirdre Kelleghan October 15, 2020 at 3:51 am on NEOWISE went into OrbitThanks Christopher I am really really pleased !!
Deirdre Kelleghan October 15, 2020 at 3:50 am on NEOWISE went into OrbitThank you very much Margaret am delighted :-)
Christopher M. Graney October 9, 2020 at 9:20 am on NEOWISE went into OrbitYes, congrats! I will look for it when my issue of S&T arrives.
Margaret Bumby October 9, 2020 at 6:03 am on NEOWISE went into OrbitOh, that's wonderful! Congratulations.
Richard Hill October 4, 2020 at 2:15 pm on Specola Guestbook | May 5-6, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 5 – St. John, Fowler, Banachiewicz, Lockyer, Rodes, and PigotMany handsome mustachios!
Franca Gallucci October 3, 2020 at 6:29 am on “Cosmos: Possible Worlds”, 1-2 and 3This was a great read, Christopher! A keeper for sure - I foresee referring to it during animated discussions around the table. We’ll check out Neil and Cosmos and think of your insights with every flash and boom! Thank you Franca and Domenic

Sacred Space Astronomy

Blog of the Vatican Observatory Foundation

Tag Archives: Cassini Mission

Cassini – The Last Splendiferous Hurrah

Space Camp Joy

Go Observe Clavius

ⓜ The Virtuous Astronomer, Part I

In the Sky This Week – October 27, 2020

Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 7 – Somigliana, Volta, Vercelli, Bauer, Baillaud, and Perrier

ⓜ Full Moon-th Meetup: 31 October, 2020

The Ideas Behind Black Holes