Observing with Street Lights

Observing with Street Lights
Dark sky sites not always necessary to see the Milky Way (This image was taken ouside of a B&B in Julian, CA)

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Attending the AAS 236th meeting virtually; Docking with the ISS Simulation; Upcoming Starlink launch and what happened with Starship SN4; Areosols and COVID-19 and if the vet were in charge!

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well here we are in our burrows trying to attend and learn something from the American Astronomical Society (AAS) 236th annual meeting held virtually in lieu of actual in Madison, WI.  More comments about that next time, but now more comments about Starship SN4, Docking at ISS Simulation and COVID-19 and if the vet were in charge.
So, I logged into the AAS236th, June 1-3 meeting and navigated my way down to the various plenary sessions and technical sessions and exhibit floor and poster sessions.  I found it difficult to stay focused when having to watch a small computer screen in lieu of actually sitting in a big auditorium with the speaker at the podium.  I had hoped and planed to attend the meeting in Madison in person, but all of that is behind us now.  Anyway, I will try and summarize some of the findings next  time.
Virtual front page for AAS 236th annual meeting (Source: www.aas.org)
Virtual front page for AAS 236th annual meeting (Source: www.aas.org)



For now, first up is an interesting simulation that you can run on your laptop where you can practice docking the SpaceX Dragon spaceship at the ISS.  I tried it and found it quite interesting.  I could see right away, as an old control system engineer, that I needed more lead/lag compensation to avoid over correction.  Anyway, it is pretty neat.  Try it out.  Thanks to OCA Mountain Man, David, for letting us in on this simulation!

You can find the simulator at: https://iss-sim.spacex.com/

Neat simulator that runs on your laptop for docking with the ISS (Source: iss-sim.spacex.com)
Neat simulator that runs on your laptop for docking with the ISS (Source: iss-sim.spacex.com)



Also after the successful launch of the Falcon 9 Dragon crewed spaceship and docking at the ISS, SpaceX is moving full speed ahead with launch of the next 60 Starlink satellites.  This launch was apparently delayed so as not to draw attention away from the Dragon launch and will now occur Wednesday, June 3.  So, stand ready for our next opportunity to catch a glimpse of the string of pearls.
Next Starlink satellite launch Wednesday, June 3, 2020 (Source: kennedyspacecenter.com)
Next Starlink satellite launch Wednesday, June 3, 2020 (Source: kennedyspacecenter.com)



We also, surprisingly, received some official word from Elon regarding the failure and explosion of the SN4 Starship.  He said the test personnel were evaluating a new, improved version of the umbilical that connects to the Starship while on the launch stand and then is removed just seconds before the actual launch.  It was supposed to be a low risk test, but apparently there was an unexpected liquid methane fuel leak that then exploded.

Check out these photos of the aftermath and clean up from our friends at Teslarati and the on scene presence of Mary, @Bocachicgal.

Damaged SN4 and Launch stand being removed (Source: @Bocachicagal)
Damaged SN4 and Launch stand being removed (Source: @Bocachicagal)




But, Elon, is always learning from failures and is going full speed ahead with the new launch stand and SN5 fabrication is almost done.  Pretty neat.  Go Elon!
New launch stand and SN5 in fabrication (Source: @Bocachicagal)
New launch stand and SN5 in fabrication (Source: @Bocachicagal)



It is hard also not to be concerned about response to the pandemic.  Previous posts discussed how the size of the virus particles, not their actual size, but the size in which they are expelled in the breath and coughs of infected people, is a key factor in the spread of the disease.  The April 1, 2020 blog post reviewed how Stoke's Law is the relevant factor in relating the size of the particles and how far they can remain suspended in the atmosphere and spread from person to person.  If SARS-CoV-2 is found to be emitted in very small particles then the standard cloth mask is not going to be that effective and the more effective filtering with the N95 type masks will be more effective.  Hopefully, we find that the virus is expelled more often in larger droplets, when people cough for example, rather than in smaller drops, when people speak, for instance.

Anyway, I found this article in Medical News Today pretty useful in setting the stage.  We need more clarity to set the standards for social distancing.  Also if our freedom of movement is going to be interfered with, we need to know the risks and be able to asses the risks to us and to others that get near us.  For me personally, we have elected to finally go out and have a sit down meal in our favorite restaurants, but wait for more clear information at the same time.  Besides the doctors can't be the final arbiter of action.  My doctor always tells me that I should lose some weight and drink less.  Yes, I tell the doctor, thank you for your professional advice, which I freely accept as valid, but I have my own agenda in which I weigh the tradeoffs for my life!

Still uncertain how much SARS-CoV-2 is airborne? (Source: Medical News Today, May 4, 2020)
Still uncertain how much SARS-CoV-2 is airborne? (Source: Medical News Today, May 4, 2020)


Finally, we received an interesting post from OCA Marty illustrating how things might be different if the vet were in charge.  I showed this to Astronomer Assistants Ruby and Danny, and I thought I saw just a slight recognition of justice finally arriving in the world in their faces, but I couldn't be sure.  Anyway, thanks for forwarding that illustration from iFunny.com, Marty!
If our pets and the vets were in charge! (Source: ifunny.com)
If our pets and the vets were in charge! (Source: ifunny.com)





Until next time, here from our burrow, stay safe, but it's time to recover more of our freedom,

Resident Astronomer George



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