Joe, I was gazing intently into the heavens one night and named a shooting star. I called it "Wow!"
...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Thanks, Bill! > > I've discovered FOUR, and so have four Comets to my name. > > They are all Comet Montani. > > More Comets than I have KIDS!, by four to zero! (to SPEAK of... ) . > > But, they are my babies. Seriously. > > Only one is essentially "periodic" though, sir. > > The other three are of "long-period": Longer than any human will live. But, > one of my guys comes back in about 2 more years! My colleagues will > "recover" it, especially my fine colleague, Jim Scotti, great comet > re-coverer. Or, Carl Hergenrother will bag it! These guys are assiduous. > > I've hung up my cleats. But I could jump back on the field if I wanted. My > jersey is not (yet) lofted high into the rafters of the Observatory (no > rafters, in those round domes). > > Nah, will never be. Our glory is in our discoveries, and our friendships > around the world. Many in Japan, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Europe, USA, > Hawai'i, Isla de Los Muchachos, Canarias, etc. All Astronomers, Observers, > Planetary Scientists. And, before this, Radio Astronomers, in another > career, and just about the same continents. And, then, InfraRed Astronomers > (hard to see them), but lots of Astrophysical as well as Planetary work > there, too. > > Of Earth-orbit-crossing asteroids, I've discovered about 300, Bill. They do > not take the Observer's name, but the Observer gets to name them, IFF we > wish. Naming is tough. There are rules. It sometimes takes five years to > get a naming done. There is an International committee if 13 guys who rule > on this, at the "International Astronomical Union", Committee for Small > Bodies Nomenclature (CSBN). > > The NEAs (Near Earth Asteroids) were our main quarry at Spacewatch. For > safety's sake. And, well, because we were actually doing Solar System > dynamics(!), and a survey of the entire Solar System, even out to and beyond > the Trans-Neptunians (some of which I also discovered). > > The "inventory" of the Solar System is still incomplete! I really ought to > get my ass back in gear. I'm too young to "sit-it-out". But I'm loving > oil-painting... shoot. And target archery. And Rose gardening: in a > blast-furnace! (Southern-Arizona). ;-) > > I've also named a slew of Main-Belt asteroids, including "Haiku", and > "Samadhi"; and, "Wabi-Sabi". Plus 35 others. I wouldn't pull your beard, > Bill!. ;-) > > I still have naming-rights on others yet un-named, because it was I who > discovered them. I have hundreds MORE I could name, tomorrow. > > Nope! Can't bribe me to name one after you, or your sweetie. But someone in > the past named an asteroid after "Mister Spock", who was ...his CAT! The > Committee no longer allows "pets". Shucks... . > > Thanks, your comments! > > --Joe / (dangerous guy, with a 'scope) > > > "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > Joe, > > > > Nice clip! And congratulations. Was the comet eventually named? If so > > what, Comet Montani? I think Comet Joe would be the best. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > Merle, > > > > > > Nah! He had fun in his video, maybe. So did I in mine! We're even. > > > > > > Here's a snippet of me in mine at the Observatory. > > > > > > Maybe you've seen it, already. We did it only 17 years ago! Like last > > > night... . For this Astronomer. Time is relative(ly inscrutable). > > > > > > http://www.nbcnews.com/video/space.com/10053358#10053358 > > > > > > Hail, the "Friendly Skies"! > > > > > > --Joe > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
