[X] My Assistant

[mars loon]

Prof. Jim Bell of Cornell University will present “Postcards from Mars: Spirit and Opportunity Roam the Red Planet” at a lecture on 12 December 2006 on the campus of Princeton University at 8 PM in Peyton Hall (Ivy Lane). Free and open to the public. UMSF forum members especially welcome. The lecture is sponsored by the Amatuer Astronomers Association of Princeton. Please visit the website or contact me for details:
http://www.princetonastronomy.org/

Prof. Bell will also be signing copies of his new, highly praised book “Postcards from Mars: The First Photographer on the Red Planet”.

Today (publication day) I received a stack of copies and my review is that its FABULOUS. The book is glossy with high quality reproductions and quite current. Mars fans will love this book. There are over 10 fold out panoramic panels of 3 and 4 pages in width. So now you can savor and contemplate the images. And its vastly superior to a computor monitor.

Although most of the content ends around Sol 600 or so due to publishing deadlines, Jim did manage to include some late breaking and striking images from Home Plate and Erebus. Only the latest images from McMurdo and Victoria are not included.

The book is divided into 3 chapters focusing on the prelaunch history, followed by details on Spirit and Opportunity and concluding with a brief postscript of late breaking images

ken

Ken Kremer

Program Chairman
Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton

http://www.princetonastronomy.org/
mailto: ken@princetonastronomy.org

[Airbag]

I'll be at the Princeton meeting Ken mentioned; if anybody has any questions they would like to ask Dr. Bell just post them here and I will do my best to relay them.

Airbag

[Airbag]

Apparently it is also possible to just send him an email directly

Airbag

[mars loon]

Reminder:

Prof. Jim Bell of Cornell University will present a lecture titled “Postcards from Mars: Spirit and Opportunity Roam the Red Planet” on 12 December 2006 on the campus of Princeton University at 8 PM in Peyton Hall (Ivy Lane). Free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Amatuer Astronomers Association of Princeton. Please visit the website or contact me for details: http://www.princetonastronomy.org/

Prof. Bell will also be signing copies of his new fantastic new book “Postcards from Mars: The First Photographer on the Red Planet”.

Read the big article in the Mon Dec 11 issue of the Trenton Times on the front page of the Science Section on p. B1


Post you questions here and Airbag and myself will try to get answers ! or send a quick email


ken


ken@princetonastronomy.org

[ustrax]

Reminder:

Prof. Jim Bell of Cornell University will present a lecture titled “Postcards from Mars: Spirit and Opportunity Roam the Red Planet” on 12 December 2006 on the campus of Princeton University at 8 PM in Peyton Hall (Ivy Lane). Free and open to the public.

So? How was it?

[mars loon]

So? How was it?

It was absolutely fantastic ! ...................

and the biggest crowd I have ever had hosting a speaker and in fact the biggest crowd in the history of our astronomy club.

The room was filled to the brim with over 160 for ca. 100 seats. Many people sat on the steps, which were also full and it all worked well with the stadium seating.

The night was a mars loons and a mars lovers dream.

Jim is a great guy, very engaging, knowledgeable of course, quite humerous and able to connect perfectly with the crowd. He presented his favorite images (frequently with animations of the full wide pans) from both rovers, including the latest from Bottomless Bay, Cape St Mary, MuMurdo etc. Following his talk he answered audience questions for over half an hour, then we had to finally brake for the book autographing because it was getting late into the night.

The team has not exactly decided the future path for Spirit, except to go back to Home Plate. Spirit's driving ability are not clearly known, except that forward progress is likely to be much slower. Oppy will continue clockwise around Victoria for now, while they look for a safe path in and out. He said they definately want to try and drive in. Especially since this is likely to be her final resting place with the nearest target of interest ca. 10-15 km distant.

So as they all say, "We'll See"

It was my priviledge to host him and chat with him along with my good UMSF friend Airbag. Perhaps we will post some pictures. His talk is completely different from other team members I have attended including Steve Squyres, Steve Gorevan and Matt Golembek. more comments later as time permits.

By all means, you should leap at the speed of a dust devil for the "opportunity" to attend a talk by Jim Bell, The lead scientist

For those who may be interested I have a few autographed book copies remaining.

ken

PS: Oh yes, also a great big shot of Ultreya ... El Dorado

which reminded me of you ! and this great UMSF forum

and we three also mused of knowing the rocks and terrain at Gusev and Meridiani, better than our own backyard!

[ustrax]

Aaarghhh!!!
Why are all this miles in between?!

I'm really happy for the success of the initiative and for the growing interest around space science that the MER mission provided.

I believe that great part in that success has to do with the people leading it, Jim Bell is really a great scientist and, for what I've been reading, a better person.

Maybe, someday, an opportunity to attend a talk occurs in this side of the Atlantic...someday...

Ahhh...how I envy you guys...