All posts by Geof Franklin

Researching ways to improve scientist's access to data. Programming software to solve humanity's problems. Disseminating emergency preparedness knowledge. Sharing knowledge about science. Practicing amateur radio. Serving humanity through volunteer efforts. Drives a robot to work.

Transit of Mercury

Every 13 or 33 years in May the planet Mercury wanders across the Earth’s view of the Sun. (This also happens in November, every 7, 13 or 33 years.) This event is called a transit and is extremely important in Astronomy.  The Transit of Venus, for example, was used to calculate the size of our solar system and looking for the slight dimming of distant stars caused by transiting planets is how we Continue reading Transit of Mercury

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Firepit

For years we had a portable fire bowl. It traveled with us from events all over the southeast to weddings in new england, it warmed cool nights and solidified friendships. But after ten years of collecting rainfall, bouncing around on a trailer and burning a small forest worth of firewood, our little copper clad fire bowl simply wore out. We wanted something permanent here at the house, a fire pit we could host parties around or simply enjoy a cool evening for the two of us. .. mission accomplished.

A fire in a fire ring.

Continue reading Firepit

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Early spring at the telescope

Sunset filters through the trees.Finally! It’s warm enough outside in the evening to stand around and stare at the stars. Continue reading Early spring at the telescope

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail