Had an exceptionally busy week last week, and have been meaning to write it up. Classes were quite busy, with multiple assignments due in rapid succession last week. Plus observing preparation (where I am now), an outreach event at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Air and Space Museum, and the other “normal” things I have to do throughout the week.
In addition to this, several of my fellow graduate students and I (along with comments from a couple astronomers at UVa and NRAO) wrote and submitted a white paper to the 2010 Decadal Survey regarding hands-on experience with telescopes for students. It was quite a bit of work in a short time (~4 days from concept to submission), but was a great experience. It’s great to know that we are providing input on the direction of astronomy for the next decade.
I am currently sitting in the control room of the Green Bank Telescope, in Green Bank, WV. Well into our 11.5 hour observing block, we still haven’t gotten on sky due to some equipment issues. They are being worked on as we speak, and I think we should be on sky and observing soon. I will try to post updates to twitter as the night goes on. We’re looking for HI in a couple Seyfert galaxies. Should be fun! There will hopefully be a longer update after we finish observing…
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