MESSENGER at Mercury
Thanks to @Lora on Twitter I got to hear some discussion from the MESSENGER spacecraft public telecon yesterday. MESSENGER is on the first of three fly-bys (second in October 2008 and third in September 2009) as it gets into a proper orbit and Lora said that the images from this fly-by probably wouldn't be released until 30th January. Despite that it would appear that Tom has the first image already though! Check out the thin crescent Mercury.
Back to the AAS 2008 meeting, Astronomy Cast Live brings together posts from Pamela, Fraiser and Phil's blogs into one place.
Comments: MESSENGER at Mercury
Despite the STFC crisis, the reality is that Particle Physics and Astronomy remain of great interest to the public, and as has been well stated, are subjects that started many scientists off in their exploration of the science in the first place
To quote Prof Mason ⦠â˜we are in this situation, so lets just get on with itâ™. Fine, thanks for those great words of support, just what we wanted to hear from you, a great way to marshal your troops around you.
Does there really remain much confidence within the community that the present Senior Management at STFC are the right people to lead Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Astronomy out of the problem. The woeful lack of communication with the community as the crisis developed was dressed up in STFC-speak as being due to the need to act fast, and that it was adequately discussed with Committees. However, this has already been refuted by some members of those same committees (see Paul Crowtherâ™s web page and the Jan 8th Guardian), leaving it difficult to believe anything we are told from STFC now.
Maybe itâ™s time to stand back from this shambles and to take a fresh look at the future, and also to look inwardly, and outwardly, at who should be brought in to take the community forward. Should the community really seek to change personnel at the top now â✠should senior Management just be allowed to get on with it? There are arguments for this that they already know something about the system â✠but there is also so much angry sentiment in the PP, NP and Astronomy communities that enough is enough â✠and a resignation that we have been left exposed in the present situation by inadequate leadership (however STFC want to dress it up) that did not manage to contain the situation at an early stage in the development of the crisis. Maybe the best way forward now is just to have a clean sweep and regroup. Is this going to happen â✠well many people are talking about this privately â✠but everyone is worried that by putting their heads above the parapet, they will be the first to suffer. Perhaps it is time to appeal to the people involved at STFC to do the right thing to allow everyone to move forward
Posted by Concerned for the future on Wednesday 23rd Jan 2008 (17:35 UTC)