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 [email protected], "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: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
