First Light with the FIRE Spectrograph

The FIRE spectrograph in the MIT lab, cooling down for testing

Today we obtained our first lab images with the Folded Port Infrared Echellette, or FIRE, spectrograph.  This instrument is being built by Rob Simcoe, myself, Paul Schechter, John Bochanski, Jason Fishner and Matt Smith at MIT; Criag McMurtry, Judy Pipher and Bill Forrest at U. Rochester; and Rebecca Bernstein and Bruce Bigelow at UC Santa Cruz.  FIRE is a near-infrared spectrograph that will be installed at the Magellan Telescopes, Las Campanas Observatory, hopefully in January 2010.

Too much violence in Astronomy? Felicia Day thinks so…

Felicia Day: don't fear the Andromeda!

Some time back I wrote a post on the reporting of astronomy and how it is frequently couched in violent or aggressive tones.  The brilliant folks at IRrelevant Astronomy have fired their own salvo at this trend (see how easy it is to make astronomy violent?) with a great mockumentary on the making of an education film: “When Galaxies Collide”. You tell them, Felicia!  Also starring Buffy Henshaw and Sean Astin (as an audiobook).

Here’s the video:

The Adam J. Burgasser Endowed Chair of Astrophysics

I miss you Eames chair

This year I made a move from my faculty position at MIT to one at UC San Diego.  While there were many wonderful and positive things I was leaving behind in the process (good friends, brilliant students, phenomenal staff and a supportive and scientifically engaging department), the one thing that my backside will miss the most is my Eames lounge chair. I purchased this design icon as a “thinking chair”, but it was a frequent hit with visitors, students and of course the other junior faculty.  Indeed, not long after I had made public my decision to head out to San Diego, I received emails like the following from my colleagues:

“If you are not taking it with you right away, can I keep your Eames Chair for “safeguarding” in my office? I promise to give it back whenever you either come back or take it with you..”

Unfortunately, this was not an item that could leave MIT, so it was clear that it had to be passed on to a deserving recipient.  But how to pick one person in a department of superstars?  Thus was born:

The Adam J. Burgasser Endowed Chair of Astrophysics

A Survey on Perceptions of Appropriate Behaviors in Astronomy

My graduate student Jackie Faherty and I are running a survey about perceptions of appropriate behaviors between students and advisors in astronomy, as part of our contribution to the 2009 Women in Astronomy and Space Science Meeting.  We came up with 10 scenarios that one or both of us have experienced as advisors and/or students where the appropriateness of the situation or behavior could be ambiguous depending on your gender, age or professional status.  The survey runs through the end of October, so if you are an astronomer or interested in astronomy, and have dealt with advisor/student issues, please take our survey – it only takes 10 minutes!

The survey can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QuGqrPrt3cxxiwVnvGBkSQ_3d_3d

Results will be posted at http://www.browndwarfs.org/wia2009 in November.

Long distance flying tips

Anyone can be a pillow

My friend Nikki is going on a trip to Thailand next month (lucky!), and knowing my near-constant travelling (I’m currently averaging 17 mph for the year) she wanted some tips on how to prepare for long flights. There are several websites and blogs that discuss this, and even a book, but here’s my own personal tips for preparing for and surviving a long ride in the flying bus.

Preparing for the Trip

Make sure you have the best seat: Nearly all airlines allow you to choose your seat online, but how do you know your seat reclines or has a power plug or has a good view of the movie?