Wednesday 25th June: Hanny's Voorwerp

[Hanny]

Hello everyone interested in Hanny's Voorwerp,

This topic started out as a regular OOTD thread, when Hanny's Voorwerp became APOD. I've since then kept this post updated with a lot of links to articles and videos with more information about it. It became a very long list. This list is not gone, but from now on I'll keep it updated on my personal website, here:

www.hannysvoorwerp.com

See you there! Cheers,
Hanny van Arkel.

     

For more information about the large picture below and APOD click here.
The original sdss image can be seen here.


Credit: Dan Herbert, Peter Smith, Matt Jarvis, Galaxy Zoo Team, Isaac Newton Telescope.

[Edd]

I made an exception for the case of this thread and copied it over from the forums by hand. The original thread on the temporary forum is here - linked as I won't be copying the followups to it!

[NGC3314]

Another Voorwerp news item, this time from the Birmingham News (Alabama, not UK):

University of Alabama amateur astronomer awarded time on Hubble Space Telescope

The headline is sort of confusing (and is different from the one in the printed newspaper) - it's at least missing a comma. (With family members in the business, I am all too aware that reporters themselves don't write the headlines - that's done by editors under a lot of time pressure). I mean, I'm not an amateur astronomer. Well, I am, but I'm also one in my day job. Or is that night job? Whatever. And Hanny has regained her honorary certification to teach physics. But some of the quotations are (I think) memorable: "The most brilliant objects in the sky," Keel said, "have this heart of darkness."

[Hanny]

Wonderfull Bill, thanks! And I'll update in the first post soon too!

Edit: done.

[Galaxy Hunters Inc]

Congratulations Hanny
Such an exciting life you lead!  Now your an intergalactic TV "STAR".
The program The Sky at Night sounds interesting but I'm almost certain we don't get it in Australia. It would be nice if  someone put the GZ segment on youtube or something.
Thanks for the links, I have been having a good read.

[Geoff]

Hi Galaxy Hunter

You can watch previous episodes of the Sky at Night on the web -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/skyatnight/proginfo.shtml

[Hanny]

Thanks GHI and Geoff.

[Galaxy Hunters Inc]

Hi Galaxy Hunter

You can watch previous episodes of the Sky at Night on the web -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/skyatnight/proginfo.shtml

Thanks  very much Geoff, I have bookmarked the page and it Looks like I have hours of pleasurable distractions ahead of me.

[Half65]

Thanks Geoff great link.

[The Physics Groupie]

Hanny,

I just read the excellent write-up about your Voorwerp in Science News, July 19, 2008. Excellent!

Tot seens!

_dan

[Hanny]

Thanks Dan! I hadn't seen this one yet! I'll add it soon.

Edit: oh, something strange with that date, 'cause I already had that link in the first messag after all.

[EricFDiaz]

Another Voorwerp news item, this time from the Birmingham News (Alabama, not UK):

University of Alabama amateur astronomer awarded time on Hubble Space Telescope

The headline is sort of confusing (and is different from the one in the printed newspaper) - it's at least missing a comma. (With family members in the business, I am all too aware that reporters themselves don't write the headlines - that's done by editors under a lot of time pressure). I mean, I'm not an amateur astronomer. Well, I am, but I'm also one in my day job. Or is that night job? Whatever. And Hanny has regained her honorary certification to teach physics. But some of the quotations are (I think) memorable: "The most brilliant objects in the sky," Keel said, "have this heart of darkness."

Gee, Hanny...that must be an awfully long commute from the Netherlands to the University of Alabama each day! LOL And imagine that....the first amateur astronomer to get time on the Hubble Space Telescope! Be careful not to break it now!

P.S.

At least they got the meaning of 'Voorwerp' right!

[Hanny]

[...] the first amateur astronomer to get time on the Hubble Space Telescope! Be careful not to break it now!

I'll do my best.

At least they got the meaning of 'Voorwerp' right!

Yup. And I had an interview on the phone this weekend as well, with someone from Elsevier (Dutch), who probably found my dad (Henny van Arkel) in the phonebook, and she didn't ask about the name, so I thought I'd better tell her myself. Image a Dutch newspaper writing about "Hanny's Object" thinking it would be the proper translation...

[Hanny]

And I'll also do my best to update the first post with all the Dutch media attention at the moment, but both of my phones keep ringing, so not at this mo I'm afraid..

[NGC3314]

And I'll also do my best to update the first post with all the Dutch media attention at the moment, but both of my phones keep ringing, so not at this mo I'm afraid..

While you're busy, here are some links to copy:

The Volkskrant

De Pers

Elsevier (that one includes your vacation photo posing in front of it)

Algemeen Dagblad

De Telegraaf

Dagblad De Limburger

(This seems to have pretty much swept the most important Dutch newspapers within the last couple of days - wow!)