Astronomy Guild and other details
Oct. 29th, 2012 10:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sinistraSuch a pleasure to get to see my astronomy colleagues this evening, as always. Tonight’s presentation was a quite fascinating talk on photographic advances with telescopes, some of which seem very promising.
We also had two quite spirited discussions about some new projects. First - after what I understand are innumerable commitee meetings - there’s a firm proposal for Guild use of a portion of Tintagel, and they’re working on the final details for the telescope installation.
Second, some conversation about what an improved astronomy text might look like - ideally something that would accomodate both student use, and interested adults who wish to review the topic. Students, on that last point, I’ve been asked to talk to all of you about what would be of particular interest and help. We’ll find time in our classes this month to do so, but please think about what you find frustrating and confusing, and on what you find useful or essential.
Mum, thanks again for tea and managing certain details.
We also had two quite spirited discussions about some new projects. First - after what I understand are innumerable commitee meetings - there’s a firm proposal for Guild use of a portion of Tintagel, and they’re working on the final details for the telescope installation.
Second, some conversation about what an improved astronomy text might look like - ideally something that would accomodate both student use, and interested adults who wish to review the topic. Students, on that last point, I’ve been asked to talk to all of you about what would be of particular interest and help. We’ll find time in our classes this month to do so, but please think about what you find frustrating and confusing, and on what you find useful or essential.
Mum, thanks again for tea and managing certain details.
Private message to Narcissa Malfoy
Date: 2012-10-30 02:29 am (UTC)I had tea with my mother this afternoon, and she has assured me she’s rescued the family tapestry from my aunt’s house (My father’s oldest sister. Family matriarchies are so complicated sometimes, as really it should have been at my Nana’s or my Uncle’s if not with Mum.)
I understand from Mum it’s not been touched since my youngest brother, Theo, was born (well, there’s only one child in the direct Sinistra line since Theo, so I suppose that’s not as surprising as it might be. It does need rather a bit of cleaning and tending to, but she’s taking it in hand now.
I do hope everything is going well for you, and you enjoyed the opera this weekend - I didn’t have a chance to speak with Tosha today, but he’d mentioned he was looking forward to it, and especially to a chance to catch up with you.
Aurora
Private message to Gilly Chadwick
Date: 2012-10-30 02:49 am (UTC)Sorry we didn’t get more time - next week, can you stay late at the Archetype? We can do a last run through the other install notes from ‘86 that Georg wants. (I’d forgotten you use different abbreviations than I do, but a quick look at my notes makes me think I’ve got them all still in my head.) And then one of us can drop them off for him.
And no, Dai didn’t talk to me - he ducked out when you got snagged by that knot of observers. At least he came. (Do I really need to repeat where I am with that? Still frustrated, still know nothing I do is going to improve things. Still off-balance about it. Eleven weeks, three days, still the same as it was.)
Well. No sense in rambling. But if I show signs of being as cursedly stubborn in the ways that make distance, as Dai’s doing, do tell me. Repeatedly. Until I listen.
A.
Private message to Georg Bright
Date: 2012-10-30 03:07 am (UTC)Really, warn a woman next time, before you drop two massive projects that affect her into a meeting. Yes, I missed April and July, but unlike some people, I do read the minutes. You’re making a point, though. And not to me - Carnelian and Donal’s crowd, I’m
guessingthinkingsure. And I think to Leoris and to Hildegard, in their ways.On the text, you’re right that I clearly need to be on the exploratory commitee if it’s to do anything useful at all. I’m really only free on Tuesday afternoons, and I need advance warning to plan other appointments: will owl tomorrow with specifics once I finish cross-checking my calendar.
As to who: Cantus, two theorists, two observers, and someone from the telescope makers. (I’d prefer Gilly, but I prefer even more that you spare me Leoris, so balance as you need.) At least one other woman, please. Make Cantus chair the thing, it’ll be good for him, and means I can argue points, not enforce fairness.
On the actual details, it’s not that I don’t agree we could use a new approach - the current text’s near twenty years old. But really, do you agree with Carnelian that we should just drop the historical and southern-only constellations entirely? I’ve thought about reducing the time we spend on them, but they’re still a remarkably large piece of the OWL and NEWT exams, and you know I’ve no control over those.
Though I do have a friendly contact there, if you want to inquire about the process to request review on guild grounds. She’d tell you how best to propose it.
Anyway. I'll owl tomorrow, and do send me the last round of notes on M81 you mentioned back with her, please? On the calibration notes, Gilly or I will drop them off next week once we’ve both had a chance to dig out our personal notes on the things not in the original writeup. If you’d warned me, you could have had them this week, so it’s entirely your own fault.
Clear nights, as always
A.