Moon Pictures from Observatory @Earth Science Department

For long time I was not aware of the 16inch telescope located at the roof top of the Earth Science Department @ SUNY Albany.

This year I am doing Teaching assistant ship job for Prof. Knuth's Star Systems class. (http://knuthlab.rit.albany.edu/courses/F09/StarSystems/)
Today provided very nice opportunity to invite students for stargazing through twitter and Phil's Black Board page. It was dark enough by 7 PM. The night sky was very very clear. We did some observations including Moon and Jupiter.
Here are some pics taken by my Mobile.

Please note that I could get only some portion in the field of view. Let me tell you:
It was amazing

Got a blurred version captured. You can see three of the Jupiter's Moons.




http://www.atmos.albany.edu/mars/telescope-2.html

Physics Frontline: Official Blog by Americal Physical Society

The scientific publications by Americal Physical Society has been viewed as very prestigious materials by/among the scholars. Physics Frontline is the latest effort to bring out discussions on general topics aimed to public and members.

Let me quote:

Physics Frontline covers the latest scientific news, analysis and commentary on the intersection of physics with science policy  issues, including innovation, education, energy, climate change, and nuclear policy.

I had also written about the "Physics", the online publication of APS, spotlight kind of site for Physics with interesting materials here... http://www.nabinkm.com/2008/11/subscribe-to-physics-new-venture-of.html.
The aim of "Physics.aps.org" was to highlight some interesting viewpoints, trends and promote the discussions with synopses.

I suppose the aim of Frontline is going to be more oriented towards general public. Looking at few postings in there, I can see that it is more towards the policy or the concurrent view of physics.

Let me quote once more:

To serve the needs of its membership and the general public, APS concerns itself with a number of issues that affect both the physics community and the nation as a whole.  They are:
Competitiveness & Innovation
Defense
Education
Energy & Environment
Research Funding
Visas

The American Physical Society is the leading professional organization of physicists, representing over 47,000 physicists in academia and industry in the United States and internationally.

Link:

http://physicsfrontline.aps.org/

Active Nepali Bloggers, Nepali Bloggers Group and BLOGAN part I

Scenario One:
When I started blogging back in 2004, it was meant to be personal rambling. I started with a lot of  energy and the old blogger; invited few friends and asked for comments on it. No one really cared.
I then stopped it, eventually that got deleted in 2007 when I saw that the level of writing was not upto it. Anyway, that was a crude start back then. In conversation with one of the friend, on the use of blogging as ways to communicate, he indicated me that he had seen another blog by a Nepali lady aboard writing on the ease of transportation. As he said, she was writing on the possible abuse by the passengers on the crowded bus in Nepal and was comparing the scenario aboard. My impression of blog since has not changed.

Scenario Two:
I started back to blog. The promoting energy was the power of bloggers that was witnessed while I was searching for the reliability of Dell computer that I was thinking of buying. I found that the Blogs were much more informative than the news site as it clearly indicated the defects and the hassle in dealing with the customer care center. The same energy got my blogger part awaken and started doing so. It was fun. The same friend, commented: A good way to kill time while alone/aboard.
After rambling for some time, I got interested in searching for Nepali Bloggers. By this time bloggers.com.np was there. At least 75/80 blogs were already listed. I browsed them one by one. To my great surprise, most of them had already decided to hibernate.
I wanted to see the active Nepali Bloggers.

Scenario Three:
In the quest of seeking active Nepali Bloggers, Nepalean et al was able to gather about x number of bloggers into the same place in shout box (in Dautari Blog Chautari). I really enjoyed it! Personally, it gave me a chance to say hello to bloggers who were adorable and passionate in their writings. Before that event, I really had not much chance to chat to fellow bloggers except with Aakar, Naya Laure etc. Everyone appreciated the effort by the team.
However, one striking feature was there...
A quest to seek active Nepali Bloggers versus revive the BLOGAN.
One said some people (of BLOGAN) had already started blogging even before other Nepali knew what blog meant. Really?

Well, what does a blog mean?

1. Collection of News/Reporting
2. Collection of Personal thoughts/Biases
3. Collection of Personal Literatures
4. Place to dump copy and paste materials
5. All of the above
6. None of the above

More on the second part...


PS:



Thank You Dilip jee(@ comment) for indicating the omission, the fulltext of Dautari Bhela can be found here...
http://chatroll.com/blogdautari/archive/2009/08/page1

Physics Students Departing from Nepal to USA for Fall 2009.

This year only about one and half dozen Nepali Physicists departed aboard for pursuing higher degrees. As we are aware, most of them do come to USA.
Here is what I have been able to collect so far...




Jagannath Devkota(USM)
Pushpa Pudasaini(USM)
Santosh K.C.(Texas)
Tulashi Dahal (Boston)
Ganesh Chand
Sanjeev Jha(NMSU)
Dilli Raj Poudel(NMSU)
Barun Gupta (University of Utah)
Bindu K.C (Idaho State Univ.)
Purushottam Tiwari (Florida)
Pooja Pradhan (U Toledo)
Kamal Dhungana (Michigan Tech)
Tek Basel (University of Utah)
Bhim Lal Poudel(Miami)
Dharma Raj Khatiwada (Minesota)
Hari lal Bhatta (Missouri state university)
Madan Lamichhane (Memphis)
While the business of list collecting is not unique in its nature, I would like to welcome fellow colleagues and wish them all the best for their future academic endeavor.
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks to Dilli, Jagannath and Smriti Jee.

US Chapter of Nepal Physical Society (US Co NPS)

An idea has been playing football in my mind for long time. We have had few discussions on personal level to some colleagues. I know that it will take long time for this idea to come true, however, writing on it should be OK...
*****************************************************************************

Nepal Physical Society (NPS) should be proud as her members are growing and going aboard for further education with the aim to gain Degrees in prestigious Universities around the Globe.  Some informal data show that there are more than 250 Physicists aboard pursuing higher studies in countries like USA, Norway, Japan, Korea, India etc... Among them most of the mass is concentrated on USA.

It has been long realized the necessity of co-ordination between Physicists aboard and NPS. The communication has been on personal level and few activities also happen at personal level by personal interests/volunteers.

At this point, one can envision having a US chapter of Nepal Physical Society.
I think, many respected physicists are more knowledgeable on how to run a chapter. What we need is a widespread discussion on how to do it. The right time is coming, are we able to see it?



Being a proud member of NPS, I have been writing few stuffs related to nps, which can be found here... Please be advised that these are my personal views. One has utmost right to agree or dis-agree on it!

PS:
On the google map, we have been able to list about hundred people. The list keeps on growing as we come to learn about Nepali Physicists around the Globe. Please leave a comment with your Name, University, your URL, field of study/research. We will be glad to include you!