From: Phil deHaan (dehp@calvin.edu)
Date: Fri Nov 01 2002 - 10:04:40 EST
November 1, 2002
This was in the second half of John Douglas' column in Wednesday's Grand Rapids
Press (October 30). Kudos to Calvin professor Larry Molnar and his students for
their good work.
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AND SPEAKING OF NATURE, I read in The Press about the photos of Venus and
Jupiter taken by Calvin College professors and students which are going to be
used on a "Nova" television show.
I decided to try and track down these photos on the Internet so that I could
see them. I love photos from space.
I found a web address (www.calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory) that took me
to a place where there are some fine space photographs. This Calvin College site
has a beautiful picture of the Ring Nebula, which I could look at all day. It is
so beautiful and so mysterious -- but then most of space is mysterious to me.
Also included on this website are the pictures of Venus and Jupiter taken by the
folks at Calvin.
I can see why they would be of interest to the people working on the "Nova"
show. The picture of Jupiter is particularly beautiful and the photos of Venus
perpetuate the mystery of that clouded planet.
What is good about the Venus photos is that you can animate them on the
computer which gives you a little movie of Venus.
Sometimes I think we should be more aware of the wondrous things going on
around us in the West Michigan community. We hear about the bad stuff and
goodness knows there is plenty of that. Even our leaders and potential leaders
are engaged in less than savory stuff which we must endure for at least another
week.
But here are some students and professors right in our community who are trying
to add to the knowledge we have about the universe and I find that exciting.
Some of this information is available to all, thanks to the modern miracle of
the Internet and I would encourage you to take a look.
It will add to your store of knowledge and make you feel good as warm weather
slides to a close.
John Douglas can be reached by writing to him at The Press, 155 Michigan St.
NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or by e-mail at jdouglas@grpress.com
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