Tech and Science

Telstra drops Second Life

fcwscott — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:02:55 GMT

Australia's largest Internet service provider Telstra has announced that as from December 16 2009 they will no longer be maintaining a presence in SecondLife. Telstra have also decided to remove any "UnMetered usage" applied to their subscribers whilst in the second life environment.

Telstra has for 2 years operated the "Pondi" simulators within second life attracting many thousands of users. Part of their marketing strategy was to provide Unmetered bandwidth to their subscribers while using second life. In a country where bandwidth is expensive and constantly metered and charged for by ISP's this has been seen by many Second life users as a blow to thier continued usage of the service.

Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton confirmed today that the company was abandoning its presence on Second Life.

He said 100,000 avatars had joined Second Life through its service over the past two years, but only about 2000 of these were regular users.

“We commenced back in 2007 when it was an emerging opportunity. It was largely an experiment – a learning opportunity about engaging with online communities. We have a number of islands that customers could access on an unmetered basis, but now our focus has moved to other social media opportunities,” he said.

The decision has been seen by many users as a bad move which will restrict the majority of second life users in Australia from enjoying the full experience of Second Life due to the high bandwidth and ADSL charges applied in Australia.

Middleton said BigPond's in-world customer service would help members relocating to other areas of Second Life.

“The unmetering was only on BigPond islands themselves, which is only a small part of Second Life world,” he said.

Unfortunately this statement is not literally correct. During the 2 year second life experiment by Telstra. Bandwidth used by Telstra subscribers was in fact UnMetered irregardless of what simulator the subscriber was in. Telstra has for 2 years been providing what amounts to Free Bandwidth to some thousands of subscribers across the entire grid of second life while at the same time advertising to the public and their shareholders that only usage applied while within the telstra bigpond operated simulators counted as "UnMetered Usage".

It has been estimated that an average telstra bigpond Second Life user on a 25Gb ADSL Plan would on average have used in excess of 50Gb of "UnMetered usage" in addition to their usage outside of Second Life.

This UnMetered usage across the second life / telstra user base may have cost Telstra a substantial amount in wholesale bandwidth charges which their subscribers have never been charged for.

This would all be very philanthropic if Telstra had planned to allow grid wide UnMetered usage. But as late as this weekend they were still maintaining the statement that "only usage within the Bigpond islands was Unmetered" which is incorrect.

It is expected that the Australian Shadow Minister for Communications , Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin will raise questions in the Australian Parliament this week during the final week of sittings in relation to both mismanagement of the telstra second life "experiment" and the financial implications of their UnMetered bandwidth component of that service.

Microsoft - Windows 7 and my pie

lustforlife — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:33:55 GMT

I bought Windows Vista - actually bought 3 licenses and paid a tonof money. It turned out to be one of the biggest disasters of my life. Had to discard 2 printers and 2 laptops and add memmory to my desktop. (Dell and INtel got quite a bit of business). Now they have come up with Windows 7, which is supposed to be better. Don't they owe us one for each license of Vista? They made fun of automobile manufacturers but Ford or GM has the courage to recall and repair the car. Microsoft sold a piece of junk and does not want to recall it or give us the better version. Bill Gates is rich and will be richer but I am moving to Mac - let me try it and cannot be worse than Vista. I hope Microsoft is listening

Facebook can be a double-edged sword

deepseahuman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:50:25 GMT

This is just a 10 days a part, I read two different news both realted to famous social network site FACEBOOK.

First one was on 2nd week of this month where a 19-year-old was arrested on Ocober 18 as a robbery suspect in New York. His defense lawyer said the young man couldn't have committed the crime because at the time of the robbery he posted a Facebook status update from a computer at his father's apartment in Harlem.

FACEBOOK posting is served as ALIBI.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/legally_weird/2009/11/facebook-post-as-alibi-teenagers-facebook-status-saves-him.html

Second one is from 21st Nov, posting simlin pics on face book is costin a Canadian woman her insurance. She claimed insurance for being depressed. Based on the time line and her face book pics, the firm claimed woman was no longer depressed and cancelled the payments.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/legally_weird/2009/11/facebook-post-as-alibi-teenagers-facebook-status-saves-him.html

Wonder how social network site have become part of normal day human life. They are servin as Alibis, background checks and characters.

Whats next!!!!??!?!?!?!

Technology respects you as long as you respect it. In first case there are many cases where teenagers share accounts passwords with closest pals. In 2nd case the woman might be claiming false insurance but there are chances that those pics might be from older days or that is the only moment when that moan might have laughed.

-----

Thanks

Re-Naming Christmas

JaneyBracken — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:41:57 GMT

What on earth has happened to Christmas? You know, that time of year when there is a glow in the air and people do good things and think about pleasing others, and in return please themselves as the emotion of giving and helping people is turned right back onto them, giving them that ‘feel good’ factor.

People love themes in SL, we had Halloween and there were so many places to visit as people used their imaginations to build amazing sites for us to explore, then suddenly Halloween was over and we have Christmas coming up at the speed of knots! Or don’t you called it Christmas? and if not why not?

Linden Labs in their great wisdom have called the event in SL ‘Winterfest’, and I’d like to know what this stands for, and why they don’t call it the holiday that it is – Christmas! I expect they will say that calling it something totally irrelevant encompasses the whole of the SL population, so that no one is excluded. Well as far as I can see no one wants to exclude anyone anyway, Christmas has never been a closed shop to those who want to enjoy it, even if they don’t share the Christian religion. The excuse in the United Kingdom often used for banning anything to do with Christianity, is “in case it causes offence to other religions”. I would like to know what the other non-Christian religions think about this and what does offend them, if they are offended that is! After all no one complains about the many non-Christian festivals that the others enjoy throughout the year in the UK and all around the world, and good luck to them.

On a similar note, in real life, we have the Scottish City of Dundee in the UK, which re-named the event this year, from ‘switching on the Christmas lights’ to ‘Winter Light Night’ instead. There will be no mention of the nativity; the festival will feature a solar-powered disco, a circus with a continental market and a fairy on stilts! You couldn’t make it up!!

People have set up some lovely snowy settings in SL with candy canes, snowmen, Santa Clauses, ice palaces, presents, and all the usual commercial side of Christmas that make it so magical for kids and adults alike. You can go ice-skating, take a sleigh ride and do all sorts of things that people enjoy. There are some Christian churches too in SL, and I expect they will take a more serious look at the festival. I’m not particularly religious, but I can see the traditional values of Christmas dying out if people let them.

Lets make it Christmas, not Winter Light Night, or Winterfest, let everyone celebrate their own beliefs and traditions without hindrance from others, making it a peaceful 2010.

Calvary chapel
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fharsine/130/116/76

Winter Wonderland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winter%20Wonderland/28/128/23

Angel woods
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boreal/91/39/117

Builders republic Christmas Square
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Builders%20Republic/120/121/34

Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD Webcam ReBoxing & Returning :(

CreativeSoul — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:44:25 GMT

I was very excited when I purchased the Microsoft LifeCam HD but after getting it home and trying to record in HD (16:9) ...Huh, Well, I was getting very choppy and lagging videos. I've seen others on Youtube with great HD videos from using this webcam but my PC is just not fast enough to process the video so I had to return it today with tears in my eyes. Maybe I'll get a faster computer in 2010 that will be able use any HD webcam. The Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD Webcam is a great little cool gadget!

My current computer specs:
HP TouchSmart PC | 1.60 GHz | 2 GB Memory (RAM) | Vista 32- bit OS

Other Reviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJd3cA...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw0Zoi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtW-p3...

Visit Microsoft:
http://tinyurl.com/odfbgw

Vio Live Event for V-Innovate LTD Sunday, November 22, 2009

TamiAmat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:37:55 GMT

Marc Montague & AWM Mars, founders & directors of V-Innovate LTD will tell us about their latest project - ECO Grids! This new project provides Business Meeting Solutions using a browser.

New Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema HD webcam

CreativeSoul — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:20:56 GMT

I'm just a geek for cool tech gadget toys and need a new webcam like I need a hole in my head. Well, what geek can turn down a new HD webcam? Not me! It's the new Microsoft LifeCam Cinema which will record in 720p HD widescreen (16:9)... just what I always wanted, a HD webcam to show all of my flaws and imperfections!

For more information visit Microsoft.com or visit this link:

http://tinyurl.com/mqhmaz

SWEETFILTER® Odor Control Experts STOP THE STINK Again

Sweetfilter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:51 GMT

PEC Awarded 3rd Contract with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, IL --November 15, 2009 -Pennington Equipment Company, Incorporated announced today that the Chicago MWRD has awarded a 3rd consecutive contract for the supply of SWEETFILTER® and ZEOCARBON® odor control and separation equipment.

Commenting on the announcement, Rod Pennington, PEC chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are extremely pleased with the MWRD decision. It not only verifies that the technology for our sewer odor control systems is valid, but also demonstrates that the name recognition of our Sweetfiilter Trademark line of products is continuing to grow support from the Environmental Industry."

Mr. Pennington continued, "The MWRD decision is significant to our business because it confirms PEC as the exclusive supplier of these valuable specialty systems in odor control and elimination for the municicpal, restaurant, pharmaceutical, metallurgical, water treatment, and biotechnology markets. It also positions us to pursue other large municipal systems as a part of our overall marketing strategy."

Assessing Odor Purification, Separation, and Elimination Needs
PEC provides Engineered Solutions to customers' air and water problems through design, fabrication, and operation of systems that utilize a combination of core technologies: oxidation, odor control, VOC abatement and air stripping.

The group includes professional engineers, scientists, sales and marketing personnel, four primary manufacturing sites, intellectual property assets of more than five USPTO patents and Trademarks, as well as pilot plant facilities and custom manufacturing capabilities utilizing our Sweetfilter technology.

About PEC
PEC is a global leader in services and solutions for making air and water safer and cleaner, and for purifying food, beverage, and industrial process air and water streams.

Headquartered in Springfield, PEC employs approximately 100 people and serves more than 4,000 customers around the world through four business platforms: Zeocarbon®, Sewer Odor Control Experts Service, Engineered Solutions and Consumer Health.

For more information, visit the PEC website at: www.Sweetfilter.com or contact a customer service technician at: Sweetfilter@msn.com or call 1-888-261-4726.

Contact: Dick Pennington, Director of Customer Relations and Corporate Communications, (888-261-4726) We@ControlOdors.com

Burning Life - Burn and Renew!

JuAnanda — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:04:38 GMT

Much has been said and photographed on the Burning Life since its first event in Second Life in 2003. The question is under what terms would it be possible to talk about something new or which of the many facets of that event still surprise you?

The issue here is freedom to act, to express ideas and create from scratch, something that causes impact and talk to you; and that, surprisingly will only be seen for a week. We can consider 'Burning Life' a huge art exhibition, which brings together multiple styles and events.

Art is a dynamic and subjective concept, in connection with the ideas of a moment. And it raises questions about an event like Burning Life and its daring artists, with their fascinating and spectacular creations. The freedom to create exceeds the actual bid, because in the virtual world everything is possible and the limitations or "dangers" of RL, are completely pulverized.

To read the complete article go to:

http://www.inner-world.org

FRACTAL ECSTASY in Second Life

any1gynoid — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:41:05 GMT

Fractal patterns intersect math, computing, and nature with beautiful symmetry; today an amazing show of 13 diverse fractal styles launched in Second Life (SL). Displaying over 100 years of fractal experience, these SL creators spent decades tinkering with fractal programs with compelling results. You can preview their show called Fractal Diversity in Pictures 1 through 9 above, then visit the real show in Second Life at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shepherd/180/218/84
With amazing shows like Fractal Diversity and 1000's of hours of free live musicians and DeeJays every single day, you would be crazy not to join Second Life for free at: http://www.secondlife.com

A fractal is a graphical pattern which repeats itself at diminishing sizes. Fractals are generated using recursive calls, essentially graphic programs that call themselves to generate repeating patterns of diminishing scale. Fractal patterns are very commonplace in nature, for example in nautilus shells, ferns, and snowflakes. For more info, discover the source of Picture 10 from this wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal

Now enjoy some amazing SL fractal masters talk about their life's work and awesome creations. Their creative human minds powerfully merge their left brain programming logic with their right brain intuitive creativity to produce fractal insights that are deeply moving. Human made, but mimicking nature; synthetic, but vibrant, pulsating, and mysteriously alive.

Picture 1 is "Aurora Angelis" by Androo Beck. Androo describes his fractals: "I like to feature structure in my fractals - that's what's different from a lot of the other fractals you see. I like to draw out a solid looking structure, to make it look like something real that you could touch. I love fractals because they bring to life the complexity, elegance and beauty of the mathematical formulas behind them. Making a fractal is really a process of discovery. The fractal is there all along, you just have to find it and then color it in the way you want it to look. It really is like being a nature photographer. We all like to see structure in nature, because it gives nature a sense of design or purpose, which we also like to see in our lives. I think fractals are appealing because they often contain similar structures that you can find in nature, whether it be in plants, sea shells, or corals." See more of Androo's fractals at: http://prints.weiserware.com

I debated with myself a long time about Picture 2, "Body in Flight.' Should I or shouldn't I. If US commercial TV can show some innocent nudity for the sake of preventing breast cancer, why can't we, for art's sake. Picture 2 is the stunning creation of 2 artists, Serenity Questi and Figbash Snook. See their other collaborative works at Fractal Diversity at Art of the Inspiration Gallery: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shepherd/196/217/84

Curator of Fractal Diversity, Serenity Questi, had this to say, "The reason I decided to create this show is that people often think that fractals, because they are produced by software, are kind of like 'paint by numbers.' This show demonstrates the artistry beyond the pixels. many of these artists use the same software, and yet, as you see, each has a very distinct style." When I asked her about the human forms in your fractals, she replied, "Well, I LOVE to collaborate with other artists, and am always looking for opportunities to do so. Figbash Snook is an amazing portrait artist. When I met him, I knew we had to figure out a way to meld our two styles. As far as I know, it's never been done before." Visit her gallery in SL at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Triphosa/176/23/51

Serenity's collaborator, Figbash Snook, explains, "Fractals have always fascinated me in how they pattern what we see in the world around us. The work that Serenity and I have done is, I believe, one of the only attempts to merge the mathematical abstraction of fractals with the passionate warmth of the human form. I am a portrait artist, and collaborate with Serenity Questi. She creates the fractals and I weave them around images of her avatar. Fractals are the mathematical abstraction of many of the patterns we see in nature, from the veins in a leaf, to the intricate web of a river delta, to the skyline of a mountain range. You are welcome to visit my gallery at" http://slurl.com/secondlife/old%20misty%20orleans/160/81/3021

I wish I could post 100 pictures, but I can't fit all the great fractal art into these few slots. I would like to share the wonderful commentary that each of the artists were generous to offer CNN. You simply MUST see this show at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shepherd/196/217/84

Pictures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are long shots of the Fractal Diversity show, portraying many artists. Picture 7 is DeeJay Paris Cybertar, a really fun and terrific talent we enjoy at many gala events. Picture 8 is art patron Seoreh Voight, enjoying the show and dance party.

Fractal Artist Milly Sharple: It's the first time I have exhibited in SL but it's been great! I do fractals because I love them - a relaxing and addictive pastime! Nature IS fractals... they are everywhere you look - once you see them, you can't stop seeing them.

Fractal Artist Simulat Almendros: In this show my work isn't based on computation - though it is digital of course - based on scans of a couple of maple leaves. Also its more painterly rather than photographic. The relationship is basically that both the patterns in nature and computed are based on simple systems of computation - in nature its DNA that does the computing. Computed fractals are more perfect, but I thought I'd work with natural fractals for a change. But I've been working with fractals for about 25 years - mostly writing my own software for it and then using Photoshop to make the final pictures. For me fractals have a fairly strong philosophic meaning - they show how complexity can arise in very simple systems. Also they show how completely deterministic systems can have unpredictable outputs. If you want I can show you another body of my work in the gallery at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shekhawati/245/45/23

Fractal Artist Xe Namiboo: This is a fantastic show! My work is a bit different in that I tend to try to blend symmetry and simplicity with fractals. I also Like to use a 3D program to create fractals. Personally, I do fractals for the absolute fun and surprise at the end result. Fractals are nature.

Fractal Artist Chef Turbo: Well to be honest, its my first show here, and i love it, great view and everything. I see my art showing out because it is rare like every other fractal, each one is different. I do fractals because i love them, and they are fun to create. Fractals and Nature are very close, they have a lot of alikeness, for instance, fractals are random with math, and the environment is random with people changing it every day, and also it can change by its self two, like rendering an image, it always comes out differently. I have always liked doing fractals, its fun. Visit Chef's gallery at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fermi/53/36/24

Fractal Artist Merranda Ginssberg: I just love that all of us can come together and share our visions and show there is art in what we do, since some think otherwise. I try and bring a piece of my soul to each picture I create, to share my joy, sadness, pain and all the wonderful feelings we have inside...to me it is like a healing. Some people write I create what I am feeling and get such joy from them expressing themselves in what they experience with my visions. Nature plays a big part of fractals, the simple things in life have such a meaning simple words can not express the wonderment of it all. I hope to meet you sometime during our event, and that I brought a smile to your face with my display... See more of Merranda's art at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Triphosa/178/111/43

Fractal Artist Maria Binder: Playing with colors and forms is my hobby ..can´t stop to do it...I´m using a lot of programs and try to mix it...till i have the product of my fantasy...fractals are like a cell in nature - but not only mathematical formulas for me ..more the beauty and fantasy in diversity of life-forms and colors. See more work by Maria at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Magnetik%20Island/123/174/24

Fractal Artist Snaptick Laxness: First of all ,there are some very impressive pieces at this show, I especially admire Androo Beck's Tangerine piece and AuroraSkye Ashtons copper piece... I think my art stands out as it is thematic, I try to find images within images, and make everyone else see what I see... fractals have been a hobby of mine since I discovered the Serpinski formula of dividing triangles in 1990 or so... I think fractals and nature are the same thing, everything in the universe shares a common mathematic seed, what modern physicists define as "unified theory" - that one simple equation could represent everything... that seed is fractal in nature - it changes through iterations, but remains the same over time, constantly repeating itself.... My two favorite influences are (for fine art) - MC Escher - and for fractal art, Jock Cooper - his stuff is amazing, Jock's web site is at: http://www.fractal-recursions.com/

See more of Snaptick's fractal art at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infinity/149/45/25

Finally, I had a lovely chat with Fractal Artist Davideo Zelnik (Picture 9 is his Star Fractal). He could not join us in Second Life because he was in Hospital, and in very good spirits. I shared some of the joy and love we expressed for him during the Fractal Diversity opening. We communicated from SL to RL through an email-chat connection, an built-in feature of SL. Was a great pleasure to help cheer him up and he certainly made our day too! Our best wishes for speedy recovery go out to him! Davideo's website is; http://DavidFriedmanArt.com

See more of Davideo's art in SL at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prism%20Lila/111/213/23

Fractal Artist Davideo Zelnik responded to our follow up questions with these thoughts:

    "Fractals are alive and well in Fractal Diversity 2, a dazzling showcase of SL art. Fractals emerge from specific mathematical equations that translate into complex visual patterns. Here, artists take over where scientists have left off and add personal aesthetics - color, proportion, density, composition and style - to generate an infinite array of unique, self-referentially intricate designs. They boggle the mind with a stunning, never-ending potential for originality and elegance."
     "Among my favorites in this collection are fresh and imaginative juxtapositions of fractal formulae with samples of contrasting natural content such as nudes, leaves and clouds. They delight the eye, the mind and the spirit."
     "My work is informed by a passion for "true" spectral color and layered, interconnected patterning that shifts and recombines. I love spatial illusion and visual play. My fascination with radiance and dynamism is at home on/in the "canvas" called Second Life."
      "I am drawn to fractals as if by a deep, compelling instinct. I am continually fascinated with the unending graphical surprises, visual richness and stimulating engagement of exploring the fractal world."
     "Fractals are a manifestation of mathematical law. Like the Golden Mean of Fibonacci, the universal perfection of Pi and the absolute sequence of hues in the electromagnetic spectrum of light, the fractal is pure "intelligent design". I see the fractal as a powerful symbol of the ultimate nature of reality ... complete in itself yet infinite in its unpredictable possibilities and permutations ... and perpetually evolving."

Fractal Diversity art patron Zanelle Aero explained that she is "Friend of Serenity and neighbor. I loved the show. It made me really think this morning." Upon noticing my traditional Afghan party dress, Zanelle commented, "I was in Afghanistan in the 70's It was a nice time. I bought an orange burka." See my related iReport about Afghan / India Art at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-356519

-- Any1 Gynoid reporting for CNN iReports

Leonid Meteor Shower Nov 17th 2009

JamesAmerson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:48:33 GMT

I had read that this meteor shower would compare and rival a massive shower back in 1833 when the sky was filled with thousands of shooting stars. So I studied up on how to capture an image of this celestial event, set my camera to the proper settings, got my tripod out, stayed up late and got up early, snapping what I am sure was thousands of frames or at least felt like it. I have had only a few hours sleep, I couldn’t rest for dreaming about getting that perfect award winning shot and I now am working on the strongest pot of coffee that I have ever made.

With that being said, it was an alright display, not quite the fireworks that I was hoping for and luck was not on my side, for of all the photos taken and for all the shooting stars that I saw in a totally different direction from my camera lens, I was only able to come up with these two images. And I almost overlooked the first image of the shooting star because it was barely in the frame. No mistaking the first as a shooting star, but the second image, I feel strongly that it was a satellite. It was way too high and moving much too fast to be a plane, but this bright streak of light never dimed, that is until it crossed in front of me and slowing vanished toward the horizon.

So there you have it, my show for hours of work, thousands of images, standing out in the cold dark of a November night, proving to my neighbors that I have really lost my mind, getting just one “for sure” photo of a shooting star and one “not so sure what the heck it was” photo. But, I love a challenge and even though I didn’t capture the “award winning” shot, I most certainly will be out fumbling in the dark with my camera the next time I hear that there is going to be another meteor shower.

Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Tuesday, November 17, 2009....

larena — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:14:07 GMT

November 12, 2009 This year, the Leonid meteor shower best viewing will be in the hours before dawn on November 17, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. There is uncertainty on the intensity of this year’s shower. Viewers will definitely see a dozen or more meteors per hour. Some astronomers predict, however, that the rate could be greater than 100. The Moon will not wash out any meteors: It rises after daybreak, and in its almost-new phase will be nearly invisible. Leonid meteors appear to fall from the constellation Leo, the lion, but they are not associated with it. They are leftover debris from comet Tempel-Tuttle. As the comet orbits the Sun, it leaves a trail of debris. The Leonids meteors recur each year when Earth passes through the comet’s debris trail. Each time comet Tempel-Tuttle gets closest to the Sun in its orbit, called “perihelion,” it sheds a significant amount of material. This creates clumps along its orbit. If the Earth passes through one of these clumps on November 17, viewers could see hundreds of meteors per hour. If Earth simply passes through the “normal” part of the comet’s debris trail, the number of meteors visible will be much lower. For your best view, get away from city lights. Look for state or city parks or other safe, dark sites. Lie on a blanket or reclining chair to get a full-sky view. If you can see all of the stars in the Little Dipper, you have good dark-adapted vision. Published bi-monthly by The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory, StarDate magazine provides readers with skywatching tips, skymaps, beautiful astronomical photos, astronomy news and features, and a 32-page Sky Almanac each January. Established in 1932, The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, Texas, hosts multiple telescopes undertaking a wide range of astronomical research under the darkest night skies of any professional observatory in the continental United States. McDonald is home to the consortium-run Hobby-Eberly Telescope, one of the world's largest, which will soon be upgraded to begin the HET Dark Energy Experiment. An internationally known leader in astronomy education and outreach, McDonald Observatory is also pioneering the next generation of astronomical research as a founding partner of the Giant Magellan Telescope.

SOURCE STARDATE MAGAZINE AND STARDATE ONLINE. PHOTO LARENA PHOTO SHOP

My thoughts on this I have always liked everything regarding the sky and the stars, this is a great issue for everybody that likes what happens in The Universe, thanks, Larena if you want to leave a comment please do so...