Chardi Kala

One year ago today.  Yet another right-wing wacko with a gun. 

On August 5, 2012, a white supremacist opened fire on a Sikh gurudwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This is the story of the community during and after the tragedy. Today, in the Sikh spirit of "Chardi Kala," a state of relentless optimism and high spirit, I hope you'll take a moment to remember those dearly departed and ask yourself why more innocent people have to die from gun violence every day.

Upworthy.

get closer

Does this commercial make you cry?  Yes?  Good.  You still have a heart.

The Great Agnostic

Susan Jacoby

Recently finished reading Susan Jacoby's latest book, "The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought."  I recommend it without reservation.

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) was a great man.  He was one of those "bring yourself up by your bootstraps" sort of people who was not born into wealth by any means.  Yet, he educated himself and rose to become the nation's most highly-paid and sought-after public speaker for many years in the late 19th Century.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Ingersoll's oratorial skills were unmatched.  He would draw freethinkers to his speeches, of course, but he had a way of connecting even with the "believers."  Politicians regularly sought his counsel and endorsement, at least until Ingersoll began being more vocal about his non-belief.  Even then, in the flowering of an American freethought movement which seemed headed in a bright direction, his atheism kept him out of elected office.   He was considered unelectable.

It is sad to see what is happening today.  Another rancid resurgence of belief is gripping this country.  (And then there's Islam.)  While "no religion" is the fastest-growing group of Americans today, and it is believed that close to 20% of Americans self-identify as atheist, agnostic, or freethinker, atheists are in sore need of a champion like Ingersoll.

Today's "new atheists" (there is really no such thing) like Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris, while entertaining and persuasive to the already freethinking person, are no rhetorical match for someone like a Robert Ingersoll or a Thomas Paine.

Thomas Paine

Indeed, one of the themes of Jacoby's book is that, after Thomas Paine published his scathing critiques of religion and was virtually banished from America's collective memory of our Founding Fathers, it was Robert Ingersoll who almost single-handedly rehabilitated the memory of Thomas Paine for a new generation of Americans.  Had it not been for Ingersoll's admiration of Thomas Paine, Paine might have totally faded from our history books.

And like a deja vu, Robert Ingersoll has been virtually banished from the collective American psyche.  Ingersoll is in sore need of a rehabilitation a la Thomas Paine.  Susan Jacoby is trying, bless her little atheistic heart.  

The American revolution had Thomas Paine.  The next century had Robert Ingersoll.  But the trail seems to be going cold.  With science gaining a stronger than ever foothold in the minds of humanity, atheism is becoming more and more prevalent, and accepted.  The time is really ripe right now for a powerful orator/writer/thinker to capture the imagination of Americans and elevate freethought to heights it has never before reached, and to help propel America into a technological future we can barely imagine today.  

Please.  Evolve.

Here is a good review of the book in the New York Times.

And another from the Humanists.

And a broader view of Ingersoll from Reason.

Accountable Congress

August is when Congress takes (yet another) break from it's grueling do-nothing schedule.  It's rather shameful that these people make almost $200,000 per year and "work" only about 1/2 the year.  But that's beside the point of this post...

When August rolls around and most of Congress starts having Town Hall meetings in their districts, my wife and I plan on attending as many as possible and giving the Republicans a hard time.  They have to know that there are MANY liberals and progressives in Texas and we have HAD IT with their bullshit.  

Do it!  Go to a Town Hall, especially if it is run by a Republican and stand your ground.  The right-wingers will likely be out in force also, and so we don't want the citizenry to look like nothing but yahoos.  Pack heat if it makes you feel better.

Who's with me?

A new website has been set up:  "Accountable Congress" which will list multiple Town Hall meetings along with talking points and questions to ask your reps.  Make yourself heard!

ACCOUNTABLE CONGRESS. A project of Americans United for Change.

It's not too late.

August Stargazing

Time marches on.  So do the heavens.

SkyTips: August 2013

Spiders in Space
Arabella, a small garden spider launched into space in 1973, found the trip to orbit a little disorienting at first, as this picture of her first web shows. After a few days, though, she was spinning webs much more like those she produced on Earth. [NASA]

Stargazing Summary

Three of the five planets that are easily visible to the unaided eye congregate in the eastern sky at dawn as the month begins. Dazzling Jupiter stands highest in the sky, with fainter Mars close below it as the month begins and Mercury below Mars. Jupiter and Mars pull higher into the sky each morning, while Mars begins to dive back toward the Sun by mid-month. Scorpius and Sagittarius continue to beckon in the south for much of the night, while the Summer Triangle climbs higher at each nightfall.

More stargazing information »

Radio Program Highlights

Welcome New Affiliates: StarDate is pleased to welcome new affiliates in St. Louis (107.3 FM or HD2 96.3 at 7:20 a.m. every morning) and St. Cloud, Minnesota (on KVSC-FM, 88.1 FM, at 9:15 a.m., 4:15 p.m. and midnight every day). If you want to start hearing the StarDate program in your area, you can request a station to carry our program by emailing the request to stations@stardate.org.

August 1-4: Morning Encounters. The Moon slides past a bright array of planets in the dawn sky this weekend, and we'll have the lineup card for you. We'll also talk about an ancient city of stars, plus a pair of stars in a tight orbital embrace.

August 5-11: Seeing the Darkness. Thousands of stars are visible in a dark summer sky, plus the starry band of the Milky Way. Yet the glowing stars represent just a tiny fraction of the material that makes up the universe. Join us for dark matter and more.

August 12-18: Hot Planets. We have tales of a couple of hot planets this week — one that gets heated from the outside and inside by its star, and another that actually cools its star. Join us for strange planets, plus Moon rocks that fall to Earth.

August 19-25: Unseen Visions. Our eyes see only some of the wonders of the universe. But forms of energy that are invisible to the human eye reveal many more. Join us for the universe in the infrared and radio waves, plus much more.

August 26-31: Moon Meanderings. The Moon passes the bright eye of the bull this week. It also passes the brilliant planet Jupiter, and takes aim at Mars. Join us for this and other beautiful close encounters in the night sky.

August program schedule »

Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide. Find an affiliate »

Coming up in StarDate Magazine

In our September/October issue, find out how astronomers study the behavior of galaxies in giant clusters hoping to crack the mystery of dark matter. We'll also bring you fall skywatching tips, the latest astronomy news, and Merlin's cosmic wisdom.

Subscribe today »

75th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities

The Observatory will celebrate its 75th anniversary of great science and great outreach in 2013 and 2014. Please join in and make a gift to McDonald Observatory to help us continue to improve science education. Giving opportunies are available at all levels, including anniversary sponsorships. Your gift can make a big impact! 

Learn more »

News from the Observatory

Northrop Grumman to Sponsor StarDate
Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company and NASA's partner building the James Webb Space Telescope, will become official sponsor of the nationally syndicated StarDate radio program starting Sept. 1. StarDate is produced by The University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory.

Hemenway Receives National Award for Contributions to Public Understanding of Astronomy
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) bestowed its 2013 Klumpke-Roberts Award for outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy to Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway of The University of Texas at Austin. Past awardees include Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. The award was presented at the society's annual meeting in San Francisco on July 23.

Get Social with us

Keep up with all the news and video from McDonald Observatory on all your favorite social media platforms. "Like" us on Facebook, "follow" us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Like us on Facebook: McDonald Observatory | StarDate 

Follow us on Twitter: McDonald Observatory | StarDate 

Subscribe on YouTube: McDonald Observatory | StarDate 

About SkyTips

SkyTips is a monthly email newsletter for visitors to McDonald Observatory and StarDate Online. Each issue features stargazing highlights, upcoming StarDate radio program descriptions, and other news. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family.

SkyTips is a publication of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory Education and Outreach Office, 2609 University Ave. A2100, Austin, TX 78712. Reproduction of SkyTips content is permitted with proper credit given to McDonald Observatory.

The truth is out there.  Somewhere.