Show
Date: February 9, 2005
|
Breaking
News!NASA
looks to space to explore our oceans through satellites
CLICK
HERE to
learn more! |
Sea
Serpent Washes up on Aussie Beach! CLICK
HERE to read the story and view more pictures! |
 |
|
Bob
Silvers, formerly of the Arctic Lady, is now on a new
expedition in Mediterranean on board the research vessel
Hercules. CLICK
HERE to learn more on this Deep Live Radio Expedition! |
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SEEING EARTH AND SEEING
SPACE
Pam Eastlick for the Marianas Variety
Greetings
and welcome to The Deep column and the deepest radio show on
Earth. The Deep is the science talk radio program that takes
you from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of
the universe. This week on The Deep hosted by Jim Sullivan and
aired at 6:00 this evening on K-57, we’ll talk about satellites
and how important they’ve become and about where to go
to learn all about some of the most beautiful space images ever
taken. We’ll also have some expedition calls and our science
news updates as well as taking your phone calls. Tune in tonight!
SEEING EARTH

Although you may not think much about it, there’s an army
of robots out there designed to make your life easier, safer
and more productive. You can’t see them most of the time
but life, especially here on Guam, would be much harder without
them. They are the orbiting satellites.
So how have satellites changed our lives? Well, you wouldn’t
have watched the Super Bowl live this week without them and
at least one was probably involved the last time you made a
phone call to the States or the PI or Australia. We don’t
really need the location capabilities of a GPS satellite here
on Guam (it’s hard to get that lost here), but once you
leave the harbor in a boat, it’s nice to know where you
all at all times.
And just think how much fun it would be to predict where the
next typhoon was going if you didn’t have the NWS Guam
Loop to keep you appraised of where it’s already been.
Typhoon prediction may never be an exact science, but knowing
where they are is half the battle.
And although we really don’t like to think about it much,
there are satellites up there that can read the license plates
on your car. Any time you see a bright moving dot in the sky
less than two hours after sunset and less than two hours before
sunrise, you’re looking at a satellite. And if it’s
moving from north to south or south to north, odds are it’s
one of those military birds with incredible resolving power.
You might want to smile for the camera.
We’re discovering new applications for our orbiting helpers
all the time. Rescue efforts after the tsunami in the Indian
Ocean were aided by before-and-after photos of tsunami ravaged
beaches. Satellites monitor volcanic activity, rainfall patterns
and discover ancient cities from the visible traces of the roads
that led to them.
Dr. Michael Behrenfeld has discovered a new way to use satellites.
His technique uses satellite data to understand the health of
our oceans through studying tiny marine plants called phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton has a key role in fisheries, harmful algal blooms,
and carbon dioxide uptake by oceans. Join us this week on The
Deep as we discuss satellites and saving our oceans.
Oh, and by the way, go outside tonight around 7:20 pm if it’s
clear, and face west where the Sun disappeared. At 7:25 pm,
you should see a bright star above the southwest horizon (to
the left), that’s moving rapidly upward. It will pass
between Orion the Hunter and Taurus the Bull shortly after 7:27
p.m. and disappear in the constellation Gemini the Twins close
to Saturn at 7:28. That’s the Tropical Rainfall Monitoring
Mission or TRMM satellite. And if you can’t see it because
it’s overcast and raining, rest assured that’s it’s
monitoring the rain!
SEEING SPACE
If you like beautiful pictures, have I got a deal for you! The
UOG Planetarium and the Isla Center for the Arts are co-producing
the art exhibit Diamonds in the Sky until February 25. This
show features beautiful images from space. The Isla Center for
the Arts is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through
Friday and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. The Isla Center
for the Arts is located in Dean’s Circle on the main University
campus.
Can’t make the art show? Then I’ve got another deal
for you! It’s public show week in the UOG Planetarium
and this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10, 11 and 12 February,
we’re featuring Diamonds in the Sky: The Planetarium Show.
You’ll see those beautiful pictures in the Planetarium
and I’ll tell you all about them and how to find their
locations in the sky. There was too much material for just one
show so there will be two different shows each night; one at
6:30 pm and one at 7:00 pm. The doors open at six, and here’s
the best deal: both the Isla Center show and the Planetarium
show are absolutely free! Don’t miss them!