Comments on: GLAST Science Operations Underway â€“ Now, About That Nameâ€¦

By: How to Get Six Pack Fast

How to Get Six Pack Fast — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:52:35 +0000

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By: Jon Hanford

Jon Hanford — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:43:59 +0000

I agree with JamesB on this one. By honoring those that made significant contributions to their respective fields of cosmology, astrophysics & space science, we are reminded of those that came before, and whose research laid the groundwork for today's scientists. I only made mention of the attachment of NASA administrator James Webb to the forthcoming 'James Webb Space Telescope' as I see no scientific connection of his no doubt valuable contribution to NASA and the IR science that the JWST will make great contributions to. Seems like a political decision to me, but will not diminish by one iota the scientific data this observatory can & will produce.

By: JamesB

JamesB — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:59:02 +0000

I sort of like the idea of honoring the pioneers of cosmology and astronomy by naming things like the GLAST after them. Hearing their names every time new data is observed reminds us of our roots in greatness.

By: An

An — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:10:43 +0000

Why don't they take the name GLAST. It sounds good, doesn't it ?

By: Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:21:56 +0000

Thanks Yael for noting the typo! It's been fixed.
Nancy

By: Yael Dragwyla

Yael Dragwyla — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:43:38 +0000

Nancy –
"In June, LAT detected two extraordinarily bright, flaring sources in space, which scientists believe are very likely supermassive black hole systems at the cores of active galaxies, located far across the galaxy, but incredibly bright. " Erm, isn't that ". . . located far across the *universe", but incredibly bright"? Otherwise, great article.

By: Ron Mexico

Ron Mexico — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:05:06 +0000

Will the GLAST images be public domain? They should be, but lately it seems that NASA has acquired the belief that as long as there's some third party not subject to the waiver of copyright distantly involved, they don't have to make their images free content. This issue is scarcely talked about, but it's far more important than what they're going to name the thing.

By: Dave S

Dave S — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:45:56 +0000

How about naming it after Richard Phillips Feynman. He was an amazing person who inspired so many. His impact on education and science will be felt for many many years.

By: Freiddie

Freiddie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:33:58 +0000

And I thought they totally forgot about the renaming part of the mission.

By: Jon Hanford

Jon Hanford — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:28:26 +0000

Also meant to mention Einstein X-ray satellite (HEAO-B), Wilhelm Rontgen (ROSAT X-ray satellite) and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and there are surely other worthy astronomy satellites named for famous scientists that I've missed.

By: Jon Hanford

Jon Hanford — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:50:04 +0000

I, too, am sort of attached to the current GLAST moniker. But, please no James Webb (a NASA administrator) telescope. Of course Compton was taken by GRO, Lyman Spitzer was somehow linked to the Infrared Space Telescope Facility( SIRTF) when in 1946 he made the original proposal for a orbiting space telescope( which became the Hubble Space Telescope, go fig). Chandrasekhar was linked with AXAF( now the Chandra X-ray Observatory) & seems rather fitting. How about the (Philip) Morrison Gamma-ray Telescope, in recognition of his longtime work in high energy physics & astrophysics & the Manhattan Project. Seems fitting for such a well known, widely read, and eloquent scientist.