The Bad Astronomy Newsletter

Bad Astronomy Newsletter #4 Contents:

1. Server problems
2. See me, stream me
3. New Stuff... soon
4. Astronomy Tidbit
5. Subscribe/Unsubscribe info

1) Server Problems

Some of you may have noticed that the Bad Astronomy page has been having server problems, including long periods when you cannot connect. The problem is a bad computer, and my webhost has assured me a new computer will be installed this week, hopefully by Wednesday. I have been getting spotty email delivery too, and hopefully none has been lost. Anyway, my apologies, and if you cannot get in, try again a bit later.

2) See me, stream me

The good folks at TechTV have streamed the video of my appearance on "Call for Help" from last January 24th. It runs for over 8 minutes, because even a professional director can't shut me up. You can check out the silliness here.

There's a box labeled "Video Highlight" on the right. The new segment is the one marked "Movie Mistakes-- Planet of the Apes and more!" The other link is to my appearance last November.

3) New Stuff... soon

Well, there's nothing new just yet on the site. However, have you heard about a runaway planet (named Planet X, originally enough) that will destroy the Earth in May, 2003? Well, don't go selling all your stock yet (unless Arthur Anderson is your accountant). Despite the claims of a few people, there ain't no such planet. I'll be writing up a page dissecting this latest lunacy soon. If you want to see what happened the last time a planetary disaster was predicted by the pseudoscience crowd, check out this page.

What is it about the month of May and killer planets?

3) Astronomy Tidbit

Wondering just how you can stay on top of the news in astronomy? A great way is to subscribe to "The Universe Today", a website and newsletter run by my friend Frasier Cain. He posts the latest news about astronomy and space nearly every day. Check out the website at http://www.universetoday.com. You can also put your email address in a form on the main page and then you can get the newest bits via email as well.

4) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

If, for some weird reason, you want to unsubscribe to this newsletter, just send email to badastronomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com with no body text. Make sure you send it from the address to which the newsletter is sent! Alternatively, you can unsubscribe from the Yahoo!Groups website. Go to http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/groups-32.html for more info.

Remember, the newsletters will be archived on the website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/badastronomy so even if you unsubscribe you can still read them there. I suggest staying subscribed so you get them as soon as I send them.

Also, I do not sell your email addresses and neither does Yahoo! Take a gander at the Yahoo!Groups privacy message if it makes you feel better: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/ Note that the email addresses are visible to me, but I have no prurient use for them. If that makes you nervous for whatever reason, feel free to unsubscribe and simply read the archived newsletters at the website listed above.

Phil Plait
The Bad Astronomer
badastro@badastronomy.com
http://www.badastronomy.com