http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/06/30/june-30th-its-all-about-the-reference-frames/
June 30th: It’s All About the Reference Frames
Podcaster: Kenneth Johnston
Organization: United States Naval Observatory
Description: We’re all used to finding directions here on Earth. We orient ourselves based on our local experience of “up-down”, “left-right”, “front-back”. But how do you orient yourself in space? You need a reference frame, and the most precise reference frame we know is provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Bio: Dr. Kenneth Johnston was born in New York City. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964 from Manhattan College and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Georgetown University in 1969.
While at Georgetown, he was a summer student at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), then a Postdoctoral Associate at NRL in the Radio Astronomy Branch of the Astronomy and Atmospheric Physics Division from 1969 through 1971. Dr. Johnston formally joined this branch in 1971 as a radio astronomer.
In 1980, Dr. Johnston became the Branch Head of the Radio and IR Astronomy Branch at NRL. He developed a program that applied interferometric techniques for high resolution imaging at optical and radio wavelengths.
In 1993, Dr. Johnston became the Scientific Director for the U.S. Naval Observatory. He is responsible for the scientific oversight of the precise time, time interval, and astrometry programs, developing the first imaging optical interferometer, the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) located at Flagstaff, AZ.
He is at present developing the areas of radio and optical interferometry for astrometric and imaging applications with both ground and space instruments.
Today’s sponsor: This episode of “365 Days of Astronomy” is sponsored by Professor Astronomy, a blog chronicling the day-to-day life and thoughts of a research astronomer, online at blog.professorastronomy.com. Professor Astronomy, wishing a very happy anniversary to Mrs. Astronomy.
Transcript:
Hello, I’m Dr. Ken Johnston, Scientific Director of the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, DC.
A character in a popular movie from the mid-1980’s once said “No matter where you go, there you are”. The ability to determine where “there” is describes a uniquely human trait that has allowed us to explore and inhabit not only nearly every niche of our home planet, but to also leave footprints on our nearest celestial neighbor and send robot emissaries to other worlds in our solar system.
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So, next time you make a trip across town in your car using GPS or navigate your way through the jumble of rings and moons around a distant planet like Saturn, thank the stars. They’re still the best guides to steer by.
365 Days of Astronomy
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The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the New Media Working Group of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Audio post-production by Preston Gibson. Bandwidth donated by libsyn.com and wizzard media. Web design by Clockwork Active Media Systems. You may reproduce and distribute this audio for non-commercial purposes. Please consider supporting the podcast with a few dollars (or Euros!). Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. Until tomorrow…goodbye.
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Johnston, Ken [MC1964]
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