Predictions for 2007

In the spirit of Daniel Joseph Min, and all the other off-topic
cross-posting nuisances with plague sci.astro.amateur, I thought
I would provide some not-so-psychic predictions that amateur
astronomers can look forward to throughout the coming year.

1. The Moon will occult a famous star sometime in 2007.

2. 90% of all the rare viewing events in 2007 will be hampered
by clouds. The remaining 10% will occur on nights before workdays,
in which non-retired amateurs will be force to choose between
viewing in uncomfortable weather, or getting much needed sleep.

3. The price of commercially made telescopes will rise, due to
dramatically lower exchange rates for the dollar. However, new
domestic operations will spring up to take advantage of the
opportunity.

4. Thousands of astronomically illiterate people will confuse
Venus (in the evening sky) with one or more UFO's. Conversely,
dozens of inexperienced amateurs will mistakenly track the
landing lights of approaching aircraft, and remark that they
could not see the phases of Venus, because it moved too fast!

5. The International Space Station will pass within 45 degrees
of your zenith, at least once in 2007. Unless you know exactly
where and when to look, you will miss it.

6. An enterprising entrepreneur will develop an electronic light
pollution reduction eyepiece which will provide significant
improvement over passive band-pass filters currently in use. The
reduction will be brought about by an optical gate that is switched
open in synchronization with the minimima of the 60 Hertz power
grid frequency standard. During such time, street light emit very
little stray light, rendering the sky background to near natural
ambient levels. Amateurs with an 80mm scope will claim to have
seen the Horsehead nebula from downtown Manhattan.

7. A company specializing in solar equipment for amateurs will
develop a full-spectrum, tunable spectrohelioscope, built from
diffraction gratings and surplus laser printer engines. Affluent
amateurs will leap at the chance to see the sun at any desired
visual wavelength, and make a few surprising discoveries on their
own.

8. Two comets will be discovered, unrelated to each other. Both will
be found within 90 degrees of the ecliptic, prompting some to draw a
erroneous connection.

9. Astrologers will gather in San Francisco to discuss the New
Multi-World Order, which was upset by the IAU declaring that Pluto was
no longer a planet. Numerous lawsuits will be launched to redress loss
of income from the inconsiderate professional astronomers. One quick
thinking pro will offer to settle for fifty-cents - enough to cover pay
phone expenses so the plantiff can call someone who [cares]!

10. Global warming will be greeted with mixed emotions by observers
around the world. Some will enjoy the freedom from so many frost-
biting nights. Others will complain that the increased turbulence
and humidity has seriously eroded their average seeing from 7 to 5.

Cheers, and happy new years,
Larry G.

--
Your mind is a terrible thing to waste - TURN OFF YOUR TV!

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