Sorry it's taken so long to reply, Jay. I just want to add that I knew Mr. Shoemaker, talking with him through the telephone and once in person. He was a geologist and plans were that he would be the first scientist on the moon. But he was forced out of the astronaut corps because of a medical condition. It's good to know he finally made it to the moon. He was kindly and wise. -- Joe --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> wrote: From: Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] April 28th Birthdays To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 9:21 AM Not sure if anyone else listens to 365 days of Astronomy Podcasts, but in today's episode it mentions that the three following astronomers who though no longer with us, have left an impact with us and share today, as their common birthday. Jan Hendrik Oort developed the theory that a cloud of ice and other material existed on the edge of solar system. I believe it is called the Oort Cloud. Bart Jan Bok who spent his time on the shape of our galaxy and found Bok globules where gravity is forcing the gas to condense and form new stars. Eugene Merle Shoemaker who did something with comets and impacts on planetary bodies. As a note, though Mr. Shoemaker passed away in 1997 and as the podcast states: "On July 31, 1999, some of his ashes were carried to the Moon by the Lunar Prospector space probe. To date, he is the only person to have been buried on the Moon. The brass foil wrapping of Dr. Shoemaker's memorial capsule is inscribed with images of Comet Hale-Bopp, the Barringer Meteor Crater, and a quotation from Romeo and Juliet reading: "And, when he shall die Take him and cut him out in little stars And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun." So to those 3 great men of science and to anyone else sharing this day as a b-day, Happy Birthday! Just thought it was interesting to share. Jay _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com