NEAT Comet Crossing: Internet Telescopes

An anonymous reader writes "During a large solar coronal mass ejection, this week's NEAT Comet crossing, gave some spectacular film footage. While no comet with such a small nucleus has ever survived that kind of close solar approach (one-fourth of Mercury's orbit) without fragmenting, this one did-- and is now outward bound on its 370 century roundtrip. These new comet discoveries have filled the log files of the now 70 big robotic telescope projects, most of which are being connected to the internet. The largest ($3 M) research-class one for public use--the Hawaiian Faulkes Project--will see first light in 45 days."

Comments

Shocking - "reluctant teachers"

[anagama]

From one of the articles:
"Faulkes is currently trying to persuade time-pressed teachers - who are more reluctant than he envisaged - to get involved with the project."

Reluctant teachers are the types who would keep school dull and disconnected from the real world. It is amazing how, even in adulthood, I find myself going back and actually learning things I was supposed to have learned in school. It always comes in the context of a project I may get involved with. Way back in school, when that bit of knowledge was disconnected from any real world application, I found it hard to keep my focus. When that bit of knowledge relates to my life, I find it extremely fascinating.

In the face of such an interesting activity, "reluctant teachers" should be summarily fired.