In this fascinating article Duncan Lunan describes the development of the Space Suit.
Spacesuits, Part 1
Symphonies of Galaxies #OISF
Astronomy is one of the rich mix of influences on the Scottish composer Eddie McGuire, in conversation with astronomer Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans and trumpeter and conductor Bede Williams, both from St Andrews University.
My SF Part 2: Space, SF and Music
‘Proud Guns to the Sea’, Analog, January 1973, was based on the ballad Henry Martin, quoting it in the title, and included a planet called Hallway, lifted from the 8th century Irish Donal Óg
My SF
What got me completely hooked was the first ‘Lost Planet’ radio serial on Children’s Hour, by the late Angus MacVicar, in 1953.
Book Review: Hugh Kolb, “Seven Stars, Ancient Astronomy and the English Public House”
“The book begins with a history of brewing; I did feel that more might have been made of the distinction between Real Ale and cask-conditioned beer, particularly since the CAMRA revolution is often quoted as the most successful consumer protest of modern times. From there it goes on to a history of the public house”
The Sky Above You – September 2023
With the evening sky becoming darker as the year goes on, the brighter stars are becoming more prominent and the constellation figures are coming back
Why I Don’t Play the Machines
“In early 1967 the late Prof. Oscar Schwiglhofer , founder of the Scottish Branch of the British Interplanetary Society which by then had become independent as ASTRA, was given the chance to use a simulation of a Moon landing on a Strathclyde University computer programme.”
Lost on the Moon
In 1964, in the Daily Express, Sydney Jordan’s ‘Jeff Hawke’ strip ran a story called ‘Moonstruck’. Detail from ‘Moonstruck’, story and art by Sydney Jordan, Daily Express, 23/10/64 – 11/12/64, reprinted in William Rudling, ed., The Lunar 10, Jeff Hawke Club, 2007. “The ‘Jeff Hawke’ title is the copyright of The Daily Express and created by Sydney Jordan. “
Unbuild Your Own Solar System
Prof. Freeman Dyson’s suggestion that an advanced civilisation might break up the planets of its solar system and build a shell around its star, to utilise all the matter and energy available to it . Image of a Solid Dyson sphere, impossible
‘Stone Me’: Exploring Scotland’s Stone Circles
Sighthill Stone Circle, Glasgow, is described by Ken Brophy in the podcast as ‘The Neolithic’s greatest hits all brought together in one stone circle’. This is due to Duncan Lunan’s astronomically aligned circle being inspired by elements in other stone circles he has visited.
