Hilo on the "Big Island" of Hawai'i, in the state of Hawai'i, where there are many astronomers

I am grateful to many astronomers and staff in Hilo for accommodating my visit during my unexpected opportunity to visit Hilo. I enjoyed talking to several astronomers at the University of Hawai'i' at Hilo Institute for Astronomy (IfA), the Imilioa Planetarium, and the Subaru Telescope. The staff and astronomers at the Gemini telescope were doing their best but were prevented by a telescope emergency from coming out. I ran out of daytime to visit the submillimeter array and the Keck Observatory was too far away (in Waimea).

The Subaru outreach top scientitst and the outreach astronomer showed the gracious courtesy typical of Japan that clearly is adopted by Americans working there as well. Emily and I were staying at a place where there were more Japanese than any other group, so I couldn't help notice the considerate manner in which Japanese always interact with others. It strongly tends towards being very genuine.

Emily and I greatly enjoyed the happy, culturally rich visit of the Hilo area. The farmers market was the most fun of any I've been to in the U.S. We also enjoyed the natural features of such a volcanic island.

Coming: Pictures of my Hawai'i professional visits, and I'll put some nature photos on facebook.

Honolulu Talks and visits with astronomers and public

Had a wonderful time in Honolulu visiting the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and visiting the Bishop Museum Planetarium. I talked at the planetarium on planet destruction, life in the universe, and the meaning of astronomy for humanity. I displayed my campaign to return to astronomy. I appreciate my parents for providing an opportunity to take my efforts to the most difficult state to reach that is so very important to astronomy.

The audience was a good active group with many good questions. The museum has some very nice displays, including their "science in the sphere." I enjoyed talking with the three staff members/volunteers who came that night to run the talk.

I took some good photographs of the visit and hope next week to post them.

I also presented my professional research talk to several astronomers at UH IfA. We had some good discussions particularly regarding what may happen with protoplanet destruction, and what these events might allow astronomers to learn.

Scientific Talk at Arizona State University, in sunny Phoenix

Just got back from an enjoyable visit to Arizona State University, where I again talked about how planet destruction may be observable. I still am talking about the most luminous events, from the most massive planets, but I talked more about the likely less rare events of smaller planets and even protoplanets spiraling in to Roche lobe overflow (as opposed to encountering the photosphere as the largest planets will).

I appreciate Steven Desche for hosting me. I also got some good information from several faculty, and will be better able to incorporate the earlier work of Sumner Starrfield, who long ago studied what happens when material from a stellar companion accretes onto a star (or falls onto a star).

ASU has many interesting projects organized around a university-wide emphasis on interdisciplinary research. I was able to hear a fascinating talk on the mineralogy of Mars from a scientist working on the Spirit rover. He showed how it is not completely stuck and just might get out yet.

Next week: Hawaii.

I will talk about Planet Destruction at the Bishop Museum planetarium in a free public talk.

See
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/calendar/february.html and click on the
lecture on Feb 16
( the text is http://www.bishopmuseum.org/calendar/events/feb16.html )

My father is taking my family, all 16 people. It's far more of a fancy thing than he has ever done since he has always been very careful with money, though growing up my parents did a wonderful job of driving us to see much of the U.S.

It will be great talking astronomers with people in the Aloha state!

Presentation at Washington DC American Astronomical Society Conference

I presented my work on observing planet destruction during a visit to Washington DC to attend and speak at the American Astronomical Society conference. I also used my flipbook to get in a 2nd presentation on my transit observation work, starting from my contributions to the TrES-3 discovery paper as LCOGT's astronomer at the telescope (Faulkes Telescope North, or FTN), and I presented my continued efforts to contribute to the global telescope observations of some of the most fascinating transits, including HD 17156 and HD 80606.

There were many exciting developments on planet migration, tidal theory, and transits that were presented.

I am grateful for kind people from couchsurfing.org for stepping in and giving me a place to stay after I have been unable to get new institutional support following the failure of the funder of LCOGT to follow through on expected support. A very kind husband and wife hosted me for two nights, and I especially enjoyed their company in those evenings. Nick is originally from Taiwan, so we shared our memories from there, since I lived in TW for two years. I practiced a little Mandarin, also with Nicolle who is also learning Mandarin.

The other nights were spent at a dorm in the Washington DC HI hostel. Most people were very nice, and I slept well every night except one. Even the worst night was not horrible, but I did wish that the roommates wouldn't continue to dry their hair until nearly midnight.

I am grateful to myself for having been a good saver and my parents who taught me to save. Credit for my support is borrowed against my future. I am grateful for American Airlines and United Airlines having good frequent flier programs where flights can actually be redeemed. A wonderful astronomer in Maryland was also kind to let me stay the night of a wonderful New Year's Eve party. The support of the AAS allowing me to volunteer in place of registration fees cannot be forgotten. I appreciate my wonderful fiancee Emily's continued patience and moral support while I seek to replace the missing publications credit with work done entirely on my own without a salary.

It was very good to interact with other astronomers and to try and regain the sense of professional community when one is a scientist without his papers credit and being kept unemployed.