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The Haiti Earthquake: Science, Early Warning And Mitigation

When we experience disasters like the earthquake in Haiti January 2010, we naturally ask the questions...

Christmas In Space And San Francisco - And How I Almost Got Married

Photo: Bente Lilja ByeChristmas at Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco.The American Geophysical Union...

Climate Change Communication Challenges – Preparing A Strategy

In December an important climate change meeting will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark: The United...

US Air Force Improves GPS

Our society is saturated with GPS, or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), applications....

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Bente Lilja ByeRSS Feed of this column.

Earth science expert and astrophysicist writes about Earth observation, geodesy, climate change, geohazards, water cycle and other science related topics.

I've worked as Research Director... Read More »

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Hitler's Gift To Astronomy

Hitler's Gift To Astronomy

Aug 05 2009 | 23 comment(s)

Hitler's gift to astronomy? What?

Believe it or not, Hitler wanted to give Mussolini and Rome a planetarium*. Rome was among the first in the world to build a planetarium. Italy (and Mussolini) had already taken a planetarium as part of the 'compensation' for the damage Germany did to Italy in WW1 and opened the first Roman planetarium already in 1928.

It is the most peculiar story, so much so that I feel compelled to tell, however little, what I know about this hidden treasure of planetarium history...


Astronomy and Green Space

Astronomy and Green Space

May 10 2009 | 7 comment(s)

Astronomy and green space? Yes, indeed. As an astrophysicist I always find great pleasure in pointing out that the Earth is a planet, just like all the rest of the bunch orbiting our Sun and thus an astronomical object. The Earth is special though because we live on it. And we talk about a green planet referring to environmental issues on planet Earth.
earth
Credit: NASA

European Geophysical Union EGU - Earthquakes and Tsunamis

European Geophysical Union EGU - Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Apr 21 2009 | 0 comment(s)

At the European Geophysical Union EGU, Jochen Zschau from GeoForschungZentrum GFZ in Germany presented his Sergey Soloviev medal lecture, Meeting the Challenge of Earthquake Risk Globalisation: Towards the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) on the first day of this huge gathering of geoscientific expertice.

GEM

The European Geophysical Union General Assembly in Vienna 2009

The European Geophysical Union General Assembly in Vienna 2009

Apr 19 2009 | 5 comment(s)

Bringing together more than 9.000 geoscientists from all over Europe and the rest of the world into one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, the European Geophysical Union (EGU) annual General Assembly takes place in Vienna this week.


Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer - GOCE flies

Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer - GOCE flies

Apr 07 2009 | 0 comment(s)

On March 17th 2009 Europe's first geodetic satellite was successfully launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. The first stages of putting the satellite in a stable recording orbit are proceeding according to plans. So far, so good.

GOCE inside
Credit: ESA - AOES Medialab


GOCE delayed again and again

GOCE delayed again and again

Mar 16 2009 | 6 comment(s)

Maybe ESA’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) is destined to launch on the exact same date as Vanguard 1, the third artificial satellite to ever orbit our planet after Sputnik and Explorer 1. On March 17th 1958 Vanguard 1 was successfully launched and as a matter of fact the satellite is still orbiting our planet as today's longest 'living' satellite ever.

GOCE