But the sheer inhospitable nature of the site is also what makes it perfect for astronomy.
Observing the asteroid wasn't easy, said David Tholen, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.
Mr. MICHAEL ROWAN-ROBINSON (Astronomer): It would be disastrous for astronomy if we come away from the general assembly with nothing.
But brain scientists are already talking excitedly about how this will do for neuroscience what the telescope did for astronomy.
Sandra Moore Faber had a passion for astronomy from the very beginning.
"Anyone who had a passion for astronomy was welcomed by him... the effort he put in was absolutely unmatched, " said space scientist Dr Lucie Green.
The organization is a forum for astronomy enthusiasts in the city, but the members also aim to foster appreciation of the night sky among members of the public.
Not great for astronomy, but perfectly rational on Christmas Eve.
The large mirror, wide field of view and very sensitive infrared detectors of ESO's 4.1-metre Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) make it by far the best tool for this job.
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"The planet may be habitable, but I wouldn't expect to see any intelligent life forms, " says Martin Griffiths, senior lecturer at the Centre for Astronomy and Science Education at the University of Glamorgan.
"The fact that there's a very young cluster of stars indicates that the intermediate-mass black hole may have originated as the central black hole in a very low-mass dwarf galaxy, "Sean Farrell, of the Sydney Institute for Astronomy in Australia, said in a statement.
Fox tackles the origins of the current thinking on the beginning of the universe starting way, way back with Plato, and moving her way through Ptolemy, the astronomical duo of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler (did you know that Brahe had his own castle for studying astronomy?), Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and the current state of the Big Bang, String Theory, and alternative theories for the origins of the universe.
This restriction is not as limiting as it sounds, though, at least for certain kinds of astronomy.
Tossing astronomy aside for its failure to bedazzle, I turn to astrology to illuminate the upcoming eventful days.
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And thanks to the National Capital Astronomers and the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for their help in setting up their telescopes for the public to use.
The trade routes of the Milesians also took them to Mesopotamia, where they probably acquired the knowledge of astronomy they needed for celestial navigation and timekeeping.
Events that were planned for Earth Hour included an astronomy and wildlife-watching event near Broadford on the Isle of Skye and a "spooky walk" in the Auld Kirk and the Auld Brig in Ayr.
X-ray astronomy is tricky for the opposite reason.
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Virtual astronomy is becoming increasingly attractive for a number of reasons.
On March 2, 2012, the UNESCO Director-General signed at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris an agreement between UNESCO and three universities, respectively -- The Islamic University of Gaza, the Al Aqsa University and Al Azhar University -- for the establishment of a UNESCO Chair in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences.
The ability to construct large telescopes for a fraction of the usual cost could transform astronomy.
These books in particular inspired a generation of schoolchildren to take up astronomy and it was a regular occurrence for Sir Patrick to be presented with dog-eared copies of long forgotten titles by eminent professors looking for his signature.
For those who didn't get past grade school astronomy, there are some surprises.
Researchers at the School of Physics and Astronomy claim the new method will make packaged food safer for consumers and last longer on the shelf.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) that runs the facility has for a decade been fitting it with state-of-the-art digital electronics, a new central computer, and high-speed transmission lines to carry the data that the 25m, 200-tonne dishes gather.
"It's no exaggeration to say that Patrick, in his tireless and ebullient communication of the magic of astronomy, inspired every British astronomer, amateur and professional, for half a century, " said Queen guitarist Brian May, who holds a PhD in astrophysics.
He's a professor in the Department of Astronomy, University of Washington in Seattle, and project principal investigator for the Stardust mission.
We're talking with Don Brownlee, who is the Department of Astronomy, University of Washington in Seattle and the project principal investigator for NASA Stardust mission.
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