h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Masters of circumlocution the authors of the syllabus.

Being a GSCE I expect what they're after is all much simpler than they make it sound.
Earth based telescopes have the weakness of atmospheric and light pollution for optical telescopes and radio telescopes are much the same with man made 'pollution' of the radio spectrum, e.g. TV broadcasts.
Radio telescope have to be very large because they are trying to pick signals on wavelengths that are both long and faint. Many antenas are combined to form a 'single array' So they're built on earth.
Radio telescopes allow us to see object that are both very distant and thus further back in time that are too faint for optical telescopes to pick up. Thus allowing us to estimate the age of the universe.
Optical telescopes allow us to make observation using light, including visible light.
Optical light oberservation allow for the use of spectroscopy which reveals a *red shift* of the absorbtion lines that represent light absorbed by the elements inside a star. This tells us both about the what stars are made of and that the most galaxies are moving away from us.

I wouldn't worry too much about the exam. If it's anything like my GSCE Physics the most difficult thing will be a multiple choice questionaire asking you questions like "Name a unit of resistance: Is a) Ohm b) Mole rats or c) A small aubergine."

Even if your questions are little more demanding I'd guess you've what it takes to do well.

I hope I've not left anything too obvious out... I'm off to watch the laws of physics being stretched to near breaking point with some TNG to relax me into a gentle slumber.

Thank you. Sorry for the blonde moment but what's TNG?

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Tis one of my favourite things in all of creation. If had a chance of going back in time and killing Hitler I'd be in terrible dilema about it, because it would alter the timeline and there mightn't be Star Trek.

You no-likie Star Trek?

pfft, not a major fan of the all out star trekking across the multiverse fiction on TV and t'big screen. I don't mind it in books, obviously, because otherwise I'd never had read thehhgttg, but I'm not a massive sci fi person.
It's been a while since I have got into anything on TV, everything I like ends the series on a cliffhanger, like prison break, and it's probably going to get hard to keep it original series after series.
Apologies for the attempt at very proper english and explanations for everything, I'm stuck in coursework mode.

No, I've not gotten into anything on TV in quite some time either, with exceptions of Life On Mars parts one and two and the original season of Rome and The Mighty Boosh 1 and 2, but then I went for a period of about six month fairly recently where I didn't even switch my TV on *at all*. I watched Newsnight over net and that was it.

For truely awe inspiring sci-fi in novel form I'd very strongly endorse Iain M. Banks.

I take your point that there has been a glut of mediocre sci-fi in recent history, but most of it has passed me by.

Proper English and revealing something of yourself with explanations are as welcome here as sillyness.

Start wearing purple?
It's been considerable time since we last conversed, thought I should restart a conversation.

Yes, indeed. All your sanity and wits they will all vanish, it's just a matter of time!
It's from a wonderfully addictive little ditty by Gogol Bordello, I suggest adding them to Pandora, at least for a little while, they have other slices of aural unless you loathe it of course...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_81l4DXlwM

Indeed it has been a while, how might you be m'dear? You enjoyed your trip to ?
I'm vaguely jealous of your purple hair, I had intended to go violet, but I met with resistance...

I very much enjoyed my trip to , even though I did do a lot of daft stuff like getting stuck in cubicles or trying to buy chips with arcade tokens after thinking it was a normal change machine. Other than that it was really good, especially for the company.
And how are you? Other than slightly jealous of your lack of purple hair.

I'm glad your travels were rewarding and amusing.

I'm OK. I've a few problems I need to sort out, such as giving up smoking, again, and getting back to a sensible sleeping pattern, but, my mood is mostly fairly good.
I'm thinking about thinking about going to a little beer fest tonight at pub in outer Brighton, Robert Rankin will be there and his invited some of his fans to join him for and chat. His new bride will be performing there on Saturday too.
Although I can't go to the US next month, no money, no visa, the possibility presents itself for early next year. Instead I have The Birthday Massacre to see in October and the h2g2 London Meet, I hope to see David Gray in November and Gogol Bordello in December. So, I should be getting out and about a bit.
I may even be able to find the money to get a new washing machine and tumble dryer to replace the ones that broke down in 2006!

Ooh, I've been intending to listen to more of The Birthday Massacre. Good to see someone has a social life.
Good luck with quitting smoking. Hope you enjoyed the beer fest if you did go.

I think to suggest I have a social life would be to trail off into the realms of fantasy.
I didn't smoke today, alas I also didn't make it to the beer fest, still may go sometime Saturday. After I've gotten some cash at the bank and taken my trench coat to the dry cleaners.

Have you listened to more of The Birthday Massacre yet? Tis a worthy ambition m'dear... Should there be a merchandise stall groaning beneath the weight of actual CDs at the performance I may come home in possession of their albums and then kit you out with their music in a format of your choice, if you liked.
In the mean time you may find http://vampirefreaks.com/thebirthdaymassacre useful.
Time I itty bedways.

I've discovered they have the full "Walking with Strangers" album on their myspace. I'm really not sure what to make of them, because it's not very often I'm fond of keyboards, so I'll listen a few more times and see if they grow on me.

If you can't enjoy tracks like 'Blue' or 'Red Stars' without worrying for the electronica then perhaps they're not for you...

I can listen to it but I'm not loving it to be honest. There's just not enough bass in it for me.
I would say what my mum keeps saying about everyone, the same and boring, but then I'd have to ram my head through the computer screen after reading it back due to the aggravation such a phrase causes.

Best not to then, it might ruin your hair. And there'd be little random shard of glass turning up in odd places for days...

Of course the purple hair must be preserved. It could go magenta! And those odd shards of glass are so annoying when you go round bare foot. Not as bad as lego, but still a little nasty.

Ah noes, not magenta! The pink so electric it shocks at a thousand paces. And of course with a hole in the screen the smileys would escape http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/blobs/greatescape.jpg and build a fortress out of the lego that clearly litters your home and outside of their natural environment they would turn evil and begin plotting domination of your room and from there all the universe. Which would be bad if you walk around in bare feet as you can't take over the universe without a Super Giant Super Laser and smileys are small by nature and Super Giant Super Laser are pointy, so you wouldn't see it before stepping on it.

It's true.

Appypolly loggies.

Don't be. And where's the name gone?