------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2428 2008 Mar 09 15.05UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.theastronomer.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC: RADIO 4 - BROADCASTING HOUSE The editor gave an interview conducted by Paddy O'Connell for the 'Broadcasting House' Radio 4 programme broadcast this morning at 9am. As I was driven up to BBC Television Centre at short notice last night, there was insufficient time to alert everyone but thanks to the many who e-mailed me and sent texts after routinely listening to the Radio 4 programme. Having 5 minutes out of 30 minutes recording survive editing was quite satisfactory! The biggest challenge was the request to operate seven PC programs or weblinks whilst answering numerous questions. Surprisingly they felt that displaying pictures on screen and describing them even on radio was a much more authentic approach than talking from memory. Incidentally they edited out the galaxy number I was looking at which was NGC 6946. I was able to discuss a number of invited topics including the computer developments by Google and Microsoft which will help promote astronomy educationally, talk about the technical programs we use to investigate discoveries and finally declare our support for professionals in the fight against proposed cutbacks. The part about the extraordinary success of amateur discoverers, particularly in finding supernovae in other galaxies, survived even though names of discoverers were left out. You can hear or record the podcast by visiting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/bh/ My interview was at about 50 minutes of the one hour broadcast. Guy M Hurst