I'm writing from my office at UNSW in Sydney, where I've spent the last week or so packing and taking care of loose ends before heading back to Shanghai this weekend, this time for good. The unseasonably cold weather of the previous week has given way to the usual glorious Sydney summer, blue skies and a light smattering of clouds, making it even harder to leave this place.
Read MoreGreat Wall Exhibit in Sydney/Melbourne
I've written a review of the Great Wall exhibit sponsored by the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, which has shifted over to Melbourne. Here is a link to the review, published by the online journal reCollections.
Comet McNaught--Another Great Siting
Excuse me for my obsession with this heavenly object, but I want to report yet another brilliant siting of the comet, this time during a dinner party held in honor of our friend Jane Fenn's birthday. The dinner was held at the Wharf Restaurant located on Pier 4, offering a great view of Sydney Harbour Bridge to the east and a fairly unobstructed view of the western sky. Again, the comet appeared at around 8:45 pm and stayed in the sky for maybe a half hour before setting behind Pier 6.
Read MoreFirst Siting of Comet McNaught
It's been ten years since I last saw a comet--the last was Hale-Bopp, which was mighty impressive as it rose above the Mongolian tundra at around 3 am. So I was very excited when I found out recently about the appearance of Comet McNaught in the evening Aussie skies.
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