What a fun an interesting evening last night. Because yesterday was the "super moon", some friends and I went on a moonlit hike through the desert. It was a tour being offered at one of the local state parks near where I live. The moon was so bright, you could have read a book by the reflected light. Really an amazing thing to see. In addition, I had just purchsed for $2 an app on my iphone that gives you the overhead pass times of the International Space station. Supposedly, you can see it with the naked eye. Sure enough, at the predicted time, we were all able to see it clearly, and it was huge and bright, just like an airliner. No way you could miss it. I was just blown away by the level of technology in the app called "Sat Seeker" for the Iphone. The Iphone has GPS, so it knows where you are, and what the local time is. It also has a built in compass and inclinometer, so it knows what direction you are facing, and the "tilt" in degrees of your iphone. So at the appointed time, your Iphone goes into "take a picture mode" showing you what the camera sees, and at the same time, a super imposed line showing you where the horizon is, and where the international space station will appear. Sure enough.... it was exactly where it was supposed to be... and then dissappeared (moved behind the earth) exactly as predicted. Lasted for maybe 2 minutes max. I was just amazed at the level of technology that one little app was using.... and all for $2. Probably the best $2 I ever spent. To those who claim that capitalism does not work, that the "little guy" gets screwed over somehow because of it. This is one of the best little anecdotes that disproves it, that I have seen to date. Get the app for your iphone.... one of the coolest little pieces of tech that I have seen in years....
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:21:15 +0000
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