Palomar Observatory celebrates 75 years - YouTube - CBS 8 San Diego - Report from 2023 - astrophysics

This Caltech Optical Observatory located in San Diego County,California atop Mt.Palomar,constantly makes technological innovations that keep it on the cutting edge of astrophysics research.The observatory's founder,heliophysicist George Ellery Hale,was also a founder of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).The observatory prides itself in being an educational institution,both for mentoring astronomy students and educating the general public.It is booked by international scientists for their research projects.

Jeffrey Gundlach Fed Day - CNBC Closing Bell - 12 June 2024

with Scott Wapner,Steve Liesman and Jeffrey Gundlach,founder,CEO and Chief Investment Officer of DoubleLine Capital LP The interview took place in DoubleLine's Los Angeles office.The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its June meeting.Mr.Gundlach is predicting a recession and is less sure the Federal Reserve will make even one interest rate cut this year.He currently likes investing in gold and India.DoubleLine has a range of mutual funds,closed end funds,exchange traded funds and UCITS.UCITS is a European Union regulatory framework for trading mutual funds. Based in Tampa,Florida,DoubleLine is majority employee owned and employs 248.Oaktree Capital Mangement owns a 20% stake in the firm.

NASA Mars Ascent Vehicle Continues Progress Toward Mars Sample Return - NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Northrop Grumman (NOC)

First meeting in decades: Why the House Speaker welcomes Taiwan's president - Deutsche Welle

Green Comet 2023 Live Stream - C/2022 E3 ZTF Telescope View - Palomar Observatory,San Diego County,California

Green Comet 2023 Live Stream - C/2022 E3 ZTF Telescope View - Zwicky Transient Facility Telescope, Palomar Observatory,California

NROL-85 Mission - Classified payload launch for the National Reconnaissance Office - Vandenberg Space Force Base,California

NROL-87 Mission - Vandenberg Space Force Base,California - national security payload launch for the National Reconnaissance Office

Virgin Orbit Launches Payloads From Boeing 747

On 13 January 2022,Virgin Orbit launched and deployed seven satellites via the Cosmic Girl aircraft,which is a modified Boeing 747-400,and a LauncherOne rocket carried under the aircraft's left wing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport,California.The satellites included a national security mission for the U.S. DoD Space Test Program (STP) of the Defense Innovation Unit.The aim of the STP is to develop space capabilities for the joint warfighter.This national security launch was part of the STP Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI).* The Virgin Orbit launch procedure allows direct injection into orbit that no ground-launched vehicle can provide,thus saving customers time and money (less fuel is required).As well,the Virgin Orbit launch system enables launch through weather and cloud layers that would cancel a ground launch.Thus it facilitates launching anytime anywhere and without warning-aspects critical to military mission success.* Besides the Defense Department,other customers on the launch included Spire Global and Poland's SatRevolution firm.The CubeSats deployed will conduct experiments in advanced space communications;space navigation and propulsion;and global agricultural applications.To date,Virgin Orbit and its wholly-owned subsidiary VOX Space LLC have successfully launched and deployed 26 satellites.* The flight team was lead by pilot Eric Bippert and Flight Lieutenant Mathew "Stanny" Stannard,Royal Air Force Test Pilot.* Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (VORB),Spire Global Inc (SPIR),Boeing (BA)

Vice President Harris campaigns in California for Governor Newsom in rec...

Bulletin:Joint NASA - German Geosciences Mission Set for Wednesday Launch

The GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-Follow On) mission is set for a 22 May 2018 launch from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base,California.Liftoff is scheduled for 12:47:39 PDT/3:47:39 EDT with an instantaneous launch window and another chance on 23 May.The two GRACE-FO spacecraft will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket along with five Iridium NEXT communications satellites as ride-ons.*
GRACE-FO will carry on the work of the first GRACE mission (2002-2017) of observing the movement of water and other elements of Earth's mass by tracking the fluctuating pull of their gravity with a high degree of precision,by pointing one of the angular spacecraft toward Earth and the other to outer space.Just as in the original GRACE mission,GRACE-FO will track the evolution of Earth's water cycle,recording the movement of water from the highest mountains to the depths of the sea.By tracing the distribution of water's mass over time,the mission will help to solve the mysteries of some of today's climatology challenges.*
The two GRACE-FO satellites were built by the Airbus Defence and Space subsidiary of Airbus SE.NASA's part of the mission is being managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the German Research Centre for Geosciences' (GFZ) portion is managed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).The data will start coming in to the NASA tracking station at McMurdo,Antarctica about 23 minutes after deployment.*
Airbus SE (EADSY) US:OTC

Renewables Momentum:Duke Energy Augments California Solar Holdings

Judging by Duke Energy Corporation's recent actions in California,the time for solar is definitely now.In late December,the company purchased three more projects totaling 55 megawatts from SunPower Corp in Kern County:the 20 megawatt Rio Bravo I;the20 megawatt Rio Bravo II;and the 15 megawatt Wildwood II solar farms.All are in service now under 20-year contracts with Southern California Edison.*
As we continue to grow our footprint in the state,said Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology's president,Rob Caldwell,we're pleased to provide cost-efficient,sustainable power systems that contribute to California's leadership in renewable energy.*
Duke has 55 solar power plants in nine states.It also owns and operates wind farms,coal-fired,natural gas,oil,hydroelectric and nuclear power plants and is developing its interest in a biomass plant.*
Duke Energy Corp (DUK)

Hilton To Become REIT,Two Other Companies

Hilton Hotels has decided to split into three publicly traded companies.The hospitality industry titan will divide itself into:
1.A real estate investment trust;
2.A hotel management firm;and
3.A time share company,Hilton Grand Vacations.
Hilton actually owns only a small selection of its 4600 branded hotels.With this plan,it wants to lower taxes and increase shareholder value.
About seven years ago,the company moved from Beverly Hills,California to Maclean,Virginia near Washington,DC.*
Hilton Hotels (H)

The Problem With Falling Oil Prices

Plummeting oil prices are affecting those who deal in bundles of loans to energy companies.Collateralised Loan Obligation managers are being forced to sell.We're seeing a lot of pressure on these businesses that have automatic sell programs.I believe we're at a technical level here that's being forced to be sold by the global markets,said Chad Brownstein,CEO of Rocky Mountain Resource Holding Inc.I clearly believe that a stable number for the energy industry is about 70.00 a barrel.*
The problem they're going to have is,the large offshore oil drillers are going to feel it.The real victims are the large drillers at a cost of 50.00 a barrel to produce.Oil services are going to get hurt,the technical levels and the prices of the debt that are attached to the major oil companies.Currencies of oil dependent countries such as Canada,Mexico and Norway are getting crushed,Mr.Brownstein pointed out.*
Sustained low prices could halt some drilling projects,postpone others,squeeze certain fracking operations and even lead to the loss of certain jobs within the energy sector,wrote contributor Kevin Mahn in the December 3 issue of Forbes magazine.The net long-term effect could actually become somewhat of a drag on US GDP if oil prices drop further and/or remain at those lower prices for an extended period of time.*
If credit dries up for energy companies,restaurant chains may suffer in oil-dependent states like Texas and California.Every major restaurant chain has high exposure in these states.*
Rocky Mountain Resource Holdings is a limited liability company that acquires and develops natural resource assets such as oil and gas reserves,agribusiness,energy infrastructure,and industrial minerals and chemicals.With offices in Los Angeles and Denver,it seeks to leverage its deep relationships in the industry to facilitate off-market acquisitions of private assets,including family-owned assets,in the midst of both asset and generational transitions,the company says.*
In Monday trading,WTI crude closed at 55.91 a barrel,down 2.14,or 3.70%;while Brent crude closed at 61.06 a barrel,down 1.83,or 2.96%.

Trouble at SeaWorld and Independent Business;Walmart OK

SeaWorld's ebitda,or operating cash flow,was down 14-16%,and attendance came in below estimates.This is an astounding decline,said CNBC analyst Jim Cramer.This is just an abberation.I've never seen a complete collapse of ebitda.
This thing is just in trouble.The CNN documentary on SeaWorld must have played a role.*
The CNN documentary "Blackfish" covers the killing of a trainer by an orca at the Orlando,Florida SeaWorld in 2010.California is considering legislation to ban orca shows at amusement parks following the shocking incident.The company said it believes attendance in the quarter was impacted by demand pressure related to media attention surrounding proposed legislation in the state of California.*
If you're self-employed,your deductibles are out of control,Cramer observed.The cost of health care in this country is soaring with the Affordable Care Act.It's going to cost too much to have a baby-something to think about.This is what the companies involved in health and human services for independent business organisations are telling me.I don't mean to be political.Deductibles are flying high.*
Walmart has cut its full year forecast,but Raymond James analyst Budd Bugatch isn't too concerned.I feel pretty good about the report,Mr.Bugatcher said.Sales were better than expected.I think the costs were about health care,and a little bit about the economy as well.The new US CEO will take over an operation that is a pretty good operation.Returning growth to the core will be a key objective of his.
In the electronics area,Walmart has just gone through a project reboot.Our outperform rating is that investors with a large portfolio should overweight the stock and pay attention to it.*
Greg Foran is the new Walmart US CEO,having previously headed the company's Asia division.In a conference call,he told analysts that being in stock,clean stores and the right price were among his priorities.
Wal-Mart(WMT)

The Spirit of Sarah:Sochi Olympics Halfpipe Ski Finals

The spirit of Sarah Burke,the late and legendary Canadian freestyle skier,loomed large in the finals of the women's halfpipe ski event Thursday at the Sochi Winter Olympics.It was Burke who initially pushed ESPN to include the event in its Winter X Games and,later,convinced the International Olympic Committee to include it in the Sochi 2014 Games.She died at age 29 on January 19,2012 of injuries received January 10 in a training accident at Park City,Utah,suffering irreversible damage to the brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest,and a torn vertebral artery.
In the course of her career,she won four gold medals and a silver at the Winter X Games,plus the World Championship in halfpipe in 2005.In 2007,she received the ESPY award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete.She married fellow skier Rory Bushfield in 2010.*
Emotions over Sarah flowed in the hearts of the skiers who had personally known her Thursday.Her parents were among the spectators at Sochi,and consider the skiers to be family.*
Sarah's the reason we're all here,said Team USA's Maddie Bowman,20,of South Lake Tahoe,California.Without Sarah,none of us would be Olympians.Sarah inspired us on snow or off snow.I think she would have been proud of how all the girls rode tonight.*
Bowman won the first gold medal in the new Olympic discipline with her clean and seamless run,followed by Marie Martinod of France,29,silver,and Japan's Ayuna Onozuka,bronze.With Bowman's victory and that of David Wise the day before,the US swept the gold medals for the event.
American Brita Sigourney also performed some remarkable tricks at up to 34' off the ground,but a slight mistake on one landing kept her off the medal stand.*
The US led the medals count as of Thursday night with 25.Russia was second with 23,and the Netherlands held third with 22.Norway had the most gold medals(10).

Sochi:Snowboarders Begin Quest For New Gold

Even before the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics,snowboarders began their quest for the first gold medal in the new Olympics event of slopestyle snowboarding,which resembles moguls freestyle skiing.Snowboarders must ride down some metal rails and up some huge slopes in the extreme sports event.No American men scored high enough in the qualifying runs to make it directly to the finals.Canada's Maxence Parrot and Great Britain's Jamie Nicholls did make it.
American Women fared better.Jamie Anderson of Lake Tahoe,California and Karly Shorr go directly to the finals.Also making it straight through were Australia's Torah Bright and Canada's Spencer O'Brien.Northern Europe was the only other region to have qualified for the finals in Thursday's round,being represented by snowboarders from Austria,Switzerland,Norway,Sweden and Finland.*
The semifinals will be on Saturday for those who didn't score high enough for the finals,such as American men Ryan Stassel,Sage Kotsenburg and Charlie Guldemond,along with women Jessika Jenson and Ty Walker;British man Billy Morgan,as well as women Aimee Fuller and Jenny Jones,age 34;New Zealand's Rebecca Torr,Christy Prior,Stefi Luxton and Shelly Gotlieb;and Canadian Jenna Blasman.*
The beautiful Caucasus Mountains peaks of the Mountain Cluster alpine venues seem to have abundant natural snow this winter,but the Russians have stockpiled a vast amount of snow just in case.*
No incidents of any kind marred the opening of competition in the seaside resort of Sochi,Russia.

Should You Invest in Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors is s Silicon Valley company that produces fully electric vehicles that get high marks for drivability.It was co-founded by leading engineer Elon Musk.Tesla trades as a tech company,forward-looking,according to Ben Kallo,Senior Analyst at RW Baird.They'll eventually have to produce some earnings to back up the steep share price,when they demonstrate they can build a car for the average consumer at a price of about 32,000 dollars.They need a cheaper battery pack.Right now,Tesla produces performance cars that go for about 100,000.*Tesla holds an 8% share of the US luxury car market and showed an 8% improvement in gross margins.I'm at a 118 price target on the stock-meaning it is presently overpriced.It closed at 147.95,up 0.39%,in Monday after hours trading.*Tesla has built a brand with a loyal following that is spreading like wildfire,Mr.Kallo concluded.*Based in Palo Alto,California,Tesla has 31 stores and service centers worldwide,and is on the road in 37 countries.Two models are currently available,the Roadster and the Model S.The Model X utility vehicle will be available in 2014,the company says.*Tesla Motors(TSLA)

Keck Medicine Acquires Verdugo Hills Hospital

Keck Medicine of USC has expanded with the acquisition of Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale,California.Effective July 16,the purchase integrates the 158-bed local hospital into the constellation of Keck Medicine world-class medical institutions,which include the Keck School of Medicine;Keck Hospital of USC;and USC Norris Cancer Hospital,as well as USC Care Medical Group and other assets. Verdugo Hills Hospital has served the Foothill communities of Los Angeles County for 40 years.It offers a primary stroke center;cardiac rehabilitation;diagnostic/imaging services;and a maternity department. According to Tom Jakiewicz,President of USC Health,this was the right move for both organisations,particularly in light of the changes that are transforming health care and how it's delivered.Bringing together these two very strong provider communities creates a unique opportunity for residents of the Foothill communities to receive exceptional patient care from the physicians they know and trust,and from those who bring additional medical expertise from one of the world's leading academic medical centers. The realities of health care reform are feeding a national trend of consolidation of health care providers into large networks,in a quest to achieve greater efficiency and better clinical outcomes for patients,with an eye to reducing costs. Len LaBella,CEO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital,added that the affiliation enables us to provide key services and advantages that not only help us remain viable,but to thrive in a challenging health care environment that demands constant evolution. Cosmetic improvements such as new signage,better landscaping and refurbished interiors have already been achieved since the deal closed-the first of many steps of the integration.

Huge Tree Kills Camp Counselor Near Yosemite

On July 3 a massive black oak tree fell on a counselor at a remote summer camp near Yosemite National Park,California,killing her instantly.Annais Rittenberg,21,was an art counselor at the Camp Tawonga,located on Stanislaus National Forest near the town of Groveland.She was an environmental studies student at UC Santa Cruz.
Four other adult staff members were hurt by the crashing tree,which was 53 inches in diameter and 72 feet tall.It snapped off at 32 feet,and the top 40 feet of it took down power lines when it fell on the camp staff gathered around a campfire at breakfast.The children were eating in a nearby dining hall and were uninjured.
US Forest Service rangers and firefighters cut the tree into pieces following the incident.Pacific Gas and Electric had inspected the trees in the area in December 2012,but found no problems at the time.There were no signs of decay or disease in the oak that fell,a Tuolumne County sherrif's office spokesman said,nor were there any weather concerns.
The injured staff are expected to fully recover.About 300 campers and 150 staff were in the heavily forested camp at the time of the tragic accident.It is so remote,there is no cell phone access to it,although there is email.
Ms.Rittenberg was also a popular DJ and world music director at the UC Santa Cruz radio station.She had traveled to South Africa,worked with injured animals and hiked to the summit of Mt.Lyell,the highest peak in Yosemite National Park.
This blog extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends.