Have you come across a non profit website TED? It’s primary goal to share ideas in Technology, Entertainment and Design, ideas it deems as worthy of sharing.

I bumped in to a video on TED about dictionaries. Interesting in its own right but it caught my attention because the presenter, Erin Mckean an American lexicographer, referred to Micheal Oates’ descovery of comets without the use of a telescope as an example  of fresh thinking. In her 2007 video, she was challenging the traditional definition of a dictionary.

Mike has many talents, amateur astronomy is just one. He is a member of Manchester Astronomical Society.

It is worth browsing TED.COM, packed full of interesting short (typically 20 minute) videos. Here are  couple of my favourites

Michael Specter Defending Science

Clifford Stoll –  Astronomy, computers and education.

Well guess what? In the early hours of this morning the air control body extended the non-emergency flight restrictions to 19:00 this evening (I expect that to be extended). Consequently, Ken Willoughby has informed me that Ed Mitchell’s visit will not take place today.

The visit will be rescheduled and details will be published once finalised. In the meantime, some interesting links.

• An ESA animation of the ash cloud over Europe.
• Radar image from flightglobal,com of one lonely plane in UK air space this morning
• Dramatic pictures of volcanic eruption. Here’s another apparently from the farmer of owns *this* farm in Iceland.
• Ash cloud predictions from the metoffice
• http://www.flightradar24.com/ shows live air traffic information. Ironically, too many users and I could not connect!

The current situation is that the Edgar Mitchell will arrive and tomorrow evening’s presentation will go ahead as planned.

The evening meal originally scheduled for tonight will take place on Saturday evening for those who can make it.

To repeat this is the current picture. I’ll post further updates as I recieve them.

The recent volcanic activity in Iceland has resulted in high levels of volcanic ash in the higher atmosphere  over many parts of Europe.  The prevailing weather has pushed dangerous amounts of it over the UK.  Flights over Scotland have been grounded since this morning and now the aviation authorities have called for an end to all air traffic (except emergencies) for 6 hours  in UK airspace from midday  until 18:00 (BST) today.

One of the fligfhts impacted has been Dr Ed Mitchell’s from the US. He should be in the UK now but is not. Thus the program for today has been cancelled. Volcanism and weather are highly unpredictable. I hope to get an update later today regarding the program for tomorrow.