Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Dr. David H. Levy

Meet Star Gazers

Dr. David H. Levy has discovered 23 comets and is also the first to have discovered comets visually, photographically and electronically. In this episode, he shares with us the journey leading up to the discovery of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 that collided with Jupiter in July 1994, recognised as the biggest impact in the Solar system witnessed by mankind. Dr. David Levy's career has straddled two disciplines, English literature and astronomy. He also recites some of his favourite prose and poetry in English literature that has a relationship with the night sky and astronomy.

Time stamps :

• 04:38 : Journey leading up to the discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
• 18:20 : Dr. David H. Levy's exploration of the relationship between English literature and astronomy
• 22:51 : Quotation of The Song of Honour by Ralph Hodgson
• 23:29 : A poem written by Dr. David H. Levy about his Father-in-law
• 27:03 : Dr. David H. Levy's adaptation My Eyes on the Sky of Sevilla de Martin's poem His Eyes on the Sparrow
• 28:08 : Recitation of the Welsh hymn All Through the Night written by John Ceiriog Hughes and translated into English by Sir Harold Boulton
• 33:10 : Quotation of speech given by Senator Carl Schurz at Faneuil Hall in Boston on April 18th, 1859.
• 33:59 : Quotation of poem The Castle of Knowledge by Robert Recorde (1556)
• 34:34 : Quotation of poem The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service
• 38:16 : Recitation of poem I am like a slip of comet by Gerard Manley Hopkins
• 40:35 : Recitation of poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Useful links and resources :

• A Nightwatchman's Journey: The Road Not Taken (Starizona)
• A Nightwatchman’s Journey: The Road Not Taken (RASC)
• Shoemaker by Levy: The Man Who Made an Impact
• Comets: Creators and Destroyers
• Deep Sky Objects: The Best And Brightest from Four Decades of Comet Chasing
• David Levy's Guide to Observing and Discovering Comets
• The Quest for Comets: An Explosive Trail of Beauty and Danger
• Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Star-Gazer

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