First of all – a big thank you to everybody asking me about this! It’s nice to know so many people are interested. And now I can tell you all: you can pre-order the comic “Hanny and the mystery of the Voorwerp” since today!
This is the cover page. Click it to see how to order your copy. I hope you’ll like it and please do share your thoughts on it with me.
(At least that’s what I hope it says). A few weeks ago, a lovely reporter from Greece contacted me and we did an e-mail interview. The result appeared on The Makeδonia website, which is also on my – recently updated – list of links to internet articles about Hanny’s Voorwerp, that appeared this year. Since it’s in Greek (doesn’t that look cool?!), I thought to give my English answers to her questions here:
What got you interested in astronomy in the first place?
Queen’s guitarist Brian May mentioning Galaxy Zoo on his website – www.brianmay.com. I’ve always admired Brian for his music and one day, back in the summer of 2007, I saw a note on his site about this astronomy project. He said real scientists needed help sorting through beautiful pictures of the universe, which I thought sounded exciting.
How did you discover Hanny’s (your!) Voorwerp?
In order to help, you need to mark pictures you get to see on your screen by clicking buttons. I was classifying galaxies like this on www.galaxyzoo.org when – after only a week or so – I got a picture with a strange spot in it. The spot didn’t match any of the examples they’d given with the explanation, so I was curious and sent the team of astronomers an e-mail asking what it was.
Did you know you had discovered something important?
Not at all! I was just wondering what the spot was, without realising it could be something significant. That thought just never crossed my mind and the first replies I got from the scientists didn’t imply they thought it was something spectacular either.
What exactly is it anyway?
We’re still not totally sure. There have been a lot of investigations and we now know it’s a galaxy sized gas cloud, approximately 700 million light-years from Earth. It’s extremely bright and hot (15,000⁰C), but it hasn’t got any stars in it to heat it up. It seems to have a relationship with the galaxy known as IC2497 and we expect to know more about it at the end of this summer. When we do, you can read all about it on my website www.hannysvoorwerp.com.
Were you surprised by the attention the discovery attracted, or were you prepared for it?
When the astronomers started to realise it could be something unique, they asked me if I was OK with talking to the media. I was told my phone wouldn’t stop ringing, but no – I hadn’t really expected that would actually happen. It did though and I’m still doing interviews after two years. But I like being able to tell the world that everybody can participate in science.
Have astronomers accepted you as one of them?
Although I’m not an astronomer of course, I’d say ‘yes’, definitely. I’ve been invited to a lot of places and have met a lot of people and they always gave me the feeling they value my contribution. I often hear how great it is for the reputation of astronomy that a “young and lovely woman” is promoting it.
Why did you choose to be a teacher? Does it make you happy to see young people involved in science and astronomy?
I always wanted to do something meaningful with my life and I think helping young people to learn is a way to do that. I always loved going to school myself as well, education is a good thing. So yes, it’s great to see young people involved in learning more about astronomy and science in general.
From SETI@Home to Galaxy Zoo, the way people are involved in astronomy and research has evolved significantly. What future do you see in it?
I’m pretty sure it’ll stay a success for a long time. People like being involved and there are still a lot of questions a computer can’t answer for us. Galaxy Zoo already grew a lot, with lots of different smaller projects and I know there are still more to come.
I assume you believe it is important for people to be involved in research. Why is that?
Because I believe that’s what life is about : you live, you learn. And it’s important for people to do this actively, to stay curious, instead of assuming things are facts because “someone said so”.
How has Hanny’s Voorwerp and your involvement with science and astronomy changed your life?
It has changed my life a lot. I’ve learned a lot about astronomy, I’ve met many interesting people – some of them became my best friends, my English skills improved, I’ve been to a lot of nice places, I give lectures and it’s nice to experience writing scientific papers with the astronomers.
Are there things that the Voorwerp taught you?
Well, Hanny’s Voorwerp itself didn’t teach me a lot yet, but the things happening around it have, as said before. I am looking forward to finally finding out what it is exactly though.
What are your plans for the future? What do you hope to achieve?
To live happily ever after. And to play guitar better. Seriously, I like being a teacher and I think I want what most people want: a nice and steady job, a family one day and time to do fun things with friends.
What would you say to people who would like to do what you did?
A good way to start would be joining Galaxy Zoo. And more generally: have an open mind, be curious and not afraid of asking questions. If you want to become a scientist – or anything else for that matter – my advice is to focus on that and work hard for it. Enjoy what you’re doing and keep thinking positively.
Can you tell I’m busy? I am in any case, but I don’t mind it. It’ll not stop me enjoying life, even though I didn’t have a lot of time this season to go out and photograph it. Instead, here are a few funny shots from a video, recently taken in my uncle and aunt’s garden.
My cousin Valesca and I were teaming up against Anja – my aunt’s twin, Valesca’s aunt and one of my best friends. Anyway, on this hot day, the little sunshine was hiding in my arms, while Anja was shooting water at us and I was trying to get back at her.
Don’t you think my cousin has the cutest smile you’ve ever seen? In the last picture she’s unintentionally distracting the ‘enemy’, while ‘rescuing’ (already dead) little creatures from the swimming pool.
We ended up with the three of us in the pool and a big watering-can. Eventually, little Valesca was wrapped in a towel, while Anja and I stood on the doormat like two naughty kids – soaked, dripping and smiling. Enjoy the weather out there!
Official release:
This past Monday, at about 8pm Central (GMT -5), a Voorwerpish webcomic was delivered to Sips Comics for printing. Tuesday morning we got the page proofs, and now, one by one, they are being made into full color reality.
We could say a lot of things right now: We could tell you about playing round robin with the script, digitally passing it from person to person under the guidance of Kelly, sometimes into the wee hours of the night. We could tell you about watching the art come to life; transforming from line drawings to fully rendered pages in the hand of our artists Elea and Chris. We could tell you how many pencil tips were broken, and how many digital files grew so big our computers crawled.
We could talk a lot, but instead, let us invite you to join us for the World Premier and share with you a few images.
You’re invited to a World Premiere!
Date: September 3rd, 10pm Eastern (GMT -5)
Online: via Hanny’s Voorwerp Webcomic or via direct UStream
In Person: At Dragon*Con
Crystal Ballroom
Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA
Come meet the artists, hear a brief talk by Bill, and generally revel in the Voorwerp’s awesomeness. And come dressed as a Voorwerp for a chance to win a prize for best costume!
See you in Atlanta?
Pamela, Hanny, Bill, Kelly, Elea and Chris.
This is a short report on one of those examples of situations I probably would never have ended up in if I hadn’t asked what that blue stuff below was…
‘Cause I’d met this lovely lady at the opening of LOFAR and she invited me to visit her in The Hague. She works for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (all my interests summed up one go actually) and she was interested in hearing my story.
So the other day I took a train to this gorgeous city, to which – I have to admit – I’d never been before! And we had a very inspiring conversation about the importance of science and the importance of showing people the importance and beauty of science. Something I’ve been doing as a hobby quite a lot lately.
And while I was there, I went to see the rest of the city properly too…
Besides this important political place you hear about on the news all the time, Den Haag also turned out to be a city which reminded me of an open art exhibition. I love this crow made of wood.
Another example to support that statement: paintings as sand sculptures!
I was lucky: there’s also an exhibition with the most beautiful photographs you’ve ever seen, from the stunning nature in Europe: Wild Wonders of Europe.
Of course: the Binnenhof from the Hofvijver.
And I thought it was kind of funny that apparently God has His own parking spot, right across the street of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
