[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 23 - 10:50:29 ]
Hello Everyone! Glad you could make it to our chat today! Radio astronomer, computer scientist and education specialist Jim Thieman, will be here in about 10 minutes. Be sure you have read Jim's bio before coming to the chat: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/team/thieman.html.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 31 - 11:01:14 ]
Hi, this is Jim Thieman. I'm ready when you are!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 36 - 11:01:59 ]
RE: [Robert-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] What sport do you like? This is my question because I like sports like football because it s fun interesting.
Regarding sports, my favorite is probably football. Both watching and playing.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 41 - 11:03:27 ]
RE: [Isaias-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] What computer games do you play? I like the solitare on online.I play that game at my house with my computer at home.
Regarding computer games, I've been playing a lot of things like Star Wars on my son's Nintendo 64

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 47 - 11:04:51 ]
RE: [ReeseMcIntyre/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Do you enjoy teaching students about outer space?
Teaching students about outer space is always a big kick for me. I love it when the light of understanding something you never understood before comes on in someone's eyes. It always inspired me when it happened to me.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 49 - 11:05:54 ]
RE: [Arturo-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] What is wrong with your eye sight?
My eyesight is not great, maybe 20/400 or so, but that's not good enough to be an astronaut, unfortunately.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 52 - 11:06:33 ]
RE: [Arturo-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] How old are you
I'm 51 and not getting any younger.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 57 - 11:07:57 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] Jim ... I have some queries in store for you .. I will wait for your signal so that i may ask them ... sorry for being a little late
I am having trouble with my Netscape brwoser at the moment, so I hope I am still being heard.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 59 - 11:08:31 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] Jim ... I have some queries in store for you .. I will wait for your signal so that i may ask them ... I HOPE YOU ARE GETTING MY MESSAGES
Yes, we see your questions! Go ahead and send your questions!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 61 - 11:08:50 ]
RE: [ReeseMcIntyre/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Do you enjoy teaching students about outer space?
I do enjoy teaching students about space science. Do you have some questions about space science?

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 64 - 11:09:49 ]
RE: [edwardRyeNeckNY-Mr.Poccia/RyeNeckMiddleSchool] What planets besides Jupiter do you study?
Besides Jupiter I also study Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the Earth. These are the planets that give off natural radio emissions.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 71 - 11:11:25 ]
RE: [PhilipRamsay/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Why do you study Jupiter more than other planets?
Jupiter is probably the most interesting of the planets giving off radio emissions because some of the emissions are controlled by the position of its moon, Io. That's a very interesting mystery that I have been studying for many years.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 73 - 11:11:40 ]
RE: [Kevin-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] How old are you? I am 5 year old.
Kevin, in an earlier answer, Jim said he ws 51 years old!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 76 - 11:12:23 ]
RE: [Alex/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Do you think Mars used to harbor life?
Thats a good question. It seems quite possible to me that there were once small life forms of some sort, but I'd like to see more evidence.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 80 - 11:13:47 ]
RE: [ChrisMoore/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, How much education would I have to have to become a radio astronomer, or computer scientist?
To be a radio astronomer, probably the minimum education needed would be a Master's degree. A Ph.D. is probably better however. Computer scientists may do very well with just a bachelor's degree, but better to have an advanced degree there as well.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 83 - 11:14:36 ]
RE: [Daniel-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Have you seen a UFO?
I thought I saw something strange in the sky as a child, but I think it was just a very silent plane.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 89 - 11:15:43 ]
RE: [MattGalli/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] What did think about the Alan Shepard launch? Did you know him?
The Alan Shepard launch was the inspiration that got me believing I wanted to be an astronaut. It was very exciting even though it lasted only an hour or so.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 95 - 11:16:57 ]
RE: [Erik-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Have you seen strange things in outer space
I think one of the strange things in outer space is the moon Io. It is yellow, has volcanos, and to some extent controls the strong radio emissions from Jupiter

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 99 - 11:18:12 ]
RE: [edwardRyeNeckNY-Mr.Poccia/RyeNeckMiddleSchool] Why do planets give off radio emmissions?
Planets give off radio emissions mostly because they have magnetic fields and charged particles like electrons and protons moving in the fields. This causes radio waves or other types of radiation to be emitted.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 101 - 11:19:00 ]
RE: [SpencerHoward/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Is there another job that would appeal to you more than the one you already have?
The one job I would definitely like more than the one I have is to actually be an astronaut and experience space first hand.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 109 - 11:20:50 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] JIM .... so i will go ahead with my question ...JIM .. I am a graduate student in Mechanical engineering at PURDUE UNIVERSITY .... I am basically from india and I have a dream to join NASA as a research scientist .. I am working in the field of FLUID MECHANICS ..... Is it possible for me to join NASA and if so then how do I go about it ??? Is it necessary for me to do my PhD too ??
To get in to NASA takes some doing as a research scientist since the government is not expanding very much these days. The most important thing is to have a skill that is needed by NASA and to make a reputation of being very good at that skill, such as writing papers as a research scientist.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 114 - 11:22:01 ]
RE: [Felix-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Have you ever seen another galaxy?
I have seen many other galxies. There are billions that are over our heads, but most are hard to see with the naked eye. Get a good telescope and you can see very many.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 117 - 11:22:39 ]
RE: [edwardRyeNeckNY-Mr.Poccia/RyeNeckMiddleSchool] Do comets give off radio emissions?
We are not aware of any comets giving off radio emission.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 121 - 11:24:02 ]
RE: [GarrettBrightwell/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Why do you think some people say using a computer is geeky?
I don't say using a computer is geeky. But I think some people think that is so, especially if you spend all your time at it. So, I think one shouldn't do that.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 126 - 11:25:16 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] What I want to know that is it possible for me to apply for work in NASA right after I do my grad studies ? If yes , then how do i do that ?
You can apply for NASA after graduate school, but it's tough to get in without an established reputation unless you have a skill that is needed at the time.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 128 - 11:26:07 ]
RE: [JordanBrown/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] What is the Big Red Spot on Jupiter? Why is it always there?
The beg red spot on Jupiter is actually a very! large hurricane. It is the size of tw Earths.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 137 - 11:28:05 ]
RE: [SaraTracy/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, How do you become a radio astronomer? What frequencies do you listen to?
I became a radio astronomer because it was one of the major research topics that were being studied where I went to graduate school and I decided to study that area. I listen to the frequencies from about 50kHz to 30MhZ. This is the short wave band as well as some other bands.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 139 - 11:28:58 ]
RE: [Jessica-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] have you ever seen a new planet ?
I have only seen the pictures of the new planets that are being published or the indirect evidence that some astronomers have found.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 142 - 11:30:01 ]
RE: [don-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Whats your favorite technology ?
My favorite technology is definitely the computer. I kind of grew up with computers and I am still amazed every day at what they can do and how they can affect one's life.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 148 - 11:31:21 ]
RE: [MattBurton/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Do you think there are black holes in space? Astronomers are not a 100% sure.
I think it is almost certain there are black holes in space. Although we can't see them or experience them directly the indirect evidence is there and they seem to follow the predictions that are made for what they should do.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 149 - 11:32:22 ]
RE: [Osmin-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] have you seen a black hole in space?
One can't see a black hole in space, but you can see some of the effects that would be expected from them.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 150 - 11:32:29 ]
EVERYONE: THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 OF YOU out there sending questions to Jim. There is only ONE of him and he cannot possibly answer ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS. So, please try and hold off sending in anymore questions for about 5 more minutes (WATCH THE CLOCK!) to give Jim an opportunity to catch up!

[ MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter - 151 - 11:32:39 ]
Jim, We want to " Thank You!" for taking the time to answer my student's questions... if you could only see how excited they are.. they've never chatted with a Space Scientist before!!!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 152 - 11:32:47 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Jim, seen the question about the event horizon area?
I'm not sure about the question you are referring to.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 156 - 11:33:30 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Jim, seen the question about the event horizon area?
Ask your question again. thanks :-)

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 160 - 11:34:12 ]
RE: [Juan-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] How do you spend time with your family?
One of the ways I spend time with my family is going on vbacation together. That to me is the best time. But just being together at home and watching TV or going to events together is fun as well.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 164 - 11:35:03 ]
RE: [MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Jim, We want to " Thank You!" for taking the time to answer my student's questions... if you could only see how excited they are.. they've never chatted with a Space Scientist before!!!
Mrs. Rosales: We are thrilled to have your kids here today and are so happy that they are enjoying their chat with Jim! This is very important to us!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 166 - 11:35:37 ]
RE: [MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] They are anxiously awaiting your responses!!!!
Jim's 10 fingers are typing as fast as they can!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 168 - 11:35:42 ]
RE: [JordanBrown/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, What radio frequencies in megahertz comes from Jupiter?
Radio frequencies from Jupiter range from a few kHz to hundreds of MegaHertz. Jupiter is very prolific in its emissions.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 172 - 11:36:53 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] can i have everyones attention... wher do you register for this chat? friend of mine wants here..
Joel: To register for this chat have your friend go to: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/chats and follow the directions from there.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 174 - 11:37:26 ]
RE: [edwardRyeNeckNY-Mr.Poccia/RyeNeckMiddleSchool] What are your beliefs on the origin of the solar system?
I believe the standard theory of the origin of the solar system, that is, that it formed from the whirling cloud of dust and gas that ultimately condensed into the Sun and the planets

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 177 - 11:38:06 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] I am repeating my question again ...One of my strong ambition in life is to join NASA .... My plans are to apply into it right after my Grad studies ... if I dont get into it then I will do my Ph.D. ... and then again apply for NASA right after my Ph.D. .... JIM .. I am trying to publish some of my work that I have been doin here at PURDUE .... Unfortunately the work .. being in paint sprays may not have too much of direct application in NASA projects ........What do you think ? I MEAN DO I REALLY STAND ANY CHANCE ?
Anshul: As you can see, you are one of about 50 kids here today. Jim is typing answers to questions as fast as he can. You don't need to repeat this same question again. thanks!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 178 - 11:38:46 ]
RE: [Stephanie/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Is it true that the Earth will come to an end in year 2000?
I remember as a child being told that the world would end in the year 1960. I was pretty scared about that then, but it didn't happen and I don't think we have to worry about 2000 either.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 183 - 11:39:38 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Jim, according to Stephen Hawkins two black holes witch collide will form a hole with a event horizon that exeedes the horizon of the original twos.
Joel, I'm not familiar with this prediction so I'm sorry that I can't give you a good answer for it.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 184 - 11:39:47 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT SANDY ....
No problem Anshul :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 187 - 11:41:05 ]
RE: [jennifer-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] What do you eat in outerspace?
Jennifer: Jim is NOT an astronaut! He studies radio waves!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 189 - 11:41:11 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] Anshul: As you can see, you are one of about 50 kids here today. Jim is typing answers to questions as fast as he can. You don't need to repeat this same question again. thanks!
I would suggest contacting NASA Headquarters public affairs office and asking them what the possibilities are for various professions then follow your heart.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 192 - 11:42:32 ]
RE: [Josie/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] How are radio waves transmitted?
Radio waves travel through space in the same way that light does. They can go through the vacuum of space at the speed of light because they are electromagnetic waves just like light.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 193 - 11:43:39 ]
RE: [MelissaSharpe/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Jim, Would there ever be a chance that people could live on another planet?
I think it will happen one day. The main thing standing in the way is the cost of doing so. If we can make it cheaper to get into space we can easily make it possible to live on other planets.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 196 - 11:44:15 ]
EVERYONE: There are 15 minutes left in today's chat. Please do the Quest project a favor and after the chat is over, fill out a short survey form to let us know what you thought about the chat today. This willhelp us make improvements. The survey can be found at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys Thank you :-)

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 200 - 11:45:14 ]
RE: [Alexandra-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Have you found any other planets besides the ten in our galaxy?
Technically there are nine known planets in our solar system, but the asteroids may once have been a tenth. No, I have not found any other planets.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 202 - 11:46:31 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] do you think thera are black holes in every major starcrowd? or perhaps just in the centres of galaxies? what do you think?
I believe there are black holes not only in the centers of galxies but in other places where enough matter has come together to form a black hole. This can be lots of places in a galaxy.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 203 - 11:46:45 ]
RE: [/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Dr Thieman ! Thank you for your inspirational answers for these 7th graders! We worked on the questions yesterday! Tnx for the info on Pat Kilroy and pse tell him I said hello! Wendell
Wendell: Thanks for joining us today. Your questions were great and it was obvious that you put some thought into them! Please join us again!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 204 - 11:47:26 ]
RE: [/LTMS-Mr.Salmons/LexingtonTraditionalMagnetSchl] Dr Thieman ! Thank you for your inspirational answers for these 7th graders! We worked on the questions yesterday! Tnx for the info on Pat Kilroy and pse tell him I said hello! Wendell
You are welcome. I hope I was able to get to some of the questions from your kids. I'll say hi to Pat.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 206 - 11:48:49 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] JIM .... For contacting ... NASA Headquarters public affairs office ... can you give me their conact no (email, phone and address) or is it their down on NASA's web site ?
anshul, I believe the web address is pao.hq.nasa.gov or you can probably get information at hq.nasa.gov or www.hq.nasa.gov

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 208 - 11:49:28 ]
RE: [Mattias-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] I wonder if anyone know anything abouth the LIBRA
What about LIBRA?

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 213 - 11:50:58 ]
RE: [anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent] thanx jim ... I hope I meet you one day in NASA...
Anshul: Thank you for joining us today! We wish you the best of luck in your studies and with your career. Hope to see you at NASA some day!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 217 - 11:52:12 ]
RE: [JenniferB-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Do you go with your family to the mall?
Jennifer, I do go with the family to the mall, but like many husbands I don't like staying for a long time and my wife wants to stay forever!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 218 - 11:52:44 ]
RE: [Ruben-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Do other planets have moons?
Yes! One example is the red planet Mars, that is often visible in the night sky, it has two moon-- Phobos and Deimos.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 219 - 11:52:50 ]
RE: [Mattias-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Just something usefull I´m in the middle of a project about it, and I need some help.
What about your project?

[ anshul-Mr.Anshul/graduatestudent - 220 - 11:53:13 ]
thanks Sandy bye

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 221 - 11:53:42 ]
RE: [Ruben-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Do other planets have moons?
Many planets have moons. In our solar system it's unusual for a planet not to have a moon.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 222 - 11:54:38 ]
RE: [joel-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] sticker nu hej. Im off now bye
Joe: Thanks for joining us! Come back again!

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 223 - 11:54:55 ]
RE: [Carlos-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] What things have you see in space that are so big?
There are so many big things in space. The Earth is really pretty small in comparison to most everything that we can see through telescopes. It's unimaginable how big things are in space.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 226 - 11:56:09 ]
Sorry I couldn't get to all the questions. If there are any others in the last few minutes I'll try to stay a little longer.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 227 - 11:56:56 ]
RE: [MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Thank You Jim for being so patient with my students...I hope we have the opportunity to ask you other questions as we learn more about Space and Careers in Space :o)))))
I'd be happy to do what I can to talk about the great careers in space science.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 229 - 11:57:54 ]
RE: [Mattias-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Well, it´s a simple project Do you know wish star that lies closed to us?
If it is the question that is often asked as a trick question, the answer is "the Sun" since the Sun is a star.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 231 - 11:59:00 ]
RE: [MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] We are almost logging out... if you have a chance... take a look at our webpage... it is in construction.. but you can get a feel of who we are :o)))) Our address is http://home.earthlink.net/~larosa5/index.htm
I will try to look at your web page afterwards. Do you have an email to send comments?

[ MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter - 234 - 11:59:36 ]
Sure :o)))) It is laura_rosa@hotmail.com

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 236 - 12:00:31 ]
RE: [Felix-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] How many years do you spend in college to be an astronaut?
You need to get at least a bachelor's degree which is four years, but it would be unusual to be an astronaut without an advanced degree which can be anywhere from two to six more years.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 238 - 12:01:40 ]
RE: [Alexandra-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] Do all the planets have moons?
We know of no moons for Mercury or Venus.

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 241 - 12:02:46 ]
RE: [isaias-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter] do you like earth?
Earth is definitely near and dear to my heart, but I would like to see other places as well.

[ MrsRosales-Mrs.Rosales/MilesMagnetCenter - 242 - 12:02:56 ]
Hope to hear from you soon Jim.. byebye :o)

[ JimThieman/RadioAstronomer - 243 - 12:03:36 ]
RE: [Mattias-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden] Is it fun to work for/in NASA
NASA is a great place to work with exciting things happening all the time. Even this is a lot of fun and I'm being paid to do it.

[ Mattias-joelsorensson/vasterskolanUASweden - 244 - 12:03:42 ]
I will come back one day, but now, goodby

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 246 - 12:04:21 ]
EVERYONE: It is time for Jim to go back to work now. thank you all for joining us today. You sent in some awesome questions :-) Jim's chat will be archived by tomorrow. You read it by going to Jim's bio and looking for the link there or you can get to it off of the main chat page at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/chats and click on Chat Archive. Please join us next week for another Space Scientists Online chat :-)