2014 astronomy year in review

BBC has a recap of Brian's hot off the press posts in 2014 😉 Well it covers all areas of science but there are some astronomical stuff in there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30132560

Philae/Rosetta was special, not only in what it achieved but in the way it engaged us together. Certainly my favourite news/event of the year.

There was so much more happenings in astronomy and cosmology but I cant find any articles doing a specific astronomy/cosmology recap review which is a pity.

What was your favourite news or event in 2014?

And what was your favourite personal astronomical experience this year?

I had a few personal highlights this year. Many Flamsteed events, some of which I enjoyed assisting in, some Bakerstreet meetups, an Astrocamp in Wales, finally imaging my first galaxy (and finally sussing polar alignment at the same time!), being stunned with the humungous Sunspot late summer (that was huge, man!), and a crazy first tenting venture in gale force winds to watch an Orionid meteor shower that didnt turn on. But my favourite and most memorable was my second camping venture to watch (and shoot) the Geminids meteor shower just a couple of weeks ago. It was an amazing show and it was made more enjoyable by sharing the experience with the family camp owners who welcomed my like a house guest (probably partly because I fixed their telescope and showed them how to use it 🙂 ).

Flamsteed-wise, I think my favourite thing that's happened this year...is this forum! Its great to vent out my cosmic thoughts, learning and bantering with you guys. This forum turned out to be a huge additional enjoyment. I hope there will be more contributors later though.

On TV, there have been so many new interesting documentaries both British and American but I think the most enjoyable for me was a documentary on the cold war space race called Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race...from the Russian point of view. It was so refreshing hearing a very different perspective and in such an enjoyably chronicalized journey, sprinkled with humour, revelations and sadness. Its still on Iplayer actually:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04lcxms/cosmonauts-how-russia-won-the-space-race

Hope all of you have a happy New Year's Eve!