For a periods in the late 80s, early 90s, late 90s, and early 2000s, I was a professional #Astronomer (yet another workstation jockey) with a particular interest in #BioAstronomy -- planets, star forming, potential habitats -- that sort of thing.
Used data-reduction software. And I wrote some in #FORTRAN
Along the way, also learned BASIC, C, C++, Pascal, and then #Python
Helped develop the #NICMOS camera for Hubble. Then got to reduce some data from it to study protostars.
[2/3]
2023 #introduction update:
I write about #FreeCulture and #OpenSource software for #FilmMaking and #Animation.
Also working on what I call a #FreeSoftware #VirtualStudio.
See my "Production Log" at https://lunaticsproject.org for that stuff.
Once an #Astronomer with a focus on #BioAstronomy.
Live in TX w/ wife, 2/3 of my adult kids & 3 cats.
This is my *personal* account, where I am bit more free with my opinions. I also have a *professional* account at @TerryHancock .
#introduction
My main creative work is a #FreeCulture #OpenMovie #Animated #ScienceFiction "series" https://lunatics.tv for which I am still finishing a pilot episode.
I also spend a lot of time on exploring, testing, and promoting #FOSS tools, like #Blender , #Inkscape , #Kdenlive , #Audacity , #Ardour , #PapagayoNG , #ResourceSpace , #Gitea , and #PeerTube .
In the past, I've been an #Astronomer with an interest in #BioAstronomy .
Texas. Married. 3 adult kids.
My main creative work is a #FreeCulture #OpenMovie #Animated #ScienceFiction "series" https://lunatics.tv which still has not really launched, but I'm still plugging away on it.
I also spend a lot of time on exploring, testing, and promoting #FOSS tools, like #Blender , #Inkscape , #Kdenlive , #Audacity , #Ardour , #PapagayoNG , #ResourceSpace , #Gitea , and #PeerTube .
In the past, I've been an #Astronomer with an interest in #BioAstronomy .
Texas. Married. 3 adult kids.
More #introduction :
My bio says "former pro astronomer" and that's pretty accurate.
I have a BA in #Astronomy from the University of Texas, and worked there, at University of Arizona, and the associated McDonald and Steward Observatories in the early 1990s and then for Extrasolar Research Corporation and Caltech/JPL/IPAC from '98 to '03.
My area of interest was #BioAstronomy which is sort of the observational opposite end of the theoretical field of #ExoBiology .
I still think it's cool.
Space Catitude 🚀
Terry Hancock