Abyss Observatory's Motoko Moonwall's Death Announced

 A creative builder in Second Life has passed away.

While stopping by the Abyss observatory in Farwell (79/79/95), among the various signs around the entry point was one announcing the death of one of the people whom had helped build the area.


A creator of Abyss Observatory, Motoko Moonwall died on 4th Feb, 2016 on lung cancer. When the cancer was found in hospital, the cancer already metastasized to lymph node, and she soon deteriorated into coma.

Motoko was most active creator of Abyss Observatory. Please pray for her soul to rest in peace.


Five locations were listed on the notecard, three also at the observatory, the "Lorentz and Chaos exhibit," Farwell (161, 175, 3501), "Only One Earth,"(173, 184, 3401), and "Earth and Life Evolution," Farwell (166, 209, 3401). The other two were "Jules Verne's Natilus," Lily (191, 215, 1506), and the "Motoko Museum of Art History," STEM Island (162, 222, 3775). The observatory builds were detailed and interesting. One exhibit included several dynamic globes, spinning and  representing geography, ocean currents, electric power use, etc.

While perhaps the observatory can get more builders, there will be no more from this creative spirit.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Enquirer: The Abyss Earth Sciences and Marine Life Observatory

Imagine you were intrigued by a documentary in your youth and seeked a career that would allow you to advance a field of science similar to what was presented in that favorite show you saw years ago.

Yan Lauria has been able to do just that, having seen the Jean-Jacques Cousteau ocean exploration documentaries in his childhood. He is now working as a project manager at JAMSTEC, “Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology”. He is also the main force behind Abyss Observatory, the oceanographic earth science sim on Second Life © (SL). Stareyes Galaxy had the opportunity to interview him and take a tour of the sim.

Read more of Stareyes' Article (Here).

Press Release: Guy Jetts: "Kitt Peak and the Observatories of Southern Arizona"

Kitt Peak National Observatory was the first major observatory complex when established over fifty years ago.   This national observatory became a catalyst for the numerous astronomical sites of southern Arizona. The evening’s talk will discuss why and how a national observatory came to be, and why it was sited at Kitt Peak. 

The evening’s speaker, Guy Jette, will discuss the major observatories/telescopes in operation at this site, including the McMath Solar Telescope, which has been the largest solar telescope for fifty years. This distinction will soon pass to the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope now under construction on Haleakalā. The relationships between other telescopes in southern Arizona and those on both Haleakalā and Mauna Kea will be highlighted. The talk will include key research, from Kitt Peak’s major role in identifying the existence of dark matter to a new $100 million dollar project called Big BOSS (Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey), a project with ties to Haleakalā's Pan-STARRS.


Friday Jan 18, 9:30PM

UH Aquaculture Program (45, 82, 25)