Do You Zoo 2?

(Credit: Pat again!)


Today's Object of the Day commemorates typical Galaxy Zoo joint effort as we soar into space again, this time with a more nitty-gritty classification system.

The beta version of Galaxy Zoo 2 has spent a few months being thoroughly tested, admired, criticised, and tested again - and at 10:30 p.m. went live last night.

As with the launch in July 2007, the zookeepers were keen to publicise it and attract new members. For the last couple of weeks I've been quietly contacting zooites who might be willing to talk to the press. Four of them were on BBC Breakfast this morning. Several more may or may not be contacted by the press today, depending on interest. If you were one of the people I wrote to, thank you very much for getting back to me and for keeping quiet, and the best of luck. If you're feeling a bit left out, I'm sorry about that and do let me know for another time!

At 8:30 p.m. last night I got a phone call from BBC Wales asking if I'd be willing to be interviewed on Good Morning Wales at 8:40 a.m. today. I knew I'd be going to Pembrokeshire College, which is just a few miles up the road - and thank goodness, the car park was almost empty. I didn't know I'd be on my own in the studio! There was a small window, a small table, some switches on the wall, two microphones, a telephone, an instruction sheet and a control box with a lot of buttons. None had spirals on them and none were shiny, so I resisted touching any more than I had to. I was very early so it was rather nerve-racking sitting waiting for my time to ring in. I had to telephone Cardiff first and get a sort of PIN code. At 8:30 I called in and it was the radio. I thought I heard someone ask, "Haverfordwest?" but I was slightly terrified of saying "yes" and disrupting the program! Oh well, now I know what to do. They asked Zookeeper Bob about how to get to the site and what you do, and about different types of galaxies. They asked me about my involvement in the website, and whether threads on the forum get heated. I said we are a very civilised bunch of people and drink a lot of virtual tea! Thanks Good Morning Wales for giving us coverage.

I've made a thread for press coverage and zooite interviews, which have gone brilliantly so far. There's also a new thread for the launch of Zoo II. Hope to see you all there as soon as possible!