Don’t know if this has already been drawn to the Teeming Millions’ attention: the Bad Astronomer is featured in this month’s Discover magazine.
This guy’s so big it’s scary. But I remember him when he was just a Doper. Before the groupies, before the endless Hollywood parties, before the spectacular crash-and-burn that got him on “Behind the Music - Special Astronomy Edition.”
Things were looking up for Phil Plait. But then, tragedy struck. At an all-star Star Party, an inebriated Plait was arrested for assault after exchanging heated words, and finally blows, with Jack Horkheimer. The Star Hustler told Sky and Telescope, “He was screaming, ‘Who’s bad? No, who’s bad? I’m bad!’ as they dragged him off me. Before that, he was arguing with a few guys about equatorial vs. polar mounts, and he kicked over somebody’s Dobsonian.”
Despite the fact that I haven’t actually interacted with him, I’ll now be telling everyone how he’s almost my close, personal friend.
I’m such a celebrity slut. Plus, I love astronomy.
equatorial vs. polar mount?
Polar mount’ is a term sometimes used instead of ‘equatorial mount’ . . . I was trying to come up with something people would argue about at a Star Party. . . and . . . eh, it was lame.
Hmmm… can you post a picture of yourself? 
I have never been in a fist fight with Mr. Horkheimer. I am, however, a danger at star parties, since I tend not to look where I am walking.
And I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you think I am a celebrity, you need to get out more. Sitting in my home office in my underwear talking on the phone until 3:00 a.m. is not exactly the picture I had of The Life Of A Star.