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Astronomy

To quote The Roanman along with just a whole raft of other people about Astrology

Submitted by Roanman on Wed, 07/10/2013 - 08:37

 

I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical.  Arthur C. Clarke
 
Who needs astrology?  The wise man gets by on fortune cookies.  Edward Abbey
 
We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born.  Astrology does not lay claim to anything more.  Carl Gustav Jung
 
A wise man shall overrule his stars, and have a greater influence upon his own content than all the constellations and planets of the firmament.  Jeremy Taylor
 
About astrology and palmistry: they are good because they make people vivid and full of possibilities.  They are communism at its best.  Everybody has a birthday and almost everybody has a palm.  Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
 
All anyone can see in a birthchart are tendencies that will become facts if he does not do something to alter them.  Isabel Hickey
 
We need not feel ashamed of flirting with the zodiac.  The zodiac is well worth flirting with.  D.H. Lawrence
 
The signs of the zodiac are karmic patterns; the planets are the looms; the will is the weaver.  Author Unknown
 
There is no better boat than a horoscope to help a man cross over the sea of life.  Varaha Mihira
 
I don't believe in astrology. The only stars I can blame for my failures are those that walk about the stage.  Noel Coward
 
Figure-flingers and star-gazers pretend to foretell the fortunes of kingdoms, and have no foresight in what concerns themselves.  Roger L'Estrange
 
Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy:  the mad daughter of a wise mother.  Voltaire
 
Astrology? ............. Why not?   The Roanman
 
This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of our own behaviour) we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars: as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treacherous by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on.  An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star!  William Shakespeare
 
Everything that is hard to attain is easily assailed by the generality of men.   Claudius Ptolemy
 
Astrology is a language.  If you understand this language, the sky speaks to you.  Dane Rudhyar
 
The vast majority, who believe in astrology and think that the planets have nothing better to do than form a code that will tell them whether tomorrow is a good day to close a business deal or not, become all the more excited and enthusiastic about the bilge when a group of astronomers denounces it.   Isaac Asimov
 
The stars which shone over Babylon and the stable in Bethlehem still shine as brightly over the Empire State Building and your front yard today....  Linda Goodman
 
Astronomy to the selfish becomes astrology.  Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
Responsibility, n.  A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor.  In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.  Ambrose Bierce
 
The puzzling thing is that there is really a curious coincidence between astrological and psychological facts, so that one can isolate time from the characteristics of an individual, and also, one can deduce characteristics from a certain time....  Carl Jung
 
Do not Christians and Heathens, Jews and Gentiles, poets and philosophers, unite in allowing the starry influences?  Walter Scott
 
If the people were a little more ignorant, astrology would flourish...  Robert G. Ingersoll
 
The controls of life are structured as forms and nuclear arrangements, in a relation with the motions of the universe.  Louis Pasteur
 
Men should take their knowledge from the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.  Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
A physician without a knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician.  Hippocrates
 
If one were to bring ten of the wisest men in the world together and ask them what was the most stupid thing in existence, they would not be able to discover anything so stupid as astrology.   David Hilbert

Whether the ice caps melt, or expand - whatever happens - the anthropogenic global warming theorists claim it confirms their theory.  A perfect example of a pseudo-science like astrology.   Frank Tipler

Courteous Reader, Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, held in high esteem of old, by the Wise and the Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight in Battle, in short, no important affair was undertaken without first consulting an Astrologer.   Benjamin Franklin
 
It is clearly evident that most events of a widespread nature draw their causes from the enveloping heavens.  Claudius Ptolemy
 
The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.  John Kenneth Galbraith
 
Anyone can be a millionaire, but to become a billionaire you need an astrologer.  John Pierpont Morgan
 

 

Rare Venus transit: A once-in-a-lifetime event

Submitted by Roanman on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 17:59

 

In about nine minutes Venus will begin it's pass between the earth and the Sun.

If you have a properly filtered telescope or another means of viewing it safely ..... what are you doing sitting here staring at your computer screen.

If you don't have a safe way to view the Sun by all means, don't stare at the thing, that's not a good activity.

As always, click on the photo for the entire story.

 

Rare Venus transit: A once-in-a-lifetime event

 

 

Astronomers around the world will train their telescopes on the skies Tuesday to watch Venus pass in front of the Sun, a once-in-a-lifetime event that will not be seen for another 105 years. 

The nearly seven-hour passage of the planet between the Earth and the Sun will be seen as a black dot on the solar surface, but should only be viewed through approved solar filters to avoid the risk of blindness, experts warn.

On the evening of June 5, North America, Central America and the northern part of South America will get to see the start of the transit -- clear skies permitting -- beginning at 6:03 pm Eastern (2203 GMT).

All of the transit will be visible in East Asia and the Western Pacific.

Europe, the Middle East and South Asia will get to see the end stages of the eclipse as they go into sunrise on June 6.

Most of South America as well as west and southwest Africa will not get to see it except by broadcasts from other locations.

 

There's a "Supermoon" tonight ... last night really, but we missed it.

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 05/06/2012 - 16:42

 

This full Moon will appear to be up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than most other full moons during the year.

The reason for this phenomenon being that this month the Moon becomes full on its closest approach to Earth on May 5, 2012.

Here's a nice NASA video explaining the "Supermoon" phenomenon, a term coined by our good friend Richard Nolle.

It should still be pretty good again tonight if you have clear skies.

 

 

Look to the east tonight at dusk

Submitted by Roanman on Tue, 03/06/2012 - 14:24

 

Oopsies, I was supposed to post this two nights ago.

Alas, I got caught up listening to old records with an old friend and forgot to do it.

Anyway, not much has changed, Mars hasn't moved much.

Go out and look.

From spaceweather.com

 

Mars is at its closest to Earth for 2012. The Red Planet is only 101 million km away and shines about six times brighter than a 1st magnitude star. Look for it in the eastern sky at sunset. The burnt-orange color of Mars is very distinctive, especially when seen from rural areas with clear skies.

Photo by Luis Argerich, taken March 3, 2012 in Veronica, Bueonos Aires, Argentina

On the night of March the 3rd Mars reached opposition. At even this unfavorable opposition Mars was really bright and high in the sky shining with a crimson red hue. I took this image at the town of Veronica, Argentina. A star filter was used, straight from the camera without processing.

 

Look to the west tonight at dusk

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 02/26/2012 - 17:29

 

I should have gone through my email yesterday as I would have known to go check out the sky for a fairly rare conjunction of the three brightest lights in the evening sky, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon.

No matter, the show is back on tonight although configured somewhat differently.

Thanks to Judy M. for the heads up.

Look to the west tonight at dusk. 

 

 

Saturn's Rings

Submitted by Roanman on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 09:58

 

From NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day page.

As always click on the photo (the word picture feels so cheap in this instance) in order to link up with the page.

As an aside, all the links at the page for this photo are very cool in their own right.

 

 

Thanks to Richard Nolle for tipping us off to this beautiful shot.

 

Elenin cometh...s still

Submitted by Roanman on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 20:23

 

You may remember from some time ago our post discussing the coincidental or not alignment of the Earth, Sun, and Mercury along with the comet Elenin on the exact dates of the record breaking (among other things) earthquakes in Chile, New Zealand and Japan.

Good news, you don't have to remember it, just click here.

The bad news is that Elenin is about to make a new series of alignments, only this time it will be on our side of the solar system and very near Earth.

Despite the fact that it contains 6 to 8 minutes of discussion on the Hopi Indian prophecies concerning the Blue and Red Katchinas and the resultant destructions here on Earth following their passage through our solar system, the following video is the most serious scientific analysis I've been able to find concerning the possibilities regarding the passing of this comet.

Consider yourself warned.

 

 

Elenin Cometh

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 05/15/2011 - 10:18

 

Ok then, first of all be warned that the guy doing this video is going to try to sell you some silver at the end of this thing.

He doesn't try very hard.

He doesn't even give you his telephone number just in case straight out of left field you happen to be a buyer.

So as far as I'm concerned the guy is harmless.

Except .....

This is some seriously scary stuff being promoted here.

I'm not kidding.

What's going on here is that Mike is manipulating a model published by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the orbit of the comet Elenin/dwarf brown star, take your pick.

When I use the word manipulate in this conversation it's not a bad thing as he is simply setting the model for the following series of dates:

September 4, 2010, date of the Christchurch, New Zealand 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

February 27, 2010, date of the Santiago, Chile 8.8 magnitude earthquake

February 11, 2011, date of the Christchurch, New Zealand, 6.3 magnitude earthquake

March, 11, 2011 date of the Fukushima Japan, 9.1 magnitude earthquake. 

And then the following dates:

September 27, 2011 ?????

October 17, 2011 ?????

November 5, 2011 ?????

His conclusion?

You ain't gonna like it.

 

 

 

Now being me, I had to check it out for myself.

It all works exactly like the video.

If you click the photo of the model below it will take you to the exact NASA model used in the video.

Try it for yourself.

Go ahead I dare ya, scare the crap right out of your own self.

 

 

Sissy!

 Now NASA, right here explains very patiently that all of the above is simply a very large nothingburger.

For NASA to be more right about this particular issue than they have been on let's say ... ummmmmm ... that global warming thing, would in my mind be a very good thing.

Only time will tell.

 

The origin of astrology

Submitted by Roanman on Tue, 10/05/2010 - 11:29

 

The following, is a true story.

The study of astronomy and astrology began around the fire.

Football not yet having been invented, Og, Og Jr., Og's brothers Ogo, Magog, Larry and a couple of the other guys had been sitting around discussing the days successful hunt, the relative quality of the well fermented juice they'd been drinking and of course .......... women.

Conversation had slowed some, they were all laying back on their furs gazing sleepily into the heavens when Og Jr. said, "That sure is a big damn moon tonight."

Og Sr. replied sharply. "Hey!!!!! ... Language."

Larry, starting to laugh under his breath, said, "Hey!  You guys remember when those crazy bastards up the hill got all juiced up, started running around like idiots chasing themselves all over the place and ran straight off the cliff?  Moon looked just like it does right now.  Bigger'n Hell.  They still ran off the damn thing.  That was sure an ugly f*%#@ing pile at the bottom."

Laughter broke out all around the circle as Og Jr, still admiring the huge golden ball right there in front of him had another thought.  Turning to his Uncle Larry he said, "Hey, wasn't the moon a lot like this the night Kenl went ape shit on your head with a rock over you trying to get into Alpa's furries?"

"Yep. said Larry laughing harder now, delighted with the memory.  "I'll never forget it.  I tell you what, if I'd of made it, it would have been worth it.  Alpa was looking damn hot that night.  Only took me three weeks to see straight. .......... Still got the dent in my head. ......... Here, feel here. .......... Yeah right there."

"Damn!!!" said Jr.

"Damn Right!!!" replied Larry.

Og Sr. smiling, quietly enjoying the conversation, had been contentedly scanning the sky when his gaze fell on the red planet.  Admiring Mars, his body suddenly stiffened a bit.  He leaned forward, now intent, his face thoughtful, serious.  His brow furrowed, as sudden worry shoved that contentment right out of his heart.

"Mags." he said thoughtfully, "Remember when we were little, and those a#&%$%*s from across the river attacked us for no good reason?"  

"Yup. said Magog, "Bastards killed ol' Kot and Frank.  F*%^$ed up Pel and Tol pretty good too."

Yeah, Pel was so jacked up, he never hunted again." Og remembered out loud, almost to himself.

A long moment passed.

"You know. said Og softly, eyes fixed on the red planet, "The night those bastards attacked us, that red one there was damn near exactly right there in the sky where it is right now.  I remember like it was yesterday.  I was sitting up against that big tree that fell into the meadow lookin' at it when they came in on us."

As an uncomfortable silence fell around the little fire, the bright moonlight, so beautiful just a moment ago, now felt hard and dangerous.  Feeling exposed, they leaned back a little into the shadows around them, eyes sharpening.  A couple, maybe three silent minutes later, Og got up.

"Where ya goin?" asked Ogo.

"I think I'll just go grab me a spear, maybe a couple good sharp rocks." said Og,  "Better safe than sorry."

Larry, having pushed himself all the way back into the shadow of the massive formation shielding them from the wind, got up and followed his brother out of the circle while thoughtfully rubbing the dent in his head.  Ya know? he said, "That ain't the worst idea I've heard today.  Oggy, grab your stuff, and jump on up to the perch!  I'll get you in a couple hours."

 

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