wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (10/16/85)
Let me preceed this by saying I am NOT trying to put down astronomy buffs, the good people who write and post StarDate, the virtues of amateur astronomy, etc. -- this is really something I find hard to understand, so I thought I'd post this. I'm sure there will be flames, anyway, but net-life is like that... Why does there seem to be so much interest among astronomy popularizers or amateur skygazers regarding the common and inevitable patterns that appear to us on the Earth's surface from the various positions of astronomical bodies? The fact that for some days Venus and Mars will appear to almost touch, or that the moon will obscure our view of this or that star, seem to me to be as exciting as the fact that I can walk across the street and see both my house and the streetlight in front of it at the same time (which I can't when I stand between the two, and this is based on the same physical principles). I realize that occultations and transits have value in that detailed observations using the proper equipment at those times can tell us things about the astronomical bodies in question (atmosphere or rings of a planet causing fluctuations in the light-curve, etc.). So such things can be of immense interest to those researching and gathering data in these areas. But what is "exciting" about a couple dots of light in the sky being closer together or farther apart today than they were yesterday? After all, this is as near to inevitable as anything else we know of -- it isn't a surprise, or a mystery, but simply the logical result of bodies obeying physical laws. If they DIDN'T do what they were expected to do, now *that* would be exciting! Maybe I am ill-affected by watching this PBS popular-astronomy TV program called "Star Hustler", which is a little 5-minute show aired just before sign-off by our local PBS station -- it originates in Florida, and is hosted by a guy named "Jack Horkheimer", who is the director of some planetarium or the like. I see it after Dr. Who on Sunday nights. This host is so offensive in his delivery and enthusiasm about what usually seem to be trivialities that I cannot explain why I continue to watch it (I think it is because I am up and awake anyhow, and I always hope that it might alter and present something worthwhile). StarDate is not like this -- it is sensible and presents the information in a much better manner (maybe the natural superiority of radio over TV?); yet I sometimes get the impression that the StarDate people have nothing to say, and are killing time by discussing constellations or these sorts of planetary movements. To me, the interest of astronomy has more to do with space travel in the short term and cosmology in the long term. There seems to be plenty to look at, discuss, and explain in discussing gravity waves, the microwave background radiation, stellar evolution, or any of a thousand topics that cry out for clear explanations in non-technical terms, instead of making a big to-do over the fact that, this particular day, the line-of-sight from the surface of this dustball happens to pass close to two other dustballs in the same planetary system. If somone wants to discuss the relative positions of planets, I would find it more interesting to do so in the contexts of travel between them, say by discussing why today is a better day to launch a flight to Mars from Earth than yesterday was, or tomorrow will be (plug in other criteria or planets as you wish). I know that someone is going to say that the masses cannot understand such esoterica, and that we have to talk simplistically to catch their interest. To that I say "bull!". That level of people don't pay attention to ANY astronomical discussion, and wouldn't know an orbit from an asteroid. Besides, most Americans now live under such light pollution that they cannot *see* the night sky any more, so talk of constellations and occultations are moot! Better to talk about stuff you cannot see anyway, rather than stuff a tiny fraction has the opportunity to see. Am I the only one that feels this way? (I'm used to that... :-) Will Martin UUCP/USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
thomas@utah-gr.UUCP (Spencer W. Thomas) (10/18/85)
In article <2195@brl-tgr.ARPA> wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) writes: >Why does there seem to be so much interest among astronomy popularizers or >amateur skygazers regarding the common and inevitable patterns that >appear to us on the Earth's surface from the various positions of >astronomical bodies? >I know that someone is going to say that the masses cannot understand >such esoterica, and that we have to talk simplistically to catch their >interest. To that I say "bull!". That level of people don't pay >attention to ANY astronomical discussion, and wouldn't know an orbit >from an asteroid. I know a great number of intelligent, educated people who are interested in astronomical phenomena, but who don't keep track of the positions of plantets &c. For these people, the information in "StarDate" is a useful pointer to finding points of interest in the sky. -- =Spencer ({ihnp4,decvax}!utah-cs!thomas, thomas@utah-cs.ARPA) "When wrath runs rampage in your heart you must hold still that rambunctions tongue!" - Sappho
sutin@astrovax.UUCP (Brian M. Sutin) (10/19/85)
> Why does there seem to be so much interest among astronomy popularizers or > amateur skygazers regarding the common and inevitable patterns that > appear to us on the Earth's surface from the various positions of > astronomical bodies? ... I believe the interest has nothing to do with astronomy at all, but astrology. The age of Aquarius coming when Mars wraps around Jupiter, and all that malarky. Brian Sutin astrovax!sutin
rfc@calmasd.UUCP (Robert Clayton) (10/19/85)
> Why does there seem to be so much interest among astronomy popularizers or > amateur skygazers regarding the common and inevitable patterns that > appear to us on the Earth's surface from the various positions of > astronomical bodies? > > Will Martin I like to watch the changing patterns of the sky just as I like watching the changing tides at the beach and the changing seasons. Here in San Diego it is so delightful to watch the summer change to summer. Astronomy is like that. Bob Clayton Calma San Diego
andrew@alberta.UUCP (Andrew Folkins) (10/21/85)
In article <673@astrovax.UUCP> sutin@astrovax.UUCP (Brian M. Sutin) writes: >> Why does there seem to be so much interest among astronomy popularizers or >> amateur skygazers regarding the common and inevitable patterns that >> appear to us on the Earth's surface from the various positions of >> astronomical bodies? ... > >I believe the interest has nothing to do with astronomy at all, but >astrology. The age of Aquarius coming when Mars wraps around Jupiter, and >all that malarky. > > >Brian Sutin >astrovax!sutin On the contrary. Occultations provide real scientific data (size, shape, etc. of occulting body), IF enough observations are collected. This is one area in which amateur astronomers can make significant contributions. (I think it was Sky & Telescope which organized observations about a year ago when one of the major asteriods occulted a star. A while later they published a profile of the asteroid, as determined from the disappearance and reappearance times of the star from different latitudes.) Conjunctions are just plain nice to look at, especially if the two objects are close enough to be seen together through a pair of binoculars or a telescope. It is also fun to watch the two objects approach and then separate over a period of weeks. -- Andrew Folkins ...ihnp4!alberta!andrew All ideas in this message are fictional. Any resemblance, to any idea, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
xxajtxx@hou2d.UUCP (A.THANGARAJ) (10/23/85)
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I enjoy reading Debbie Byrd's scripts and I'm sure others do too, especially
when they deal with "astronomical" rather than "astrological" events ;-)
(sometimes its hard to draw the line).
....arun.
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