Re: The Astronomy Thread : Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:38 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

oddly enough as a young lad I studied the ancient Babylonian, Sumerian and Mesopotamian civilizations. You could learn much from them. You would agree, perhaps, that their Enuma Elish is patent myth and nonsense, but you haven't worked out that your own later versions are myth and nonsense too. However, I don't think this is the place to digress into religion, because here I am dealing with astronomy and documeted astronomical discovery..

Please elaborate. You shouldn't have mentioned it if you cannot handle a debate on the matter. I await in suspense.

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:43 am  

FFS, here's another thread that is going to go down the pan!
FA, please don't rise to the bait!

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Fri Jan 29, 2016 1:12 pm  

FLAT STANLEY wrote:

Please elaborate. You shouldn't have mentioned it . ..

Of course I didn't though; that was you:

FLAT STANLEY wrote:

They believed in a Geocentric Universe too.

You can debate your perceived theology and any metaphysical stuff in the delusionals thread. Or you can start a separate thread. Nobody is saying you can't debate it, with anyone who has the time or inclination for "debate" with you (which excludes me , as I have found you never "debate" anything).

But I digress. There may be a time and place for theological discussions but this thread isn't it. So please don't.

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Fri Jan 29, 2016 1:43 pm  

This picture is by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope in Chile and shows a small galaxy, IC 1613 Discovered in 1906, IC 1613 is our close neighbour, a member of the Local Group of galaxies, and a mere 2.3 million light-years away. It is an exceptionally useful galaxy to study, both due to its close proximity, and the unusual lack of dust both within it and in line of sight, so even individual stars can be resolved. As such it contributes greatly to science, in particular helping study and calibration of distances to objects in space. ESO article here Graphic of the Local group:

This picture is by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope in Chile and shows a small galaxy, IC 1613 Discovered in 1906, IC 1613 is our close neighbour, a member of the Local Group of galaxies, and a mere 2.3 million light-years away. It is an exceptionally useful galaxy to study, both due to its close proximity, and the unusual lack of dust both within it and in line of sight, so even individual stars can be resolved. As such it contributes greatly to science, in particular helping study and calibration of distances to objects in space. ESO article here Graphic of the Local group:

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Sat Jan 30, 2016 8:30 pm  

A superb animated GIF comprising actual footage of the Moon crossing the face of the Earth. That side of the Moon is of course never visible from Earth, as the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth and we only ever see one face, give or take a few extra degrees with libration. Text xtracts taken from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth This animation features actual satellite images of the far side of the moon, illuminated by the sun, as it crosses between the DSCOVR spacecraft's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and telescope, and the Earth - one million miles away. EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates, providing scientific observations of ozone, vegetation, cloud height and aerosols in the atmosphere. Once EPIC begins regular observations next month, the camera will provide a series of Earth images allowing study of daily variations over the entire globe. About twice a year the camera will capture the moon and Earth together as the orbit of DSCOVR crosses the orbital plane of the moon. These images were taken between 3:50 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. EDT on July 16 2015, showing the moon moving over the Pacific Ocean near North America. The North Pole is in the upper left corner of the image, reflecting the orbital tilt of Earth from the vantage point of the spacecraft.

A superb animated GIF comprising actual footage of the Moon crossing the face of the Earth. That side of the Moon is of course never visible from Earth, as the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth and we only ever see one face, give or take a few extra degrees with libration. Text xtracts taken from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth This animation features actual satellite images of the far side of the moon, illuminated by the sun, as it crosses between the DSCOVR spacecraft's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and telescope, and the Earth - one million miles away. EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates, providing scientific observations of ozone, vegetation, cloud height and aerosols in the atmosphere. Once EPIC begins regular observations next month, the camera will provide a series of Earth images allowing study of daily variations over the entire globe. About twice a year the camera will capture the moon and Earth together as the orbit of DSCOVR crosses the orbital plane of the moon. These images were taken between 3:50 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. EDT on July 16 2015, showing the moon moving over the Pacific Ocean near North America. The North Pole is in the upper left corner of the image, reflecting the orbital tilt of Earth from the vantage point of the spacecraft.

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:56 pm  

Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html

Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Wed Feb 03, 2016 7:14 am  

Doom&Gloom Merchant wrote: Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html Yeah, these are great images.

Doom&Gloom Merchant wrote: Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html Yeah, these are great images.

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:56 am  

An interesting article on the formation of the moon. Scientists have known for a while that the moon was formed from a collision with the Earth. It was long believed that it was a glancing blow, but it seems that new research points at a heavy head-on impact. Clicky

An interesting article on the formation of the moon. Scientists have known for a while that the moon was formed from a collision with the Earth. It was long believed that it was a glancing blow, but it seems that new research points at a heavy head-on impact. Clicky

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Wed Feb 03, 2016 11:23 am  

Yes, the Chinese generally play thgeir cards very close to their chest and so releasing the images they have really is special.

One of my favourites has to be this one:

Chinese Academy of Sciences
Earth from Change'3
The Chang'e 3 lunar lander captured this photo of Earth from the lunar surface on December 25 at 2:15 China time (December 24 at 18:15 UTC).

Chinese Academy of Sciences
Earth in the ultraviolet from Chang'e 3
The extreme ultraviolet camera on Chang'e 3 studies the plasma environment around Earth at a wavelength of 63 nanometers. This image was taken shortly after Chang'e 3's landing, on December 16, 2013.

Oddly enough, both cameras produces that weird 'globe' effect.

Re: The Astronomy Thread : Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:26 am  

Scientists believe that Pluto has large hills of water ice, floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen, and move over time like icebergs, being carried along in nitrogen glaciers. http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-s-mys ... ting-hills

Scientists believe that Pluto has large hills of water ice, floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen, and move over time like icebergs, being carried along in nitrogen glaciers. http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-s-mys ... ting-hills